go ubon jan 2015 issue 1
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
1/14
A WALK
THROUGHTHE PARKFlowers at Phae Taem
UBON
ROCKSThailands Grand Canyon
Papaya salad at Pattaya Noi
SOM TUM ATSIRINDHORN THE SOUL
OF ISAANA hilltop Buddhist temple
overlooking Sirindhorn Dam
INSIGHTFULINTERESTINGINTERACTIVE
Enjoy this Click-n-Read issuepacked with reasons to visitnortheastern-most Thailand
UBON VIDEOBangkok to Ubon in four minutes
Ubon. The soul of Isaan
JANUARY 2015 Issue 1, Vol. 1
http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/jKuC7tuzhychttp://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8http://youtu.be/E_l2KkiMcL8 -
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
2/14
Field of owers at Phae Taem. Best me to visit is October- November.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
3/14
Go Ubon is a publicaon of The Essenal Group produced for
Go Ubon - the travel experts in Ubon Ratchathani province,
northeast Thailand, and is published quarterly.
Go Ubon is an interacve digital magazine for the adventurous
traveller, inspired by the team behind Go Ubon, an organizaon
tasked with scouring Ubon Ratchathani in search of unusual,
interesng and inspiraonal travel experiences.
Weve combined our unrivalled rst-hand knowledge of Ubon
with leading-edge interacve technology to create a ground-
breaking guide to Ubon, the soul of Isaan.
Whether youre looking for a weekend with the crowds at lively
local markets or a life-changing adventure, our aim is provide
you with the inspiraon to make it happen. Lets go Ubon!
NEXT ISSUE:Stylish stays in Ubon
Top 10 tasteful treats from Ubon streets
Khong Chiam Market
Real Thai Coffee: Isaan-style
Email us at [email protected]
PUBLISHER
EDITOR
RESEARCH
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
The Essential Group
Athikom AJ Jeerapairotekun
Nichari Jeerapairotekun
Go Ubon team
Chat with us on Line at goubon
Be our friend and Like Us
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Go-Ubon/380070672167275http://line.me/en/mailto:info%40goubon.com?subject=Chat%20with%20Go%20Ubon -
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
4/14
A WALK THROUGH THE PARK
With the ourism Authority o Tailand (A) recently launching Dream Destinations 2015 tourism
marketing campaign, it inspired us to visit Ubon. A recommends a visit to Phae aem in October.aking a weekend in early December we were excited to see i we would still be able to see the magical
field o wild flowers or whether we had missed the season. So my sister and I packed our bags and
flew to Ubon. We had Phae aem top o our list o Must visits. Not or the prehistoric rock paintings
dating to at least 1000 BC, or the popular climb to the top o the cliff to get a birds-eye view across the
Mekong into Laos. Our own dream destination was the field o flowers.
Te biggest draw or most to Phae aem is the 500-metre walk rom the park entrance and main car
park to the base o a cliff where 300 prehistoric rock paintings can be viewed. But we have visited the
park a couple o times and we knew exactly where we were heading, to the field o wild flora.
Te trail starts with an easy walk down a well paved path, through lush green orest. Afer a 300 metre
walk, the path branches to Soi Sawan (Heavens Necklace) waterall or the field o flowers. We veered
right and headed to the enchanting meadow. Te trail is broken by a small stream where we careully
had to step on several stones to cross without getting our eet wet.
Passing through lush orest, the trail opens up to an enchanting meadow and other-worldly sandstone
terrain. Crossing another, and slightly larger stream, made easy thanks to a small elevated concrete
walkway, we arrived at our dream destination.
We dropped down on our knees to take close-up photos o the gorgeous wild flowers,
as i to worship at natures altar.
