thaibites0

Two rows of tables and we just about filled them and there were lot's of smiles about!

Was it a good night out? A good turn out and a lot of smiles but one guy did a runner when the cable T.V. started filming for the piece they will do even though Marco stated 3 or 4 times that T.V. and the Magazine will be there doing a piece on the get together! Was it a bit of guilt and the fear that somebody will see him? Who cares!

Here's some pics of the people that were not afraid - no comments from me, just the pics! Was it a good night?

Exactly Barry - a little more information in the original post would have got a LOT more help.

Do you want a House OR an apartment? Do you want to be in the City, on the outskirts or in the middle of nowhere?

How big of a place are you looking for? Will a one room apartment with no cooking facilities at B500 a month do you or do you want a 10 room mansion at B20,000?

I know of no websites that cover Ubon although there must be something somewhere, most house rents are done by word of mouth or a sign on the place that is for rent. I do know of 3 houses going for rent in the town and they are going for B3-5000 per month and you pay your own water and electric bills.

A drive around the town would produce dozens of phone numbers for apartments, houses and shophouses.

In the previous thread were some pictures - if you get lost on the night just go to the first pic on the 'how to get there' thread ( the one with the 'Large C' in it) and we will have somebody go there at 1930 hrs to hold your hand whilst we guide you to the place

If you have trouble locating the actual place just D/load the one with the sign in it and zoom in to see 'AOD's' sign in red - you can't miss it because it is only the second sign down the road in Marco's excellent map and both signs are in the pic

As your going to phone the owner tomorrow Marco, beef is not normally on the menu for the meat mixtures due to it's high cost and the fact that Thai's are quite happy to do without it but us Farangs would probably like the choice.

It would add about B20 to the B200 cost of a large dish of mixed meats that fed 5 of us on our 2 visits last week so it's not going to break the bank! Ask the owner if he would provide some top quality beef for the evening.

Another thought would be to request a dip that is half way between the very spicey one and the very sweet one.

Water buffaloes were a standard sight along the roadside some years ago but you would find it hard to spot one now

Perhaps I should reword this or maybe just add 'pulling a plough' onto the end of it!

There will always be buffaloes in Thailand much the same as there are shire horses in the UK but when was the last time you saw your local pub being serviced by a horse drawn delivery wagon?

They look very nice when done out in thier finery and bedecked with horse brasses but it is only on special occaisions that you will see them. Water buffaloes were a standard sight along the roadside some years ago but you would find it hard to spot one now!

They are there and will always be there but not in any large numbers.

If you are coming to the BBQ and need somewhere to stay and directions on how to get there - how can I say this without being repetative? Phone Marco! Real Hotels? The nearest is Nevada Grand but a better (but older) bet is the Phatumrat. Short time motel is within walking distance and a mansion with the same roons with air as the Phatumrat is a 5 minute ride away.

Somewere to stay will run you B200 to B2000 and you get what you pay for - just errm phone errrrm you know

Which hotel would you (or ThaiBites0 or anyone) recommend that is close, clean and comfortable and around the 1000 baht price range. We do not need pool and all that stuff, just a bed and a shower

Phatumrat for a real hotel but a mansion with the same room with air will cost you 4-500 Baht - want me to book you somewhere?

Same goes for anybody else - if you need somewhere to stay, just ask - hotels or motels or mansions that do overnight stays - we even have some cardboard boxes for under the bridge if you need them!

YES

Water buffaloes are the Oxen of Thailand and where used extensively in farming until the tractor took over and made it easier and cheaper to get rid of the buffaloes and pay the smart guy that bought a tractor to plough your fields.

If you want to insult a Thai very badly you just call him/her a 'kwai' but I would suggest you stand back if you do.

The price of fuel is rising every week and fairly soon the tractors will join the rotting hulks you see dotted along the roadside. When Thailand cannot buy oil on the open market because of world demand and find that the oil shale they have in the north will not produce the quantities required most of the cars in the traffic jams in BKK will be scrapped.

we can also offer a local lift in the back of the pickup for those who need it, but not too far as wifey hasn't got a license (shhhhh - I didn't say that ).

Even the people who are not in Ubon City are trying to help (thank you Mike!) but Marco has only 17 confirmed attenders at 1300hrs on Sunday afternoon! Is there something else we can do to get you to attend?

Marco's phone is on 24/7 so give him a ring and lets make it a good night out - meet the locals that can help (Thai's and Farangs) or just enjoy a good meal, not a beer drinker? Don't drink beer then - soft drinks are served! Want hard drinks? Take your Farang bottle (there is no 'corkage charge - you just pay for the mixers and ice) or order a bottle of Mekhong.

Whatever you want or need can be arranged if you tell Marco before 22nd Feb so give him a ring. There is NO mark up on anything and Marco is doing this just to get everybody together - he spends time and gets just the chance to say 'Hello' in return.

