Thailand Off the Beaten Path Blog

If you live in Thailand, barking dogs are an annoyance you or your friends’ have likely experienced (the only exception being if you live in an apartment building, but even then Thai soi dogs can be a problem). Many long-time expats in Thailand have been bewildered at times how their neighbors allow their dogs to […]

Celebrating Christmas in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand does not only include taking a trip to the village of Ban Thai Rae to witness the famous Christmas Star Parade, with its gorgeous Christmas floats, there are Christmas church services (Mass) held at Catholic churches throughout Sakon Nakhon province, which has a greater population of Catholics than any […]

The Christmas Star Parade in Tha Rae is probably the most famous Christmas festival in all of Thailand, and certainly the most beautiful. However, there are times when people miss the parade due to traffic and not leaving for Ban Tha Rae early enough. If you find yourself in this situation one year, fear not! […]

Every year the village of Ban Tha Rae (Thailand) celebrates the Feast of the Nativity (Birth of Christ) with a Christmas Star Parade Festival (ประวัติแห่ดาวท่าแร่). The parade and celebrations are organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Tha Rae-Nong Saeng, which covers an area of ​​4 provinces: Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin and Mukdahan. All provinces […]

In our search for the best coffee in Thailand, we now review a premium civet coffee made by Bluegold — a popular Thai coffee company founded in 2013 by young entrepreneur Kiattisak Khamwongsa of Nakhon Phanom (a Northeastern Thailand province that borders Sakon Nakhon and Laos). The first Bluegold civet coffee plantation in Thailand began […]

Sakon Nakhon is recognized as the coldest place in Thailand, with a record cold temperature of -2.5 Celsius (27°F ) on December 24, 1999. Late December and early January are typically the coldest weeks in Sakon Nakhon and Northeastern Thailand, with the cold season first arriving around mid November. This year (2022) the cold season […]

Today, the Bangkok Post published an excellent article on how Princess Sirivannavari has helped promote the Donkoi Indigo Weaving Group of Sakon Nakhon, whose members recently showcased their talents at the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bangkok (click here to read the article). The Donkoi Indigo Weaving Group started out with just 9 […]

Mae Salong Nok is a “Thai Single Origin” coffee from the Aroma Group, one of the largest players in Thailand’s coffee industry. Last time, we reviewed their award-winning Nan Thung Chang coffee, and praised it for its smoky and heavily toasted flavor. So, how does Mae Salong Nok shape up in comparison? Well, let’s first […]

The Creative Craft Center at Mann Gardens (Sakon Nakhon) is currently holding its Winter Arts & Crafts Festival until December 12th, from 10am – 4:30pm. This Thailand festival provides a great opportunity for residents and tourists to buy affordable and creative gift items for Christmas. Local artisans are selling fine crafts, such as hand-made Thai […]

Dan Hin Kham Priest’s Camp Site (สำนักสงฆ์ด่านหินคำ) is located about 4 kilometers from Wat Tham Pha Daen, and is one of the most interesting “samnak song” (unofficial temple) in Sakon Nakhon. You’ll recognize this Buddhist monastery by the white Buddha and tall concrete spire/pillar on the  lava rock hilltop. Read our full profile at the […]

Nan Thung Chan by the Aroma Group is an award winning Thai coffee, having won a gold medal at the International Coffee Tasting (2018) in Milan Italy. This coffee tasting event was established in 2008 by the International Institute of Coffee Tasters, a network of over 12,000 professional coffee tasters in 40 countries. Every year […]

Today, we will be reviewing Bluekoff Dark Roast drip coffee. Bluekoff is a well-established Thai coffee producer, with a production facility in the Chiang Rai village of Ban Doi Chang (บ้านดอยช้าง). The coffee farmers of Ban Doi Chang are members of the Lisu and Akha tribes. The Lisu are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, whose people […]

In our search for the best Thai coffee, we move on from Cafe Amazon to the drip coffees produced by Bluekoff, who has been producing fine coffee in Thailand since 2000. Bluekoff spent years experimenting with the coffee beans produced by the plantations in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai before choosing the coffee beans grown […]

Can you eat Thai food with sour cream? Yes, you certainly can! Many classic Thai dishes can be mixed deliciously with sour cream. Some cooks have already realized that you can successfully add a dollop of sour cream to many Thai curries, but did you know that sour cream mixes well with the popular noodle […]

