Northeastern Thailand - Thailand - page 921

There are several restaurants on the road fronting the museum, one of which stays open
for dinner.

Lakeside Sunrise Guesthouse
( 08 0193 4300; [e-mail]; r 300B; ) In a countryside setting, yet within
easy striking distance of the museum, this old wooden house is reason enough to spend
the night in town. The simple rooms share bathrooms downstairs and a spacious verandah.
It's best to call ahead because the joyful owner, who speaks good English, isn't always at
home.

GUESTHOUSE $

Getting There & Around

From Udon Thani, take a bus bound for Sakon Nakhon or Nakhon Phanom and get off at
Ban Nong Mek (35B, 45 minutes, every 30 minutes), where túk-túk will take one or two
people the 8km to Ban Chiang and bring you back for 100B.
With a lack of hills and traffic, the countryside around Ban Chiang is a great place to
explore by bike. You can rent bikes for 10B per day from the shops next to the police box
east of the museum.

Ban Na Kha

Na Kha village is one of the best fabric shopping destinations in Thailand. Downtown is a
covered market with dozens of shops selling a great variety of silk and cotton from Thail-
and and Laos. Except at the large shops on the highway, much of the fabric is handmade.
Mae Bah Pah Fai ( 6.30am-6pm) , across from the temple entrance, has as good a selection as
any, including some century-old kít hanging in the back.
Before leaving, take a peek at Wat Na Ka Taewee ( dawn-dusk) , founded by a wandering
monk who found a hole from which bellowed the sound and smoke of a naga . It's right
behind the small bòht . Pottery and human skeletons unearthed during various construc-
tion projects at the temple are on display under the giant Buddha.
Udon's White Bus runs to the village, 16km north of Udon.

Phu Phrabat Historical Park

Steeped in mythical intrigue and peppered with bizarre rock formations, Phu Phrabat (

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8am-4.30pm) is one of Isan's highlights. Sometime around the turn 4291 8619; admission 100B;