Near this bustling and unattractive city for tourism, I wanted to go for a getaway to a natural space that would allow me to take a few hours' excursion to return to the hotel or go to dinner.

To my surprise, just 40 minutes away, I had the opportunity to visit this well-kept and beautiful national park in Thailand. Naturally, we had to rent a car to get there.

The park is located about 50 km northwest of the city of Khon Kaen. It is easily accessible by car or motorbike, and having your own vehicle is recommended as there is no direct public transport.
The main entrance is well signposted and has a visitor center where you can register, get information and pick up maps with the main routes.

• Hin Chang Si LookoutIt offers a spectacular view of the Ubol Ratana reservoir, the surrounding hills, and the landscapes of northeastern Thailand.
• Rock formations: large sandstone blocks sculpted by the wind and rain, ideal for photography or simply sitting and contemplating the surroundings.
• Nature trailsThere are easy and well-marked paths that allow you to explore the area among forests and rocks.
• Rest areas: ideal for picnicking in the shade or watching the sunset overlooking the lake.

The peace felt in contact with nature fills all five senses, and everything here will captivate us. Even the well-maintained facilities that guide us through the trail and the viewpoints, which also include a visitor center.

Walkways, bridges, marked trails—all well maintained and marked, but mostly in Thai. I have another excursion pending, which is the lower part near the lake and where the rice fields are. Next time I'm in the area, I'll go there. Now I want to enjoy the views, the trees, and the contrasting colors.

There's a good army of dragonflies and insects that play a deafening symphony when it's so hot. I think in winter, you should dress a bit warmly because it's chilly. I've read this in the reviews of other park visitors.

Toward the end of the day, we enjoy a frustrated sunset between the clouds on the horizon, but it's still so relaxing and beautiful that even my hunger is numbed.

Now it's time to descend to the Nam Phong National Park parking lot, which is only a minute away, as the park makes a circular route, which ends at the parking lot itself, and I have 40 minutes left to reach Khon Kaen.

While I was in the shade at one of the viewing points, I started looking for a place where I could rest and eat something before heading back to the hotel. I found a beautiful place to sit and eat while watching a performance. It's called Ton Tann Market, and it is one of the typical places in this city, just a few minutes from my hotel.

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