Cafe Amazon Signature is the 4th drip coffee in our search for the best coffee in Thailand. Amazon signature is a blend of hand-selected beans which the company has sourced from various coffee plantations in Thailand. Amazon doesn’t identify which Thai coffee growing regions they selected these beans from, but we would guess that they […]

Vegetarians have no problem finding dishes to eat in Thailand. Popular destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket have many vegetarian restaurants — while most upcountry destinations have at least one or two vegetarian eateries. In addition, it is often easy to order vegetarian variations of many delicious Thai dishes at regular restaurants. However, […]

Check out our photo gallery of Wat Si Panyaram, a developing village temple with a beautiful variety of sacred statues and unusual Buddhist art. This temple is located about 30 minutes from the Sakon Nakhon airport in Tambon Nong Lat, with several other beautiful Thai temples within a 10 minute radius. To read our full […]

November is the time of year in Thailand when you’ll see rice drying on plastic tarps on small village roads and at Thai temple grounds, schoolyards, and local government compounds. You’ll see this rice drying especially in Northeastern Thai provinces like Sakon Nakhon, which is famous for having some of the best rice in Thailand. […]

Our search for the best Thai coffee leads us now to Cafe Amazon’s Pangkhon coffee (กาแฟดริป ปางขอน), a medium roast coffee grown in the Chiang Rai village of Ban Pang Khon, which is home to the Akha and Yao/Mien hill tribes. Cafe Amazon first released Pangkhon (pronounced Bahng-khawn) in December of 2018, as a limited […]

The next entry in our search for the best coffee in Thailand is Doi Inthanon (ดอยอินทนนท์), a 100% Arabica bean drip coffee which is roasted and sold by Cafe Amazon. Note that in our Thai coffee review series we are sampling first the offerings of Cafe Amazon, before moving on to other Thai coffees. Last […]

There is one thing that you will not see in Thailand, and that is a Thai monk with long hair. Or will you? There is one exception, and that is a statue of Luang Pu Sorn Paphassaro (หลวงปู่สอน ปภสฺสโร) in Sakon Nakhon — a Northeastern Thai province in the region known as Isaan. Thai monks […]

Café Amazon is sometimes referred to as Thailand’s version of Starbucks, because both coffee shop chains are nearly ubiquitous in their respective countries. While Starbucks has made inroads into Thailand’s thriving coffee drinking market, they are limited primarily to large cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. While you will occasionally see a Starbucks in […]

Thailand is a coffee drinker’s paradise, with coffee beans grown in the country and roasted by talented independent coffee roasters. The Thailand slow bar coffee movement has been increasing by leaps and bounds during the past few years, with younger Thais showing a growing appreciation for good quality coffee, instead of the instant coffee that […]

The largest spider in Thailand is the Huntsman spider. It can have a leg span up to 12 inches (30 centimeters). The largest version is called the Giant Huntsman, and its said to have been first discovered in 2001 in Laos. However, the mushroom hunters and forest monks of Sakon Nakhon will tell you that […]

While traveling the Sakon Nakhon countryside, you’ll not only see lush, green rice paddies, but also verdant sugar cane fields. Over the past decade, the Thai government has tried to help farmers increase their income by giving them subsidies to replace rice crops with sugar cane. This is because rice prices have been dropping, and […]

If you are visiting the Naga Monument in Nakhon Phanom, you don’t want to stop just there. If you head south down the tree-lined promenade (opposite the direction of the Nakhon Phanom Pier), you’ll find four beautiful Nakhon Phanom temples on the riverfront. The first temple directly across from the Mekhong River is Wat Pho […]

Are you a Thai language student looking for the latest Thai idioms and slang? A tourist looking for a Thai language book that’s not filled with the same old stuff? An English teacher struggling to understand your Thai students? An expat professional wanting to communicate with Thailand’s young generation? If the answer is yes, then […]

In this Thai language and culture lesson we will teach you how to say kiss in the Thai language and describe how people kiss in Thailand. There are two types of kisses in Thailand: the traditional Thai sniff kiss and a kiss with the lips. A sniff kiss in Thailand is called hăwm (หอม) and […]

