Saturday 2 December 2017

Unusual........After spending seven nights in Loei province that’s unusual but of course Katoon’s family connections here account for a lot of that. Yesterday was an indication that we have begun to run out of ideas for site visits in the province as we crossed into Nong Khai for an afternoon trip but despite this we decide to stay another night. For one thing the hospitality and friendliness we’ve received has been great and I’ve been quite comfortable with it. Apart from that, there’s no obvious location from Pak Chom to head for that I haven’t covered in my blog. It’s another relaxing morning working on my blog followed by a return to the shop for lunch.

Wat Pa Phu Kon........Google Map With and earlier lunch it’s possible to arrange another trip for the afternoon and again this means leaving Loei province. We head southeast into Udon Thani province, about an hour’s drive to another temple and it must be important to drive this far.
Wat Pa Phu Kon is a forest preservation in Na Yung forest, Na Yung district. This temple was built by the Buddhist Puttaborrisatsee in order to remind people of the benefits of nature and to rejuvenate the forest and protect wildlife after it was destroyed in 1984. Wat Pa Phu Kon is a peaceful place and suitable for practice of Buddhist meditation. It cost 11.1 million USD to build......more.
Arriving here there’s no question it’s a remarkable piece of structural engineering and craftsmanship making Wat Pa Phu Kon one of the 20 most iconic temples in Thailand. As always I need to find an explanation for this extravagance and while preservation of the forest is a good cause, I fail to see how the building of such a lavish structure helps. It’s a rather expensive and ineffective insurance policy: It only takes one match to set it all alight again! One only hopes that local people have benefited during construction and continue to benefit as a result as Udon Thani is one of Thailand’s poorest provinces. However it’s cost little to come here to enjoy the wonderful scenery around the temple. I should leave it at that but on reading my impromptu comments some while later I add this P.S. as I realise the same powers are at work here as I witnessed earlier when I visited the Royal Cremation Exhibition in Sanam Luang. Royalty and Spiritualism through Buddhist teaching are inseparable in Thailand. Maybe the spirit of King Rama IX is lurking around Wat Pa Phu Kon somewhere calling his people to unite and prosper!
Wat Udom Mongkol Wanaram (Wat Pa Ban Kham Noi)........Google Map Wat Udom Mongkol Wanaram is located not far from Wat Pa Phu Kon in Ban Na Kham Noi, Na Yung district. This is a temple in the tradition of piety and apathy to worldly possessions which was promoted by a former monk who is revered at this temple. Few people visit here and the monks are reclusive. It can only be the reputation of piety that has drawn Katoon’s brother here. With still over an hour’s drive we head back hopefully this time to arrive in Pak Chom before dark.

Phu Lamduan Viewpoint........Google Map Arriving back in Pak Chom with about 45 minutes of daylight left there’s one more site to visit, just a kilometre or so west of the town. It’s another example of local enterprise since a steep track has been cut leading to a hilltop affording glorious views of the Mekong River below. At the base of the hill you will find adapted tractors to transport you to the summit. The best times to use this service are at dawn to see dawn mists and sunrise or at dusk for sunset. At just 25 baht it’s a must do if you’re in the area.

Fantastic........It’s a wonderful end to the day as we make our way back to the shop for dinner where Katoon’s brother has invited family and friends for a social gathering. It’s surely near the end of my stay in Loei province and I have to admit I’ve been most welcome here. By 9pm things are starting to wind down but for me the excitement is just about to start as I head back to the resort to pick up commentary of Hereford FC’s most important game in the club’s brief history; an FA Cup tie with Fleetwood. The result is fantastic for the club well worth staying up for....more....Next Page