Southern Issan

Seashell Hunting Adventures on Ko Kho Khao

Posted by Annette Johnson on July 24, 2025
Posted in: Southern Issan, Thailand, Thailand South. Leave a comment

Beach Walk Experience on Ko Kho Khao 🌅

Stunning Scenery – The island’s beaches stretch for miles, offering soft golden sand, gentle waves, and breathtaking sunsets.

🐚 Seashell Hunting – The quiet shores are perfect for collecting beautiful shells, as the beaches are relatively untouched by mass tourism.

🦀 Wildlife Encounters – You might spot crabs scurrying along the sand, migratory birds, and even dolphins offshore if you’re lucky.

🌴 Peaceful Atmosphere – Unlike the crowded beaches of Phuket, Ko Kho Khao offers solitude, making it perfect for meditation, photography, or a romantic stroll. 🏝 Local Charm – Along the walk, you may encounter small fishing boats, beachside cafés, and traditional wooden houses nestled among the palms. These are some of the things I saw on my walk!

HellFire Pass Wampo Viaduct (Wang Po),Tham Kra Sae Sation Bridge over the River Kwai

Posted by Annette Johnson on February 12, 2019
Posted in: Southern Issan. Tagged: . Leave a comment

So my Journey in 2013 took me to Thailand, and Kanchanburi, one of the stops for the Death Valley railway. In this slideshow you will see;

HellFire Pass

Wampo Viaduct (Wang Po) and Buddha Cave

Tham Kra Sae Sation

Bridge over the River Kwai

Just a point to note the river Kwai wasn’t/isn’t the river Kwai, its the river Mae Khlung. Because of the book that was written, people really wanted to see the Bridge over the river Kwai, so i 1960 it was renamed the Kwae Yai.

I know the music to this slideshow is a little upbeat, and to be fair I didn’t want something mournful (not that I am in any way irreverent) but I think i wanted to give a feel of a better place now, after all it does attract some 5 million tourists every year. Kanchan is a thriving and busy town.

I hope you enjoy having a look around

Music credit to : Arp Bounce by Geographer Free under creative commons licence from You tube music Library

Erewan Waterfalls

Posted by Annette Johnson on January 31, 2019
Posted in: Southern Issan. Leave a comment

One of the most magical, cooling, relaxing, fun places in Thailand and deservedly so. I only made it up to the third waterfall, but that was enough for me.

Erawan National Park is another significant national park in Thailand. Located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, it has received many awards, with the most prodigious being the award in the natural attractions category at the 6th Thailand Tourism Industry Awards in 2006.

Here lies the biggest and most beautiful waterfall of Kanchanaburi, Erawan Waterfall, which runs from the Huai Mong Lai River down a 2100 meters tall mountain.

The waterfall is 1500 meters long and has seven tiers, each of which is a great and safe swimming area. Moreover, you can take a 30 minute walk around Erawan nature trail to savor the beauty of hill evergreen forest and deciduous forest.

Music credits to : Trap Juice by RalphReal- erewan waterfalls Free under creative commons licence from You Tube Music Library

The Korat Vegetarian festival 2018

Posted by Annette Johnson on October 18, 2018
Posted in: Southern Issan. Leave a comment

The Vegetarian Festival (‘Thetsaken Kin Che), also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, is celebrated throughout Thailand in the month of October.

Thai/Chinese descendants, practice abstinence from eating meat and stimulants believing that it will bring about good health and peace of mind to the community. The event has its history in Taoist tradition, but it is clearly practised by Buddhists.

The images I post here are from this year’s parade (2018) as it wound its way through the centre of the old city, Korat.

On route businesses and people are blessed (and strangely) ritual mutilation is performed. Several men and women impale their cheeks with sharp metal and bamboo sticks decorated and undecorated. Cut their faces and light firecrackers close to their bodies. They also had evidence of cutting on their backs.
They seem to appear embodied with the spirits and blessed people (including myself) kneeling at the side of the road, these devotees used their Temple flags which were wafted vigorously over the heads of the kneeling worshippers. No doubt to cast out evil spirits and bless for good health. Some even painted a red mark just between the eyebrows of the worshippers.

At the bottom of this article you will also find a short video of the firecrackers and devotees.

 

 

 

 

 

Wang Matcha – Korat

Posted by Annette Johnson on September 24, 2018
Posted in: Southern Issan, United Kingdom. Leave a comment

Wang Matcha Restaurant – Nakhon Ratchasima- Thailand Wang Matcha* Restaurant is in Korat city about four km from the city centre, Korat.

I don’t usually write about wining and dining but this is one place you will want to write home about and share with your friends. I haven’t come across a restaurant like this in Thailand.

*wang – palace, matcha – fish Matchachat – Pisces, the 12th sign of the zodiac Matchanu – the son of Hanuman the monkey god and a female mermaid, Suvannamatcha in Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic

The layout of the restaurant Wang Matcha Restaurant consists of a huge lake about 150 m x 100 m with pavilions all round the lake that serve as dining rooms. The main restaurant building, where the kitchen is located, has both indoor and outdoor dining facilities.

The small pavilions around the lake are suitable for small groups of friends who would like some privacy and to be away from the crowd. The whole place has a natural ambience with lots of trees, plants and garden lighting. There’s a windmill in the middle of the lake that’s lit up at night. Plus a pavilion of live music!

The distance of the pavilion at the southern corner of the lake to the kitchen in the main building is about 150 m. How then are diners going to get their food in time? Simple, food is delivered by speed boats racing across the lake.

Wang Matcha Lake side Restaurant- Korat

Posted by Annette Johnson on September 16, 2018
Posted in: Southern Issan. Leave a comment

Wang Matcha Restaurant – Nakhon Ratchasima- Thailand

Wang Matcha* Restaurant is in Korat city about four km from the city centre, Korat. I don’t usually write about wining and dining but this is one place you will want to write home about and share with your friends. I haven’t come across a restaurant like this in Thailand.

*wang – palace, matcha – fish
Matchachat – Pisces, the 12th sign of the zodiac
Matchanu – the son of Hanuman the monkey god and a female mermaid, Suvannamatcha in Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana epic

The layout of the restaurant

Wang Matcha Restaurant consists of a huge lake about 150 m x 100 m with pavilions all round the lake that serve as dining rooms. The main restaurant building, where the kitchen is located, has both indoor and outdoor dining facilities.

The small pavilions around the lake are suitable for small groups of friends who would like some privacy and to be away from the crowd.

The whole place has a natural ambience with lots of trees, plants and garden lighting. There’s a windmill in the middle of the lake that’s lit up at night. Plus a pavilion of live music!

The distance of the pavilion at the southern corner of the lake to the kitchen in the main building is about 150 m. How then are diners going to get their food in time?

Simple, food is delivered by speed boats racing across the lake.