Finding the true Northeast

Great article in Bangkok Post - Finding the true Northeast, introducing some of Thailand's most serene and unknown heritage, natural wonders and high lights: Phimai Historical Park, Khon Kaen and Bueng Kan prvince' Wat Phu Thok and Udon Thani. Most people know Bangkok, Thailand's islands or Chiang Mai in the North, few have been exploring the more rural, laid back and relaxed Northeast, also know as Isaan, an area full of history with an abundant flora and fauna, well worth while to travel and experience.

Enjoy!

5th Thai-Lao bridge plan to be discussed

Plans for construction of a 5th Thai-Lao friendship bridge across the Mekong River, between Bue ng Kan province of Thailand and Paksane town of Bolikhamxay province if Laos, will be raised for discussion when Transport Minister Chadchat Suttipunt visits Laos on Feb 21.

5th Thai-Lao bridge plan to be discussed | Bangkok Post

Bueng Kan connected - 5th Mekong bridge planned

Bung Kan will get connected to Laos Bolikhamsay province through a 1.5 kilometre, 1.5 billion baht Friendship bridge..

According to Bung Kan's Governor Pornsak Jearanai, should the construction of the bridge begin within the next three years. "The Thai cabinet has approved the project and the governments of both countries have agreed in principle to have the fifth bridge built."

The 5th Friendship bridge will be built about 12 km east of the center of Buneg Kan and will link the province with the capital of Bolikhamxay Paksan.

It is expected, that once the bridge is open trade will increase between the two countries from the present 5.4 billon baht to some 24 billion baht. This would be a similar level as the trade volume of the 1st Thai - Lao Friendship bridge in Nong Khai and Vientiane.

The Bung Kan Friendship bridge will shorten the traveling distance from Thailand to Vietnam considerably, thus also boost cross border, holiday and business traffic between the three countries: Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

This will allow Bung Kan to become a bridge head into Indochina and Chine.

Other Friendship bridges are:

• 1st Thai - Lao Friendship bridge: Nong Khai (TH) - Vientiane (LAO), 1'170m (0.73 mi) long, the bridge has two lanes, two footpaths and a single 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) gauge railway line in the middle of the bridge.
   
• 2nd  Thai - Lao Friendship bridge: Mukdahan (TH) - Savannakhet (LAO), 1'600 meters (1.0 mi) long and 12 meters (39 ft) wide, with two traffic lanes.
  
• 3rd Thai - Lao Friendship bridge: Nakhon Phanom (TH) - Thakhek (LAO), 1'423 m long and 13 m wide.
  
• 4th Thai - Lao Friendship bridge: Chiang Khong (TH) - Houay Xay (LAO), proposed bridge...

Stay in Style - The One Hotel in Bueng Kan

During the yearly renewal of my Visa Extension I had the opportunity to stay at The One hotel - Muang Bueng Kan's most recent hotel addition.

The five-story hotel offers 74 superior and deluxe rooms along with 5 The One Suites, right at the entrance of the town, close to the new Tesco Lotus shopping mall and the City Hall of Bueng Kan.

The brand new modern rooms are spacious, bright and nicely decorated and offer all required amenities. The One Hotel has a restaurant, fitness center, meeting facilities, pool, poolside bar and garden.

The One Hotel is an ideal place to stay while in Bueng Kan.


The One hotel is at 59 moo1 Bueng Kan - Nakhon Phanom Rd., Bueng Kan, Muang Bueng Kan, Bueng Kan, Thailand 38000

Bueng Kan - 77. and newest province of Thailand - my home province

Bueng Kan (Thai: บึงกาฬ) is the 77th province of the Kingdom of Thailand, established last year 2554 (2011) on and from March 23, 2011. The province of Bueng Kan, consisting of the districts partitioned off from Nong Khai Province, is situated along the Mekong River in the northeastern region of the country, called Isaan. The province is named after its central district, Mueang Bueng Kan.


