2012 Khong Chiam - Mae Nam Song Si

[Gerhardveer]

Khong Chiam - Mae Nam Song Si


A really dreamlike route for bikers in eastern Eesan starts in Khong Chiam ( there where Mae Nam Mun / Mae Nam Chi flows into Mekong river - "Mae Nam song si" = two colour river) - goes to Pha Taem ( rock plateau with a breathtaking ancient cliff and a phantastic view to Mekong plain and Laos). Last station is Sam Pan Bohk with it's phantastic river-landscape. You should stay for two overnight-stays ( one in Khong Chiam and one in Sam Pan Bohk) to have enough time to enjoy the scene and - specially for Sam Pan Bohk - in the dry season when Mekong has low water to see the rocks...

Who wants, can continue passing Kemmarat to Mukdahan - if still more time:

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...ports/3575-2012-bueng-khong-long-phu-tok.html


Khong Chiam: 15.318521, 105.498413 - +15° 19' 6.68", +105° 29' 54.29"
Pha Team : 15.399280, 105.507832 - +15° 23' 57.41", +105° 30' 28.20"
Sam Pan Bohk : 15.823037, 105.365278 - +15° 49' 22.93", +105° 21' 55.00"

Fantastic view from Wat Tham Khuhasawan (curve on highway 2222 just before K.Ch.)
15.322534, 105.488104

You find that little town on the banks of Mekong river 80km's eastern from Ubon Ratchatani. Nearby Ubon is the confluence from Mae Nam Mun (takes all the water from southern Eesan) and Mae Nam Chi ( brings nearly all the water from the other parts of Eesan). If in Khong Chiam weren't the confluence of those Eesanwaters with the Mekong - no tourist would go there. The whole border region to Laos still is "unseen Thailand"...

Khong Chiam fortunately is no partyzone - in Germany we call that "dead-trouser-zone". But for someone who likes to enjoy a good meal with a phantastic view to Mekong and Laos, who likes to have a calm night and a wonderful sunrise - those people will be hooked! For sunrise you have to go to the temple above the confluence of the rivers - in the dry season there are a lot of small islands with trees growing on them, a wonderful scenery...


Eesan's riversystem:

nice small hut - about 500 Baht the night, simpel and clean (here still with my Phantom)
15.318488, 105.499101

and here with my friend Thedi 2012 with his "thickbike" - was a nice two-men-two-bikes-tour

 

[Gerhardveer]

evening light and traces in Mekong

Living at the river

 

[Gerhardveer]

islands and rapids

waiting for tourists

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[Gerhardveer]

riverward

landward

 

[Gerhardveer]

a new day is born

early on the river

"sounding fishes out"

 

[KTMphil]

Garhard, you could take a photo of a blade of grass and it would be interesting to look at! There's been other biking, Mekong photographers around on the internet, you clearly could give them some photography tips.

 

[Captain_Slash]

Yes lovely photos Gerhard, I have visited and stayed at Khong Chiam before and would love to see some photos when the rivers are at their fullest at the confluence