Khmer ruins : Prasat Phanom Rung (Buriram, Thailand)

Hotel review : Jasmine Resort Hotel (Bangkok, Thailand)

Looks like our bedroom, but not my photo

Location : BTS station Phrakanong (Sukhumvit rd)
Price tag : 2200 - 5000thb

We did stay here for 1 night and I am a bit disappointed, although maybe this disappointment is only due to the room. I booked a Deluxe room and was probably upgraded to a "Premier Corner" which seems nice but .... This type of room (nn02) do have a separate bedroom, living-room and small kitchen and that all within 44sqm. So there is actually not much moving space. Although the bathroom is big with bathtub and separate shower cabin.

Phi Ta Khon Festival (Dan Sai, Thailand)

What   : Phi Ta Khon Festival
When  : 22 and 23 June 2012
Where : Dan Sai (Loei province)

Phi Ta Khon Festival (Boon Luang Festival) is the famous Ghost festival of Dan Sai in the province Loei and is to honor the incarnation of Lord Buddha leaving the forrest monastery. This year (2012) it is held at  Friday 22 June and Saturday 23 June.

And not only is the festival a colorful and joyful event to watch, Dan Sai is also located in one of the most beautiful mountain area's of north Thailand.

Hotel review : Centara Hotel (Udon Thani, Thailand)

Location : Next to Central Plaza
Price tag : 1600 - 5000thb

An older style (but recently renovated) hotel right in the middle of Udon Thani city. With the new Central Plaza right next to it a good location and actually one of the better hotels of Udon Thani.

We used to stay in this hotels years ago with but it started to be out-dated and even old. But now after the all renovation I thought "Let's try it again". Booked via Agoda is was a little bit cheaper as booking via their own web-site.

Hotel review : Paradise Hotel (Udon Thani, Thailand)

Location : 5min walk from Central
Price       : 1000thb incl ABF

I accidentally ended up in Udon Thani, too late to ride back in the dark so I decided to stay in a hotel where a friend of mine did stay 2 weeks ago.

The hotel is a bit of the main street but still just a 5min walk from Central Plaza, so a good location. It looks to me that it is a recently renovated building. It has free Wifi (did not work), private parking and a nice swimming pool in the garden. The staff was friendly.

Motorbike trips : Again Lom Sak and Loei

Yesterday I extended my Carbon Tyre Print with another 630km, and it was again a wonderful trip. I left very early in the morning when it was still cool. As usual I had no plan but I took the direction of the least chance of rain .... in western direction from Khon Kaen.

The first part is a bit boring almost 100km over route 12 (Maliwan rd) passing Chum Phae and continuing in direction of Lom Sak. About 40km after Chum Phae you enter the mountain area of "Nam Nao National Park" (no entrance fee). This is where riding becomes beautiful and the air becomes cooler. Although I left early I was there too late to make a stop at one of the "Sunrise view points", well next time. At the beginning of the mountains you have to pass a check-point and almost at the end another check-point. Halfway is a restaurant & coffee-shop but a bit further is a market and view-point on your left hand side. Seeing all the green forrest you think there is still hope for Thailand.

Restaurant review : Rim Talay (Pattaya, Thailand)

Location : Wong Amat Beach (Soi 18, Naklua)
Price tag : 250thb/pp
Date       : May 2012
Seating   : Right on the beach
Food      : Seafood, Thai, Western

A very nice restaurant on a great location, right on the beach of Wong Amat. The staff was friendly and the food was good. The (simple) tables are right in the sand and there is romantic lighting along the restaurant.

Hotel review : Au Thong Residence (Pattaya, Thailand)

Location : Pottisan Soi 10 (Naklua)
Price tag : 800 - 1400 thb
Date       : May 2012

A recently new residence building in the sub-urb Naklua right between the middle-class Thai. They rent out by the week & month but also by the day. Of course all without breakfast although they have a small restaurant. The hotel has a simple swimming pool, free private parking and although there is not much staff they are friendly.

Hotel review : Seven Zea Chic (Pattaya, Thailand)

Location : Soi 5 beach rd.
Price tag : 1900 - 3500 thb
Date       : May 2012

Another brand new hotel along Soi 5 of beach road in Pattaya. So indeed just 50m walking from the beach road. The hotel is not too big wit only 7 floors.

