How to get to Wat Baan Taad:
1. Take a flight to Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi airport).
2. From there, take the airport bus (go down one level) AE4 that goes to Hualampong train station. The last I used the bus, it was 150 baht- the bus takes the highway. Taxi- much more expensive unless there are 4 of you travelling- then it will be worth it.
3. At Hualampong station, get a ticket to Udon Thani. The train normally departs at about 7 or 8pm at night and arrive Udon Thani the next morning.
I strongly recommend you buy the lower bunk air con second class seat. The upper bunk is too unsteady and narrow- you may not get a good night's sleep.
The ticket (second class air con lower bunk) will cost about 700+ baht.
Note: Normally, you may find that all the sleeping bunk tickets are sold out- I noticed more and more people are opting to travel by train. So, it is not a good idea to travel on the same day as you buy the ticket. Try to get it days ahead
Thai airway will allow advance booking for the maximum duration of 2 months.
4. If you get the train tickets, you will arrive Udon Thani station about 8am in the morning. Please take note- once the train past stations like Sakorn Nakhon, you will have to be on the alert. Udon Thani is not the last stop- the train only stop for a while.
5. Once you get out of the station, there are many motorbike tuks tuks waiting. Negotiate the price and tell the driver you want to go to Wat Ban Taad. The distance is about 15km, if I am not mistaken, so they should not charge you more than 200 baht.
Pictures above: Udon Thani train stationAddress:
Wat Pa Barn Tard, Barn Tard,Ampher Meuang, Udorn Thani, 41000 Thailand
Most locals know where is the place- however, I have met a driver who do not know and also illiterate. So he end up asking around where is the place- we finally arrived (have faith, friend, have faith :) )
I have a book from Luangta that is in Thai with a map at the back. I have taken 2 photos and included the copy of the map as per below. Please click to enlarge the picture and see which one is easier for you to print out. You will find it useful because many people are not fluent in English- so it will be useful for you to show to the drivers who can't read or speak English. But once you reach Wat Ban Taad, you can easily find English speaking monks, nuns and laypeople.
Another option is to take the overnight bus. Udon Thani is about 6oo+ km from Bangkok.
But please note there are about 3 or 4 bus major bus stations in Bangkok- each going to a different direction. Ask the airport staff which bus station has bus tickets to Udon Thani.
Hope the above helps.
My quote:
"Sometimes, limitation is what we set out to be... I used to have fear about going to look for Luangta, even though I really want to meet this great monk. Finally I summoned my courage and go there. But when I got there, I found so many others- especially foreigners -who flew on the other side of the globe just to see him. "
7 comments:
CAn you please give me the mobile number of this temple?
thanks
with dhamma
Your quote:
"Sometimes, limitation is what we set out to be... I used to have fear about going to look for Luangta, even though I really want to meet this great monk. Finally I summoned my courage and go there. But when I got there, I found so many others- especially foreigners -who flew on the other side of the globe just to see him. "
I went there to see the great man in Nov 2007.
There I met a whole family of Vietnamese (from Australia) who told me that his teacher told them to visit the great at least in this life time.
His teacher's teacher is Ajah Chah.
I met a Malaysian graduate (20yo+)from Sunway college who is a monk and also again a young chap from Singapore doing walking meditation at night and early dawn.I spent the night at the kuti.
I wish I was 30 years younger.
My apologies- I do not have the mobile number of the temple.
I am glad that you made the trip to see Luangta in Nov 2007. Never too late....
we have 6 family member will arrive Bangkok at 26th November, is it possible that we go to temple to see Luangta Maha Boowa? can we just walk in the temple and see Luangta or need other arrangement? this is my mom' wish to see Luangta in her life time...thanks
I think the bus station to go to Udon Thani is the Mochit station, at the north end of bangkok, next to Chatuchak market. I had taken a bus from this bus station to Sakon Nakhon before, visiting his Acharn's teacher museum at Wat Pa Sutthawat.
the description is still accurate, I managed to get to the Monastery for 180Baht, but I think you can even do for less - it's foreigner fee..:)
Leaving the monastery is easy, since many many people from Udon come and give food to the monks in the morning, which leave again after 9..
Thanks for this information, my wife and I want to visit Wat Baan Taad soon. We will be coming form Australia so your details of how to get there are very good thanks.
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