Phu Foi Lom - Eco Park near Udon Thani...

Phu Foi Lom is an Eco-tourism destination which provides different activities for nature lovers, such as hiking, trekking and relaxing in a garden style area of approximately 192'356 Rai of land.

Phu Foi Lom is part of the Pan Don Pa Ko National Reserved Park, where rare flora and fauna can be spotted.

Phu Foi Lom is located about 40 kilometers southwest of Udon Thani.

Big bangs on Planet Yasothon - Bang Fai Festival

The Northeastern province gets ready for its annual ‘Bang Fai’ Festival ...

Big bangs on Planet Yasothon

Lush river life... some impressions...

Ferry crossing the Mekong River in Ban Houay Xay, Bokeo Province, Northern Laos.

Boys playing football on the banks of the Nam Ou in Ban Soph Van, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.

Ban Nong Khiow at the Nam Ou, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.

Fisherman checking his net on Nam Khan, near Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.

Training for the boat racing festival?, Nam Khan, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.

Children enjoying the 2008 flood at Nam Khan Riverside, Luang Prabang town, Laos.

Girl watching the 2008 flooding in Luang Prabang town, Luang Prabang Province, Northern Laos.

Boats in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Boat racing festivals are held in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand during the months of September and October.

Flooting restaurant in Pakse on the Sedone River, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.

Boat landing to cross the Mekong river, opposite Ban Champasak (near UNESCO World Heritage site of Vat Phou), Champasak Province, Southern Laos.

Sunset over the Mekong, Khong Island, Sipandone area, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.

Abundant fish life, market on Khong Island, Champasak Province, Southern Laos.

Fisherman fixing his traps, Preah Rumkel community, Stung Treng Province, Cambodia.

Ferry boat in Stung Treng town, Stung Treng Province, Cambodia.

Thai New Year - Songkran, Songkran!!!

Each year in the middle of April Thai and Lao people celebrate New Year (Thai: Songkran; Lao Piimai) and show their respect for Buddha images, elderly people and their parents and superiors. The whole house is getting cleaned and refurbished. Parents are respectfully splashed with some water and powder. Often flower offerings are given as well. Similarly, vehicles such as cars and mopeds, are blessed with flowers, water and powder ...

Who ever is traveling on roads, will almost certainly get a shower from people waiting for their opportunity along the street side. Water is drown from passing cars or from kids who are heavily armed with water pistols and all kind of tools to splash water. This provides you a nice cool off during the hottest time of the year ...

Caution is however advised on Laos and Thailand's roads, as the number of fatal accidents is increasing every year!

Otherwise, a few older clothes assembled, mounted with a hat and equipped with a water pistol and off you go and join in for the ultimate water splash of the year! Happy New Year! Happy Songkran!

Luang Prabang Night Market - a photografic impression

Wat Kham Chanot - abode of naga lord Sisotho

Wat Kham Chanot (Thai: วัดคำชะโนด) is a Buddhist forest temple near Kham Chanot village in Udon Thani province, Northeastern Thailand (Isaan).

The temple is located in the Wang Nakhin area at a lake where the naga lord Sisotho, a mythical large snake, is supposed to be living.

The worship of this naga lord is one of the main issue in this small forest monastery.

Around eight to ten monks live here on a permanent base.

Locals (Isaan and Lao people) believe that the naga lord has a hideaway on the island.
It is connected to the other Wat premises by a bridge.

The entrance of the bridge is guarded by two large nagas. The shrine of the Wat is located on the island.

A small zoo as well as a rural market for visitors has been added to the temple.

Phra That Nong Khai - the sunken pagoda

Phra That Nong Khai (aka Phra That Klang Nam) is the remains of a 400 to 600 year old temple that collapsed into the Mekong River in 1847.

Subsequent erosion left the stupa now in the center of the river. It is only visible during the dry season and low water levels of the Mekong River.

Nong Khai people decorate the small part above the surface with flags.

A newly constructed replica of the original temple was built in 2006 on the riverbank close to its original location.

Just follow the promanade along the Mekong River towards the Thai-Lao Friendship bridge.

Mekong Sunset... Luang Prabang

Interesting places in Vientiane: Ho Kang

Ho Kang - the tiny spirit house of the Chao Ho Kang is located on the Mekong Riverside at Fa Ngum boulevard. This small shrine is a place of ancestor worship of the old Chinese community in Vientiane.

The main room is dedicated to Chinese gods and deities, while the less well known shrine of the Lao spirit Chao Ho Kang is in the smaller room to the right.

Before 1975 yearly purification rites for the muang (town) Vientiane were held here.