I got up at 6:30 to start hiking before it got too hot as there wasn’t much shade on the trails in the park. The parks is forested but the trees aren’t that big and many have dropped their leaves. I hiked to the three other fossil sites in the park. There are four sites all easily visited on a 3km long circuit. One of the sites really impressed me with numerous large bones in good condition. All the sites had been preserved with a building built over them and a locked door. The park brochure said I needed a guide to visit the sites but I just struck out on my own. I knew I would be able to see the trail but now I know why a guide was needed. They (I’m presuming) could open up the sites for a closer look at the fossils. That’s okay though. I was still happy I got to see the rare dinosaur fossils and one orchid species that was in flower throughout the park. I ate some breakfast around 9 and then packed up my gear.

There wasn’t much in the way of traffic out here but I tried to hitch a ride back to Phu Wiang town anyway. As it turns out, literally, I just stepped out of the park and a vehicle was also leaving. I got in the back of the pickup and they brought me to the town. From the town I took a bus to Khon Kean, gateway to the northeast.

Khon Kaen was not too bad. It wasn’t a touristy city at all and had lots of food and vendors all along the streets. I was here to do my last shopping before going to Bangkok tomorrow. I wanted to buy silk bed sheets and this sounded like the place but I was disappointed when I couldn’t find any. I still managed to find a few cool souvenirs and had my favorite Thai dessert for dinner. That was mangoes with sticky rice covered in coconut milk. It’s so good!! With my last 8 days spent in the forest, there wasn’t too many options for food, so I took advantage of being in the city.