Flew from Louang Prabang on Sunday to Udon Thani in Thailand.Unfortuately the 2 and half hour delay meant we had to alter our plans for that night.The plane was a really cosy 56 seat propellor one but it was a good flight. We had a 4 hour bus trip then to Loei where we arrived as darkness fell but managed to find a Thai version of Travel Lodge to stay in and eventually a meal (we avoided KFC) as we couldn't find anywhere that had an english version of a menu.
Early next morning back on the bus to the Phu Kradung National Park. By now a very hot morning we trekked up to the summit at 1288m giving breathtaking views of the heat haze.We hired a tent so we could spend the night on the summit along with guitar wielding mekong whiskey drinking thai teenagers! A walk around the plateau in the afternoon was followed by a cool shower,hot meal and cool beer then early to bed as it was so cold.With an effort we got up at 6.15 the next morning and trekked back to the foot of the hill. We spent the rest of day travelling on four buses to Sukhothai the old capital of Thailand. Avoiding the pleading cries of the Tuk-Tuk drivers at the bus station, we followed the Rough Guides advice and followed a short-cut across the fields to a ducky little guest house. We are staying in a bamboo bungalow, with a lovely cold shower with a view (!) and with a fab restaurant - it's upstairs with a view over the fields. You sit there sipping cold beer whilst the smell of your food cooking wafts upstairs and the tom cat chases the local females over the roofs!! We took a songthaew(a local bus, which is basically a flatbed truck with benches down either side) to the old city this morning to explore the ruins (and not so ruined) of the 13th century city. We hired a bike each to cover the area - a bit of a challenge with the thighs still feeling the last couple of days!
Early next morning back on the bus to the Phu Kradung National Park. By now a very hot morning we trekked up to the summit at 1288m giving breathtaking views of the heat haze.We hired a tent so we could spend the night on the summit along with guitar wielding mekong whiskey drinking thai teenagers! A walk around the plateau in the afternoon was followed by a cool shower,hot meal and cool beer then early to bed as it was so cold.With an effort we got up at 6.15 the next morning and trekked back to the foot of the hill. We spent the rest of day travelling on four buses to Sukhothai the old capital of Thailand. Avoiding the pleading cries of the Tuk-Tuk drivers at the bus station, we followed the Rough Guides advice and followed a short-cut across the fields to a ducky little guest house. We are staying in a bamboo bungalow, with a lovely cold shower with a view (!) and with a fab restaurant - it's upstairs with a view over the fields. You sit there sipping cold beer whilst the smell of your food cooking wafts upstairs and the tom cat chases the local females over the roofs!! We took a songthaew(a local bus, which is basically a flatbed truck with benches down either side) to the old city this morning to explore the ruins (and not so ruined) of the 13th century city. We hired a bike each to cover the area - a bit of a challenge with the thighs still feeling the last couple of days!
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