Thread: Buen Kan Phu Thok Monastery Feb 2016

So after Chiang Khan we continued on down Hwy 212 following the Mekong and headed into Buen Kan.
The mission was to visit Phu Thok monastery which was created by monks and is perched on top of a 360 meter mountain. It took 5 years to create and 7 different levels are carved into the mountain with board walks raping around. The best way to do this trip is base ones self in Buen Kan do the day trip and head back to kan for the night. Around 60 Klm out.
Can be done on a day trip out of Udon Thani but would be a very big day given the distance from Udon.
Buen kan has always been a great little town for me, I first visited 10 years ago but this year they have embarked on a very Major redevelopment of the water front. Next year it will be brilliant. Buen Kan is down the way from Nong khai So it's Mekong all the way. Kick this thread of with the redevelopment of Buen kan.

Kans waterfront walking street. In season the locals fill the Mekong high ground with vegetable gardens, it's quite a sight.Very enjoyable sitting overlooking the Mekong with a few beers. The locals gather here in the late arvo. No farang scene but a few restaurants and small bars.I've always liked it.

We bunked up in this brand new Hotel that had just opened the week before, Called Smile Hotel or something like that. Very nice big room for 450 Baht. Joke innit. My local was blocked off by road works, I could not get the car in so went here. Very good call. It's up by the Wat at the very end of the water front road.

The locals must be pissed off, all the Earth works have slowed down many businesses. Oh well, when it's finished it will be well worth it. On this road trip I have noticed large projects going on in many towns. A large injection of money up this way which in turn has created employment for the locals. A win win situation for all.

We continue on into town, hit the night market and finish off having a feed in this local restaurant. Young husband and wife on the tools, Happy to support them.I try to support the locals where ever I go.

Next day it was up early, head of down HWY 222 into Si-Wilai, hang a left and drive 30 KLM through many small towns to try and find Phu Thok. I had never been here before, it was in my GPS so followed that. Took us around an hour to do the 30Klm. Great drive over flat land. All of a sudden we spot this poking up out of nowhere.