Might have been better to post just a 'trip cancelled' notice Lampard!

Lots of people on the forum are willing to 'mis-read' the post and then have a dig at you.

On a final final note

Good news for the post fillers - it means they are doing it because the want to and not for the money. They will be treated well by everybody they meet at the school and will be invited on all the trips the school does.

If they stay for a year it will be a year they will remember forever and will probably still be in contact with some of the people they meet when they are getting the pension at home!

Thanks for the information.

Are most of the ESL teachers in Thailand Aussies?

The vast majority of English teachers in Ubon are American, the Aussie's and Kiwi's get special status with the visa's but seem to prefer BKK and places south.

You would need a degree of some kind to teach at a real school but it would not have to be a degree in Education. The school would probably help you get your work permit and visa but it is not a sure thing - you would have to discuss it with the school.

Private teaching of English conversation is an entirely different thing and all you need is people willing to pay you B300 - B600 per hour to speak to them, difficult in Ubon because most Thai's will not have any English at all except a few words gleaned from movies.

There are Thai's in Ubon that speak near perfect English but they are few and far between.

People say Ubon has no nightlfe but when 'AOD' (I have not got a Thai keybord on my laptop but that is 'orang maitree, orang, dordek - the sign is in one of the pics) closes at midnight (maybe a little later if you sweet talk the owner!) there are Disco's for the younger people and there is old time tango/waltz at a pure Thai dance hall, there are massage parlours for the unaccompanied and snooker halls for the sportsmen!

Just let Marco know if you will want to go on to another place after the meal, if you need transport to get home or back to the hotel/motel/cardboard box just let Him know when you confirm. We can sort out a fleet of tuk-tuks or my lads can take some in the car - just let Marco know.

Want to go home earlier than midnight? No problem - show your face for an hour or two and taste the food then take the tuk-tuk/transport offered.

there is also few interseting points comming up, but as soon they are confirmed i will let you know,,,

Those girls dancing on the table had better be aware of the beer glasses!

I think Marco meant -

Friday 24th for the night out and 21st for confirmation - if we get enough people going the owner will bend over backwards to make sure we have a good time!

No more pics unless I'm asked to post something to clarify but a quick update -

I met MarcoH this evening and showed him the place so he will either yes or no it. I talked to the Manager again and if we phone on 22nd Feb with any requirements (and numbers, get your name into Marco as a sure attendee ASAP) he will do whatever we need.

A new bit for you beer drinkers - they do a 'tower' with the 2 beers they have on draught and will bring you the 'tower' to your table and clamp 3L of beer there so you can serve yourself whenever you want! 3L of Chang runs you B285.

The cost for the evening? Last night was for 5 people and we had 2L of chang to go with the food you've seen and the bill was B455.

When I took Marco to show him the place we actually ate there again (the sister-in-law won on the underground lottery! B1750 and paid for the meal n beer!) but Marco had to go to the airport and missed out!

If my directions as to how to get to the place are not up to scratch - let me know!

Let's try that again -

Here's the road your on and here's the road to turn left on -

If your on the right road when you've turned left you will see this -

And here is the place's sign (about 50m down the road) -

Here is the front of the building -

It's doing it again but-

If you turn left at the second pic, here's the road your on (it's the road behind the market in front of BigC).

About 150m down there you get the next pic.

It is one of the very few places in Ubon that serves desserts! It is not Swensons ice cream but here is the dessert counter - fresh fruit and ice cream.

Ok - Where is the bloody place?

Here's the turn off from Chiangkul road into BigC but you need to turn left here.

That one worked!

To continue then - the other choice for seating is 6 people to a round table in rows -

The forum will not let me add another post whilst my last post was the last post - getting complicated here but -

If this appears on the post with the pics I will point out that it was supposed to be 3 posts with 3 comments and 3 pics with the first, 2 pics with second and 2 pics with the last one.

I have more pics and most importantly, I have pics of how to get to the place. I will post them through the night and tomorrow.

Some updates - I talked to the manager and I have the owners card so we can phone and book the night but we need to confirm numbers by Wednesday next week but a round about figure will do (TIT to paraphrase Mr Trink!). They do not have draught Singa! They have Chang and Leo on draught but have EVERY beer in bottles (if we have any requests for outlandish beers - I'm sure they will have them on the night!).

Anybody needing help with digs needs to let Marco know so we can sort it out ASAP.

The REPORT!

Apart from meeting people and having a good laugh, this is why we are going -

These might add a little spice to the evening -

And the place?

It was quite full and at half way through the month when Thai's are starting to budget the 'ngern dhurn' it just shows you how popular the place is! We have 2 choices of seating and the manager is quite happy to put a lot of these square tables together so we can sit in one long row.