2015 - North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Day 17

North-Eastern (I-San) Thailand and Laos, 16 Nov - 10 Dec 2015 (25days)

We had good breakfast at our hotel Kasoin Place, Buri Ram.

Day 17 (2.12.2015) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)

On day 17 we took the train at 9.55am for a change from Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima arriving at 11.40am. Along the way we stopped at the smallest train station at Phra Phut. In Nakhon Ratchasima we walked around the town and visited an unnamed Wat, Wat Salawan a forest meditation centre and Wat Sala Loi. 
 
Sleeping at Tokyo Hotel, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Four of us in this tuk-tuk from hotel to Buri Ram railway train station. Three sat behind and I have to half-stand beside the rider.


Four of us in this tuk-tuk from hotel to Buri Ram railway train station.


A vegetable vendor at the Buri Ram railway train station which was opened in 1925.


Getting on board the local train from Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima arriving at 11.40am.


Approaching to one of the railway train stations along the way to Nakhon Ratchasima.


Beautiful display of windmill at one of the railway train stations to Nakhon Ratchasima.


At railway train stations along the way to Nakhon Ratchasima.


The beautiful railway train station toilet along the way to Nakhon Ratchasima.


At the Lamplaimat railway train station. Train is the cheapest transportation in Thailand.


At the Lamplaimat railway train station. Train is the cheapest transportation in Thailand.


We don't know if the Malaysian flag was reversed.


We stopped at the smallest train station at Phra Phut along the way to Nakhon Ratchasima.
 
 


At an unnamed Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima town. We do not know its name. This looks like a new crematorium.


An old Wat besides the new one. We do not know its name.


Murals & carvings on the wall of the old Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


Inside the old Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


We do not know the name of this new Wat in Nakhon Ratchasima.


This is the Sala tree and its fruit at Wat Salawan in Nakhon Ratchasima. In Buddhist tradition, it is said that Queen Māyā of Sakya gave birth to Gautama Buddha under a sala tree in a garden in Lumbini, in south Nepal, while grasping its branch.


This is the Sala flowers at Wat Salawan, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Wat Salawan, Nakhon Ratchasima is a meditation centre with sunflowers surround the main stupa.


This forested 17 acres Wat Salawan has about 80 monks, a sermon hall, a wihan, Phra Tam Nak.


Statues of revered monks inside the stupa of Wat Salawan, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Wat Salawan houses the ashes of 3 revered monks: Acharn Man, Acharn Tim and Acharn Sao.


Monk conducting blessing to school students at Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Monk conducting blessing to school students at Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Wat Sala Loi was built in 1827 by Thao Suranari and her husband.


School students at Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


School students at Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


A revered monk at Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Unique statues in Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


This Buddha statue is unique as it has 9 faces inside Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Wat Sala Loi has a large standing white Buddha with arms raised and palms facing outwards.


Wat Sala Loi has a large standing white Buddha with arms raised and palms facing outwards.


Wat Sala Loi has a large standing white Buddha with arms raised and palms facing outwards.


Beautiful statues of the guardians inside Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Beautiful statues of the guardians inside Wat Sala Loi, Nakhon Ratchasima.


Dinner was chicken rice beside our Tokyo Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima.


Dinner was chicken rice beside our Tokyo Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima.


Had Thai dessert, Ruam Mitr in coconut milk, syrup, barley, ginkgo nut and bean-curd soup.


Had Thai dessert, Ruam Mitr in coconut milk, syrup, barley, ginkgo nut and bean-curd soup.


We then walked to Nakhon Ratchasima night market before calling a night.

Day 17 Cost Item in Thai Baht Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax
2.12.2015 Song taew to train station 100


100 25
Nakhon Ratchasima Train to Nakhon Rachasima 96


96 24
Tokyo Hotel Tokyo Hotel

1,000
1,000 250

Song taew to hotel 60


60 15

Coffee
120

120 30

Song taew 32


32 8

Song taew 80


80 20

Song taew 32


32 8

Dinner
240

240 60

7-11 drinks
43

43 11

Tong Shui
75

75 19

Click below to view:
North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Introduction
Day 01 (16.11.15) AirAsia AK 856 KUL. 12.45pm to Chiang Mai, (1738km)
Day 02 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)

Day 03 (18 Nov) Khon Kaen City walk around
Day 04 (19 Nov) Khon Kaen City to Kalasin (80km)
Day 05 (20 Nov) Kalasin to Sakon Nakhon (129km)

Day 06 (21 Nov) Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (92km)
Day 07 (22 Nov) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek, Laos (62km)
Day 08 (23 Nov) Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan (125km)
Day 09 (24 Nov) Mukdahan - trip to Phu Pha Thoet National Park (108km)
Day 10 (25 Nov) Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (194km)

Day 11 (26 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don, Laos (291km)
Day 12 (27 Nov) Si Phan Don - a long walk to Somphamit Waterfall
Day 13 (28 Nov) Si Phan Don to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (291km)
Day 14 (29 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Si Sa Ket by van (67km)
Day 15 (30 Nov) Si Sa Ket to Buri Ram by train (148km)

Day 16 (01 Dec) Buri Ram - day visit to 3 places (219km)
Day 17 (02 Dec) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)
Day 18 (03 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima - day trip to Phimai (120km)
Day 19 (04 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok by train (264km)
Day 20 (05 Dec) Bangkok - Chao Phraya River boat ride to Khaosan Road

Day 21 (06 Dec) Bangkok - rest day and dinner at Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Day 22 (07 Dec) Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan by train (320km)
Day 23 (08 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan
Day 24 (09 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)
Day 25 (10 Dec) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)
 

L-R: Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin on the road in Thailand. 
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