Thailand: Chonburi - Pups, monkeys & the sea

Last weekend, Thawon, the pups & I traveled south, out of Bangkok to the coastal town of Bang Saen. Located near to the city of Chonburi, on the Bight of Bangkok, the beach here, is straight & sandy, an ideal spot for the pups to discover the delights of the sea.....

From previous experience, we knew Choco would be in his element & would have a great time. and this proved to be the case. His brother Bolt, though, is not a "water baby" & does not relish the water. Here proved to be no exception..... Although enticed in the water, to follow a ball, he would quickly escape back to the sanctuary of dry land.........

Bolt, Thawon & Choco in the sea

A great pose by Choco

He loves to swim too....

Not like his brother, though

Bolt is not content in the water.......



And what do you do after a swim?

A contented puppy digs a hole in the cool sand.....!!

and falls sleeps............

Close by to the beach is the small forested peninsular of Khao Sam Muk, known for its resident population of Long-tailed Macaque Monkeys. The Macaques are very common in Thailand and are seen in many areas of the country..........

Thailand: Nong Khai - Wat Noen Phra Nao

Situated south of the main town of Nong Khai is a lovely forest wat.
Wat Noen Phra Nao surrounded by cool shaded trees is a centre
of Vipassana meditation, one of India's most ancient techniques,
being established more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for all ills.....

The forest wat is home to a number of Buddhist statues and figurines,
many explaining the teachings of The Buddha.....

This set is of The Buddha teaching to the five Asthetics

The Bell Tower is very fine

...and the Ubosot, Ordination Hall, has a certain
"gothic " feel about it.....

amplified by the 8 sema or boundary stones....

The Temple cloister in the Inner Courtyard that houses the Ubosot
only covers two sides....

The wat is surrounded by a Chinese Cemetery, in the
midst of which is this new stupa....

The temple has a most peaceful air about it...
on the three occasions I visited, though, neither
the Ubosot or Viharn were open..... which is a pity
as I would love to have seen inside....

Thailand: Nong Khai - Gateway to Laos

I have recently spent eight days in Nong Khai, a pleasant "backwater" in the North-Eastern part of Thailand. Lying on the Mekong River, the town is the gateway to Laos.

The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
This two lane road bridge with single track railway in the centre
straddles the River Mekong and was opened in April 1994.
The correct name for the bridge is really "The First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge",
as a second, more recent bridge, has been built further down stream.
The cost was about US$30 million and was funded by the Australian government
as a development aid for Laos

There is more to Nong Khai, though, than just a bridge linking two countries.....
The town, though small, is very attractive with many Buddhist Temples, a lively covered street market, a riverside promenade with sweeping views of the river and restaurants with terraces facing the broadwalk.

Part of the riverside promenade

At the far end of the promenade is the river boat station and ferry stop for goods destined for Laos, that are not transported by road. From early morning to late afternoon, the jetty is a thriving place with a great array of goods, ranging from rugs, pottery and cookware to washing machines, tv's and furniture.....

On the opposite bank to the river station is the Laos equivalent,
although never seemingly as hectic.......

Further along is this fish-farm

Set all along the promenade are these attractive billboards displaying tourist maps of the town and surrounding area. Very French........!!

In the middle of the River Mekong is this ruined chedi, "Phra That Klang Nam", and is visible only during the dry season when the river waters lower by some 13m.... The chedi, dating back to between the 15th and 17th centuries, slipped down the embankment in 1847 and continues to slide; being near the middle of the river, now.
Once the top of the chedi is visible in the dry season, coloured flags are fastened to the top.....

Phra That Nong Khai appears above the river waters

On the original site of the chedi stands a replica, known as "Phra That La Nong"

The attractive Provincial Offices

Close-by is the former Provincial Governor's mansion, now a museum

On the main road out of town is the City pillar

Set behind the riverside promenade and encompassing a couple of streets is the interesting covered market of Sadet

En route to Laos

A couple of weeks back, I made my first foray into Laos, that land locked country bounded by Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), China, Vietnam and finally Cambodia. My visit was to Vientiane, the capital and was two fold. First, to renew my Thai visa and second to visit the home of Bruce, my close friend, whose family hails from here.

Vientiane is about 525 km NNE from Bangkok and lies on the banks of the great River Mekong. We had three options of travelling there; plane, bus or train.
We chose the train option, the least quickest of them all. But the most fun. Requiring, as it did, of an overnight journey, a further short bus journey to the frontier station that lies across the "Friendship Bridge" which crosses the River Mekong. and then a further ride to Vientiane.....

I enjoy train travel for there is something inherently 'romantic' about them, conjuring up a bygone age. Also I am able to stretch my legs and not feel cooped up and restless, that I always experience when travelling by road. Here in Thailand the railway system is old and in dire need of modernisation. The carriages, I am sure, belonging originally to the railroads of China and Korea. The sleeping cars are cramped and noisy, but the couchettes surprisingly comfortable, (on the lower berth only). And, strangely, I am reminded of the night train scene from the 1959 movie "Some like it hot".....!! But alas there is no Marilyn Monroe or Jack Lemmon on this journey.
I slept fitfully as the train crawled through the night to its destination of Non Kai on the Thai side of the River Mekong. At Non Kai, we were given an unexpected lift by an old acquaintance of Bruce's, to the bus station, then a short journey by public bus took us through the Thai border formalities, crossed over the bridge into Laos and after more form filling and visa fees, I found myself in a new country...... Here, Bruce's brother-in-law took us into the city in his pick-up truck and a much needed lunch stop.....

 

Train sign

 

Relaxing on the train

 

Bruce looking excited at

visiting his home city

 

Relaxing in my couchette

 

In the back of a pick-up truck to the Thai border .........