Khon Kaen has several large leisure lakes within the city limits, the one in the picture to the left is at Bung Kaen Nakhon. When you visit the lake enjoy a wonderful meal at the Bua Luang Restaurant which is built over the lake.

On the City side of this lake is a magnificent Wat (Temple) with 9 floors. Finished in gold, red and white the Wat Nongwang is extremely beautiful. The two thumbnail pictures above left show the entrance with its elephants, and an interior shot of the ground floor.

Across the lake from the Wat is an Isaans Cultural Museum. A very interesting place to visit and learn of the roots of the Isaans culture and of Khonkaen. There are many exhibits, from original items to modern models of early villages

It really is worth taking time to visit each of the nine floors of Wat Nongwang just to look at the wonderful carvings and paintings on the doors and window shutters.

Some examples are shown alonside, but you will need to climb to all 9 floors to enjoy the beauty of each and every one ... (and YES! this old farang managed it, so you youngsters can too!).

The room at the very top of the building is very tiny since it goes almost to the top of the pinnacle.

After the climb to the top of the Wat and back, a relaxing stroll around the lake will bring you to the Cultural Museum which is a cool haven in the hottest of days.

The middle pictures are of models portraying early Isaans life. Other models explain the growth of villages, the village "post and the "spirit houses far better than my words are able to do.

Sadly, my knowledge of Buddhist customs is not yet sufficient to name or explain correctly the ceremony portrayed in the left hand picture, but water flows through the carved "boat" and cleanses the monk seated below.

On the right is a shopkeeper.

State Railways of Thailand have recently built a new station at Khon Kaen for those travelling from Bangkok or Nongkhai on the main North-South railway line. Regular trains travel to Khorat and Bangkok in the South and Udon Thani and Nongkhai in the North. The Friendship Bridge, and Thai Immigration are a few baht away by tuk-tuk from Nongkhai station.

Khon Kaen University (KKU) has an enviable reputation for its quality of teaching which also includes a Medical School at the new and impressive Srinagarind Hospital on the Udon Thani Road. (The picture shows the entrance of the hospital).

The hospital has many private rooms with en-suite bathroom and TV, together with a spare bed for spouse or family to stay overnight. The food provided matches any that a good quality restaurant can provide.
(NHS please take note).

To prepare future students for KKU there is a private Primary and Secondary School located on the campus. The school, SATIS, has many extra curricular activities such as English and Music. The Primary School costs around UK£70 per term so is excellent value, especially considering the high standard of teaching. The "School Car" is available to take the younger pupils from door to door for around UK£4 per month. A real improvement over the 4x4 brigade blocking roads around schools in the UK - and probably costing UK£4 PER DAY with those ecologically unfriendly "poser-mobiles".