Recently in Khorat Category

The first of the photos from my trip have been uploaded. I was able to get through the ones from Nakorn Ratchasima (Khorat) including some good ones of the Khmer temples of Prasat Hin Panom Wan and Prasat Hin Phi Mai and the archeology sites that uncovered a pre-historic culture at Ban Prasat.

You can view the pictures in the Pictures of Khorat Photo Album.

Again, I have uploaded some good ones to a new folder on Webshots. There are a few new ones in there as well, so check 'em out.

Final Korat Thoughts

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My final thoughts on Korat? Big city pollution without the nightlife of Bangkok. History and a city moat without the charm of Chiang Mai. But, in its defense, I still had a great time.

For example, last night after another delicious dinner I was wandering around town looking for something fun to do. Eventually I gave up and sat down on the sidewalk to watch life go by. Five minutes later a teen-aged boy sat down next to me and started talking to me in Thai. Two minutes after that his friend came over and sat next to him. Ten minutes later I was surrounded by about 12 guys with apparently nothing to do other than hang out with a tourist who didn't speak their language.

It was an educational experience, to say the least. I learned a few new Thai words and I learned what the youth of Korat do on a Monday night (sit around and talk about the girls passing by on motorbikes). After an hour or so of this, I was offered a ride back to my hotel, which I gladly accepted.

This morning I took the bus to Khon Kaen. First impressions? Damn it's HOT here. According to the little weather sticker right now, its 95 F. Whew. Next stop after this: Udon Thani and Nong Khai on the Laotian border.

Southern Isaan is a poor man's Angkor. What I mean is, if you don't want to spend US$300 on a plane ride from Bangkok to Siam Reap, Cambodia, then spend US$5 and get on a bus to Nakorn Ratchasima!

Today I rented a motorcycle and drove up to see a few Angkor-style temples. In fact, the temples I saw today actually pre-date the Khmer temples I vistited last year in Cambodia. They were a bit smaller as well, but they were still very impressive. First, I stopped by Prasat Hin Pranum Wan and then went to Prasat Hin Phimai. Phimai is the bigger of the two, but both were great. I had a lot of fun climbing all over and exploring the re-built ruins.

I also stopped by an archological site called Ban Prasat. There, archeologists have uncovered Bronze Age burial sites. A few of the sites have been left uncovered so that modern-day travelers can look down into the pits to see the skeletons and pottery that was buried with them. One site in particular had about 10 human remains visible about 15 feet down. Very cool.

I finished off the day swimming a few laps at a neighborhood pool I found. Again, everyone was so very friendly I couldn't help but have a great time. The cool water was definitely welcome to my hot, sweaty, moderately sunburned body.

Nakhorn Ratchasima (Korat)

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After a 3 hour bus ride in a weekly air-conditioned bus I arrived in Nakorn Ratchasima, also known as Korat. Surprisingly, it was a little bit of a culture shock for me, mostly because the people here have been so incredibly friendly and nice.

I think part of the reason is that I am one of the few white people in town. I saw about 5 other farang, but that was at a shopping mall. In the 6 hours I have been here, those are the only non-thai faces I have seen. Because of this everyone stares at me as I walk by.

Not a half-hour goes by without someone (young/old, male/female) trying to talk to me. One old man grabbed my hand as I walked by and said, "What is your name?" His friends looked on and smiled as he told me in some language that sounded a little bit like English that he lived in Los Angeles for two years (I think). Another time four young guys were walking down the street towards me and one turned to me with arms out saying, "Welcome to Nakorn Ratchasima!" Surprising, yet... for a lack of a better word, welcoming!

Despite traveling alone, how could I possibly be lonely here with everyone talking to me all day?

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This page is an archive of recent entries in the Khorat category.

Khon Kaen is the previous category.

Nong Khai is the next category.

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