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A university town some
450 km from Bangkok in I-San's geographic center, Khon Kaen is famous
for its "Mat Mi" silk. Unlike other kinds of Thai silk, Mat Mi is made
from tie-dye yarn which permits the weaver to work distinctive, multicolored
patterns into the design. This is a silk of rare distinction and here
in Khon Kaen, there is a week-long annual silk festival held in early
December. There is also a museum here which displays artifacts from the
historical archeological site of Ban Chiang.
 Sakhon
Nakhon is the site which hold the annual "Wax Castle" Ceremony. This ceremony
is celebrated on the full moon of the 11th lunar month around October
and features a procession of elaborate miniature Buddhist chapels and
palaces made from bees' wax which are offered at various temples to make
merit for ancestors. Further, regattas featuring long boat races can be
seen here during the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat in October.
 This
is the site of Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, a lovely hilltop Khmer sanctuary
once connected by road with Angkor. The ruins of Prasat Hin Phanom Rung
is arguable more impressive than those of Phimai. Another, a 12th century
structure, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is a well preserved Khmer temple complex,
its superb architecture being considerably enhanced by a dominant hill-top
location which commands panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Nearby are the smaller but picturesque ruins of Prasat Muang Tam. With
10th century foundations, the temple predates Phanom Rung and although
less well preserved, it possesses a romantic atmosphere in its state of
abandoned beauty.
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Khon
Kaen