Loei Province

Phi Ta Khon is the festival that I want to join for many years. The trip starts at Big C on Friday night. We reach Amphoe Dan Sai at Loei Province in the morning.

Our first stop is at Wat Neramit Wipattasana located on a hillside. Inside of the temple is a replica of Phra Phutthachinnarat (of Phitsanulok Province) enshrined.

Next at Phra That Si Song Rak
Located on the bank of the Man River, this large Lao-style pagoda similar to that of Phra That Phanom houses relics of the Lord Buddha. Phra That Si Song Rak is a plaster-covered brick pagoda with a square base of 11 meters on each side. The pagoda itself is 32 meters high. Built in the Ayutthaya period in 1560 as a symbol of camaraderie between Ayutthaya and Si Sattana Khanahut (Vientiane).

Tips for visitors: As the pagoda is built for friendship and peace, red attire and red flowers are prohibited as the color denotes violence.
http://www.tourismthailand.org

We then join the Phi Ta Khon Festival. At first our group walk together, but with many tourists both Thai and foreigners packed on the street, I finally find myself walking alone.


Phi Ta Khon is an utterly unique celebration during the Bun Luang Festival, the biggest yearly merit-making ceremony of entertainment, the locals believe that it is also rain-making ceremony.

A "good manner" of younger "Phi" group.
Look at the way they sit for us to take their pictures.

The most interesting part of the festival is the uniqueness of the costumes. The participants wear a ghost mask, made of a colourful bamboo sticky rice steamer, and dress in a costume made of many pieces of fabric sewn together. The masked “ghosts” have a special bell that they wear around their waists. The first activity, which normally starts in the Phra Uppakhut image. In the afternoon, many colourful parades commence. Both small and large Phi Ta Khons will participate in the procession of Budhisattra Vessantara, the Buddha’s penultimate incarnation into the city. There is also a rocket procession. Each village will make their own parade for the competition and other cultural performances.

An actress-actor couple: Cindy and Byron.

In the afternoon we head back to Thap boek, Phetchabun Province to stay overnight.

At Ban Thap Boek, vegetables, especially cabbage, will be planted with no watering due to 2 seasons; namely, the rainy season and winter. No doubt that it will become a dish of our tonight dinner.

The Arts of the Kingdom

Since I visited the Arts of The Kingdom Exhibition at the beginning of this year, I am so impressed with our Thai craftsman. However, that exhibition ended before I could suggest it to any of my friends. Therefore, when the same exhibition has come back, my mom wish to see it too. And now she also suggests it to all her friends.
http://www.artsofthekingdom.com/

Michelle Gourmet

Though, Bon Mache Market is not far from my house, I do not shop there very often. However, last week I went there to visit Nong Ying at her shop, Momiji, and walk pass this French-Italian restaurant. So I pay the restaurant a visit this week, Michelle Gourmet. Comparing to other restaurant, the menu here is quite limit. We try Rocket mushroom salad, Pizza Margherita, Ink Squid spaghetti with seafood, baked Mussel with garlic butter. The Salad and the Mussel are o.k. for us, the other two are not to my likings. Total cost for 4 dishes are Baht 951.

Museum Siam

A hot place in town for taking pictures is “Museum Siam” at Phra Nakorn district. Its aim of this National Discovery Museum Institute is to be the learning center for visitors to understand Thai culture and the multi cultural in our society. It is a small museum, not so pack of technical knowledge and I would recommend for students. The museum building is the old Ministry of Commerce office built in King Rama VI in European style.
http://www.ndmi.or.th/Muse_Info/Muse_Info.html




My brother in front of the building.




On the third floor, the first room starts at the “Introduction to Suvarnabhumi”.




“Suvarnabhumi with the multi-ethnic people”




“Growing rice”




“Today Thailand”




Beautiful staircase




I post my blogname on board before leaving the building.




We end our short trip by having lunch at “Tha Pra Chan” pier near Thammasat University. I haven’t visited that area for a long long time.

We attend Jae Yai’s funeral rite at Wat Phra Sri Mahathat – Bangkhen. Our friend, Panee or Jae Yai was our monitor when we were in high school at Satrividhaya School. This is the first time after graduation that I meet some of my friends in the picture.

TISCO Foundation

This afternoon I join TISCO Foundation to the annual scholarship award event. This year the foundation grants Baht 16 million to students from primary till undergraduate levels. The foundation has been found 25 years ago, so far the accumulated scholarship granted is amounted to Baht 145 million. I am glad to be a part of the company that contributes to society long time ago before it become fashionable and many companies need to do it, just as a part of advertisement their companies to the world.

DCup Studio

DCup Sutido owned by Khun Kai and Khun Eark at Soi Watcharaphol, Ramintra Road. The studio is offered both the food and bakery course.

La Buca Restuarant

We have an Italian dinner at Rabuca, Sukhumvit Soi 1. It is my first time to dine here, the food is delicious. Though normally I won’t go for the Oven-baked Spinach with cheese dish (not because I don’t like it, but just for the sake of the healthy food 555), but I would rather recommend this one to you guys. Another recommended dish is the risotto.



The T-bone steak is gone within minutes. (I take no part in the process)



Pe Norm is proudly presented the gang’s birthday gift that the SD card is the “Ducati” edition. By the way, I wish to have the “Ferrari” edition next year na ka.

Sri Sa Ket Province

Today we visit Preah Vihear Sanctuary, one of the topics recently been written in the newspapers. And I only hope that whoever is in the authority will do whatever is best for the country instead of their own or their friends.



