Issan (Northeastern Thailand): 5 Amazing Destinations

CNN recently named Issan, Thailand’s northeastern region, as one of the top world destinations to visit, and for good reason.

Thailand’s most rural and remote region is often overlooked by travelers in favor of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, but with a unique and distinct culture, amazing food, and beautiful sites to see, Issan is an unmissable destination when planning a trip to Thailand. Head to Issan in 2018 for a look at old Siam, a land of tradition and history hiding just beyond the popular destinations in Thailand. From ancient Khmer temples and magical lotus seas, to dramatic waterfalls and incredible cultural festivals, don’t miss these top five amazing destinations in Issan!

Issan (Northeastern Thailand)

Top 5 Destinations in Issan

Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong

Thailand’s first and most famous National Park is Khao Yai, literally meaning “Big Mountain”. From camping, trekking, and night safaris, there is a lot to do and see in Khao Yai. If you are lucky, you might even see some of the park’s famous wildlife; monkeys, deer, and wild elephants roam the kingdom’s third-largest national park.

It’s best to go to Khao Yai by motorbike or hired car. Admission is 400 baht. There are lots of wonderful accommodations and restaurants in the area, and the cooler hilly region is also perfect for growing grapes, making it one of Thailand’s few wine regions. Khao Yai is located near Pak Chong, only about three hours away from Bangkok. The sleepy little town is known as the “Gates of Issan”, and is the perfect place to begin your northeastern adventure.

The Red Lotus Sea, Udon Thani

“Udon”, not to be confused with “Ubon”, is best visited in the cool season, from about mid-November through February, when the large lake outside of the town runs low and thousands of beautiful crimson lotus flowers begin to bloom. It is best to visit the Red Lotus Sea in the morning or on an overcast day, when the flowers will be open and at their most impressive. You can hire a private boat for just 300 baht to cruise along the stunning lotus lake. Although popular with Thais, the Red Lotus Sea is still relatively unknown to foreigners, making it an exciting and unforgettable site to see.

Phanom Rung Historical Park, Buriram

An outpost of the ancient Khmer Empire (as in: Cambodia’s Angkor Wat), Phanom Rung is a sandstone Hindu temple built upon a long-extinct volcano. It’s one of the several examples of Angkor-style architecture in Thailand, and one of the best preserved. The central prang of the ruin is one of Issan’s most iconic sites, and is best identified as the logo for the popular Buriram United FC. Admission to the historical park is only 40 baht.

traditional Issan mask

Issan is the most rural and least developed region in Thailand. The economy is largely tied to rice farming and other agriculture. The region’s remoteness may have helped to preserve its unique culture.

Most famous of Issan culture, however, is the food! Well-known Thai dishes such as sticky rice, papaya salad (som tam), and larb (spicy minced pork) all originate in Issan!

spicy minced pork

Where to Next?

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Vientiane, Laos

VIDEO Celebrating the River Festival at the Temple of the Golden Mount

Late one night, on the full moon early in November, we head to Wat Saket, the Temple of the Golden Mount, to join Loy Krathong – the Thai River Festival.

Learn More: What is Loy Krathong?

How to Get to Siem Reap from Bangkok by Bus

If you are on a tight budget, it’s possible to take a bus directly from Bangkok, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Cambodia is Thailand’s neighbor to the east. Home to the fantastic and mythical Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is the perfect place to visit for a visa-run weekend – or longer – away from Bangkok.

Tips:

The bus will drive to the Aranyaprathet/Poi Pet crossing, where you will have to get out and walk across the border on foot, before continuing by bus on the other side. If you do not already have a visa, you might be forced to pay for an overpriced visa at the Aranyaprathet consulate before crossing. You can avoid this hassle by securing a Cambodian e-visa in advance at the Cambodian government website:

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

Interested in Cambodia? Check out some photos from my first book, “The Long Road From Pub Street”!

Things to do in Siem Reap

Cambodia: Kingdom of Wonder

Viting Bangkok’s Royal Crematorium – First Look

The royal site is located on Sanam Luang, a field just opposite Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It will be open for visitors from 2-30 November 2017 only, from 7:00am until 10:00pm daily.

Dress conservatively and respectfully. The same dress code applies as if visiting the Grand Palace. No sleeveless shirts, no short skirts.

There are also a number of exhibits explaining the royal ceremony and the art and design of the crematorium pavilion with displays in both Thai and English.

After November, the crematorium will be completely dismantled. This incredible site, the largest of its kind in the history of Thailand, will only be around for a short time. Visit soon in order to pay your respects to the late king and to be a part of Thai history.

Free bus service departs from Victory Monument, Mo Chit, and Ekkamai for Sanam Luang.

Admission is free.

Happy Halloween 2017!

It’s Halloween again!

And this year, we continue our annual
tradition of carving non-traditional produce into jack-o-lanterns. This
year we carved…

So from Pumpkin Mike…

Happy Halloween from Bangkok, Thailand!

More Halloween Fun:

Video: Jack-o-melon (2015)

Video: Pumpkin Mike (2016)

Comic: Halloween

Video: Halloween 2017

Happy Halloween!

Just a short video this year (a really, really short video!) but enjoy! We are working hard on our latest travelogue, to bring you our adventures from far northern Thailand (coming soon)!

The Holiest Site in Thailand: Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Grand Palace)

Admission:

At 500 baht (approximately $15 per ticket), admission to the Grand Palace complex is quite high for Bangkok standards.

