Photo trip report: Unseen Northern Provinces

[buksida]

I notice the sign below the elephant states no cycles. Can I presume, as usual, that sign doesn't apply to regular or honorary Thais?

Applied to all, the time restrictions were because the wildlife came out in late afternoon, and being an enclosed ecosystem it wasn't afraid of us ... even the squirrels were second dans!

[Big Boy]

Right, I saw the times, but didn't associate it to the no cycles sign because they aren't attached, or at least there's an air gap. Makes sense now.

[buksida]

Going down was a very wet and muddy experience and although it was quicker than the ascent my knees started to feel the pain of all of the recent pressure on them. Around 3.5 hours later we arrived back at the bottom battered, bloodied, bruised, wet and dirty but glad we had done it, what an experience!

Phu Kradueng is a very professionally managed national park and famous among Thais for having the hardest trek in the Kingdom. It is a unique experience and I wish we had longer up there; strangely nobody was up for climbing it again the following day so we drove north to Loei for some rest and relaxation.

We decided to stop in the Loei Palace Hotel for two nights since it had a big pool and was relatively luxurious. We’d been on the road a week and every night stayed somewhere different so needed a little down time. The town is a traffic clogged little place with tiny roads and too much on them. A busy weekend night market provided us with plenty of deep fried food that seems to be primary form of sustenance up this way.

Loei sunset

DSC_2786.jpg (88.31 KiB) Viewed 468 times

To follow: Chiang Khan

[Big Boy]

Thank you for sharing your Phu Kradueng experience. Normally, your reports make me wish I was there, and several times I have loosely followed in your footsteps. However, this is one I definitely don't want to/couldn't attempt. Just the words alone told me that I'm too old, although, like HHFarang, the being slung in a hammock and carried by 2 porters did appeal a little .

Seriously, thanks for the interesting report - now wiped from my bucket list.

[buksida]

There were some older folk doing the climb but I'm guessing they were reasonably fit - you had to be!

It was time to head north again to Chiang Khan on the river. This is a touristy little town famous for its river front walking street. Years ago it would have been throbbing with farang backpackers and travellers hanging out in reggae bars on the Mekong, sipping a cool beer at sunset. Today it is rammed with locals jostling for parking spaces in SUVs, taking selfies, and eating bags of deep fried bananas.

The river front is very scenic and the place reminded me a little of Luang Prabang, tourist price premiums and tee shirts included. We spent some time at Khaeng Khut Khu where the river meanders and went up Phu Thok to get some shots of the low lying clouds.

To follow: Chiang Khan walking street

[PeteC]

This morning the news was talking about how low the Mekong is (already!!), and other adjoining rivers. Your photos seem to bear that out.

[barrys]

Thank you for sharing your Phu Kradueng experience. Normally, your reports make me wish I was there, and several times I have loosely followed in your footsteps. However, this is one I definitely don't want to/couldn't attempt. Just the words alone told me that I'm too old, although, like HHFarang, the being slung in a hammock and carried by 2 porters did appeal a little .

Seriously, thanks for the interesting report - now wiped from my bucket list.

No way you'll get away with just 2 porters.....

[Big Boy]

It could be fun watching them try

[dtaai-maai]

No way you'll get away with just 2 porters.....

BB.jpg (13.22 KiB) Viewed 371 times

[buksida]

This morning the news was talking about how low the Mekong is (already!!), and other adjoining rivers. Your photos seem to bear that out.

Yes, most of the locals were in agreement. China has been relentless building dams upriver.

[Ginjaninja]

"Those who control the spice, control Dune".

[buksida]

The walking street was uber touristy and aside from the old buildings and houses, very similar to every other Thai market/walking street. Very photogenic though but most were more interested in taking shots of themselves than their surroundings.

More to follow ...

[dtaai-maai]

Let's play "Spot the Mona Lisa"...

[buksida]

Lots of little hidden gems in that place. We went back for a sunset stroll the following evening which was a Monday - what a difference without the weekend warriors ... very serene.

DSC_2914.jpg (86.89 KiB) Viewed 215 times

To follow: Phu Thok

[buksida]

This is more of a hill than a mountain but it offered a 360 view of Chiang Khan and the surroundings. We decided to avoid the sunrise selfie brigade and head up at 8am when the low cloud was still visible and the place was quieter. To prevent hundreds of SUVs trying to park at the small summit there was a park and ride system for 25 baht a head.

DSC_2930.jpg (87.48 KiB) Viewed 169 times

To follow: Kunming ... in Loei