Three whale-shaped rocks attract tourists in Thailand

Famous whale-shaped rocks in Thailand

Located in Bueng Kan province, northeast of Thailand, more than 750 km from Bangkok is Hin Sam Wan, three granite rocks famous to international tourists. From a distance, the three rocks look like three blue whales, some say they look like a crashed spaceship.

Watching the sunrise on the back of a whale is one of the favorite experiences of tourists, including Lesile Tan, a Malaysian, who visited the place late last year. From the top of the "whales", visitors can see the Mekong River and the mountains in the Pakkading district of Laos.

Visitors should spend a day at Three Whale Rock to watch both sunrise and sunset.

According to legend, three whales once appeared in the area around this place and were considered by the people as guardian gods. One day, the gods swam close to the people's boat offshore and got caught in the net and were injured. The fishermen discovered the incident and cut the net to release the fish. The three whales disappeared into the sea and have never returned to this place since.

The three large rocks were named Hin Sam Wan, meaning “Three Whale Rocks”, in memory of the whale gods of old. Today, the three rocks are still revered by local people.

Near the whale rock is a community museum for visitors interested in Isan culture. This community currently has about 22 million people, mainly living in northeastern Thailand and Laos, and has its own language.

Lesile Tan watches the sunset from the back of whale rock

The museum includes a house built in the Isan architectural style, a market and an area dedicated to street art including unique images of the Naga snake, the guardian deity of the Mekong River. Local artisans and craftsmen often bring their goods to the market on Saturdays.

Phu Sing Gate is another popular spot near the Hin Sam Wan viewpoint. This point leads to two other viewpoints, Sang Roi Bor and Sam Phan Bok, Ubon Ratchathani province, which have several shallow holes in the ground that visitors can walk around.

Tourists take photos between two cliffs of Phu Sing gate

Near Phu Sing Gate is Luang Pho Phra Sing, a golden Buddha statue perched on a stone pedestal. Nearby is a temple that is open to visitors all day. The temple has a room dedicated to Isan Buddhist handicrafts depicting the journey from life to death.

Julie Hambleton, a Canadian travel blogger, suggests taking a shuttle from Phu Sing Park, which costs 500 baht (US$14) round trip, as the road can be treacherous for drivers unfamiliar with the terrain. The shuttle can take up to 10 people, so you can split the cost with other travelers. Be sure to leave the forest by 5 p.m., as the trail is long, muddy, and gets dark quickly during the rainy season.

University (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ba-khoi-da-hinh-ca-voi-hut-khach-o-thai-lan-390552.html