Wine & Dine ~ Wine De Bay & Chateau De Loei

A crisp 2012 Chenin Blanc to enjoy with my afternoon meal of spicy Thai food.

In Loei City and its surroundings there are only so many diversions, so getting a belly fulla wine — even Thai wine — isn’t a bad idea should you get bored. And if you pair that vino with some good Thai food you’re doing OK. While we were staying at The Loei Palace Hotel, we twice ate at their on-site Wine De Bay café restaurant. It’s a pleasant little nook to visit, and during the day it’s nice and bright. And It should be — its walls and ceiling are almost entirely made of glass; it’s very much like a greenhouse.

Bike Tour ~ Dansai

Wat Neramitt Vipatsana, front entrance

The owner of the Phunacome Resort organized a bicycle tour for us, and it was a nice opportunity to see a bit of the area. The only really notable highlights were the Sri Song Rak Pagoda, and the hilltop Wat Neramitt Vipatsana. The first of the 2 attractions is also known as Phra That Sri Song Rak, and this sacred site is a Lan Change-style pagoda housing the holy relics of Lord Buddha, located on the bank of the Man River. It was built in the Ayutthaya period in 1560 AD to be a symbol of friendship between Ayutthaya and Sri Sattana Khanahut (Vientiane). It is worth a visit, especially during the annual celebration on the 13th-15th of the 6th lunar month.

Tai Dam Cultural Village & Museum ~ Loei

The “Tai Dam House of Museum”, which is an interesting place to visit

Visiting the Tai Dam Cultural Village & Museum in Loei (found in the Chiang Khan district) was a highlight for me, as well as my travelling group. But it’s not really much of a destination in and of itself, so make sure you have some other things lined up when doing this little road trip. Anyway… The Tai Dam Cultural Village is home to an ethic minority that came to Thailand from Laos in 1905. Their traditional lifestyle has been maintained through their arts and crafts that have translated into the production of souvenirs for visitors to their village.

Phunacome Resort ~ Dan Sai Valley, Loei

Deluxe Room at the PhuNaCome Boutique Eco Resort in Dan Sai, (Loei) Thailand

While in Dan Sai we stayed at the Phunacome Resort which is, as far as I can tell, the best place to plunk yourself down in this region, provided it’s within your budget. As the website of this boutique property explains: “Nestled in a Dansai valley surrounded by green mountains, Phunacome Resort is the premier choice for relaxing yourself. With our strong commitment to being a green resort, we have participated in all green related projects such as a Smoke-Free Hotel program, a Health Promotional Hotel program, and the Green Leaf Hotel program…” and so on, blah, blah, blah.