The staff was friendly and service minded and as the room was free already we could check-in early. The hotel has private indoor parking (but very small) and outdoor parking opposite the hotel. The all hotel and rooms are very light decorated (everything is white and light wood). The room was comfortable and the bathroom had bathtub with shower.

The hotel has a restaurant where they serve breakfast, lunch and diner. And the food is good but a bit expensive. Rooms are sold with or without breakfast.

Hotel review : Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort (Pattaya, Thailand)

Club counter check-in

Location : Along Wong Amat beach (Naklua)
Price tag : 3000 - 10.000 thb
Date       : May 2012

We stayed here before and we both loved the Club Mirage rooms. Not because of the rooms but because of the all extra packages of free snacks, drinks, chocolates and buffet breakfast in the Club room at the 12th floor. And although the staff at the Club was great, the room was fantastic and the the outdoor swimming pool playground is one of the best of Pattaya .... there is something that did bother me.

You should know that this resort is big, very big. It consists of 2 18-floors buildings and a huge water park. So yes of course there are a lot of tour groups coming. And big tour groups.

Hotel review : Centara Hotel (Pattaya, Thailand)

Location : Behind Bangkok Bank Second rd. opp Soi 6
Price tag : 2300 - 4500 thb
Date       : May 2012

A very recently opened hotel from the Centara group. Located on a bit awkward location for a tourist hotel, sure if you come with your own car, behind the the Bangkok Bank along second road opposite soi 6. It is a brand new hotel in modern light decor style. The hotel consists of 2 buildings and in between a swimming pool with a small garden. The hotel has private indoor parking (but very small) and some outdoor parking.

My weirdest experience this weekend in Pattaya.

OK there are many weird things & people in Pattaya. You see things and think "Only in Pattaya". Like that barely dressed ladyboy on the motorbike. Or that older guy walking around with a small dog in a "dog bag". Of course moments where a camera was just not ready to shoot. But after living in & nearby Pattaya for about 8 years you get used to many things.

But yet there are things that makes you think  .... "Has the Pattaya gold-rush gone through their brains?". OK I will explain.

I was walking on beach road and had a bit a hang-over from the night before so I wanted some paracetamol. Here also sold as Tylenol. So I step into a pharmacy on beach road where 2 friendly Thai ladies were working.

Me : "Mi Tylenol mai" (Do you have Tylenol?")
Sales lady gives me a strip of Tylenol "Nung roi bath" (100 thb).
As I think I did misunderstand her I ask "Alai" ("What?")
Sales lady again "Nung roi bath" (100 thb).
As I now think she is making a joke "Pud lan mai" (You are joking, right?")
Sales lady again "Mai chai, nung roi bath" ("No, 100 thb")

So in total disbelieve I leave the pharmacy and walk to the 50m away 7/11 where I did buy the same Tylenol for 15thb.

Are they out of their bloody mind?

Restaurant review : Na Mai (Khon Kaen, Thailand)

Location : Ammart rd.
Food       : Thai
Seating   : Indoor & Outdoor
Price tag : 150thb/pp
Date       : May 2012

Ammart road is a soi of Klang Muang road (between Pracha Samoson road and Sri Chan road)

The restaurant is at the ground-floor of and Thai wooden house, although you can also eat in the nicely decorated small garden (if it is not raining like last night). When you walk in there is a bit weird contrast with the modern outside as inside it looks like an old fashioned Belgium or German restaurant.

Why do you travel?

Reading on internet travelers questions like .......

How many countries have you been?
Are there any other French people that I can meet in Thailand?
Do they have western food in China?
What day is the full-moon party?

........ I was wondering why people travel?

Of course most people are not traveling but are on holiday. Just to relax. But do you travel to countries just to be able to say "I have been there"? Or do you travel 10.000km to meet your fellow school mates and watch MTV? Do you travel 9.000km to see the high-lights by touring-car without eating the local food or meeting the local people?

Traveling : Wat Chong Khao Chat (Udon Thai, Thailand)

While making a sight-seeing trip to visit a friend of us living in "Nong Wua So" we passed the mountain range "Phu Phan" along route 2315 (a short-cut between route 2146 and route 210). And on top the mountain is a huge sitting Buddha. So of course we made a stop and I walked up to the top of the cliff.  

