Day 10, Sunday 9 April - Khemmarat
Trakan Phuet Phon....... Yesterday I found myself in Trakan Phuet Phon district of Ubon Ratchathani province out of necessity, but I don't intend to retrace steps without first checking any nearby attractions. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website shows only one attraction for this for district, but I manage to add more. After an eat-in breakfast we manage to get a good start. Heading south out of town we're soon at the first attraction.
Tiger Park....... Foreigners often ask, 'where can I see wild animals in Thailand?' Apart from monkeys and maybe the odd elephant, Thailand's wild beasts are so reclusive that the chances of seeing any is really limited. It is as it is but the only real chance of seeing wild animals is in captivity. The Tiger Park is quite small but in terms of tigers, but I've never seen so many in one place before. There could be as many as 20 here as well as a couple of leopards. Apart from these there are a few birds including an ostrich, some monkeys, a crocodile and that's about it. It's worth noting that there is no dual pricing here just a flat rate of 40 baht.
Heading for our next attraction, I'm curious that so many towns and cities I've visited are located near a lake and this one is no exception.
Huai Tham Khe....... Huai Tham Khe is a reservoir near the town of Trakan Phuet Phon which serves as a water source for irrigation during the hot dry season. Typically, during this time, the margins around the lake are suitable for grazing water buffalo. The next location is the only one on the TAT list for this district.
Ban Khu Lu Central Water (Hor Trai)....... Nong Khu Lu’s Scripture Hall of Sri Phochai Temple is located in the middle of a large public swamp to the northeast of the village. The Buddhist temple of Sri Phochai was built in 1762 and Nong Khu Lu Scripture Hall was built between 1916 and 1918. Currently, the scriptures found in the hall are well-kept in the main chapel of the temple. The scripture hall is built of wood on a high raised floor. It was built in traditional Isan style on a square plot. There are 24 poles to support the tiled gable roof. The building has two small windows on each side, an entrance gate and another window slightly smaller than the entrance gate, all facing south. Originally, there was no bridge connecting the scripture hall to the bank, but a bridge was later added in 1976. The Nong Khu Lu Scripture Hall covers an area of approximately 12.28 acres.
The site was officially registered as a national ancient monument published in the Royal Gazette on March 26, 2001. It's now time to continue where we left off yesterday and head back into Amnat Charoen province and we re-enter around midday.
Dong Ling Don Chao Pu Park....... Dong Ling Don Chao Pu Park (The Monkey Temple) is a tourist attraction located in Phana District. The Temple is filled with very friendly monkeys. Both Thais and foreigners go there on a daily bases to feed the monkeys with corn and other foods supplied by local vendors.
Wat Phra Lao Thep Namit (revisited)....... As we continue through Phana we head for the last site visits in this province but not before a revisit to Wat Phra Lao Thep Namit to view what is considered the most beautiful Buddha image in the northeast. Our late arrival yesterday meant that the image hall was closed.
Ban Phon Muang Archaeological Site....... Ban Phon Muang Archaeological Site is a bit of a disappointment, just a single large sema stone. However, I may be missing the point. This location comes under the 9th Regional Office of the Fine Arts Department. They've carried out excellent work at so many ancient sites. With no information about this site whatsoever, it's not likely that a survey has been done. It's comforting to know that archaeological discoveries are never ending. Perhaps this is one for the future.
Wat Chaiyatikaram....... Wat Chaiyatikaram is located in Ban Phon Muang, a village in Mai Klon subdistrict, Phana district, and contains a bronze Buddha image sitting cross-legged in the posture of subduing Mara. Its height is 55 centimetres and placed in a group of Buddha images in Lan Xang art style.
On to Khemmarat....... Satisfied with my discoveries in Amnat, it's finally time to leave as we re-enter Ubon Ratchathani province around 2pm. We reach Khemmarat district where we intend to make an overnight stop but now I have very little planned for this district. Khemmarat lies on the Mekong River but in the town itself there are not many attractions. The attractions there are, are along the riverbank but instead of making any headway we concentrate on finding accommodation to avoid a repeat of last night.
Restrictions....... Khemmarat is an old town with many traditional wooden buildings. While there is accommodation near the riverbank there is nothing in the way of modern apartments. Instead, there are resorts with rows of bungalows which don't necessarily give one the same comfort; location being the main attraction. After driving around the town we decide to head out looking for more modern accommodation but fare no better. However, out of town the bungalows are cheaper, and we end up at Namsap Villa. This accommodation is 600 baht, still more than we normally pay. Limitations for me here is the lack of sockets for my 3-pin plug and lack of workspace. However, we soon settle in and can rest up for a change. For dinner we head back into town looking for a suitable restaurant but end up going round and round in circles again. Finally, we give it up and grab some local food to take back a eat in the room.
Up until yesterday we relied on staying in the provincial towns but that doesn't work in such a large province as Ubon Ratchathani. From where we are it's some 100 kilometres to the provincial city. There are times when we must rely on district towns to provide adequate accommodation with mixed success.
Next Page.
Trakan Phuet Phon....... Yesterday I found myself in Trakan Phuet Phon district of Ubon Ratchathani province out of necessity, but I don't intend to retrace steps without first checking any nearby attractions. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website shows only one attraction for this for district, but I manage to add more. After an eat-in breakfast we manage to get a good start. Heading south out of town we're soon at the first attraction.
