After a pretty uneventful day in Khorat, Nico, Isabelle, Anjali, Antoine, and I headed to the small town of Phimai to see the Khmer ruins located in the middle of the town. The temple faces Angkor (southeast), which is different than most temples which typically face east. There used to be a road that ran from Prasat Hin Phimai to Angkor.
 |
| The cover to the album for the band were going to form |
After the ruins we had some lunch and while Nico and Isabelle explored the surrounding countryside by motorbike, Anjali, Antoine, and I took a nap next to an old Chedi in the center of town. Phimai was so relaxing and a good start to what would be a great trip in the Northeast of Thailand. After a beautiful day in Phimai we all headed back to Khorat to catch a bus to our respective destinations.
 |
| The flowers are all blooming now! |
 |
| Nico and Izzy on their motorbike |
 |
| Anjali, Antoine, and I had a nice relaxing afternoon hanging out on some ancient ruins |
Back in Khorat we ate some dinner and then Nico, Isabelle, and Anjali headed to Chiang Mai, while Antoine and I hung out in the town square of Khorat and watched some bikers at a bike park while we waited for to go catch our bus later that night. While we were in the park a woman (possibly inebriated) came up to us and literally talked to us for half an hour in Thai. Despite our consistent attempts to let her know we couldn't understand anything she was saying, she continued to speak to us. It was quite comical.
When we headed to the bus station we were supposed to catch a bus at 11:00 p.m., however, the bus did not show up until 2 am. Since there was a big crowd, I got on the bus to save us some seats while Antoine went to buy tickets and put our bags away, unfortunately the bus driver disappeared and I was therefore stuck on the bus and Antoine and the other passengers were stuck outside. This went on until about 4 a.m. All the while the bus driver was pretty much just hanging around playing on his stupid gameboy thing. We didn't leave Khorat until about 6:30 am, we watched the sunrise from that stupid bus station. Then we didn't get to Ubon until about 2:30 p.m. (yes 8 hours) and the bus was so packed that people were standing packed in the aisle, for 8 hours! Literally every time there was a sign that said "Ubon" and pointed in one direction, the bus would turn the other direction. Basically the worst bus experience, ever. But no worries, I kept my cool, and the bus driver is still alive and well.
Ubon was quite pleasant, it is on the Moon River and we were probably the only tourists there. Most everything is written in only Thai (not a lot of English in the Northeast) so it was a different experience. Antoine and I explored this island on the Moon River where they had these cool bamboo huts where the locals go to swim and tube behind jet skis and eat at the beachside restaurant. Then we headed to the night market to taste some local food and explored the sleepy city a bit by night before heading to sleep after an extremely long day on the bus.
 |
| The Moon River in Ubon |
 |
| The island in the middle of the Moon River where all the locals were hanging out |
 |
| On the sand bar there were all these huts and you can order food from the restaurant on the beach and they bring your food to the hut. Most people would swim around the huts as well, in their clothes of course. |
 |
| Sunset on the island |
 |
| Baguette sandwiches for dinner at the night market |
 |
| Having a beer in the police stand |
 |
| Fountain in Ubon |
The next day we rented a motorbike and explored the country side. We found a Wat about 14 km from the city center located in a small village. We also checked out a metal working village call Ban Pa Ao and ordered some ice cream at the local community center where pretty much every child from the village was swimming at the community pool. Then we headed to another beach where we did like the locals and swam in our clothes in the Moon River and ordered food in the bamboo huts after a very long and hot day of exploring the outskirts of Ubon. Being able to explore on a motorbike and go where you want was one of the best parts of the trip. It was so nice to be able to travel on your own and see the remote areas of Thailand without the tourists everywhere. It was a very cool experience.
