Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 871

The train station ( 0 4532 1588) is in Warin Chamrap; take so ̆ rngta ̆ aou 2 from Ubon. To
check timetables and prices for other destinations call the State Railway of Thailand ( na-
tionwide call centre 1690; www.railway.co.th ) or look at its website.

TRANSPORT FROM UBON RATCHATHANI

DESTINATION AIR BUS TRAIN

from 1350B;
65min; 9 daily

420-603B; 8½-10hr;
frequent

95-1280B;
8½-12hr; 6 daily

Bangkok

75-135B; 3½hr;
every 30min

Mukdahan N/A N/A

286-445B; 5-6hr; 14
daily

58-186B; 5h; 7
daily

Nakhon Ratchasima N/A

Nang Rong (for Phanom Rung
Historical Park)

N/A 263B; 4½; hourly N/A

200B; 3hr; 9.30am &
3.30pm

Pakse (Laos) N/A N/A

105-200B; 3hr;
every 2hr

30-100B; 3hr; 10
daily

Surin N/A

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
EMERALD TRIANGLE

A tourism-brochure conceit, the Emerald Triangle refers to the tri-border area of Thailand, Laos and
Cambodia. On the Thai side, this new moniker has been bestowed on most of Ubon Ratchathani
Province and some of Si Saket Province.
In the northeastern part of Ubon Province, the Mae Nam Mun (Mun River) joins the Mekong River
just before it does an oxbow into Laos. The geographic confluence of the two rivers occurs at Khong
Jiam , where Thais come to see 'Mae Nam Song Si' (Two-Coloured River). In the wet season the bi-
coloured merger is visible from the shore, but is best seen in a boat (200B to 350B). Since 2005 the
famous and unexplained naga fireball phenomenon ( Click here ) has appeared here.
Up the Mekong from Khong Jiam is Pha Taem National Park ( 0 4531 8026; admission 200B),
whose centrepiece is a long cliff with views over to Laos and a collection of prehistoric rock paintings
that are at least 3000 years old. Mural subjects include fish traps (which look similar to the conical
ones still used today), Ъlah bèuk (giant Mekong catfish), elephants, human hands and geometric
designs.
You can catch a bus from Ubon to Khong Jiam (80B, 2½ hours) at 2pm, but there's no public trans-
port to Pha Taem National Park. You can, however, rent a motorcycle (per day 200B to 300B) from
guesthouses in Khong Jiam.