So Phimai. It wasn't on our itinerary, but it was recommended as a nice stop, and hey, we didn't have anything else to do except keep driving so we could keep listening to Alan Furst's The Foreign Correspondent on tape, read by Alfred Molina. Yes, this Alfred Molina. Prasat Hin Phimai was built about a century before the main Angkor temples in Siem Reap, to which it was eventually connected by road. The ruins are in the middle of the town of Phimai, which likely is set on the same streets as were used in the 11th century.




Phimai is near Nakon Ratchasima, AKA Korat, a large city that is the gateway to NE Thailand. As such, Prasat Hin Phimai had more tourists, but still not many. We were extremely lucky in all our visits to have the places either entirely, or virtually, to ourselves.


A group of novice monks were hanging around outside the temple walls goofing around. Two young Thai girls were walking around taking closeup pictures of each other just about every two minutes, and the young novices were captivated. They would huddle together, casting furtive glances towards the girls, then one would venture off to walk toward them, only to walk right past to the other side of the temple entrance where they all regathered and discussed their daring acts (or discussed something).


The third novice successfully walks by two young Thai girls and reaches the relative safety of the temple's side door.