Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Ubon Ratchathani
Ban Pa-Ao
Ban Pa-Ao village is famous for producing brass and bronze items using a unique lost-
wax casting method involving long strands of wax. This is the only place in Thailand that
still does it. You can watch workers creating bells, bowls and more at
Soon Thorng Leuang Ban
Pa-Ao
( 7am-5pm)
on the far side of the village. Ban Pa-Ao is also a silk-weaving village
and there's a
silk centre
( 8am-5pm)
at the entrance to the town with a shop (the quality of
the
mát·mèe
here is excellent) and a couple of looms, but most weaving is done at home.
Wat Burapa Pa-Ao Nuea has just opened a gorgeous
museum
( 8am-5pm)
holding
various historical artefacts and local handicrafts; unfortunately, there are very few labels.
Ban Pa-Ao is 3.5km off Hwy 23. Buses to/from Yasothon pass the turn-off (20B, 20
minutes), and a motorcycle taxi from the highway costs 20B each way.
Phibun Mangsahan
Thais often stop in the dusty town of Phibun Mangsahan to see a set of rapids called
Kaeng
Sapheu
, just downstream of the Mun River bridge. The rocky islets make 'Python Rapids'
rise between February and May, but the shady park here is a pleasant stop year-round.
The tile-encrusted
bòht
at
Wat Phu Khao Kaew
( dawn-dusk)
on the west side of town is
covered with Khmer symbols including
apsara
and dancing Shivas on the outside, while
the interior walls have reliefs of important stupas from around Thailand.
Villages past the bridge as you drive toward Khong Jiam are famed for forging iron and
bronze
gongs
, both for temples and classical Thai-music ensembles. You can watch the
gong-makers hammering the flat metal discs and tempering them in rustic fires at many
roadside workshops. People make drums, bells, and cymbals here, too.
Visa extensions are available at Phibun Mangsahan's
immigration office
( 0 4544 1108;
8.30am-noon & 1-4.30pm Mon-Fri)
, 1km south of the bridge on the way to Chong Mek.
Sleeping & Eating
