Day 15, Friday 14 April - Nang Rong
On a Wish List....... Our stay at Wish Hotel overnight has been a pleasant one despite the rather claustrophobic bathroom and we now look forward to a super breakfast which we're told is buffet style. We arrive in the dining hall to enjoy one of those rarer occasions when we don't have to self-cater for breakfast. On top of that the food selection is just incredible as much as you can eat and drink. However, today we must concentrate on our return to Bangkok but because of the distance involved it is both unfair on my partner and unnecessary to complete the journey in one day even though the journey could be done in 10 hours. With this in mind, we can break the journey up and in fact take our time in starting the journey this morning. We might as well do a little more sightseeing around the city first.
Misinformed....... An obvious attraction worth visiting in the city is Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. Online information indicates that it's open today but when we arrive it's not and that is no surprise given that it's Thai New Year. Well, we still have a couple of hours to play with and might as well visit more temples and as it's the second day of Songkran celebrations, get a free car wash as well. So, what else is there in the city? We soon find out.
Wat Su Patanaram....... Wat Su Patanaram is located close to the Mun riverbank. The main temple hall is built in a unique style, mixing European, Chinese and Thai elements. The lavishly designed hall was built to receive grace to perform the Royal Cremation Ceremony replicating the moon flower laying ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) that took place at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on October 26, 2017.
Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram....... Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram is a royal temple on Uparat Road beside the City Hall. The ordination hall is in the same style as the Marbel Temple in Bangkok. The Topaz Buddha image called Phra Kaew Busara Kham one of the town’s sacred images was brought from Si Sattanakanahut, Laos and kept here.
I must admit that I am privileged to be here during the three days of Songkran. During this time the sacred image is placed in a position that allows worshippers to pour water over it in an annual cleansing ritual.
Wat Luang Phaithun....... Wat Luang Phaithun was built in 1791 by the first governor Phra Pratumworaratchasuriyawong (Chao Khamphong). Wat Luang is considered the signature of Ubon Ratchathani. In those days this temple was the place where the ceremony of an oath of allegiance was held. Phrachaoyai Ong Luang is the important Buddha image in this temple with the aureole around the body that gives its Buddhist characteristic. The image is housed in the wihan (sermon hall). Here normally sits Phra Kaew Phaithun, one of the most important Buddha images of Ubon Ratchathani made of white gemstone and seated in the attitude of meditation. The natural crystal image is over 100 years old. For Songkran it is repositioned for the water pouring ceremony.
At the time of my visit during this festive period the image is proudly displayed while there is also a hand washing ceremony offered by the head monk to the public who eagerly await their turn to be blessed. For those who wish to visit this temple during Songkran they must run the gauntlet to avoid being thoroughly soaked by water gushing out into the street from two dragon head water spouts.
Finally, there are quotes here from Buddha and Ajahn Chan, the founder of the modern 'Forest Path' tradition, and posted in English (see my note for Wat Nong Pa Phong and the Thai Forest Tradition in my blog for yesterday).
Wat Liab....... There are a number of beautiful buildings at Wat Liab including two chedis next to each other. The walls of the main temple building are covered with murals depicting Buddhist stories and teachings. A small meditation pagoda has a fishpond around it. This is a quiet and relaxing place with minah birds singing in the background. Wat Liab also houses one of Ubon Ratchathani's sacred images, Phra Kaew Nin Klan, an old gemstone image black in colour which is repositioned for the water pouring ceremony during Songkran.
Wat Manee Wararam....... Wat Manee Wararam is another temple in the city and close to Wat Thung Si Mueang. It houses one of the five sacred precious stone images located in the city, this one named Phra Kaew Kamain is made from garnet.
Five of the city temples I have now visited have one thing in common; they all house precious stone Buddha images each unique. Naturally there are religious celebrations at each of these temples the most obvious activity being the display of these precious images for the public to cleanse or bless by the pouring of water.
On Track Again....... Naturally visiting each of these temples has taken time but by 1pm we are prepared to head west. Rather to my surprise, all the main city temples have now been visited. At Warin Chamrap, a sub district of Ubon Ratchathani, I again visit the railway station where overnight there has been some movement of locomotives, but little time is lost here. Finally, we're on our way and around 2pm exit province.
Nang Rong....... By now we've selected an overnight stop which will see us passing through Si Sa Khet and Surin provinces before entering the province of Buriram. Using the well-made and quiet Hwy 24 we make good progress and enter the town Nang Rong around 5pm. The journey has taken just three hours, yet we've completed almost 40% of the journey back to Bangkok. In Nang Rong we search around for suitable accommodation and before long we locate the quite newly built S.S. Hotel which is practical and comfortable except for the fact that no breakfast is included, so to call this a hotel is incorrect as there were no dining facilities.
Missed Steak....... After quite a busy day we are relieved to find that just next door they serve beef steak. It should be a great alternative to going searching around the town looking for dinner remembering that we really had a good breakfast and managed to skip lunch. However, unfortunately the beef steak I thought I was going to enjoy is not to be. Apparently, the farm which supplies this restaurant uses imported livestock. This takes the price out of range for what would be reasonable for me. Pork or fish is a much cheaper option which proves rather tasteless compared to the Thai food we normally eat.
Now it's back to the room for quiet evening. Barring any stops, tomorrow should also prove quite straightforward taking less than 5 hours actual driving.
Next Page.
