SURIN ELEPHANT ROUND-UP

Nearly 400 elephants are assembled, and the festivities kick off with a grand morning parade in which the debonair pachyderms parade through the city streets, preceded by musicians in full regalia, dancers and flower-decked floats. The highlight of the festival is a re-enactment of a ^16th-century battle against the Burmese (won by the Thais, of course!). In short, don't miss this opportunity if you're in Isaan at this time of year (it's the best time of year, as the monsoon season is over in this region).