Free Thai lessons on language and culture should be fun. After all, Thailand is the Land of Smiles. However, if you have spent a bit of time with Learn Thai language books, you’ll probably have gotten a bit bored with the same old sentences again and again (even though they are very useful). So, we […]

During the early 1900s, the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats contacted some paranormal researchers in the United States, encouraging them to investigate Ireland’s fairies. Yeats claimed that fairies were rapidly disappearing from the Irish countryside because people were starting to disbelieve in them. In other words, Yeats felt that the world around us is […]

Ready to learn Thai grammar? In this post, we will teach a quick grammar lesson on the usage of hâi (ให้) in the Thai language. The Thai word hâi is often a difficult one for farangs to get their heads around because it seems to have so many meanings and is used in such a […]

In one of our Thai language lessons, we taught you how to order a large plate of Thai food. So, today we’ll cover what you need to know in case a big plate of khâo man gài sends you scrambling for the toilet. Occasional bouts of diarrhea are common in Thailand. Although tourists might find […]

In Sakon Nakhon, there are a number of long term expats with Thai families. So, in this post we are going to help those married expats with a Learn Thai Language lesson that is targeted to family life. In the flip book below, you’ll find 40 common sentences which Thai parents speak to their children […]

Learn how to flirt in Thai with 40 sentences that Thais use to flirt with both lovers and friends of the opposite sex. Flirting in Thai really is no different than flirting in your own native language. To do it successfully (and without potentially offending the other person) just means keeping a smile on your […]

One of the best ways to learn Thai is when related material is clustered together in easy accessible chunks, like it was in our earlier language post about Thai Heart Words. In this lesson, you are going to learn 40 of the most common Thai expressions — that is, useful colloquial Thai phrases, many of […]

Today we will help you learn the most 40 commonly used heart words (jai words) in the Thai Language. In the flip book below, you’ll learn all the Thai heart words needed to share your feelings with your Thai friends, and to better understand their feelings too. Each Thai heart word is written in both […]

Geng! Learn English for ASEAN is a fun workbook for Sakon Nakhon business people, government workers, and students who would like to learn basic English. It was written by Ajarn David of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University, and was given to us to distribute for free online. You can view the book online below or download […]

In Thailand the ubiquitous phrase “mai pen rai” is well known to foreigners who have visited the Kingdom. Used in a variety of situations, mai pen rai is often translated as “never mind” or “it’s no big deal” in guidebooks, but a more accurate, albeit wordy, translation would be “this matter is so insignificant, let […]

The following is a collection of original sayings and proverbs, which I’ve written over the years with the help of my Thai colleagues. These proverbs and sayings were inspired by the life lessons I’ve gained by living in Thailand. In each of the entries, the Thai language version is written first, followed by a transliteration […]

The Naga Monument is a relatively new riverside attraction in the city of Nakhon Phanom. The immense brass Naga serpent statue was built in 2016 and cost 9 million baht (approx. $230,000). The elegant Buddhist sculpture has 7 heads, weighs 9 tons, and measures 4.49 meters wide and 10.90 meters high. The statue is facing […]

Wat Phra That Phanom (วัดพระธาตุพนม) is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Sakon Nakhon. It is located a little over an hour (45 km) from downtown Sakon Nakhon in the That Phanom district of the neighboring province of Nakhon Phanom (The City of Hills). Breaking down the famous temple’s name, it translates […]

Wat Pa Don Pradu Mongkhon Thip (วัดป่าดอนประดู่มงคลทิพย์) is a Sakon Nakhon temple that flies under the radar of most people, even among the locals who live in the province. The architecture, statues, paintings, and design of the temple are all quite interesting and unique. In particular, the temple’s use of miniature reflective tiles and gold […]

Khanom Thuai Talai (ขนมถ้วยตะไล), often shortened to just Khanom Thuai, is a simple but delicious dessert that you must try when visiting Sakon Nakhon. It’s unlikely that you’ll see this dessert offered at a Sakon Nakhon restaurant, but you will find packages of Khanom Thuai sold at food markets, and occasionally at Thai noodle shops […]

