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Great video, Jim. Luckily, I did not have to strip, again.

I started watching Gary after he was interviewed by Thairish Times and am such a big fan of his videos! He deserves every success. So great to come across this video and learn more!

Hello JB Jim, you live up to your name, I love it when you go exploring with your friend and in this wonderful remote area, every temple and place is magical, 🤩 the clouds underline the mood ❣️ ...the world wasn't discovered from the sofa lol! 👍🍀

What a flippin place mate...

Jungle Jim of the monsoon - totally worth the effort. Tanks 4 sharing. The energy of the water and Naga is amazing. Trivia time - In jolly old England they call them Knuckers and refer to knucker holes which is where they live and not their orifices. AKA wyverns and worms!!

Great find Jimmy Wanders , these are types of places that I seek when visiting another country. Your MG must have aged a year after this road trip. That dog as a great dog 👍. Definitely go back and search for Art Cave for sure.

Great video. I’m heading that way soon, so I’ll be sure to pay a visit. Took me a good while to find it on the map though!

Intrepid off road stuff , Jabes , thanks ! 'This little slice of life ' : Brilliant insight , after the trail of the road , the harmony of the bells as a clarifying resonance with the Thai simplicity of ethical straight forwardness , frankness ... on the south coast , isolated at the coastal delta - here's a story I penned for my cuz , last year ... The morning started with some snuffling . I clicked my brick phone and 5.44 popped up in the grey early gloom and then craned my neck out of the hammock to work out what the scrabbling and sniffing was . And there was a troupe of local dogs - their Alpha caught my eye - oh hi , didn't see you there , he said ... and then trotted off without a stir ... a cortege of devil may care , quasi ferality . If they'd caught me putting my hammock up last night at 10'ish , they'd have given me what for , and no mistake ... but here , right now , aboriginal privilege prevailed , I obviously belonged here - no stranger was I . And yet I was . The morning chorus was underway , the sun had yet to grace the green and grey horizon with her silvery golden forehead , but the silence was actually abundant with a soothing eclectic birdsong - call and response to the techno beat chirruping whirr of dozens maybe tens of dozens , probably , of different insects - qweep qweep , whorrp whorp , whistle ... koo wip , brrup ... - while sleepy haughty hermit herons sailed , now and rarely again , silently across the slowly illuminating sky - a put put putter of a distant fishing boat - PUT Put put pu p p ... her wake receding into the silence of the morning , the first morning of my entire life . Oh , the hammock was the thing - and I didn't have any trouble sleeping on it - the sea air a natural soporific , my dreams were about Christine McVie , the late dignified sororal pianist legend , before the snuffling of the troupe plucked me from any wisdom she might've bestowed . The night before I'd loved the silence of the rural coastal area - relieved to be away from the hurly burly of the city - now a vague thicket of grey rods on the far distant horizon - the urban claustrophobia steadily dissipated as I travelled out here to the south coast - out here where the ancient farming communities harvest salt and catfish in the placid seawater inland lakes - the odd farm here and there . So I packed up , maybe around 8'ish and headed south to look for Wat Khun Samut - I'd planned many a time to get out here but never could find the turn off left to the raised causeways over the lakes - but this time , there ! A gilded ornamented gate . On , on ... There ... like a dream of nirvana ... , maybe a mile off , the red tiled roof puncturing the canopy of an obscuring forest ... the air is salty with the sea and on the elevated causeway to the Wat , a monk is doing his alms round , a local lay helper , a middle aged farmer and fishman , with sun burnt nut brown skin , carries his bowl , content in his morning merit . I kneel and offer some Tam Bun ( alms merit ) and instead of chanting his blessing of gratitude for the merit - he asks me where ya from ? Age ? ( Oh , so young looking , he said to his silent smiling lay helper ) and the immortal 'What do you think of Thailand ? ' With my well rehearsed shpiel - about 3 paragraphs of vocab , I have accrued by now - I have the banter with him - lightly touching his robe for effect when emphasising the peaceful nature of Thai Buddhism . Good speaker him , said the taciturn Clint Eastwood'esque lay helper , I heard as I cycled off , hummingbird style ... At the foot of the temple . It's early mid morning now and , Thai style , it's sabai sabai ... comfy comfy laid back time . There's was no one about ... so I , on autopilot , not thinking , lock the bike up , and scoot on up the steps into the temple complex looking for life - beyond is the infinite sea , lemony yellow in the silvery overcast sky . It seemed deserted at first as I wandered around but eventually I noticed a courtyard , shaded from the sea wind and sun by the teak carved temple on sea facing stilted hillock - here were three bhikkhu or monks - all elderly - in their orange robes - pottering around - they lived here . I popped up from behind them like a cartoon magician ... what the ?! I intuited the monks surprise ... dressed in my peasant's bush hat , drenched in lake water to keep the growing heat off my neck , delighted to have finally arrived at this place - on the edge of another world , outside the creaking strains of the default reality where I usually live or try to . We chatted for a while - in my broken Thai - I could sense the meaning of many of their questions and if I couldn't I'd just apologise and repeat a pat phrase about not being able to speak Thai fluently - mai dai poot passa thai geng lee ow and the monk , puffing away on a fag , would nod as if to say , ok no worries , water ? I kora'd ( new verb alert : to walk anti clockwise round a buddhist site , meditating as you go - easier said than done as the intricate teak carvings of the old monks - their faces blissful - adorned the teak high temple - each image capturing the facial idiosyncrasies of an actual monk who'd once diligently practiced here and attained buddha mind - decades before . ) The sea encompassed the temple , lapping the stilts on which it was built , and all around buddha images - some statues - some murals - some carvings - one , a 20 foot standing image made of granite , his hand open to the sea , bestowing blessings of safety and prosperity on the fishing peoples who lived nearby in villages hereabouts . And , amazing Thailand again , in one hall , well lit with sun drenched windows , there's a 9 foot life size statue of the Incredible Hulk , another of a noble looking Captain America and the ever cheerful Korean robot cat , Doreamon ... of course , something for the kids and the Insta crowd . As quickly as I arrived , I bade good luck - the local chippies ( carpenters ) had arrived and the power tools would soon be cutting through the morning halcyon idyll . That was it JB . Keep up the cracking albeit algorythmically underrated content . peace , pm . M19 , UK .

