Thailand's Isan Region

Part 4 of 4

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Sunrise from our front porch at the Peerada River View Resort in Khong Jiam

Here's why we were up so early. This rooster crowed every hour from about 1:20 am onward--right outside our front door.

Our room at the Peerada River View Resort--simple but comfortable--a great place to stay

Khong Jiam's Morning Market...lots of prepared foods--so breakfast can be given to the temple monks

Wat Tham Kuhasawan, Khong Jiam

Preparing food plates to set in front of the Buddha statues for the monks' breakfast

View of Khong Jiam and the Mekong River (Laos on the other side) from Wat Tam Kuhasawan

Pha Taem National Park

The famous 'Mushroom Rocks' at Sao Cha Ling

Huge cracks in the rocks at Lan Hin Taek, inside Pha Taem National Park

Local school children act as guides for visits to the rock paintings. The sign points to the fartherst ones but there are some about 20 minutes down the rock stairs and along the path.

Pha Taem is the largest prehistoric rock painting site in Thailand. It dates back 3,000 - 4,000 years ago. There are four groups of paintings --about 300 in total

that describe daily life including hunting and fishing activities.

Peaceful vistas from the Tham Nang Lee Cave

Simple cottages for the Abbot and the monk who live at the Forest Temple, Wat Siri Pa Lan Sai (the Temple of the Sand Yard)

The Abbot spoke with us about life in a forest temple. "Quiet means you have time to think. The forest provides a balance between the rubber trees and spiritual living".

For our last night in Isan, we had a cooking lesson in the kitchen of the Peerada River View Resort, courtesy of Kob, our guide and Pop, her husband, our driver. Then we

carried everything to our porch and had a delicious sunset dinner.

Our guide (and cooking instructor) Kob, from Smiling Albino Tours

Sunset on the Mekong

On the way to the airport in Ubon Ratchatani, we stopped at some 'drum and gong' factories.

Drums and Gongs

We flew back to Bangkok, checked into the Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok Hotel and immediately set out for a very late lunch at a Pad Thai specialty restaurant.

A visit to Wat Pho, a short walk from the hotel.

Statues of Chinese Gods in Wat Pho

The reclining Buddha at Wat Pho

The footprint of the reclining Buddha

The Bangkok flower market is very close to Wat Pho.

The Bangkok Subway--very clean and efficient

The view from our room at the Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok Hotel. My favourite temple, Wat Arun--the Temple of the Dawn---is directly across the Chao Phraya River from the hotel. Absolutely

awesome to sit in your room and see the temple lit up all night. Great hotel.

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