Located about 25 kilometres up the Mekong rom Khong Chiam, the
northeastern-most town in Tailand, is a long cliff named Pha aem,
the centrepiece o awesome but unheralded Pha aem National Park.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
5/14
It was amazing to see the flowers survive on a rocky
plateau, some o which were bog plants which require
year-round moisture. As we continued our walk we
saw the field was weeping with water, probably seeping
rom underground springs. o be atop o a rocky
plateau in ull bloom in December, in Isaan, during the
dry season was something quite extraordinary. Ourvisit to Ubon, the soul o Isaan, had only just started by
was complete as we had been rewarded by something
so simple, nature giving us a magical memory o a
meadow in ull bloom at our dream destination.
- Nichari 7.12.2014
How to get here
From Khong Chiam town drive on the highwayKhong Chiam - Khemarat (on the routes 2134
and then turn right to 2112) for about 15 km.
There right turn road (to the east) and a 5 km
drive to the park headquarters at
Nong Phue Noi village (Huay Pai sub-district).
Contact address
Pha Taem National Park
P.O. Box 5, Tambol Huay Pai, Khong Chiam district,
Ubon Ratchathani Province 34220
UBON ROCKSSam Phan Bok, Tailands Grand Canyon is located at Songkon Village in Pho Sai district o Ubon
Ratchathani. Tis amazing natural wonder can only be visited during the dry season o December toMay, as the canyon itsel is under the Mekong River. When the rains come, the Mekong
rises and covers this entire area. Te canyon resembles a mountain sprouting out into
the Mekong. Spectacular views can be seen here o both the canyon and the Mekong River.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
6/14
Known as the grand canyon of Thailand, Sam Phan Bok is one of the
most mystical of wonders in northeastern Thailand. The Three Thousand
Holes are situated alongside the Mekong River, its strong currents
running their course over the areas mountainous terrain for
thousands of years, creating intriguing rock formations.
At Sam Phan Bok you will find over 3000 holes, big and small scattered all over the place.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
7/14
The extensive rock covers a 10-square kilometre area. It is believed that
the severe erosions were created from the strong whirlpools. This resulted
in countless holes over the surface of this massive rock. Thats why the
villagers call it Samphanbok. Sam phan means three thousand
and Bok means holes. From August to October, during the
wet monsoon food season this rock is under the water,
but in the dry season, it will appear above the water.
The eroded strange-shaped rocks create a stunning
natural sculpture and another must-visit place when
visiting Ubon, the soul of Isaan.
Best time to visit is December to May, during the dry months when the rock erosions are exposed.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
8/14
Best time to visit Samphan Bok - Thailands Grand Canyon - is during
late-November to early May.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
9/14
AirAsia, Nok Air and THAI Airways y daily from Bangkok to Ubon.
Image courtesy of de.best-wallpaper.net. Download wallpaper photo here
http://de.best-wallpaper.net/Thailand-Ubon-Ratchathani-sunset_1920x1200.html -
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
10/14
A riend and regular visitor to Ubon, David Barrett,
Executive Director Events at Amari Watergate Bangkok
and Amari Pattaya, recently visited his small arm at Sirindhorn Dam. During his return flight rom
Ubon to Bangkok he was equipped with his compact SONY camera and, as luck would have it, sitting
at a window seat, he captured the one hour 10-minute flight aboard AirAsia. With the magic o editing,
the UBP-BKK flight has been condensed into our minutes. I you didnt click the interactive button on
the cover o this microzine, click the circular icon above and view the flight, broadcast on Youube.
Go Ubon would like to thank David or sharing the video link with us. Teres an awul lot to love
about Ubon. I you have a video o your visit to this amazing province, that lasts less than our minutes
and is published on Youube, share the link with us and i we include your video in our next issue,
well send you a round-trip ticket between Bangkok and Ubon aboard AirAsia on a choice o specific
dates and flights.
Please email Youube video links to [email protected]
Opposite: Pattaya Noi at
Sirindhorn Dam on Highway
217. The white road on
this Google Earth image is
where waterfront restaurants,
perched on stilts above
Sirindhorn Reservoir, servethe tastiest som tam salad
and BBQ fish, freshly caught
from the reservoir. This is
Ubon dining at its best.