Prasat Khao Phra Wihan or the Preah Vihear Sanctuary is a grand historical site and the centre of a Khmer community on the highlands of Cambodia. The site was built during the 16th-17th Buddhist century and is more than 600 metres above level ground.

There are four parts, all on a different level. Each is approached along a pathway with steep steps at the end leading up to the temple.



Preah Vihear stands on the mountain which is part of the Phanom Dong Rek Range that lies between the lower Khmer Plain and the Korat Pateau. Though physically in Cambodia (ruled by the World Court in 1962), the sanctuary is easier to reach from the Thai side. The temple’s surroundings located in Thai territory.



Look at Lub's poster.

Next we stop at Namtok Huai Chan which is is 24 kilometres from the district office on the Kanthrom-Ban Samrong Kiat road. The fall drops down several rock levels and has water the year round.



Mer’s house. There are many nicely decorated corners.

That would be all for my lower Isan trip (there are still some other lower Isan provinces that can’t be included into this short trip). Although, we do have a lot activities for these 3 days, I think we all gain weights from the big and delicious food we have. Thank to our kind and lovely hosts. We have a very good weekend.

Roi Et Province

Today we plan to visit Roi Et where Choke, a physician, will be our local guide. We first pick him up at his parent's house.


Our first place to visit is at the Aquarium.



Next is the National Museum. It was initially established by Dr. Ko Sawatdiphanit with an aim to showcase local silk textiles and handicrafts of Roi Et. It was later renovated when the Fine Arts Department had the policy to set up a national museum. Today, it showcases the province’s geography, natural resources, archaeology, history, way of life and local hand-woven silk products.




Wat Burapha Phiram
The third-class royal temple was formerly known as Wat Hua Ro and was later renamed as Wat Buraphaphiram. There is the tallest standing Buddha image in Thailand known as Phra Phuttha Rattanamongkhon Mahamuni or Luangpho Yai, which was built with reinforced concrete in the blessing attitude. The Buddha image is 59.2 metres tall and if the base is included, it would be 67.85 metres tall. There is a museum at the base. Luangpho Yai is highly-revered by the people of Roi Et.



Our last stop in Roi Et is at Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon. Although some parts are still in the construction process, those that are completed are very beautiful decorated. I would like to visit again when it is completed.





Inside the Chedi.

That is all for today trip before we come back to have delicious dinner prepared by Chim and Jing who prefers to stay home and cook the food for us.

Ubon Ratchathani Province

After we all agree to have a short trip this long weekend, we seperate into small groups: some directly to Sri Sa Ket some including me to Ubon Ratchathani. So the Sri Sa Ket group come to pick up us; Aor, Mer and Jing at Ubon Ratchathani. This province is located in the Korat Basin about 68 meters (227 feet) above sea level, most of Ubon Ratchathani is a plateau sloping to the east to meet the Maekhong River, a border between Thailand and the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.





After breakfast at the market, we visit the “Sam Phan Bok” (สามพันโบก) which is the small basins visible in the dry season. The force of the Maekhong River stream creates about 3,000 small basins through the rocks underneath the river. It is in the Pho Sai district.



We then move to have lunch at “Had-Sa-Lueng” (หาดสลึง). The beach occurs when the river is low tide. Nearby attraction - Pak Bong is the narrowest part of the river with the width of 56 meter.



Next stop is at Wat Phoe (วัดโพธิ์) at Khemarat district. Khemarat is an ancient city. It was a first class city during Rattanakosin era and reported directly to Bangkok. During the thesaphiban reforms at the beginning of the 20th century it became a subordinate of Ubon Ratchathani.



Unique decorating windows and doors.



Sun set at Wat Phra That Rueng Rong
Last place for today visit is at Wat Phra That Rueang Rueang Rong, Si Sa Ket. This temple is 8 kilometres away on the Si Sa Ket-Yang Chum Noi road. The site has a traditional design. The area is used for religious ceremonies and as a museum to display the life of Isan tribes such as Lao, Khmer, Suai, and Yoe.



Southern dish prepared by Chim. Very hot and spicy for me, though delicious.

We stay overnight at Mer’s house in Si Sa Ket Province. Mer has just moved back to her home town last year.

TDF annual meeting

TDF friends get together to host a farewell party to Lek who will move to Canada next month. Normally we gets together once a year.


Lek and his family


Guess that she wants to tell us to give her time to settle before we visit her in Cananda.

Germany & Austria Trip

Wake up in the morning to see Mer and Chim off at the Hauptbahnhof (Main train station). They are going to take the flight back home at noon. Mine is in the evening flight.



After breakfast, we visit the Olympic Park. The stadium has the tent-like roofs built for the 1972 Olympic Games.



Nearby attraction is the BMW head office and showroom. We plan to visit the BMW museum, but it is temporarily closed for renovation. Munich is the home of the famous car firm.



Schloss Nymphneburg


All in all, I really enjoy the trip and it is one of my wonderful and unforgettable memorable experience.

Germany & Austria Trip

Today we will go back to Munich. Return the car after driving it for 2,220 kilometers and check it at the same hostel when we first got here. We start our tour at Marienplatz.



New City Hall with the neo-Gothic style.



Statue of King Maximillian




We walk further down to enjoy food at the Viktualienmarkt which has a wide range of produce. Then We walk on and on until I have no more energy left when we stop by at the Birkenstock shoe shop near the hostel. So I don’t buy anything which is good for controlling my budget of this trip.