Walking up I saw that the all cliff is actually scattered with Buddha images. And there is still work in progress in making more Buddha images.

Standing on the cliff you have a  beautiful view over the valleys on both side. In the east the view in direction on Udon Thani and in the west the view in direction of Nong Bua Lam Phu.

When driving towards the mountain range you see that the crossing point is of course almost the lowest point, but once up there you really have an amazing view.

Living in Udon Thani : Central Plaza shopping mall

The comfort of shopping has arrived in Udon Thani as since a few months "Central Plaza Udon Thani" opened his doors. It is located at the place formerly known as "Charoensri Complex" or "Robinson Department store".

It is located at the same place but it has became at least 2 or 3 times as big! Of course it is filled with all the same brand name chains of cloths shops and restaurants as you can see in any shopping mall in Thailand.

But never the less a good improvement for the upper Isaan. So of course there is a Tops with a Tops-food court but also another huge food-court. And of course there is KFC, StarBucks, MK Suki and all other restaurants. And of course Robinson Department-store is also still a part of the complex. And for the electronics there is I-Beat, I-Store, BIG-Camera, Banana-IT and so on.

So the comfort of shopping has arrived in Udon Thani and that means that for some things you need, you do not have to go all the way to Bangkok but you can just get it at "Central Plaza Udon".

Most also be said that I have the idea that it is a much better and wider selection of shops as at "Central Plaza Khon Kaen". Is Udon Thani becoming the new center of Upper Isaan?

See http://www.centralplaza.co.th/Index-th.aspx

Restaurant review : Krua Rim Nam (Khon Kaen, Thailand)

As eating outdoors in Thailand is not so expensive as in Europe we do eat many times outdoors. Living new in Khon Kaen city we do not know much good restaurants yet. So it was good to hear that my wife had diner with a friend at a restaurant with good food.

So last night we went there .... "Krua Rim Nam" located behind the KKU along the street just before the Tesco/Lotus-Extra. Very romantically located along a small lake with outdoor seating.

We ordered 2 starters and 1 main dish. And well we were not in a hurry so we enjoyed our starters and drink. But after about 20min other tables were having their food served and our main-dish was still not served. So my asks one of the staff about it and after a blank look the answer was "we not have chicken anymore".

What the duck? We order a dish and wait for more as 20min and then the staff suddenly remembers they do not have the food we ordered!! And without a blink, not even saying "Sorry".

Hotel Review : Amora Neoluxe Hotel (Bangkok, Thailand)

Location : Soi 31 Sukhumvit rd.
Price tag : 2000 - 3000thb

OK I did not stay here but I just checked it out. The hotel is within easy walking distance of Sukhumvit road, just a bit away from Skytrain station Phrom Phong. It is a brand new hotel in the new "serviced apartment" style with about 60 rooms. They have limited parking place for cars and an swimming pool.

The rooms are modern decorated and look very comfortable. So if this hotel is in the location you would like to stay it could be the right place.

Bottom line ....
Would I stay here? Yes, depending the price
Would I recommend it? Yes

See http://www.bangkok.amorahotels.com/

Hotel Review : Citadines Sukhumvit 23 (Bangkok, Thailand)

Location : Soi 23 Sukhumvit
Price tag : 2000 - 3500thb

OK I did not stay here, just checked it out.
First disappointment for me was the fact that it is actually a bit further into Soi 23 as I thought it would be. So more walking distance to the Skytrain or Sub-way (MRT).

The good thing is it has free parking for your car and they have a swimming pool.

But already when entering the lobby a feeling of "low maintenance" came over me. And that was repeated when walking to the room shown to me. And the room (superior) did look very smallish to me, not the way it looks on their web-site. And OK it was a smoking room but it smelled like a ashtray that had not been cleaned for a weeks.

Must say the staff was very friendly, something you can not say of all hotels.

Bottom line ....
Would I stay here? No
Would I recommend this hotel? No

See http://www2.citadines.com/thailand/bangkok/sukhumvit23.html

Finally rain

After a week boiling hot temperatures we finally had some rain yesterday! Not so much but enough to cool it down a bit. Good also for the garden and of course for the farmers.

Today a bit cloudy and much cooler as yesterday. So today we will be off to make merit at a temple nearby Khon Kaen city. My wife bought a fan that she will give to the temple.