Wat Thawet, sometimes spelt Tawet or Tewet is within cycling distance of New Sukhothai. We made most of the journey there along the roads and paths that run by the river before having to cover the last stretch on the main road. Here is famous for one hundred brightly painted, concrete statues that depict morality tales and Buddhist fables, we were hoping for another Haw … Continue reading Wat Thawet – Garden of Hell
Until Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao led and won a rebellion against the city’s rulers in 1238, Sukhothai was part of the Khmer Empire. Successful in his campaign, he became the first king of the newly formed Sukhothai Kingdom. In sanskrit, Sukhothai means ‘dawn of happiness’, and historians believe that it was here that Thailand’s introduction to the Buddhist religion was introduced. The Sukhothai kingdom … Continue reading Old Sukhothai Kingdom
We are here out of necessity as we make our way to Sukhothai, another ancient capital of years gone by. The more we read about Phitsanulok, the more we discovered to do. It does merit a visit in its own right. Much of the history of Phitsanulok dates to the late fourteenth / early fifteenth century. As nearby Sukhothai was on the verge of losing … Continue reading A Day & a Half in Phitsanulok
After a wholesome breakfast of omelettes, baguette, fresh fruit and a strong Lao coffee, we headed down the road to hire a bicycle. It is all very informal here – hand over 25,000 kip (less than £1), and you are on your way. With our hats placed in the front basket, we pedal away. The roads are flat, our bikes single geared but far more … Continue reading Cycling Don Det and Neighbouring Don Khon.
Neil Armstrong famously said ‘that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’. Annually, we visit Whitby and climb the 199 steps up to the Abbey. This year, we have super-charged ourselves and tackled the near 600 steps up to Wat Phousalao. There are definitely more than 550 steps to reach the Golden Buddha at Wat Phousalao in Pakse, Laos. The exact number … Continue reading Wat Phousalao, Pakse
Rather than a wordy blog, a selection of photographs we have taken as locals go about their daily life… Work … Rest … Play … Continue reading Laos – Work, Rest and Play
We departed Champasak with a thick bundle of kip, having been forewarned that there are no ATMs on the islands. Having crossed the river we have a brief wait by the roadside for our minibus and the subsequent bumpy journey along route 13, unlucky for anyone who suffers from a bad back, to the boat jetty at Nakasong. On more than one occasion, our heads … Continue reading Don Det – 4,000 Islands
This small town was the seat of the Kingdom of Champasak until the French abolished this independent state in 1945 and created the Kingdom of Laos. The town is even smaller today, more a series of villages that nestle on a pair of roads beside the Mekong River. A string of guesthouses and restaurants cater to the tourists who are visiting the UNESCO World Heritage … Continue reading Champasak
We arrived in Pakse soon after midday. The minibus ride from the border might have been along a toll road, but the cows and goats still had the right of way. This part of Laos is rural, and even when we arrive in Pakse, the biggest city in southern Laos, it retains that vibe. Over the next two weeks, we are back and forth from … Continue reading Pakse, Laos
We arrived in Ubon via a seven hour train journey from Ayutthaya to a welcome from local students on the railway station. First impressions are good. Ubon is not really on the tourist trail, most western visitors here are passing through, making their way to or from Pakse in Laos. With time to kill, we are stopping for a couple of nights, a new Thai … Continue reading 48 hours in Ubon Ratchathani
OK, it is the temples and the history that deservedly earn Ayutthaya its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Away from, or in-between, that side of things are a few other places that are well worth a visit. If you venture a mile or so outside of the island city, you can find the King Naresuan Monument. If you are on foot or bicycle … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Beyond the Temples…
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort in Thailand, yet relatively unknown in the UK. It’s around a three hour drive from Bangkok, on the Gulf of Thailand and boasts the country’s best golf courses as well as fantastic beaches. This once small fishing village became popular when the King built himself a palace here in the 1920s, and it has retained strong ties to … Continue reading Hua Hin
Oldest On the Bus 