Tiger Park....... Foreigners often ask, 'where can I see wild animals in Thailand?' Apart from monkeys and maybe the odd elephant, Thailand's wild beasts are so reclusive that the chances of seeing any is really limited. It is as it is but the only real chance of seeing wild animals is in captivity. The Tiger Park is quite small but in terms of tigers, but I've never seen so many in one place before. There could be as many as 20 here as well as a couple of leopards. Apart from these there are a few birds including an ostrich, some monkeys, a crocodile and that's about it. It's worth noting that there is no dual pricing here just a flat rate of 40 baht.
Heading for our next attraction, I'm curious that so many towns and cities I've visited are located near a lake and this one is no exception.
Huai Tham Khe....... Huai Tham Khe is a reservoir near the town of Trakan Phuet Phon which serves as a water source for irrigation during the hot dry season. Typically, during this time, the margins around the lake are suitable for grazing water buffalo. The next location is the only one on the TAT list for this district.
Ban Khu Lu Central Water (Hor Trai)....... Nong Khu Lu’s Scripture Hall of Sri Phochai Temple is located in the middle of a large public swamp to the northeast of the village. The Buddhist temple of Sri Phochai was built in 1762 and Nong Khu Lu Scripture Hall was built between 1916 and 1918. Currently, the scriptures found in the hall are well-kept in the main chapel of the temple. The scripture hall is built of wood on a high raised floor. It was built in traditional Isan style on a square plot. There are 24 poles to support the tiled gable roof. The building has two small windows on each side, an entrance gate and another window slightly smaller than the entrance gate, all facing south. Originally, there was no bridge connecting the scripture hall to the bank, but a bridge was later added in 1976. The Nong Khu Lu Scripture Hall covers an area of approximately 12.28 acres.
The site was officially registered as a national ancient monument published in the Royal Gazette on March 26, 2001. It's now time to continue where we left off yesterday and head back into Amnat Charoen province and we re-enter around midday.
Dong Ling Don Chao Pu Park....... Dong Ling Don Chao Pu Park (The Monkey Temple) is a tourist attraction located in Phana District. The Temple is filled with very friendly monkeys. Both Thais and foreigners go there on a daily bases to feed the monkeys with corn and other foods supplied by local vendors.
Wat Phra Lao Thep Namit (revisited)....... As we continue through Phana we head for the last site visits in this province but not before a revisit to Wat Phra Lao Thep Namit to view what is considered the most beautiful Buddha image in the northeast. Our late arrival yesterday meant that the image hall was closed.
Ban Phon Muang Archaeological Site....... Ban Phon Muang Archaeological Site is a bit of a disappointment, just a single large sema stone. However, I may be missing the point. This location comes under the 9th Regional Office of the Fine Arts Department. They've carried out excellent work at so many ancient sites. With no information about this site whatsoever, it's not likely that a survey has been done. It's comforting to know that archaeological discoveries are never ending. Perhaps this is one for the future.
Wat Chaiyatikaram....... Wat Chaiyatikaram is located in Ban Phon Muang, a village in Mai Klon subdistrict, Phana district, and contains a bronze Buddha image sitting cross-legged in the posture of subduing Mara. Its height is 55 centimetres and placed in a group of Buddha images in Lan Xang art style.
On to Khemmarat....... Satisfied with my discoveries in Amnat, it's finally time to leave as we re-enter Ubon Ratchathani province around 2pm. We reach Khemmarat district where we intend to make an overnight stop but now I have very little planned for this district. Khemmarat lies on the Mekong River but in the town itself there are not many attractions. The attractions there are, are along the riverbank but instead of making any headway we concentrate on finding accommodation to avoid a repeat of last night.
Restrictions....... Khemmarat is an old town with many traditional wooden buildings. While there is accommodation near the riverbank there is nothing in the way of modern apartments. Instead, there are resorts with rows of bungalows which don't necessarily give one the same comfort; location being the main attraction. After driving around the town we decide to head out looking for more modern accommodation but fare no better. However, out of town the bungalows are cheaper, and we end up at Namsap Villa. This accommodation is 600 baht, still more than we normally pay. Limitations for me here is the lack of sockets for my 3-pin plug and lack of workspace. However, we soon settle in and can rest up for a change. For dinner we head back into town looking for a suitable restaurant but end up going round and round in circles again. Finally, we give it up and grab some local food to take back a eat in the room.
Up until yesterday we relied on staying in the provincial towns but that doesn't work in such a large province as Ubon Ratchathani. From where we are it's some 100 kilometres to the provincial city. There are times when we must rely on district towns to provide adequate accommodation with mixed success.
Next Page.
Ubon Ratchathani Province
Tiger Park, Trakan Phuet Phon
Huai Tham Khe, Trakan Phuet Phon
Ban Khu Lu Central Water (Hor Trai),
Trakan Phuet Phon
Amnat Charoen Province
Dong Ling Don Chao Pu Park, Panna District
Wat Phra Lao Thep Namit (revisited),
Panna District
Ban Phon Muang Archaeological Site,
Panna District
Wat Chaiyatikaram, Panna District