This is the day I went to Buriram. I booked a second-class seat on the train and slowly traveled into Isaan and on to Buriram, population 30,000.
The slow train…
It’s a nondescript town so far. There is the temple nearby, a park with a volcano and a race track for cars nearby. The train station is cute.
I’m on my way to look at a temple, Phanom Rung. The temple is made of laterite and sandstone and has a lintel that was in the Art Institute of Chicago but then “restituted” back to the temple1. [Phanom Rung Historical Park, (2023, January 3). In Wikipedia.]
These are the details. Not really that interesting to most people. Barely interesting to me. But it is great to feel like I’m working and nerding out about something. Maybe the whole story of the influence of the Ramayana and ancient Indian culture on South East Asia isn’t really the reason for the existence of Nerdcation. Maybe it’s about finding things to get excited about just for fun. Even if the excitement wanes and I move on to something else. Or maybe its about finding excuses to travel or find deeper meanings in travel. Anyways, I’m still excited about Nerdcation.
Update:
The temple Phanom Rung, was beautiful. It was on a volcano with great views of the countryside around it. And I flew back to Bangkok on a plane with a bird’s beak painted on it.
Above is the Phra Narai lintel which was restituted from the Art Institute of Chicago1. [Phanom Rung Historical Park, (2023, January 3). In Wikipedia.]
I usually don’t post pictures of airplanes or airports but many people were taking selfies of this Nok Air flight.
Sources:
- Phanom Rung Historical Park, (2023, January 3). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanom_Rung_Historical_Park