Lake Bua Daeng - new season started

Post by **waanjai** » December 18, 2015, 4:58 pm

One of Udon Thani most liked tourist attraction is the Red Lotus Sea. Come early in the morning as the flowers tend to close at about 12-13:00 hours when the sun is out and warm. The season is from December to end of February every year.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction ... vince.html

Last year they even had a flat rate guided tour leaving every morning from UD Town. Ask at the receptions of the hotels or any major restaurants for the actual leaflet.

Post by **Airportwo** » December 18, 2015, 5:12 pm

Anybody got GPS coordinates for car park area?
Will take family for a drive down next month.
Thanks.

Post by **waanjai** » December 18, 2015, 5:13 pm

How to go there on your own:

Latitude: 17.215122
Longitude: 103.037376

Post by **Shado** » December 18, 2015, 5:38 pm

We typically go every year. A nice outing. From your pictures it looks as if there are fewer blossoms this year. Is that the case or is it just the photo perspective?

Post by **waanjai** » December 18, 2015, 6:20 pm

Shado wrote:From your pictures it looks as if there are fewer blossoms this year. Is that the case or is it just the photo perspective?

a. early in the season b. the perspective taken

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=Lake+ ... 20&bih=920

Post by **parrot** » December 18, 2015, 7:42 pm

Here's the ad for this year:

The 249baht price applies to Air Asia passengers to Udon.....all others 499 per person for transportation from UD Town and boat tour.

Post by **rick** » December 18, 2015, 9:30 pm

We have our own lake of red lotus ..... only about 20 rai but it is 1 minute walk from home.

Post by **Airportwo** » December 18, 2015, 11:12 pm

Perfect waanjai - thank you...

Post by **Hoopoe** » December 20, 2015, 6:04 pm

Shado wrote:We typically go every year. A nice outing. From your pictures it looks as if there are fewer blossoms this year. Is that the case or is it just the photo perspective?

I live virtually on the lake , this year the blooms are late ,,,last year it was ok end of November ,,but always the best time to go is in January as the swallows are then here and follow the boats along with plenty of other birds/wild life , there are now 4 large launch sites ,just to go onto the lake and around the lotus flowers is pontoon boat (will carry10 people) 300 bht per boat or 150/100 bht thin boat , 3-4 people , ,,,,,,,,,,to go on the other trip which takes you to a pontoon for photo's etc then onto the island (monks retreat )longer trip , 500 bht for pontoon boat and 300bht for thin boat this trip i recommend onto the island and pontoon raft ,

Post by **Hoopoe** » December 20, 2015, 6:54 pm

Sorry guy's i'm wrong have just been informed ,,they have stopped the cheap trips (2 years ago) , so it's 500 & 300 bht, last year was exceptional ,,re flowers ,, a word to the wise also ,,it can get chilly out there depending on weather & breeze ,and as waanjai posted best to get there about 9am , the village Bandeum, (spelt ish) has more catering etc , you can get to from the number 2 highway ,,2 launch sites or Tambon Chaelae on the 2350 rd between Kumphawapi & Nonghan 2 launch sites

Post by **waanjai** » December 29, 2015, 8:23 pm

There will be a bycicle ride to the Bua Daeng Lake mid of next month. A tour that looks managable for scooters too - at another day.

Post by **waanjai** » January 21, 2016, 2:48 pm

This picture was taken on January 18, 2016:

Post by **12345** » January 21, 2016, 3:05 pm

A bit sad looking, in comparison to the lake of past. Last time I was there, couple years, seemed over boated, and thinned out quite a bit. From that pic, even more so now. Seen better locally.....LOL

Post by **waanjai** » January 21, 2016, 5:06 pm

Once you start creating a big new tourist attraction - like this one for the province of Udon Thani - you have to shoulder responsibilitis. Especially in Thailand this does not always work well.

It became soon a business.

... and the marketing people were soon there

Nobody seems to be able to "guarantee" most stunning views every year. In the interest of the province, let's hope even "an average year" attracts the millions that came in the past. When there were more culturally interested tourists than locals.

Post by **waanjai** » January 23, 2016, 8:20 pm

A tad more water displacement than usual

Post by **waanjai** » January 25, 2016, 8:52 pm

The colder weather seems to be greeted

: Morning of January 25, 2016

Post by **12345** » February 2, 2016, 9:37 pm

Here's a vid of current things, and the pic above seems to the best spot, as the vid doesn't show much even close to that. A very far cry from when I was there a few years ago, and frankly didn't think it was much then. Tourist trap came to mind.

No wonder why it has changed so much, as the number of boats, and at the end of this vid, it goes right into another, done at 2014, and the different is quite noticeable, along with the boat parked within in the blooms, and the damage they must do, coming and going into them, for that 'photo opt'.

Sad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2ReKum1ROQ

Post by **waanjai** » February 2, 2016, 9:41 pm

An aerial view of this year's situation

About one year ago

Post by **Hoopoe** » June 17, 2016, 9:55 am

I've been out on the lake , it's crammed with bloom's ( never known this at this time of year )but you must get out early ,,,we were a bit late 9.30am ,,,,they're saying it's going to be all year round now ,

Post by **Shado** » June 17, 2016, 12:00 pm

Noticed this in a small pond near our house as well. It is brim full of water and covered with bua daeng blooms during the early hours of the morning. My wife even commented on the abundance of the flowers.