Buzz
From November to March every year is the blooming season of gun flowers at Talay Bua Daeng, a large lake in the Udon Thani region, northeastern Thailand.
Traveling in Thailand to Admire the Beautiful Gun Flowers at Udon Thani
Ever since my hurried visit to Udon a few years ago after crossing over from Laos, the impression of a peaceful and budget-friendly Udon Thani has quietly prompted me to search for cheap tickets to revisit this charming and serene city.
Getting to Udon Thani is quite easy, whether by car from Vientiane (Laos) which is very close, or by bus, train, or plane from Bangkok. Overnight buses in Thailand offer excellent service and meals, similar to flights. A flight takes only an hour. Airlines like Airasia, Nok Air, Bangkok Airways, Lion Thai... have multiple flights from Bangkok to Udon every day. Combining visits to Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Udon is quite convenient.
Talay Bua Daeng Gun Flower Lake, about 60 km from Udon Thani city, is not difficult to reach, but there is currently no direct bus to this place. The easiest way for tourists is to hire a taxi from Udon Thani, which will be very beneficial if traveling in a group of 3-4 people. Alternatively, if you have the energy and want to experience riding a motorcycle off-road, you can use Google Maps to find your way here. Roads in Thailand are generally good, and traffic runs orderly and strictly, so there are not many difficulties.
Expansive Gun Flower Lake Yet Everything Proceeds Orderly
The captured images are beautiful, but the reality is even more stunning. The camera lens cannot fully capture the vastness of the gun flower lake. The images you see cannot contain the feeling of sitting on a boat amidst the cool, refreshing water, the crisp morning air, and being surrounded by the beautiful pink hue of the blossoming gun flowers welcoming the golden rays of morning sunlight dancing on the surface of the lake. Gun flowers only bloom in the morning, and as the sun rises high, they naturally close, so remember to wake up early to admire the blossoming flowers in the early morning... You will surely be mesmerized and delighted.
Not crowded or chaotic, despite the many tourists, mostly Thai, who come here every day, everything is orderly, clean, and there is no loud noise. The small shops near the lake are well-organized, and there is no one aggressively soliciting customers... Everything unfolds like normal life, in the friendly and endearing Thai manner.
Sitting on a boat on the lake admiring the gun flowers, I felt something akin to when I spent the entire day on Inle Lake in Myanmar. Although this lake is smaller and has fewer scenic spots, the cool, tranquil, and gentle feeling is just as profound. The boatman and I, despite our language differences, still understood each other through gestures, through our eyes, so he stopped at the places I liked and bypassed the places crowded with boats. All of this made that morning of admiring the gun flowers wonderful, and the image of the country of smiles became even more deeply etched and endearing to me.
In Udon, the food is delicious, affordable, and the night market is lively
Udon Thani may not be on the list of top destinations voted by tourists on various websites and magazines. However, everyone will have different feelings when they visit different places... And for me, this hometown city has won my affection a lot, especially with its delicious food at affordable prices.
Thai people have an incredible penchant for dining out. Evidence of this can be seen in the multitude of food and beverage establishments scattered everywhere. Particularly in night markets, food stalls occupy nearly half of the space. Thais seem to prefer eating out rather than cooking at home, often frequenting eateries or purchasing ready-made food from markets to enjoy at home. In Udon Thani, the night market stretches endlessly with a plethora of food options. Som tam (papaya salad) is said to be the best here, and it certainly lives up to the reputation. Every eatery serves delicious and affordable dishes, and since I have a fondness for the fish sauce from my hometown, Da Nang, pairing som tam with fish sauce and fresh vermicelli was a delightful choice. Although I've had this dish many times before, trying it in Udon made me realize its exceptional taste. I find myself indulging in som tam with fish sauce almost daily, sometimes even more than once. Its perfect balance of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors makes it unforgettable. Additionally, dishes like fried rice, grilled fish with salt, pad Thai, tomyam, and various hot pots, collectively known as a 'bird's nest' by the Thais, are all delicious and reasonably priced.
Udon may lack tourist attractions, but I spent my days indulging in the local specialties: drinking coffee, snacking, and getting foot massages. There's a long stretch of massage parlors along the road near Udon Lake, with dozens of them lined up side by side. Massage seems to be a favorite pastime for the locals. I noticed that after their group exercises or bike rides, they would head straight for a massage... and this routine repeats throughout the day. Despite the close proximity of the parlors and the predominantly local clientele, the businesses remain bustling. There aren't many tourists here; most are locals who seem to know each other, fostering a friendly atmosphere among the massage parlors.
Though Udon is small, UD Town night market is charming, bustling with various stalls selling everything from clothing and footwear to cafes and eateries. The market is lively yet serene, creating a pleasant ambiance. It's packed with enticing food options that are not only visually appealing but also delicious, and they come at reasonable prices. Regardless of concerns about gaining weight, one must indulge in the local cuisine; after all, culinary experiences are part of traveling. After eating, strolling around Udon Lake is refreshing and enjoyable. If walking tires you out, renting a bicycle is easy and convenient; there are plenty of bike rental shops, and the quiet streets make getting around a breeze.
Udon boasts a shopping mall, Central, which resembles those in Bangkok, featuring stores like Uniqlo and numerous other brands, albeit on a smaller scale. Udon's Western Street is also quaint, with a few bars and a lively beer-drinking area that's quite popular. There are plenty of charming cafes in Udon, serving delicious coffee that guarantees satisfaction, making me not miss the typical iced milk coffee from my hometown.
When it comes to traveling, I never burden myself with the need to visit one place after another just to keep up with others. I believe in traveling to satisfy my own desires, whether near or far. Everywhere offers something unique to experience and appreciate. Traveling is about enjoyment, and whatever knowledge I gain, I gladly share it with fellow enthusiasts, sparing them the effort of searching.
By Thiện Nguyễn/Ngôi Sao
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourFebruary 17, 2017
