Meaning “city of peace”, Buriram is a large, highly populated province some 410 kilometres from Bangkok in north-eastern Thailand – an area known as ‘Issan’. The 10,312,435 square kilometre province still has substantial forested areas and a population of about 1.6 million people. The area has major historical significance and features a number of Khmer ruins. Of particular important is Phanom Rung Historical Park, a-thousand-year-old site and one of the most important Khmer sites outside Cambodia. Situated about 120 kilometres from Korat city, Phanom Rung has been brought back to its full glory after nearly two decades of restoration. The result is extremely impressive.