A talking cow, who'd have thought it!

Could I move to Thailand with 30 grand

Fantastic stuff Jim. On our bucket list in the dry season. Pha Taem National Park south of there also dramatic with similar contour and rock formations as on the river. Some ancient drawings on the cliff face and a car park straight out of the Flinstones.

The "bombs" look like drop tanks off Phantom jets..

nice bloke but for me too philosophical. Would’ve been more interested in how he lived there and his income source

How can I contact Paul, can you please help?

How can I contact Paul in thailand, can you please help?

Next time you're heading out for a road trip, lemme know, and I shall join you!

Obviously, you are biased! trying to own someone else's amazing history because your ancestors are crooks.

The Mekong is low Nov -Apr often impossible to navigate, oftentimes my longtail gets stuck on sandbars and rocks...

I was trying to get him to have a bar girl Olympics.

Paul lives what speaks. Happiness is internal. It's the little moments that matter. I'm a big fan of Paul.

Well its life Jim but not as I know it. Intrepid as f**k doing the monsoon in the MG. In you tube vid format there is a place for placing #s however they are more effective - found by the you tube search engine - if placed in the video description box at the end of the description . Throw a few #s in the video description box to get more views. For example #thailandtravels, #thailandyouhavenotseenbefore , #uniqueplacesinThailand , #templesinThailand - hope not too patronising however your vids are good and deserve more views.

"One of these days, the people" (enough people) will learn the "no brainer" concept of "Win-win" (or else we won't) .. Thanks, for your Great Work (History Truth & Quality), mate ..

Thanks!

What a view, wow ..

Sam Phan Bok, definitely a beautiful part of the world Jimmy. That was very interesting, I love mother nature. Nothing men can ever build that compares to mother nature's beauty. Glad to see you so happy doing this one 💓😁. Not sure Steve liked that you vlog the change of clothes at the end 😭

Another banger from jbwanders - keep it up mate - fast becoming my fave channel

Cheers Jimmy. There was certainly quite a bit more above the surface just a few weeks earlier Jimmy. We got straight into a boat but I would have been just as happy with the hike there but it would have been 50/50 if it was low enough to cross at that time. Yes, cool or hot Season would be the best times to visit

😮 good

Awesome video JB Jim, mesmerizing places, you`re a great explorer, despite the rainy season ! love it ❣👍Thanks for the beautiful footages✌

Not many greater places on this earth than the mighty Mekong!