The province is subdivided into 8 districts (Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 54 subdistricts (tambon) and 599 villages (muban).

The districts are:

• Mueang Bueng Kan
• Phon Charoen
• So Phisai
• Seka
• Pak Khat
• Bueng Khong Long
• Si Wilai
• Bung Khla

Tourist attractions include:

• Bueng Khong Long Lake - Isaan's little sea...
• Wat Phu Tok - "Isaan's Stairway to Heaven"
• Mekong Sunset... in Pak Khat

Bueng Khong Long Lake - Isaan's little sea...

Khong Khong Long Lake is situated in the Bueng Khong Long (Thai: บึงโขงหลง) district of the newly established Bueng Kan province. The lake is a massive fresh water reservoir built in 1976 and finished in 1979 by his Majesty the King and the Royal Thai Irrigation Department.

The 13 km long and 2 km wide lake has an approximate size of 8,064 rai or 22 square km and is considered a major eco-tourism site in Southern Bueng Kan province.

The lake attracts water sports enthusiast, hunters, fishermen and nature loving people alike. Small food stalls and water sport gear rental shops are available to serve customers needs. Lakeside huts allow to rest and eat, while guarding playing kids.

In 1981 Khong Khong Long Lake has been registered as a wetlands area of international ranking.

The Lake can be reached by following the highway 212 from Nong Khai to Bueng Kan and further to Bueng Khla. Then take a rigth turn onto road 2026 and follow it until you reach Bueng Khong Long.

Wat Phu Thok - “Isaan's Stairway to Heaven”

One of the most compelling and interesting destinations in the region to the east east of Nong Khai is the hilltop meditation retreat of Wat Phu Thok. Wat Phu Thok resides near the foot of two massive sandstone outcrops on a plain 35 km to the southeast of Muang Bueng Kan in Nong Khai province. Wat Phu Thok accommodates for fifty or so monks, which live in scattered huts on perches high above breathtaking cliffs on the sandstone mountains. Wat Phu Thok has been turned into a a quite Meditation retreat, famous with locals and foreigners alike.

While driving from Bueng Kan towards Wat Phu Thok, the two sandstone outcrops comes into ones sight long before one gets there. Its impressive red sandstone wall, surrounded by green vegetation and lush forests on the narrow Khorat plateau is most astonishing. While getting closer to the rock, the white lines on its wall across the whole mountain reveal themselves as wooden walkways, constructed in seven connected levels, which represent the seven different stages of enlightenment in the Buddhist belief.

The beautiful garden at the base is reflected in a small lake and houses a marble chedi, which commemorates Phra Ahjan Juen, the founder of Wat Phu Thok. He founded the temple in 1968 and died in a plane crash ten years later on the way to Bangkok.

By following long, sometimes slippery, wooden staircases takes you to the third level. Here the visitor is presented with a choice of two routes which will finally lead to the top. One – the left way is more interesting – as it leads around the rock to the fifth and most important level of the Wat Phu Thok complex, where temple's main Buddha statue is housed in the Sala Yai in a dimly lit small cavern.

The artificial ledges, which are built into the rock and across the northeastern face are not for the fainthearted, as crossing these bridges gives the feeling of walking into the air...But they will lead you finally to the dramatic northwestern end of the level five. Here a deep crevice can be crossed by using a wooden bridge which was constructed by monks to connect to the open-sided Buddha viharn.

This spot allows for most stunning views over a broad sweep of the Isaan countryside and across to the second, uninhabited sandstone outcrop. The flat top of the hill forms the seventh level, where you can wander through overgrown paths and thick forest. Make sure, that you remember where your entrance/exit to the seventh level was, as it is easy to lose the orientation on the dense jungle covered hill top - or one could say to find enlightenment will searching the way back...

The visit with my family to Wat Phu Thok was amongst the best experiences and day trips I ever did.

A great, easy and pleasant journey.