Excursions

During our time in Nong Khai we had some great times heading off on a few adventures around the area with friends we met through volunteering.

We all decided to go camping for the weekend and explore some different places along the way. One of these places was a local waterfall. After about an hour of driving and a bit of a walk through the bush we were all quite hot and excited to see the waterfall!

However we arrived to find no water...

Anita and I staying positive about the lack of water at the 'waterfall' or in fact the lack of  a waterfall.

About all I could find of a waterfall. You will need to enlarge the photo and look  very closely.

Brock looking very pensive beside the stagnant pool of water. Not quite the waterfall he had  hoped

A stop along the way at an orchard farm where I managed to find my own mode of transport.

Our next stop was on to the campground to try some camping Thai style. It was a huge, well manicured campsite with a park restaurant, tree animals, a mini zoo and camping gear to hire! Not quite camping as we know it!!

Some baby elephants around the camp ground

As well as some Thai babies 

The beginnings of our amazing Thai camping banquet. Our Thai friends definitely showed us a thing or two about camping food! YUM

All the ladies

And all of the men, ish.

Digging in to the banquet 

The same anywhere in the world, Brian and Brock doing manly camping things, hunting and gathering wood to make fire.

Being Thailand and being hot we didn't really think too carefully about warm clothes or blankets for sleeping!! So we were slightly under prepared and for the first time, in a long time felt an intriguing, unfamiliar sensation, cold!!

Lounging in the sunshine

Back to Nong Khai

We were told so many times that we must get to the sculpture park for a look but it took us a few weeks to get there. 'Sculpture Park' doesn't exactly sound that exciting. But I must say it's the best sculpture park we've ever been to!
It was created by a Buddhist monk from Laos who was exiled from communist Laos becaiuse of some of his thinking at the time. So he came across the river and created some incredible sculptures.

Cassondra, Rhiann and I 

All of the signs and descriptions were in Thai and so I think some of the meanings or significance of the sculptures were lost on us. 

There were just sculptures everywhere and they were huge!!

High 5

'One of these things just doesn't belong'

A serious food baby - with all the good food in Nong Khai we understand all too well!

The most impressive sculpture or the Naga fish  which is the Mekong  River  Monster Fish. There are plenty or myths and superstitions surrounding this fish.