Songkran in Nakorn Phanom

I didn't plan to cross to Laos but finally did.
We got our bus tickets leaving Bangkok on April 13th the busiest time to travel of the year. Everybody is going home. All the TV channels report from every bus terminals, all train stations, in all the major cities showing pictures of thousands of people leaving Bangkok for their hometowns. We booked tickets of 12th and traveled on 13th (seats on 12th were fully booked as expected)Songkran at Thanon Khao Pun!
Tukta Karaoke. Where we had one beer and left. It was so sleazy but good fun!This guy was so wasted. We saw him on the way to lunch and he was still there when we came back

These guys (Dave and Joey) kept asking where they could find the place that they can try to eat dogs, yeah dogs. Some parts in Isaan they eat dogs, it's true. But I'm talking about only "some" villages. It's not like the whole region. And I feel weird if I had to ask people "Excuse me? where can I find some dogs? I mean.. to eat"

We stayed at "GRAND HOTEL" great location in Nakorn Phanom city. (380 Baht / night with super clean bathroom, air condition) Not too far from Indochine market which is 2 storeys building with first floor packed with shops selling electronic goods, clothes, knick knacks stuff.Our "GRAND" hotel. Very good room and very clean. Super friendly staff. Loved it
View of Tha Kaek, Laos. Looking from Thailand side.
The Naga.

Around the corner of Indochine Market. There's a little coffee shop with only one auntie doing everything from serving food, cooking food and brewing tea and coffee. She didn't seem to care if he have been waiting for ages for our coffee. But it's great view of Maekong River though. On the other side you can see beautiful mountains in Laos.
Hot coffee and Pa-tong-go. Coffee that Dave said it's horrible. It was fine to me

Songkran has started, Everybody turned hooligans for 3 days and then back to normal. Nakorn Phanom is such a nice town. I really liked it.

One night Joey and I walked along the river searching for something to eat. (Dave was at the hotel, enjoying his minor diarrhea) We saw BILLIONS of mayflies on the street coming out to the light. They just fly around. They live only one day and die out. Never have chance even to eat! What a life..
Joey with billions of mayflies.

Maekong river is soooo nice, so peaceful. Lot of yummy fish dishes served in restaurants there. Other food that is so good here is Vietnamese food. It used to be some Vietnamese people lived here while back before they moved back to Vietnam around 1960s.
Jackfruits, free from the restaurant we had lunch

We had great great Namnuang at the small house shop near our hotel. The shop has big sign "Namnuang" and has only a few tables.But customers keep coming. And by 2 Oclock in the afternoon. It's sold out already. Damn, talking about this, I'm drooling!
Nam Nuang! damn I would die for this
Spot the tourists, Joey was getting drunk.. LOL
"Jaew Hon" Isaan Hotpot at 49 Baht/person. All you can eat.
Phra That @ Nakorn Phanom
Rent a tube 20 Baht. Then float yourself to
Dave and Joey in mud fighting

Nakorn Phanom has beach too! Between Thailand and Laos. Where the river is very shallow. People go down there set up stalls for beers, snacks, beach umbrellas, chairs, tubes! It's VERY Thai. Dave and Joey throwing mud at each other and went to swim in the river. kept me wait on the shore. How sweet :-P

We stayed a few days in Nakorn Phanom and moved to Mukdahan (2 hours away) before crossing to Laos.