 |
| At a Wat in the countryside outside of Ubon |
 |
| Our badass purple little motorbike |
 |
| At the metal working village of Ban Pa Ao |
 |
| We stopped at the village community center to grab some ice cream |
 |
| We went for a swim at a beach outside of downtown Ubon. It was the same kind of set up as the island with the huts and restaurants. |
 |
| Volleyball! |
 |
| The beach, it was such a beautiful day |
After returning the bike we attempted to catch a bus to Mukdahan, however we were about a half an hour late to catch the last bus so we ended up meeting this very friendly Thai women who drove us to an all Thai hotel and bargained with the owner to let us stay there for the Thai price. Then we headed to beer garden like restaurant, with a stage and singing and dancing, and all Thais. We spoke with the owner who helped us order and talked with us most of the night. He suggested a "country" bar down the street so we thought we would check it out. Turns out it was a huge barn like bar full of Thai people and a huge stage with a band and two big screens. It was amazing. We went down to the main floor to dance and realized we were the only white people there. However, it worked to our advantage as all the Thai people were fascinated that we were there and everyone kept offering us drinks and dancing with us. It was so much fun. The best experience I've had going out with Thai people.
The next morning we woke up early and saw the sun rise as we caught the first bus to Mukdahan, a town along the Mekong river (which happens to be the border between Laos and Thailand). Mukdahan was a small little town with a large Indochina market and an observation tower where you could go up and see the whole city and the Mekong and Laos. Besides that though there wasn't much to see so we caught the bus to That Phanom, another small town along the Mekong.
 |
| The Mekong river in Mukdahan, across the river is Laos |
 |
| Indochina market in Mukdahan |
 |
| An elephant in Mukdahan |
 |
| The Mukdahan Tower |
 |
| The town of Mukdahan from the tower |
 |
| Some local children taking an afternoon swim in the river |
 |
| Getting ready for Songkran! |
 |
| Tuk tuks on steroids |
 |
| So ready for Songkran |
That Phanom was another sleepy little town sitting on the Mekong. We explored the town a little bit and had some great appetizers at the night market then went to the main temple in the center of town. It was all lit up at night, very beautiful.
 |
| Sunset in That Phanom |
 |
| Temple in the middle of That Phanom |
 |
| Monks were worshipping when we visited |
The next day was the first day of Songkran and starting in the morning kids were stationed outside their houses and parents shops ready with water guns and buckets of water. Being some of the only foreigners in town, Antoine and I ended up being pretty big targets and before long we were soaked and covered in baby powder. The tradition started with children paying respect to their elders by pouring water over their hands, but has now turned into a nation wide water fight. And everyone participates. At one point Antoine and I were talking through town and saw a bunch of pick up trunks lining up for a parade. One had a trailer complete with a drum set and bunch of thai men playing music, three big barrels of water and buckets, and a lot of older women drinking beer. So when they invited us on of course we agreed. The women were so drunk and dancing and singing and handing us drinks. As other trucks would drive by we would throw water on them and other people would hop on trailer and pour water on everyone. It was craziness.
 |
| Songkran!! |
 |
| He's ready to go |
 |
| Literally just battling in the streets |
 |
| Soaked and covered in baby powder |
 |
| This is the trailer we got on with a band in the back and lots of drunken women |
 |
| Monks were celebrating too |
 |
| Even the fire department got involved, they brought out a real hose |
 |
| The band |
 |
| My favorite Thai woman ever |
 |
| It's on |
 |
| Even at the bus station |
But after awhile Antoine and I had to leave to catch our bus, which proved harder than we expected to make it to the bus station without getting soaked again. So we drove the 11 hours back to Bangkok and then Thursday and Friday enjoyed Songkran in Bangkok. We went to Silom road both days and I have never seen so many people in one place. The road was blocked off and people EVERYWHERE. At one point we were walking down the street spraying people with squirt guns and getting clay smeared all over our face and the crowd just came to a standstill. You literally couldn't move.
 |
| Silom street packed with people in Bangkok |
 |
| Clay everywhere |
 |
| Kids were playing the fountains at the park |
It was a great experience though. The US needs a holiday like that. Although I don't know if we could pull something like that off. What really amazed me was that the people were so respectful about it. Even though you were getting baby powder and clay smeared on your face and you were being sprayed in the face with water, people managed to always do it in a respectful way. And no one gets upset with anyone. I feel like that just wouldn't happen in the US.
Well now its back to real life, well kinda, and back to school! Only a few more weeks left and I need to get back on top of my studies and get ready for finals!