On a Wish List....... Our stay at Wish Hotel overnight has been a pleasant one despite the rather claustrophobic bathroom and we now look forward to a super breakfast which we're told is buffet style. We arrive in the dining hall to enjoy one of those rarer occasions when we don't have to self-cater for breakfast. On top of that the food selection is just incredible as much as you can eat and drink. However, today we must concentrate on our return to Bangkok but because of the distance involved it is both unfair on my partner and unnecessary to complete the journey in one day even though the journey could be done in 10 hours. With this in mind, we can break the journey up and in fact take our time in starting the journey this morning. We might as well do a little more sightseeing around the city first.
Misinformed....... An obvious attraction worth visiting in the city is Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. Online information indicates that it's open today but when we arrive it's not and that is no surprise given that it's Thai New Year. Well, we still have a couple of hours to play with and might as well visit more temples and as it's the second day of Songkran celebrations, get a free car wash as well. So, what else is there in the city? We soon find out.
Wat Su Patanaram....... Wat Su Patanaram is located close to the Mun riverbank. The main temple hall is built in a unique style, mixing European, Chinese and Thai elements. The lavishly designed hall was built to receive grace to perform the Royal Cremation Ceremony replicating the moon flower laying ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) that took place at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on October 26, 2017.
Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram....... Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram is a royal temple on Uparat Road beside the City Hall. The ordination hall is in the same style as the Marbel Temple in Bangkok. The Topaz Buddha image called Phra Kaew Busara Kham one of the town’s sacred images was brought from Si Sattanakanahut, Laos and kept here.
I must admit that I am privileged to be here during the three days of Songkran. During this time the sacred image is placed in a position that allows worshippers to pour water over it in an annual cleansing ritual.
Wat Luang Phaithun....... Wat Luang Phaithun was built in 1791 by the first governor Phra Pratumworaratchasuriyawong (Chao Khamphong). Wat Luang is considered the signature of Ubon Ratchathani. In those days this temple was the place where the ceremony of an oath of allegiance was held. Phrachaoyai Ong Luang is the important Buddha image in this temple with the aureole around the body that gives its Buddhist characteristic. The image is housed in the wihan (sermon hall). Here normally sits Phra Kaew Phaithun, one of the most important Buddha images of Ubon Ratchathani made of white gemstone and seated in the attitude of meditation. The natural crystal image is over 100 years old. For Songkran it is repositioned for the water pouring ceremony.
At the time of my visit during this festive period the image is proudly displayed while there is also a hand washing ceremony offered by the head monk to the public who eagerly await their turn to be blessed. For those who wish to visit this temple during Songkran they must run the gauntlet to avoid being thoroughly soaked by water gushing out into the street from two dragon head water spouts.
Finally, there are quotes here from Buddha and Ajahn Chan, the founder of the modern 'Forest Path' tradition, and posted in English (see my note for Wat Nong Pa Phong and the Thai Forest Tradition in my blog for yesterday).
Wat Liab....... There are a number of beautiful buildings at Wat Liab including two chedis next to each other. The walls of the main temple building are covered with murals depicting Buddhist stories and teachings. A small meditation pagoda has a fishpond around it. This is a quiet and relaxing place with minah birds singing in the background. Wat Liab also houses one of Ubon Ratchathani's sacred images, Phra Kaew Nin Klan, an old gemstone image black in colour which is repositioned for the water pouring ceremony during Songkran.
Wat Manee Wararam....... Wat Manee Wararam is another temple in the city and close to Wat Thung Si Mueang. It houses one of the five sacred precious stone images located in the city, this one named Phra Kaew Kamain is made from garnet.
Five of the city temples I have now visited have one thing in common; they all house precious stone Buddha images each unique. Naturally there are religious celebrations at each of these temples the most obvious activity being the display of these precious images for the public to cleanse or bless by the pouring of water.
On Track Again....... Naturally visiting each of these temples has taken time but by 1pm we are prepared to head west. Rather to my surprise, all the main city temples have now been visited. At Warin Chamrap, a sub district of Ubon Ratchathani, I again visit the railway station where overnight there has been some movement of locomotives, but little time is lost here. Finally, we're on our way and around 2pm exit province.
Nang Rong....... By now we've selected an overnight stop which will see us passing through Si Sa Khet and Surin provinces before entering the province of Buriram. Using the well-made and quiet Hwy 24 we make good progress and enter the town Nang Rong around 5pm. The journey has taken just three hours, yet we've completed almost 40% of the journey back to Bangkok. In Nang Rong we search around for suitable accommodation and before long we locate the quite newly built S.S. Hotel which is practical and comfortable except for the fact that no breakfast is included, so to call this a hotel is incorrect as there were no dining facilities.
Missed Steak....... After quite a busy day we are relieved to find that just next door they serve beef steak. It should be a great alternative to going searching around the town looking for dinner remembering that we really had a good breakfast and managed to skip lunch. However, unfortunately the beef steak I thought I was going to enjoy is not to be. Apparently, the farm which supplies this restaurant uses imported livestock. This takes the price out of range for what would be reasonable for me. Pork or fish is a much cheaper option which proves rather tasteless compared to the Thai food we normally eat.
Now it's back to the room for quiet evening. Barring any stops, tomorrow should also prove quite straightforward taking less than 5 hours actual driving.
Next Page.
Ubon Ratchathani Province
Ubon Ratchathani National Museum, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Wat Su Patanaram,
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Mun River, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram,
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Wat Luang Phaithun,
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Wat Liab, Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Wat Manee Wararam,
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani Railway Station, Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani District