Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
Just some pictures from my recent trip to Laos to update my Laos GPS map (should be coming out in October). This is the part in Thailand which basically went along the backroads from the Sirikit Dam, the 1286 and the 2195.
The Sirikit Reservoir power house seen from the dam and with the dam in the background
The waterlevel in the reservoir is quite low as we are already halfway in the rainy season.
The Phu Soi Dao Waterfall (5 step waterfall - start at N17.70524 E100.95195) which you can see if you walk up from 1268 to the top of Phu Soi Dao (a walk of 6.5 km. to an altitude of 1800 meter) to the field of the three-leaved pine s.
The three-leaved pines
Looking down from the 1268
The Chang Tok Waterfall (N17.47612 E100.97298) along the 1268
The Khing waterfall (N17.47470 E100.97606) a few hundred meters from the Chang Tok Waterfall
Wat Si Pho Chai (N17.49204 E100.99744) with an ancient Ubosot in Ban Saeng Pa
Close by (a bit to the north) is the 200-year-old Phra That Din Thaen temple. This is basically just an earth mound but the temple is highly revered and visited by people from other faraway places. Local legend says a wandering monk asked villagers to construct this temple. Upon its completion, he asked them to adhere to the Buddha’s five moral precepts, and not to kill animals on Buddhist holy days. This custom is observed to this day. The temple is a major festival site in November, with pilgrims offering night-long entertainment. Did not go to see it due to time constraint but might have a look in November.
From here I followed the 2195 which is still badly potholed but otherwise a nice ride and ended up at the statue of Phra Yai (one of my favourite places as it is there so peaceful) at the confluence of the Nam Hueang and the Mekong rivers
The Sirikit Reservoir power house seen from the dam and with the dam in the background
The waterlevel in the reservoir is quite low as we are already halfway in the rainy season.
The Phu Soi Dao Waterfall (5 step waterfall - start at N17.70524 E100.95195) which you can see if you walk up from 1268 to the top of Phu Soi Dao (a walk of 6.5 km. to an altitude of 1800 meter) to the field of the three-leaved pine s.
The three-leaved pines
Looking down from the 1268
The Chang Tok Waterfall (N17.47612 E100.97298) along the 1268
The Khing waterfall (N17.47470 E100.97606) a few hundred meters from the Chang Tok Waterfall
Wat Si Pho Chai (N17.49204 E100.99744) with an ancient Ubosot in Ban Saeng Pa
Close by (a bit to the north) is the 200-year-old Phra That Din Thaen temple. This is basically just an earth mound but the temple is highly revered and visited by people from other faraway places. Local legend says a wandering monk asked villagers to construct this temple. Upon its completion, he asked them to adhere to the Buddha’s five moral precepts, and not to kill animals on Buddhist holy days. This custom is observed to this day. The temple is a major festival site in November, with pilgrims offering night-long entertainment. Did not go to see it due to time constraint but might have a look in November.
From here I followed the 2195 which is still badly potholed but otherwise a nice ride and ended up at the statue of Phra Yai (one of my favourite places as it is there so peaceful) at the confluence of the Nam Hueang and the Mekong rivers
