Things To See And Do

[easyb]

Going to stay in village in the area about mid-way between Roi et and Savankhet, north of Ubon Ratchathan. Will have car. What are good day trips to take in this area?

Thanks for any tips or pointers.

[roiet]

Going to stay in village in the area about mid-way between Roi et and Savankhet, north of Ubon Ratchathan.  Will have car.  What are good day trips to take in this area?

Thanks for any tips or pointers.

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Visit Mukdahan. They built a new promenade with lots of small shady roofs and nice view of Mekong river. Wife will enjoy shopping in Laos market just by the promenade. Good seafood restaurant at the south end of the promenade. Mukdahan has a national park with waterfalls.

[issan2]

In that vein, try visiting Chong Mek, a little further south on the lao border. Another lao market but you actually buy a ticket and cross the border to go shopping.

Make sure you travel with Thais, god for silk, jewellery, plants etc. There is also

a nice dam with gardens that you can visit on the way there. Cant remember what its called. But nice to see.

[Gary A]

The annual boon ban fai festival should be coming up soon. That is a rocket festival to wake up the rain gods. I used to go to Phnom Pai for the festivities. It is said that it originated there but Yasothon contests the claim. The rockets have to be seen to be believed. Some are 30 feet long and they are judged by how straight they go up and how high. The good ones go out of sight. It is a good time for all and if anyone is in the area they should go take a look. You certainly won't regret it.

In that vein, try visiting Chong Mek, a little further south on the lao border. Another lao market but you actually buy a ticket and cross the border to go shopping.

Make sure you travel with Thais, god for silk, jewellery, plants etc. There is also

a nice dam with gardens that you can visit on the way there. Cant remember what its called. But nice to see.

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[roiet]

The annual boon ban fai festival should be coming up soon. That is a rocket festival to wake up the rain gods. I used to go to Phnom Pai for the festivities. It is said that it originated there but Yasothon contests the claim. The rockets have to be seen to be believed. Some are 30 feet long and they are judged by how straight they go up and how high. The good ones go out of sight. It is a good time for all and if anyone is in the area they should go take a look. You certainly won't regret it. 

Yasothon and Phanomprai are competing about this boon ban fai festival. The Phanomprai one is much larger and attracts more than 20,000 visitors on May 8 including many foreigners. To watch them producing these rockets is a real Isaan exitment, sometimes blackpowder explodes a bit to early. About 300 people donate rockets(including us) Half of the price is donated to the poor schools here. These huge rockets of sometimes more than 12 meters long are shown in a  4 hour colorful parade starting 9 am. They are then fired just outside the city around 3pm and the next day. Its a spectacle   you should not miss. Have fun.

Roiet

In that vein, try visiting Chong Mek, a little further south on the lao border. Another lao market but you actually buy a ticket and cross the border to go shopping.

Make sure you travel with Thais, god for silk, jewellery, plants etc. There is also

a nice dam with gardens that you can visit on the way there. Cant remember what its called. But nice to see.

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[Gary A]

A few years ago they went to electric igniters. They now set them off from behind a sheltered area. People in the crowd got irritated from getting sprayed with body fluid and parts.

The annual boon ban fai festival should be coming up soon. That is a rocket festival to wake up the rain gods. I used to go to Phnom Pai for the festivities. It is said that it originated there but Yasothon contests the claim. The rockets have to be seen to be believed. Some are 30 feet long and they are judged by how straight they go up and how high. The good ones go out of sight. It is a good time for all and if anyone is in the area they should go take a look. You certainly won't regret it. 

Yasothon and Phanomprai are competing about this boon ban fai festival. The Phanomprai one is much larger and attracts more than 20,000 visitors on May 8 including many foreigners. To watch them producing these rockets is a real Isaan exitment, sometimes blackpowder explodes a bit to early. About 300 people donate rockets(including us) Half of the price is donated to the poor schools here. These huge rockets of sometimes more than 12 meters long are shown in a  4 hour colorful parade starting 9 am. They are then fired just outside the city around 3pm and the next day. Its a spectacle   you should not miss. Have fun.

Roiet

In that vein, try visiting Chong Mek, a little further south on the lao border. Another lao market but you actually buy a ticket and cross the border to go shopping.

Make sure you travel with Thais, god for silk, jewellery, plants etc. There is also

a nice dam with gardens that you can visit on the way there. Cant remember what its called. But nice to see.

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[SawWow]

I'm thinking about taking the wife and kids for a day.

Sounds like a good time.

Was going to start a thread. But, I used search and found this thread.

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Bun Bang Fai: Yasothon Rocket Festival

(14-15 May 05 : Phaya Thaen Park, Yasothon Province)

This year, the annual Yasothon Rocket Fetival will open with a parate of women performing a Bang Fai Dance around revellers carrhing colourful rockets in the shape of river serpents.

A single rocket will be launched to forefell the next season's rains. The higher it goes, the better the rains. Then, the rocket competition begins with the same rule - the rocket that goes the highest is the winner of the game. If a rocket fails to take off or explores, the owner will be unceremoniously thrown into the mud.

[SawWow]

In that vein, try visiting Chong Mek, a little further south on the lao border. Another lao market but you actually buy a ticket and cross the border to go shopping.

Make sure you travel with Thais, god for silk, jewellery, plants etc. There is also

a nice dam with gardens that you can visit on the way there. Cant remember what its called. But nice to see.

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Interesting thing (to me), No one has ever asked to see my passport crossing the border.

The dam and reservoir is called Sirindhorn. The locals call it Pattaya lake.

It's a nice place to stop for lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants with

huts over the lake. The kids love to stop, eat and then take a swim after a hot day walking around Chong Mek.