This the day of the elephant round up. This morning, a large crowd is gathering to the stadium. There were a lot of explanation that I could follow thanks to a system of simultaneous translation. I won't bother you with that. Just look at the pictures and imagine how impressive it is in real.... read more

Saturday November, 17th 2007 Srikhoraphun est à 1 heure de bus de Surin. Sans nous être concertés, je retrouvai Martin à la station de bus. Le temple Prasat Srikhoraphun est assez joli. Pour la première fois cette année, la commune organisait un dîner-spectacle son et lumière. Ce fut un très joli spectacle qui retraçait notamment l’histoire du site. Assez surprenant pour un touriste comme moi fut de voir le gouverneur de la province de Surin monter sur scène dans le cadre du spectacle pour présenter la période actuelle. Ensuite, le spectacle se poursuivit. Il faut dire que nous sommes en pleine période électorale en Thaïlande. Cerise sur le gateau, le retour des touristes fut assuré par des véhicules de la Commune de Srikhoraphun gracieusement mis à notre disposition. Heureusement, car il n’y avait pas l’air d’y ... read more

Thursday November, 15th 2007 I'm leaving Nang Rong. I liked that city : its quietness, the small restaurant, the papaya salad, my comfortable room at Honey Inn... Just before I left, I met an old man who makes a king of traditional instrument. It's a pity, I didn't meet him earlier. He would have shown me more of that quarter of Nang Rong and other traditional instruments. ... read more

Saturday November, 10th 2007 The good thing in Nang Rong itself is that there is nothing to do. So, I can walk around with no aim and I just let the images, sounds, smells and feelings come to me. There seems to be different quarters in this small city. South to highway 24, there is the bus station. All the shops concentrate around that place. Next to it, but not connected by any street, there is a residential area that can only be reached by the highway. North of the highway, there is a quarter that look more popular though some house are really nice and large. That’s where I walked today. There is also a small health centre where lots of mums were bringing their children to be weighted. The whole city have real atmosphere ... read more

Saturday November, 3rd 2007 I'm leaving Bangkok for Nakhon Ratchasima. The train in second class is quite comfortable. I decide to stay at Doctor's guesthouse. The room is quite large. The bathroom is in need of cleaning and refreshing but I definitely like the quietness of the place. For those interested, there is not often an answer at the phone number mentioned in the lonely planet and the cell phone of the manager is 085-632.33.96 I spent the evening walking downtown with Jan, a German student met on the train. Sunday November, 4th 2007 This was a busy visiting day going around Nakhon Ratchasima. First the small temple of Prasat Phanomwan. Then, the archaeological site of Ban Prasat and finally Phimay with its huge banyan tree and its temple. ... read more