North Eastern Thailand
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The pace of life in the north-eastern region of Thailand, is generally more relaxed than in other areas. Consequently, the people often appear more friendly. Isaan food is famous for its variety of ingredients and pungency. Particular favourites are som tam (a spicy papaya salad) and kai yang (roasted spiced chicken).Throughout the region there is a distinct Laos and Khmer influence which is reflected in the local dialect, and the Angkor Wat like monuments near Surin and Buri Ram. That Phanom on the Laos border has a particularly fine example of this style of architecture.
North of Udorn Thani is Ban Phu which offers prehistoric cave drawings. To the east lies Ban Chiang with its ancient ceramic and bronze sculptures.
The best silk in Thailand is said to come from the areas around Roi Et and Nakhorn Ratchasima (Khorat). This is certainly the place to visit for bargains or an insight into silk weaving techniques. Nong Khai in the northern part of the region is the only place where visitors can cross the Maekhong river to Vientiane in Laos. Further west is Leoi which is one of Thailand’s most unspoiled provinces.
Also known as Khorat, Nakhon Ratchasima is the gateway to Thailand’s sprawling North East plateau, known among Thais as I-San, which is bordered largely by Laos and the Mekong River to the north and northeast, and Cambodia to the south.
Nakhon Ratchasima is approximatly 255 kilometres north-east of Bangkok. The province covers about 20,494 square kilometres of high plateau and mountainous terrain. Nakhon Ratchasima is particularly well known for Khao Yai National Park and several Khmer sanctuaries, dating from the pre-1200s when the area formed part of the Khmer empire centred in Angkor.
Ubon Ratchathani in North East Thailand’s easternmost province and is bordered to the east by the Mekong River and Laos, and to the south by Cambodia.
The provincial capital is some 630 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, and the province covers an area of 15,819 square kilometres.
Ubon Ratchathani is well known for a strong Buddhist tradition, particularly forest dwelling monks. The province also has a distintive folk culture which finds expression in the cuisine, handicrafts and traditional events such as the Candle Festival each July.
The province of Surin covers an area of 8,124 kilometres. The provincial capital is 457 kilometres from bangkok. Surin is best known for its tradition of hunting and training elephants. These elephants star in the annual Surin Elephant Round-Up every third weekend in November. Villagers from Ban Khwao Sinarin and Ban Chok produce traditional silverware largely in the form of belts, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and various decorative items. The province contains two prasat hin of note, Prasat Hin Chon Phra and Prasat Hin Ban Palang, both some thirty kilometres from the capital.
The province of Mukdahan covers an area of 4,339 square kilometres. The provincial capital edges the Mekong River, facing the Laotian town of Suwannakhet. Tourists may cross the river to visit Laos. The provincial capital is best known for its Riverside ‘Indochina market’. This market sells cheap goods such as fabrics, tools and electronic equipment from all of Indochina. Two of the major attractions of this province are the Phu Mu Forest National park and the Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park. These two national parks make up a large area of the provience and are characterised by very forested areas and a lot of rock formations.
Nakhon Phanom is a northeastern province, bordering laos across the Mekong River. This provinces name means “City of Mountains”. The name was derived from the provinces rugged mountain terrain behind the Laotian settlement of Tha Kaek which faces Nakhon Phanom on the opposite bank of the Mekong River.
Udon Thani is a north eastern province covering an area of 15,589 square kilometres. Udon Thani is probably best known for its archaeological wonders, paramount among them the hamlet of Ban Chiang where the world’s first Bronze Age civilisation is believed to have flourished more than 5,000 years ago.
Climate
Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country with monsoon showers. Temperatures are at it’s highest in March and April with an average temperature of 28บC to 38บC, humidity averaging between 73% to 83%. There are three seasons in Thailand - summer, rainy and cool. Summer from March through to May, rainy from June to October and cool from November through to February.