Yess I think it's important to interview older people 😅 iam 60. Love telling stories to young people about how things used to be it's important nolage to pass on to younger generation 😅

should make a documentary about this man’s life

A great idea but unfortunately factually incorrect. I am unsure where the USAAF gunner got the idea that both bridges were destroyed in February 1945. It is a myth that the RAF could not reach the bridge, albeit they did use US B24 Liberator bombers to destroy it. The wooden bypass bridge was often repaired or rebuilt. The spans on the main metal span bridge were not dropped until 24 June 1945 by RAF Liberator bombers and the wooden bypass bridge was destroyed at the same time. On the 24 June 1945 raid one span was dropped by a Canadian piloted Liberator the other by a New Zealand piloted Liberator both of 159 Squadron RAF. I have the WW2 log book of a New Zealander on that raid in which he records the operation. The 159 Squadron RAF Operations Record Book for 24 June 1945 confirms the facts.

In Thailand religion is considered a personal choice. Not like in the rest of the world where religions try to convince others to join and be hostile to each other. I had a Thai gf and only after a few months I found out that she is a moslim. It is not something you discuss or talk about. I took her to the temple and I was a bit surprised she couldn't tell me anything what was happening there. It felt like it was the first time she went to a temple. So I asked, how come. She replies I'm moslim. And that was it.

I have bars, restaurants, gyms, I'm also a lawyer, bookkeeper, web designer, tax consultant, car sales man, plumber, Electrician, life coach, fitness coach, supplement specialist, hairdresser. I have a youtube channel, I'm working on a movie, I'm into music production. But I have no nail to scratch my ass. Can someone buy me coffee?

good part 2... Good job to the host. Cheers!

This guys just a business entrepreneur. Don’t know why some comments slagging him off

USIS is usually pronounced /u-sis/. Russell isn't particularly well informed on AUA. It was not an American university, but a language centre set up by Thais who had been alumnii at universities in the USA. American University Alumnii (AUA) was set up with USIS (US Information Service) assistance and there have usually been US Embassy nominees on the board. It would probably be partially true to say that USIS has connections to the CIA, but I would not wish to make too much of that relationship.

An amazing history lesson JB. Western nations have a large stain on their hands for what happened in Sth East Asia after WWII. A great book I read about the Vietnam War is called "A bright shining lie." please try and read it. I studied Cambodia in high school history, about time I went over my old text book which I still have.

Very interesting especially for a Sisaket resident who takes visiting friends to see the view. I’ll refer them to the video for their education. Top tip. Stay in the nearest town Kantharalak which has an entertainment zone with bars & restaurants and then set the alarm for 4.30am and get to Mor E Daeng for sunrise. Absolutely stunning

For me the most contentious issue is that’s it’s a World Heritage Site and was open to visitors of both nations in the past but not so now. Political stubbornness on both sides seems to be the only problem as regards public access

I`m thrilled, great JB Jim ❣👍another fantastic Temple with a magnificent view over the border from TH to Cambodia, interesting history behind ! Thailand has a lot more to offer than some beautiful beaches a.s.o. Lol !😊

Great job, Jim. Well researched. I hope they consider you in the remake of The Birdman of Alcatraz.

my Farm is 10km from there. can't wait to go back.

Good interview.

Who needs a drone when you have a 1/10 scale beautiful replica of the entire temple complex 👍. Interesting history in this part of the world Jimmy. Beautiful place for sure. So glad you and Steve made this epic road trip. Bless you both 🙏

Fantastic, Well done. I remember the last time things got violent and they were protesting outside my office on Rajadamnern avenue about this. Thailand was claiming the temple was not on the watershed line when it clearly is and the UN court upheld the original treaty. I have lots of photos of that event with many of the political posters too which were viciously mocking Mark claiming he was liar and painted as Pinocchio stating that he'd rather work for Hun Sen instead of Thais lol

Never knew that Siem Reap or Battambang was part of Thailand previously - nor that Trat was part of Cambodia. Proper loving this series mate, you gotta write the book

Bloody beautiful up there mate