Wat Tham Pha Daen is a gorgeous temple complex in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. More than a Buddhist temple, Wat Tham Pha Daen is a museum of sacred art work, built into a mountainside. Artistic attractions include many different kinds of Buddha statues, made with different materials; beautiful carvings of the Buddha in stone and teak […]

Straw mushrooms are grown by many rural villagers in Thailand. If you look online how to grow straw mushrooms, referred to in Thailand as het fang (เห็ดฟาง), you’ll see all sorts of “easy” directions that include the purchase of things like plastic tarps, cotton seed hulls, wheat bran, shredded lime, etc. In other words, it’s […]

Thanks to the Pon Yang Kham breeding farm, Sakon Nakhon is known for its high quality cattle (and beef). The cattle that are native to Sakon Nakhon and Northeastern Thailand are Brahman Cattle, descendents of the sacred Brahman cattle of India — which can be identified by the hump on their back. In Sakon Nakhon, […]

Recently we made a trip through the forested countryside to find the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (อารามแม่พระแห่งสายประคำศักดิ์สิทธิ์) in Sakon Nakhon. Our route took us through a rather solitary, bit spooky, dirt road through the woods. We eventually arrive at where the lovely monastery is supposed to be (we saw photos on […]

Phra That Phu Phek are the ruins of an ancient Khmer temple in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. The ruins are located atop a mountain that is accessible only by a long, and steep climb up an old cement staircase. However, the ancient ruins are not the only attraction at Phra That Phu Phek. At the bottom […]

Samnak Song Luang Pu Phu Phan (สำนักสงฆ์หลวงปู่ภูพาน) is a Sakon Nakhon hilltop temple also known as Luang Pu Phu Phan Priest’s Camp Site and Wat Non Sawan (วัดโนนสวรรค์). It is located in the Phang Khwang sub-district, only about 20 minutes from Sakon Nakhon city. It is a Thailand spiritual retreat that offers a quite place […]

Graduating students from all 13 Northeast Thailand Rajabhat Universities will soon be arriving in Sakon Nakhon to receive their diploma from HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha. The ceremony will take place at the Maha Vajiralongkorn Auditorium of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University. The reason the graduation ceremony is held at SNRU is because the Maha Vajiralongkorn Auditorium is […]

Thailand travel tips for tourists who are traveling off the beaten track need to be a little different. It also requires a different mindset than that of the typical tourist. It is easy to fill your Thai holiday if you have a busy itinerary of popular tourist attractions in Bangkok or boating excursions on the […]

Preecha Suksan Waterfalls (น้ำตกปรีชาสุขสันต์) is a waterfall courtyard on a hillside of the Phu Phan Mountains in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. The stream slopes about 30-40 degrees down the hillside, creating multiple waterfalls separated by pools of water (where locals swim to cool off on a hot day) and natural water slides for the adventurous. The […]

In addition to organizing student art exhibitions at the Thongthawapee Art Gallery, the Arts Department at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University (SNRU) also showcases student paintings on the walls of university buildings, especially when the art gallery is conducting exhibitions of the best artists in Thailand. Art student paintings are currently on display on the walls […]

Wat Tham Kham (วัดถ้ำขาม) is one of the most important temples in Northeastern Thailand. Located atop Phu Kham Mountain (about 40 minutes from Sakon Nakhon city), Wat Tham Kham provides gorgeous views of Sakon Nakhon province, and is a popular place for meditation and merit making The temple grounds feature a stunning pagoda that honors […]

Many Thailand birthday traditions are intertwined with spirituality and mysticism, including lucky Buddha amulets, magical spells/incantations, and personal birthday gods who act as Thai guardian angels. These Thai birthday traditions are unique to each day of the week (corresponding to the day you were born). Not all Thai people are familiar with all of these […]

If you are looking for a map in English of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University (SNRU), you are in the right place! We have translated the Thai SNRU map into English to help you navigate the 245 acre campus, with 20 university buildings. อาคาร 1 สถาบันภาษา ศิลปะและวัฒนธรรม – Building 1 Institute of Language, Arts and Culture […]

Thailand has many spiritual retreats and temples where you can learn various methods of meditation, yoga, and healing practices. These temple retreats are great for those who are interested in learning such techniques. However, we consider Thailand spiritual retreats not as a places to learn a new skill (regardless of how beneficial it may be), […]