The dark area on this image is
part of the 288 square kilometres
of water surface at Sirindhorn
http://youtu.be/jKuC7tuzhycmailto:info%40goubon.com?subject=Shared%20video%20of%20Ubonhttp://youtu.be/jKuC7tuzhyc -
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
11/14
SOM TUMAT SIRINDHORN
Mention Pattaya Noi to most people and they think o the sprawling beach-city resort on the Gul o
Tailand with streets o neon lit go-go bars. Few know o Pattaya Noi in the ar north east o Tailands
Isaan country. On the road to Chong Mek border town on highway 217, around 65 kilometres rom
Ubon Ratchathani, or 5 kilometres rom Sirindhorn Dam, is a waterront playground, known locally
as Pattaya Noi. No sea in sight, but there are waterside restaurants on stilts perched over the edge o
Sirindhorn reservoir.
Sirindhorn Dam is a great place to try Tai green papaya salad, known as Som am in Tai. One o the
most commonly available and consumed dishes in Tailand. Som tam originates in the northeastern
part o the country (Isaan) and Pattaya Noi was the perect setting to enjoy this dish while enjoying the
spectacular views across the reservoir and distant mountains o Laos on the horizon.
Som tam is a staple dish in Ubon dining. Its resh, easy to prepare and just tastes so wonderul. Tere
are many different variations o this amous Tai salad, some including ermented fish sauce, crab or
salted preserved egg, but or the classic sweet, sour and spicy version, we ordered our Som tam Tai
while at Pattaya Noi. Te dish can be made as spicy or mild to your taste. Be careul to mention how
spicy or mild you want yours. We asked ours to be authentically local. It was so spicy that we joked
saying the papaya was added as a condiment to crushed chillies. Ubon olk love their som tam spicy.
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
12/14
HILLTOP TEMPLEWat Phu Prao temple sits on a hilltop overlooking
Sirindhorn Dam in Ubon. Recently receiving
rave reviews on social media or its panoramicviews and the interesting glow-in-the-dark mural
on the back wall, Wat Pru Phrao is becoming
a must visit on itineraries o those staying at
Sirindhorn, Khong Chiang and Chong Mek
districts. Inormation on the temple is scarce,
but Go Ubon researchers ound that the temple
(wat) was ounded by a monk rom Champansak
in Laos; the venerable Luangpoo Boonmak
Titipanyo, a orest monk who came to stay onthat hill to practice meditation around 1954-1973
Te temple has been
visited by and
housed many highly revered senior Buddhist
monks, along with many other monks, novices,
and devout Buddhists.About fify years ago, Luangpoo Boonmak
requested ownership o this piece o land on
Phu Prao (Prao Mountain) and the government
authority in Piboonmangsaharn District granted
him his wish during a land survey conducted
by the district officers and the Royal Tai Army
officials, beore the construction o Sirindhorn
Dam in 1971. Te temple was built and named
Wat Sirindhorn Wararam (or Wat Phu Prao, aferthe name o the mountain). In the beginning,
there was only a wooden sala, simply built, just
big enough to cater or people who came to visit
to make merit, pray and practice meditation.
Afer the master monk passed away in 1982,
the temple became neglected. Later on, another
well-respected monk took charge o rebuilding
the temple until he passed away on 21 July 2006.
Renovation continued until 2013. oday, theonce orgotten and remotely located temple is
attracting acclaim rom visitors who seek the
serenity and spectacular views rom the hilltop.View from the hilltop temple
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
13/14
THAI fies daily to Ubon, smooth as silk.For more information and offers please contact your travel agentsand THAI sales ofces or visit www.thaiairways.com
-
8/10/2019 Go Ubon Jan 2015 Issue 1
14/14
Amazing ThailandSurprisingly IsaanNaturally Ubon
goubon.com
http://www.goubon.com/http://www.goubon.com/