Dan Sai, Loei Province (Near Laos)

We traveled to Dan Sai (an eleven hour bus ride) to witness one of Thailand's most colorful festivals --- the Peetaa Kon Festival (also spelled Pii Ta Khon) --- which is internationally known. It is in a hilly and mountainous area (much different from the flat area where we live). Instead of growing rice, fruit trees dot the landscape and coffee is grown here. Ther bottom picture shows a young hornbill who has taken residence at a local resort about 10 km outside the village.