Khon Kaen

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We arrive by train at about 5.15 am. A guy from Canada appears to help out, not sure where he came from, but seemed to know everything about Khon Kaen.

Liam had asthma through the night. At 2.30am Christine said we needed to find a hospital, but we had just gone through Khorat, so there wasn't anything until Khon Kaen. He had so much Ventolin he was sick, so we just wanted to get a room.The first place was booked out, the next had rooms at 8.00 am so we took them unseen. They were pretty average, but the manager was fabulous. Isabella and dad went for a walk whilst the others stayed. We went through a market, and there was a stall making these flat breads. He gave us one each, they were really good.

We found a pharmacy with a pharmacist with perfect English and explained that Liam had bad asthma and we needed some Prednisolone. He was fabulous and sold us 20 5mg tablets for 1 bht ea (about 60c Aus) and told us that normally this was a prescribed drug but in this case he would let us have them.Thank goodness, the idea of the hospital freaked me out.

We had intended to go out to look at some silk areas, weaving dying etc, but couldn't with Liam sick. After a rest everyone went out. The markets were pretty confronting, with frogs (gutted) tied up in bundles and still alive, turtles for food, and all sorts of strange things.

The city is probably the dirtiest that we have been in every thing looks like it needs a good wash. Every time you touched something you felt the need to wash your hands. By the end of the day Harry was black. Unfortunately in our need to find a pillow for Liam I forgot to ask if they had hot water, Another blinking cold shower!

We wandered through Khon Kaen for the day, it's not touristy, but interesting enough. They have a big lake where a lot of the locals gather for food, exercise, dancing and relaxing. Quite nice really.

We went back to the bus station to check out tickets for the next morning. Not much English spoken here, the taxi drivers try to use this to their advantage and we had a problem with the driver. We just paid what we had arranged.

Those of us who hadn't eaten at the lake got something near the hotel. We decided to take the train to Nong Khai in the morning.

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Photos

Chili
Chili

Bread Making Khon Kaen market
Bread Making Khon Kaen market

Fresh Vegetables Khon Kaen Market
Fresh Vegetables Khon Kaen Market

Eels
Eels

Frogs
Frogs

Market Seller
Market Seller

Curry Paste
Curry Paste

Curry Paste
Curry Paste

In the market
In the market, eels etc

Sunset on the lake at Khon Kaen
Sunset on the lake at Khon Kaen

Comments

[Cindy Taylor]

AARRGHHHH!!!!
Yikes with the Asthma but you seem to be handling it ok. You guys are amazing and this trip is something you will never forget as a family. Who tried the eels???? I like the sunset at the end as if all is well. Travelling is hard and with kids can't imagine.... keep going we are enjoying the ride xxxxxxx