Rainy Loei

The rainy season here in Thailand seems to go in fits and starts.  We are nearing the end of the rains, but the clouds hanging low over Loei town did not seem to have gotten the news.  Unlike the quick and sometimes violent rains on the Mekong, the rain here is much more familiar.  High altitude and pointy karst mountains produce a steady drizzle or even light mist, occasionally punctuated by a bit of heavier showers.  It is still warm here, but at almost ten degrees cooler than the blazing heat of the Mekong valley, the warm air and light rain are actually refreshing.  One just has to get used to wet feet in flip-flops.  

The best hotel brekkie in Thailand.  At least on this trip.

There is nothing much to do in Loei and nothing much to see.  The Westerners that do make it here, and they are non-existent this time of year, do so to access a few of the national parks or take the miserable bus trip form Loei to Luang Prabang in Laos.  For us, it was day of walk-about, weather permitting, or, when the rains acted up, a visit to the nice little coffee shop we found.

We sauntered through the local park, watching the big catfish swirling the chocolate water of the artificial lake.  Our presence turned more than a few heads as we wandered about.  During the very important Buddhist festival in nearby Dan Sai, this town turns into an important destination for Thai and Western travelers, but in mid-October it is a sleepy place.

I will just let you add your own caption to this photo.  I did like the suggested number of repetitions.  

A market day, a lazy day, a food day.  The rain drove us back to the hotel, a posh Thai establishment that was costing us next to nothing and offered a welcome and clean oasis in which to simply relax.  As the weather cleared again in the afternoon, we set out for the bus station to get our tickets for the next day's journey.  Knowing a real time for a real bus departure seemed like a good idea after our long wait to get out of Sangkom.  We booked passage on a first class bus to Sukothai, making a mental note to wear long pants and long sleeves as a buffer against the bus aircon.  Traipsing though the market, we bought fruit, including a bunch of local grapes.  There are a few vineyards scattered about the hillsides hereabouts, a rarity in Thailand.

The footbridge over the muddy Loei River.

Running fast and full from the local rains, the Loei River swirled past.

As I said, Loei is a quiet little city.  The gray skies and cool wet air were a welcome change from being hammered on the anvil of the Mekong valley sun.  Tomorrow we will be ready to move on, but this town served as a rest and recharging stop, a lazy time, a place to nothing of any great importance.  It would be debatable whether Loei is in Isaan or Northern Thailand.  It straddles the two places, seeming much more like the far north than the sun-baked flatlands of Isaan proper.  Regardless, this will be our last stay in Isaan or the beginning of our remaining time in Northern Thailand.  We are going at a slow pace, easing our way back to Bangkok.  There is no hurry now as we begin to tread familiar ground.

Our three weeks in Isaan have been a joy and a wonderment.  It is a place best savored through it's food and it's people.  Since these are two of the best reasons to travel in Thailand, Isaan will remain for me a beloved region.  I hope to return here.

What else is there to say about a lazy time spent in a lazy town?  Be well Friends and Neighbors!  As always, I bid you Ciao for Now!