Day 8, Friday 7 April - Amnat Charoen
Off Script....... Staying at LJ Hotel is quite manageable for the price, the only inconvenience so far has been the lack of an internet connection last night, there being only 2.4G here but I can always tether to my companion's phone when necessary. Finding toast and coffee in reception is a bonus this morning but we must concentrate on compiling the site visit list for this new province. We have now committed to continue south after our stay in Amnat. As with Mukdahan there are seven districts but most of the attractions lie within easy distance of the city itself but today we decide the best option is to head north covering the more awkward northern districts first. Yet the first location we head for is 'off script', not even in the province. Feeling that I hadn't done full justice to Yasothon on our recent visit I decide to cross the provincial border to visit a hilltop temple site that was awkward to reach earlier. However, by crossing the border in this location there are only minor roads in fact only dirt roads in some locations which only farmers use.
Huai Sabaek....... Huai Sabaek is a freshwater lake or swamp and being in a remote location there is no easy access to it. However, the reason we're back in Yasothon province is not to view the lake.
Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram....... Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram is a monastery on the southern side of Huai Sabaek. We were looking for a viewpoint for the lake but end up at Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram. The name suggests there is a cave here but it's unlikely that we will find more information so we quickly move on to a more important attraction.
Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park....... The curious thing about Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park is the lack of information available for it compelling me to resort to geographical and visual information only. Its location is at the southern end of Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park. As I have noted already this is another area of low sandstone hills where the rock has been weathered down creating stone fields so baron that vegetation struggles here to obtain a foothold. It's in one of these areas they have created Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park which is a model park representing forest creatures of many kinds but of course, there are religious buildings here too. The most prominent feature is a large white Buddha image not too dissimilar to one I saw in Mukdahan. While I would like to know more about this park, it's certainly interesting to walk around and enjoy some amazing scenery. From a geological point of view, I record potholes or boreholes created by nature here where I wouldn't expect them. This is an indication that this land was once submerged despite its current elevation.
The next location is back in Amnat province where we again need to use dirt roads in places crossing more of the national park area.
Phu Thai Village....... As we move on to our next destination, an opportunity to visit an ethnic village presents itself. Back at Hor Kaeo Mukdahan we were introduced to some of the ethnic communities of this area. The village here as part of the Phu Thai ethnic community and they are keen to preserve its identity and culture with preservation of traditional wooden houses.
Billion Stone Pagoda at Wat Phu Panomdee....... The Billion Stone Pagoda is located in another temple on one of the small hills and provides me with another headache as I fail to find information about it. The pagoda has an unusual spire, and both internally and externally the whole structure is inlaid with pebbles which must have been a massive undertaking. What appears to be a viharn has large heads of beasts protruding which looked most fearsome. Again, this structure is completely inlaid with pebbles which leads me to believe that the 1 billion stones used in the onsite construction is not far off the mark. To the rear of Wat Phu Panomdee there is a seated Buddha image in white under a Naga (serpent) head.
Wat Tham Hin Hua Nak Phu Kaset....... Next on my list is Wat Tham Hin Hua Nak Phu Kaset which is a cave temple on another hill. However, as we try to reach it the road is impassable, completely rutted and unsuitable for our vehicle. Despite getting within 600 metres, the climb up to this temple defeats me for once due to the heat. This leaves me wondering whether this temple is worth visiting as no effort is made to provide a good access road. Attempting to get an earlier finish today, we head back into town.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang....... Near the town, Wat Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang is situated under the shade of a variety of plant species that has been brought in converting the temple into a Buddha Park. The main feature of the park is Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai, a large Buddha image in a subduing Mara posture with a measurement of an 11-metre-wide span lap and 20-metres in height from the ground to the top of the halo flame. It is built in the Northern Indian style influenced by Pali art that extended to Thailand’s north-eastern region more than 1,000 years ago.
Amnat Clock Tower....... Clock towers in Thailand are as symbolic as pillar shrines. No one is ever the same and Amnat Clock Tower is elegantly designed to stand out for the benefit of passers-by.
Amnat Night Market....... Traveling around today has provided little opportunity for lunch and I'm certainly ready to stock up with local food from the night market which we are eager to consume back at L.J. Hotel. This will be the first time we haven't changed rooms in the seven nights we've been on tour so far. Tomorrow promises to be another busy day.
Next Page.