What to Wear:

As not only thee holiest site in the country but also being on royal property, a conservative dress code is strictly enforced. Men and women must wear long pants (women may wear long skirts) and covered shoulders. Neither men nor women may wear sleeveless shirts. No shorts allowed. If you are improperly dressed, you will not be allowed to enter the palace without renting or purchasing overpriced and tacky fisherman pants and t-shirts to cover up, costing you a lot more money.

Avoiding Scams:

One of Bangkok’s most common scam is that of the “helpful tuk-tuk driver” who will stand outside of the palace informing visitors that the palace is closed today (because today is Sunday, because it’s a national holiday, because they are cleaning…), and offering instead to take the visitors on an overpriced ride through the city to their friend’s tailor shops. This is never true. The palace is open daily. Smile politely and ignore this advice, and proceed to the entrance.

See: Should you take a tuk-tuk in Bangkok?

What to See:

The complex is massive, and it’s hard to see everything in one visit. When visiting, be sure to see the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace, which is still an operational ceremonial palace managed by the Royal Household Bureau.

The Grand Palace was the official full-time royal residence of the first eight kings of the current dynasty. Although the current and previous Thai king kept alternate residences, the Grand Palace is still used in its ceremonial functions, and is still an active palace with working offices for the Royal Household Bureau. Visitors are generally not allowed to enter the palace, but are allowed to walk around and admire the beautiful building and grounds.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha – Wat Phra Kaew

The main site to see, however, is not the Grand Palace, but rather Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Wat Phra Kaew is not only one of the most beautiful temples in the world, it’s also the most important holy site in all of Thailand.

The Emerald Buddha

Throughout its long and mysterious life, the legendary Emerald Buddha has journeyed from ancient Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) to the halls of the Khmer Empire’s Angkor Wat, to the kingdoms of Laos, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya. Now, the Emerald Buddha sits proudly in a place of high reverence and honor at Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok’s royal temple, and a place fitting an image of such power and importance. The Emerald Buddha is considered so holy and important in Thailand, that it may only be approached by the Thai King during special ceremonies throughout the year.

Other former Emerald Buddha temples:

Wat Chedi Luang (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Haw Phra Kaew (Vientiane, Laos)

If you live in Bangkok, it would be worth it to visit the Emerald Buddha thrice in one year. The statue has three different outfits that indicate the season: the hot season, rainy season, and cold season respectively. The outfits are changed three times in the year in a special ceremony presided over by the King, the only person who is allowed to touch the Emerald Buddha.

Learn more:

Top 5 Temples to Visit in Bangkok

Visiting the Bangkok National Museum (the old Front Palace)

Visiting Nine Temples in Bangkok (VIDEO)

Visiting a Thai Temple (ebook)

Booking.com

Top 3 Colorful Temples in Chiang Rai

Part temple and part private art experiment, the temple was opened in 1997 by Chiang Rai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat who dedicated his work to the Thai king and Thai people in order to encourage and promote Buddhism. Although he has been working on the White Temple for decades, Chalermchai sees the construction of Wat Rong Kuhun as his life’s work and magnum opus, and estimates that it won’t be complete until the 2070’s.

From afar the beautiful temple looks like something out of a fairy tale, but up close, the intricate patterns take on a creepy and grotesque look. Walking across a narrow bridge over a pond to the temple simulates crossing from Hell into Heaven. The path is narrow – this represents that one must make the journey alone.

The Blue Temple – Wat Rong Suea Ten วัดร่องเสือเต้น

The brand-new Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, just opened in 2016, and is still a hidden gem in Chiang Rai. It’s not nearly as well-known as its older sibling, the White Temple, which is a shame, because the Blue Temple is absolutely beautiful and unique as well.

Most temples in Thailand are gold, red, or white. Blue is a really unusual color, but it makes the temple very special and memorable. The color blue, according to the artist, represents the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha.

If you have the chance to visit Chiang Rai, visit the Blue Temple now while it’s still relatively unknown. It’s a brand-new attraction, and something unlike anything else in Thailand.

It’s admittedly quite creepy. The buildings are all painted black and constructed out of dark wood, and the interiors are all decorated with bones and animal skins. The entire complex has a feeling of death, but not in a scary way. It’s meant to be peaceful and reflective.

Yes, it’s a little creepy, but it’s also very beautiful and definitely unique. Visit it for yourself and see what you think.

Admission is 80 baht per person, and goes towards the upkeep of the museum.

Snacktime: Asia! Ep. 11 – Durian Milk, Little Rice Japanese People, and Alcoholic Kit Kats

Let’s eat some more snacks!!!

Double Dogs Tea Room – Bangkok Chinatown

You’ll find Double Dogs, one of Bangkok’s finest and most famous tea rooms, just down Yaowarat Road in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown.

<img src="https://lbconvert.travel.blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/205d5-img.jpg.com/magazine/double-dogs-tea-room.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001

Atmosphere

The interior is cool and quiet, instant relief from the noise, traffic, and chaos of Yaowarat Road just outside the doors. It’s the perfect place to stop for a rest during a busy day exploring Chinatown. It’s a beautiful and atmospheric shop, and a very pleasant spot to rest and cool off.

Prices

Price depends on the tea. A set of two teas and four tea sweets to share costs a reasonable 200-300 baht.

Besides set menus, you can buy many different types of tea, sweets, and high-quality handmade tea supplies such as tea pots, cups, and matcha brushes.