The coldest place in Thailand is Sakon Nakhon, a mountain province in the Northeast of the country. Many sources cite Sakon Nakhon’s record cold temperature of -1.4 degrees Celsius (29°F) in 1974 when awarding it the distinction of being the coldest place in Thailand. However, there actually was an even colder temperature of -2.5 Celsius […]

When searching for Thailand off the beaten track destinations, you inevitably see many places that aren’t off the beaten tourist path at all. For example, Koh Chang, Mae Hong Song, Hat Yai, etc. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with these destinations. In fact, we have been to them all, and love them too. But they […]

Some of the best artists in Thailand are now (August, 2022) showing their work at the Thongthawapee Art Gallery at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University. It’s all part of the 8th Thai Art Identity Exhibition (8th MOU), where Arts faculty members of 31 Rajabhat universities across Thailand contribute their art for exhibition. Rajabhat universities are similar […]

Sakon Nakhon (สกลนคร) is a city and province located in the upper northeast region of Thailand known as Isaan or Isan. It is a province filled with mountains, lakes, forests, and farms, as well as 100s of Buddhist temples and a rich cultural history stretching back thousands of years. Sakon Nakhon City Name (Etymology) The […]

Admittedly, we are a little biased. But we truly believe that the best sunsets in Thailand are in Sakon Nakhon. This Northeastern Thai province also has some of the coolest cloud formations and colorful skies in Thailand, especially during the rainy season (May – Oct) and the peak of the cool season (December through January). […]

The creativity of Sakon Nakhon student artists is on display on the wall of the Yutthitam Wittaya School (Tetsaban 3) in downtown Sakon Nakhon, across the street from the old (permanently closed) prison and the alley where the Camp Cook arts festival was held. This anti-drugs mural was created in 2004, around the time of […]

Sakon Nakhon weather in July is rainy and hot. However, the rain during the day is usually only a short shower or thunderstorm. The longer storms, when it rains heavily for a couple hours, most often occur at night, which makes for nice atmosphere for sleeping, as the air is cooler and sound of the […]

Wat Wong Sri Daram (วัดวงศ์ศรีดาราม) is the most impressive temple in Dong Mafai village — showcasing a beautiful variety of Buddhist and Hindu statues, religious murals, and lovely architecture. Ban Dong Mafai is located in the Mueang district of Sakon Nakhon Thailand. The Isaan village is well known for its large fresh food market, which […]

For a couple weeks in July, the Foreign Language Department at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University (SNRU) celebrated the Japanese star festival known as Tanabata. Organized by Japanese language lecturer Ajarn Sato, who was assisted by his Japanese language students, a large bamboo tree was set up in Building 19, upon which university students, professors, and […]

Sakon Nakhon in May is the start of the rainy season, which usually begins around the middle of the month, and also corresponds with the appearance of the most beautiful sunsets in Northeast Thailand. The rainy season officially starts in much of Kingdom in June or July, but in Sakon Nakhon (and other provinces in […]

Wat Chaeng Saeng Arun (วัดแจ้งแสงอรุณ) in the village of Na Hua Bo, Phanna Nikhom is a Sakon Nakhon temple that will fascinate those who are interested in Buddhist and Hindu arts and culture. The temple is filled with statues of mythological figures and unique examples of statues rarely seen elsewhere in Sakon Nakhon province. Please […]

Sakon Nakhon’s “zombie village” became a news story in 2004, after a scholarly paper was published by Ajarn Somchai Nillathi of Maha Sarakham University. Ajarn Somchai’s paper explored the myth of the “Phi Pob Village” (หมู่บ้านผีปอบ), which translates closer to “ghoul village” rather than “zombie village”. The Sakon Nakhon village of Ban Na Sao Nan […]

If you’re spending an evening in Buriram city, one tourist attraction you’ll definitely want to visit is the King Rama I Monument (พระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์รัชกาลที่ 1 ). Located in a roundabout at the entrance to the city, the King Rama I Monument features a huge bronze statue of King Rama I riding an elephant into war. King […]

The Phanom Rung Historical Park, otherwise known as Prasat Hin Phanom Rung (ปราสาทหินพนมรุ้ง), is an ancient Khmer era temple complex in Buriram province. Built between the 10th and 14th centuries on the rim of an extinct volcano, it is larger and more impressive than the Khmer temple structures in Sakon Nakhon, such as Phra That […]