Off Script....... Staying at LJ Hotel is quite manageable for the price, the only inconvenience so far has been the lack of an internet connection last night, there being only 2.4G here but I can always tether to my companion's phone when necessary. Finding toast and coffee in reception is a bonus this morning but we must concentrate on compiling the site visit list for this new province. We have now committed to continue south after our stay in Amnat. As with Mukdahan there are seven districts but most of the attractions lie within easy distance of the city itself but today we decide the best option is to head north covering the more awkward northern districts first. Yet the first location we head for is 'off script', not even in the province. Feeling that I hadn't done full justice to Yasothon on our recent visit I decide to cross the provincial border to visit a hilltop temple site that was awkward to reach earlier. However, by crossing the border in this location there are only minor roads in fact only dirt roads in some locations which only farmers use.
Huai Sabaek....... Huai Sabaek is a freshwater lake or swamp and being in a remote location there is no easy access to it. However, the reason we're back in Yasothon province is not to view the lake.
Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram....... Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram is a monastery on the southern side of Huai Sabaek. We were looking for a viewpoint for the lake but end up at Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram. The name suggests there is a cave here but it's unlikely that we will find more information so we quickly move on to a more important attraction.
Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park....... The curious thing about Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park is the lack of information available for it compelling me to resort to geographical and visual information only. Its location is at the southern end of Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park. As I have noted already this is another area of low sandstone hills where the rock has been weathered down creating stone fields so baron that vegetation struggles here to obtain a foothold. It's in one of these areas they have created Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park which is a model park representing forest creatures of many kinds but of course, there are religious buildings here too. The most prominent feature is a large white Buddha image not too dissimilar to one I saw in Mukdahan. While I would like to know more about this park, it's certainly interesting to walk around and enjoy some amazing scenery. From a geological point of view, I record potholes or boreholes created by nature here where I wouldn't expect them. This is an indication that this land was once submerged despite its current elevation.
The next location is back in Amnat province where we again need to use dirt roads in places crossing more of the national park area.
Phu Thai Village....... As we move on to our next destination, an opportunity to visit an ethnic village presents itself. Back at Hor Kaeo Mukdahan we were introduced to some of the ethnic communities of this area. The village here as part of the Phu Thai ethnic community and they are keen to preserve its identity and culture with preservation of traditional wooden houses.
Billion Stone Pagoda at Wat Phu Panomdee....... The Billion Stone Pagoda is located in another temple on one of the small hills and provides me with another headache as I fail to find information about it. The pagoda has an unusual spire, and both internally and externally the whole structure is inlaid with pebbles which must have been a massive undertaking. What appears to be a viharn has large heads of beasts protruding which looked most fearsome. Again, this structure is completely inlaid with pebbles which leads me to believe that the 1 billion stones used in the onsite construction is not far off the mark. To the rear of Wat Phu Panomdee there is a seated Buddha image in white under a Naga (serpent) head.
Wat Tham Hin Hua Nak Phu Kaset....... Next on my list is Wat Tham Hin Hua Nak Phu Kaset which is a cave temple on another hill. However, as we try to reach it the road is impassable, completely rutted and unsuitable for our vehicle. Despite getting within 600 metres, the climb up to this temple defeats me for once due to the heat. This leaves me wondering whether this temple is worth visiting as no effort is made to provide a good access road. Attempting to get an earlier finish today, we head back into town.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang....... Near the town, Wat Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang is situated under the shade of a variety of plant species that has been brought in converting the temple into a Buddha Park. The main feature of the park is Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai, a large Buddha image in a subduing Mara posture with a measurement of an 11-metre-wide span lap and 20-metres in height from the ground to the top of the halo flame. It is built in the Northern Indian style influenced by Pali art that extended to Thailand’s north-eastern region more than 1,000 years ago.
Amnat Clock Tower....... Clock towers in Thailand are as symbolic as pillar shrines. No one is ever the same and Amnat Clock Tower is elegantly designed to stand out for the benefit of passers-by.
Amnat Night Market....... Traveling around today has provided little opportunity for lunch and I'm certainly ready to stock up with local food from the night market which we are eager to consume back at L.J. Hotel. This will be the first time we haven't changed rooms in the seven nights we've been on tour so far. Tomorrow promises to be another busy day.
Next Page.
Yasothon Province
Huai Sabaek, Bung Kha, Loeng Nok Tha District
Wat Phu Tham Phra Wanaram, Huai Sabaek,
Bung Kha, Loeng Nok Tha District
Phu Soong Charoen Tham Buddhist Park, Bung Kha, Loeng Nok Tha District
Yasothon Province
Phu Thai Village, Kham Khuean Kaeo, Chanuman District
Billion Stone Pagoda at Wat Phu Panomdee, Pa Ko, Senangkhanikhom District
Wat Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang,
Mueang Amnat Charoen
Amnat Charoen Clock Tower,
Mueang Amnat Charoen