Choose another map, showing:

• Thailand
• South East Asia
• Asia
• Eurasia
• Eurasia, Africa & Pacific
• The World

Other entries in Phitsanulok

Up the central plains and past the oil fields

Not much to report today, most of it was spent on the train from Bangkok. Of note was just how flat the central plains are. Covered in rice farms with occasional carbonate mountains in the distance on either side.

The geology here looks like an exact replica of New Mexico as I was later to find which is discussed later in the piece. Similarly, we passed a few major oil towns with typically big American style houses. Mainly gas production, though not sure at what sort of magnitude.

===========================
Phitsanulok

On arrival at Phitsanulok, I was quite happy. It is a large country town approximately the size of Canberra. Clean, hot, easily navigated and generally nice. There are a good number of shops where local prices are tourist prices. Obviously getting off the beaten track should lead to a nice few days.

The hostel here is wonderful. The place is a 50 year old teak traditional house which has been adapted. Things are nice and open with no shortage of plant life or vegetation. Hammocks sit out in the dining hall/bar and it is pleasantly relaxing. Again, I can say that Thailand is beautiful!

On first impressions, we decided it was so nice, it would be a good idea to spend an extra day here before moving on, and see the town good and proper. First things first though, need to get the flights from Chang Mai to Phuket and then return flights back to Bangkok organised. Found a Thai Airways office and was thoroughly impressed as paying about paying next to nothing for them.

Further investigating through town yielded not may surprises. Only thing to note is the honesty of the shopkeepers, especially if you are looking at buying big ticket items. Again we tried to buy a digital camera on two different occasions. The first place was sold out, but we managed to get information on the cost price of a good one, which was great as it dramatically increased our purchasing position, and the other shop where we looked at it, the lady openly said it had already been returned by a previous owner because they did not like it.

Of note was the folk museum. One really needs to visit it to understand the way things were done here traditionally. The museum is a private collection illustrating how a complex people lived in a simple environment.

Further down the road was the foundry where they make these cheap Buddha statues. We got to see all sorts of interesting things from cock mating and breeding to the manufacturing techniques used. Their method is to make basic plaster shape, then melt wax onto it and shape the wax. Plaster is next moulded to the outside of the wax and set before molten tin is poured in to melt and displace the wax.

Wat Pra Si is one of the key Phitsanulok icons. An interesting place full of statues, incense, shops, ice creams and tourists. With walls decorated with gold and lined with artefacts, especially china going back to the 13th century when the Wat was first constructed one cant help but feel swept away by time. Even more importantly, the market adopts the approach of 'prices as marked' taking all the fun and games out of bargaining.

Another noteworthy consideration is the price of a scooter. Only US$100! Undoubtedly, the plan will have to buy one and then got to Laos and Cambodia.

Add to del.icio.us Add to reddit

Photos / videos of "Up the central plains and past the oil fields":