April is the hottest month in Sakon Nakhon, and the time when Thailand’s New Year celebrations occur. The Thai New Year is called Songkran. Both Songkran and the Western New Year (January 1st) are celebrated. The Songkran national holiday lasts for 3 days (not including the weekend). You want to be sure that you aren’t […]

Pearypie @ Facebook Amata Chittasenee (Pearypie), a Bangkok-based environmentalist, social culture maker, urban farmer, theatrical and makeup artist, has just reported on her trip to taste the best rice in Thailand. She took part in a Sakon Nakhon rice tasting event (หอมข้าวชาวสกล) that was held in Bangkok. Most people are only familiar with two types […]

View our Wat Maha Phrom Phothirat (วัดมหาพรหมโพธิราช) photo gallery, a popular Sakon Nakhon temple on the banks of Nong Han Lake, which also is flanked by large rafts for rent, which makes day long excursions to the temple popular.

View a photo gallery of Wat Pa Eo Kan Wipatsonwawat (วัดป่าเอวขันธ์วิปัสสนววาส), a beautiful lakeside Buddhist temple in the Ban Tha Wat community that is located on the banks of Nong Han Lake in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand.  

An interview with changemaker Tammawit Limlertcharoenvanich, co-owner of House Number 1712 Can you tell me a little about your childhood? Where in Sakon Nakhon did you grow up, what did your parents do, where did you go to school, etc. Khun Tammawit: I was born in the center of the business area in Sakon Nakhon. […]

View a photo gallery of the Suan Mann (สวนแมน) Creative Craft Center, a weekend crafts market that is open on the 1st and last Sunday of the month, and occasionally at other times. Learn more at: Mann Gardens Creative Craft Center.

  The Indochina Market in Mukdahan is an excellent place to go for a day trip from Sakon Nakhon. It takes a little under 2 hours, and there are a number of other attractions within the vicinity to make it a worthwhile journey. The Indochina Market has dozens of retailers, selling items such as locally […]

Browse a photo gallery of Wat Pa Phurithatta Thirawat (วัดป่าภูริทัตตถิราวาส), one of Sakon Nakhon’s most sacred temples. Learn more about this temple at the following link: Wat Pa Phurithatta Thirawat.

In 2017, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University organized an initiative which took tourists on a 3 day trip to Sakon Nakhon “Bio Tourism” cultural destinations that impart local wisdom and produce community made products. The promotional materials for the Sakon Nakhon tour were all produced in Thai, but we have now translated the important information into […]

An Interview with Changemaker Napapai (Dew) Namprakai of Sakon Nakhon Toyota Can you tell me a little about your childhood? Where in Sakon Nakhon did you grow up, what did your parents do, where did you go to school, etc. Napapai (Dew) Namprakai: I was born and grew up in Sakon Nakhon’s Amphur Muang along […]

In some parts of the world it is said that March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. In Sakon Nakhon, we might say the same thing, except that the lion isn’t stormy, winter weather but the loud cacophony of millions of cicada males wooing females with their mating call. The […]

Wat Maha Puttharam (วัดมหาพุทธาราม) is one of Sisaket’s most scared temples, as it houses Luang Por Toh (หลวงพ่อโต) a large, gold Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara — the demon who tempted Gautama Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree, as he was seeking enlightenment. The statue stands almost 7 meters meters high and 3.50 […]

If you are flying to Ubon Ratchathani for a tour of the Northeast of Thailand, Sisaket province should be the 2nd leg of your journey and Phrathat Ruang Rong (วัดบ้านสร้างเรือง or พระธาตุเรืองรอง) a must-see temple. While Sisaket is known for its famous Temple of a Million Bottles (Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew), made from large […]

An interview with changemaker Prach Niyomkar of Mann Craft Studios & Mann Gardens Can you tell me a little about your childhood? Where in Sakon Nakhon did you grow up, what did your parents do, where did you go to school, etc. Mann Craft: I was born in Sakon Nakhon. My mother’s family is here. […]

