Nakhon Rachasima

my colleagues

Last weekend was really busy. Besides going to Ampawah on Saturday, I took a day trip to Issan with some of my teacher friends, Namtip and Cherry, and their families on Sunday. Issan is the general name for the provinces which make up Thailand's northeast region. We went to the southernmost part of this region, but it still felt very different from other parts of Thailand I've visited. I've always wanted to head to the north, but besides my trips to Mae Sot, I haven't had the chance. 

We went to the Jim Thompson farm. It's only open to the public for its winter flower and culture displays for a few weeks out of the year. Nakhon Rachasima is in a hilly part of eastern Thailand, and it was sunny, but cool and windy.

Besides the flower festival, the farm is home to a traditional northern-style wooden village, which serves as a showcase for Issan food and culture.

Issan village

my new friend... I think he may be a ghost, but I'm not really sure

Besides trying all the the spicy Issan food, you can also learn how to husk and sift rice, or watch a silk spinning demonstration.

silk worms

silk demonstration

After lunch we left the Jim Thompson farm and drove an hour away, just west of Khao Yai National Park. We stopped at Flora Park, a flower garden which was hosting their annual Christmas festival. It almost felt Christmassy, as it was just a little bit cool, and they piped in Christmas carols throughout the park.

It honestly didn't feel like we were in Thailand. Cherry and Namtip joked that we were in Holland. I really enjoyed myself on the day trip. It was quite nice and stress-free having a driver to take us there, and its not somewhere I would have thought of or been able to get to by myself. I haven't been traveling around Thailand as much as I would like. Maybe that will be a resolution for the new year: see more of the south of Thailand, and head up to the north. The year is coming to a good close. While the last month or so has been very busy and stressful, I've been having a good time. I think the next quarter will be much calmer. We'll see. First, we have to get through the Academic Fair (more on that later).