The Isaan Region


that's me in Loei
and my 2 travel buddies

broken shoe and all.....

I 'm Peterpatterpot, it's been a while since my last adventure... was it Sapa Village in Vietnam or was it the more "civilised " country of the Leprechauns or just the funky street arts and coffee culture of  Down-Under ?
Whatever,  here I am again... all geared up for my next adventure to witness the natural phenomenon of the northern Thailand's fire balls !!

Oct 24th 2015 , we were suppose to head to the North Eastern tip of Thailand to witness the unbelievable phenomenon  - the " Naga fireballs " in Nong Khai. 

But....sigh..... we had to reschedule our trip, due to an unforeseen emergency in the  homefront. ... so we depart on Nov 19th to Udon Thani (transit in Bangkok) and start our road trip northbound to NongKhai village and west to the mountainous of the Loei Province in the Isaan Region.
Udon Thani Province









NongKhai to ChiangKhan 

ChiangKhan - Loei - Udon Thani route

It is a circuit - a road trip that covers the north eastern region of Thailand, the Isaan Region.

NongKhai to Sang Kom
Sang Kom - Pak Kom - ChiangKhan
















.....starting from UdonThani (Thai car rental at a very cheap promo fare 500baht a day ! amazing, unbelievable promo ) we drove off the little white Mirage from Udon Thani to NongKhai and off to the coastal scenic Mekong River route 189km along the river Mekong , curving roads but very very good condition, stop at Sangkhom, Pak Chom and stopped over at the artistic village of Chiang Khan for a night.
Chiang Kan Street










  Chiang Khan is a very beautiful village set along the Mekong river with lots and lots of boutique cute arty guesthouses, hotels and restaurants. Chiang Khan is a little town in the Loei Province of Thailand's Isaan region. It is easy to get to Chiang Khan from NongKhai either local buses, private bus or even taxi. Local buses like this picture takes you from Nong Khai to Sangkom for as little as 80baht one way....however i guess better not ride in this after a full meal....
rakkety-rikkety-rokky bus fr NongKhai to Sangkom for 80baht
Renting your own car is the best mode as there are many scenic spots where you would like to just stop and take some pics.

As for food. no problem .... it is where and what to choose....so many many. And for accomodation, during peak tourist season, you better book in advance as most of the better accom are quickly filled up.

After reading trip advisor and some travel blogs, we expeccted the conditions or terrain of the roads along the Mekong to be horrendous and hazardous, but we were pleasantly surprised to see its almost perfectly tarred and smooth all the way except for a short patch while the workers were actually mending the roads and improving it.

red pins at places we stopped

markings/stopovers along our route






Finally ended in Phureau, a little highland town with beautiful surrounding mountains and lakes ie Huay Nam Man. After a night stay in Phureau, we headed to Loei a bigger town where we stayed a night to witness the Loy Kratong festival. From Loei, the next day, a pleasant drive 2 hours to reach Udon Thani where we flew back home.


map of Loei in Thailand
Loei is an ecotourisn city surrounded by undulating mountain ranges covered by various types of flora. The well known regions are Phu Luang, Phu Reau and Phu Kradeung. The temperatures are comfortably cool with beautiful surroundings.



Nevertheless, the Isaan region of  Nongkhai, Chiang Khan and Loei and its villages around Mekong have its own unique attractions and rich cultures.....
with no cultural borders.

And end November is it 2nd most important festival in Thailand ie Loi Kratong, which is flood season and making the waters high and ideal for this festival. Kratongs are small floating shrines or lanterns normally made out of bamboo leaves and decorated with flowers, incense and candles. The floating of the kratongs represent the gratitude of the Thais to the Gods of the rain as well as blessings and good luck for the year !
Loy Kratong Festival along Mekong, Nov25th

good luck coming coming coming.... 
So, even without the phenonmenal "Nagaballs" , we had a memorable road trip !






oops, taken in transit at Don Mueng Bangkok airport, killing time !







and so, we might make another trip another year to witness the amazing "dragon balls" that is a myth with legendary stories behind it.


Just for your info,
This paranormal event that takes place year round in the Mekong River. Unexplained FIRE BALLS RISING UP from the river, shoots into the sky and disappear ! Traditionally held in the Nong Khai Province (north eastern Thailand) , especially in the Phon Phisai district and across the border in Laos. The number and intensity of the fireballs increases around the full moon of the 11th Lunar month, marking the end of the rainy season.

Of course there is the mystical legendary story for these "serpent fireballs" and a scientific explanation for this phenomenon as well.... regardless of the source, REAL FIREBALLS rise up from the Mekong river into the sky !

sighting spots for the Nagaballs

To witness the Nagaballs, there are several spots along Mekong River in the Nong Khai area for watching, for eg Hin Mak Peng Temple in Si Chiangmai distrct, Pak Khat district, Rattana Wappi district, Pha Tang village, etc .
The most eventful can be seen at the Phon Phisai area and of course you have to be prepared for the crowd. There was a year with a count of about 400,000 people.