Wat Phra That Nong Bua (วัดพระธาตุหนองบัว) is one of Ubon Ratchathani’s most sacred temples, because of the Maho Pho Chedi, a massive Indian style chedi that was built in 1956 to celebrate 2500 years of Buddhism. The beautiful chedi stands 56 meters tall and resembles the Mahabodhi stupa in Bodh Gaya, India, where the Buddha […]

Wat Tai Phra Chao Yai Ong Tue (วัดใต้พระเจ้าใหญ่องค์ตือ) in Ubon Ratchathani is one of the most stunning temples in all of Thailand. Indeed, you would be hard pressed to find any temple, even in the Bangkok area, which matches its dazzling array of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures and murals. In addition to traditional sculptures of […]

Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University recently celebrated Hinamatsuri, a Japanese religious festival also known as “Girl’s Day” because it celebrates female children, or “Doll’s Day” because delicately painted and attired dolls are showcased on a red carpeted platform. The ornamental dolls represent a Lord, Princess, and attendants who wear the court dress of the Heian period, […]

Driving a motorbike in Thailand might seem like a dangerous activity to some. But actually it is generally safe to do if you follow some precautions. It also is one of the most enjoyable activities that you can do in rural Thai provinces, such as Sakon Nakhon, where there are beautiful rural roads, with little […]

February in Sakon Nakhon is the last month of the cool season. However, it can still get quite cold in February. Indeed, this past year we had one of the coldest spells in the last decade, with a low of around 50F (10C) and a high of only 63F (17C). As in other parts of […]

An interview with changemaker Chorlada Suppaso of the Vithidham School Can you tell me a little about your childhood? Where in Sakon Nakhon did you grow up, what did your parents do, where did you go to school, etc. Chorlada Suppaso: I was born and raised in a small village called Hang Hong, approximately 10 […]

When you are traveling rural Sakon Nakhon, you may well come across a small earthen oven with a chimney billowing smoke, or a smoldering pit of wood. What you are seeing is the making of charcoal. Rural Thais make their own charcoal to use for cooking, and for heat during the cold season. As more […]

A small sacred forest of 200 year old Kapok/Kayu trees (ต้นเชียง) is located in the Phu Phan Mountain area of Sakon Nakhon. The village where the trees are located is called Ban Bua (บ้านบัว) which is in Tambon Kuat Bak (กุดบาก) in Amphur Kat Bak. You get to the forested area by traveling just a […]

Coral Trees (also known as Tiger’s Claw) are one of the few trees that bloom in Sakon Nakhon in January, the the flowers usually starting to bloom around the middle of the month. Because of their beauty, you will often find coral trees planted along Sakon Nakhon roads and in parks, such as along the […]

Sakon Nakhon has wild elephants living in its deep forests, such as in the Phu Phan National Park area, where additional wild elephants were introduced a decade ago as part of a Royal initiative. However, these elephant communities are located far away from trails, so as to reduce chance encounters by villagers or tourists. Occasionally, […]

Sakon Nakhon province is filled with small rubber tree plantations, many of which were planted within the last 20 years. During the early 2000s rubber prices were high and the trees seem to offer a better cash return than rice fields. Unfortunately, in recent years rubber prices have plummeted and rubber trees are no longer […]

When visiting Sakon Nakhon temples, and traveling the highways of the province, you will occasionally see a large Bo Tree. The Bo Tree is a sacred Fig tree (Ficus Religiosa), and the most revered tree in Thailand. Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment under a Bo Tree, while Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu was […]

This is the first entry of a new series on Sakon Nakhon trees, including their uses, history, and relationship to Thai culture and religion (when applicable). We’ll begin with the Banyan Tree (Ficus), which is nicknamed the Saint of the Forest, because when its fruit drop to the ground, a wide assortment of birds and […]

January is the 2nd peak month of the cool season, with temperatures similar to December in Sakon Nakhon, the thermometer plunging to the refreshing ’50s at night. The 1st month of the year is ushered in with fireworks on New Year’s Eve. While the Thai New Year (called Songkran) is celebrated with water festivities in […]

Sakon Nakhon is probably the best place to celebrate Christmas in Thailand. The Catholic community of Ban Tha Rae, including churches, businesses, and private citizens, all pitch in to create a spectacular village of Christmas lights and yuletide celebrations. The Christmas lights start going up a week before Christmas, and include all of the traditional […]