utapaortnab

If your future plans include living full time or part time in Thailand and you decide to tealok or marry a Thai lady take this thought into consideration.

If you like Bangkok, only date Thai ladies whose families LIVE in Bangkok. If you like Pattaya, only date women whose family are now rooted in Pattaya.

This will keep you from spending the majority of time up-country in bum <deleted> Issan or deep in the south of Thailand, or anywhere else outside YOUR favorite destination, future home area or the area where YOU want to spend the majority of your time in Thailand.

I married the most wonderful Thai lady ever, and for the first 12 years of our married bliss together, we were very happy, mostly because we lived 10 years of that time in America and only then, returned to Thailand to be there for her mother who was ill. In 2005, we returned, and I built a huge home in Chaiyaphum Thailand. I tried for 20 months to adapt to life in the sticks, but I just will never be happy there. Noo one person in the 17 villages of Gudtum speak a word of English, and although I've spent my life working in/living in/visiting 39 countries and all 50 United States, I ONLY speak English. Now I fully realize that in the 39 years total that I've worked in, lived in, or visited Thailand since first being assigned to the U.S. Army Satellite Communications Station at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airbase during the Viet Nam war, and from the first week I was in Thailand (I'd been in 6 others Asian countries B4 stepping foot in Thailand at age 35, I knew Thailand would be my home forever. In Dec 2010 however, forever ended and I find myself back living in Oceanside Ca.

I fully realize it is my problem that I have NO foreign language skills, (even flunked Spanish in college) and my life would have been even more spectacular IF I could speak Thai, Isaan, Kymer, Lao etc. but even if I had full language skills in all the languages mentioned above, I still could never again live in the sticks, in Isaan, in the village.

I know each and every one of you have dreamed at some point of living in full retirement, isolated far from adequate phone services, in an area with no TV, no phones, no hussle and bustle of city life, but believe me, I believe you, like I found myself, were just fooled into believeing that that kind of life is or ever will be sustainable for anyone who has ever lived in a civilized city life situation.

The more free time you have, the more idle hours you have to fill, and to try and do so in an area with less options to fill each day (like offered in Bangkok to the max, in Pattaya to a somewhat lesser max, and in other beach areas of Thailand for those whose lifestyle needs are at a yet lower level, we MUST have places to go, things to do, hundreds of restaurants to choose from, tens of movies to choose from, many shopping malls to choose from, and for those who drink (I cannot because of being an incillin dependent diabetic), hundreds of bars, nightclubs, gogos, massage parlors, whatever floats your boat, rather than living in an area with few or none of these options. If you live in a small village somewhere in Issan, all you can look forward to is your next holiday in Bangkok or Pattaya etc. Believe me!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, I'm not handing out advise, just want each and every member who plans a lifetime of trips or permanent residency in Thailand to have a listen and decide for themselves if what I say has ANY value at all.

At age 75, most people would tell you all my few remaining thoughts are muddled in the past.

Ken

I lived fulltime in Thailand 1971-1973 and 2005-2010 and part time ever since 19712 excepting

when I lived in-country full time. In all the 39 years in-country my female friends were aged

22-41 (my wife was 21 when I married her and is 37 now), I'm 74.

In all that time I never slept with a bargirl, always preferring to "farm" shopping malls, and

shops, restaurants, coffee shops and tea shops. That certainly doesn't make my way of makhing

friends right or anyone else's way wrong, just that I march to a far different drummer (I also

do not drink or smoke but certainly have always looked at that as my shortcoming, not that there

is anything wrong with either). It's just that I am an incillin dependent diabetec and always

get sick drinking and I did not ever smoke because Pall Malls killed my dad at such an early age.

Now, back in America, few young women give someone my age a tumble or even a thought.

I have missed Thailand every moment since I left.

Ken

I totally agree with my houston friend. I have lived full time in Thailand for many years now and when not living there full time divided my time between the U.S. and Thailand. I just returned to Oceanside Ca and was shocked at the price of everything here now. And as I usually went to and enjoyed the movies all around Bangkok daily, I have had to cut my movie going to 2/week here and every theator I've been in has been smelly, nasty inside and I've spent more for my popcorn and snacks even though the ticket prices have averaged $9 and that's for the Senior discount.

Grocery prices have doubled since I was last in the U.S. in 2005 and don't even talk about gas prices, utility costs, taxes, and really stupid laws. While illegal immigrants rights are very protected, those who have lived 74+ years life as an American citizen are subjected to laws, policies and rules that mave nothing to do with common sense or reason.

I also agree with America having become far behind Thailand in technology, and I'd add that the politicians and "good old boys" are ALL self serving incompitants who have no desire to represent their constituants.

And don't even try to get a real live person on the phone at any government entity, or utility companhy (unless you speak Spanish).

I hadn't been back a week when I started questioning my decision making abilities and sanity.

The only plus is being close to my 4 kids, 2 grandkids, great grandson and many friends from all over the U.S. who all have been so supportive of my return.

Ken Bower

Veteran Human Being

A couple days ago, my cellphone text message alert system recorded that there was a shooting at a nightclub in Pattaya. I tried to get further info from all sources excepting Thai Visa forum because I was out at the flower fields in Chaiyaphum at the time. Now I'm in BKK and looking for details.

Help''''''''''''''''''''''''

kenandlat

I first came to Thailand at age 35 in 1971. serving with the U.S. Army. I had already been posted to 6 other Asian countries, but found Thailand far superior to any of the other postings and after living in Pattaya (yes it was a nice place to live 39 years ago), for a year while working at U-Tapao RTNAB and in Sriracha, I decided Thailand would be where I wanted to retire eventually, so I geared my life towards that goal.

On my 30th trip to Thailand, I met and later married my present (Thai) wife. We lived in the United States (San Antonio Texas and Yuma Arizona) for 10 years and she became an American citizen, but we both longed to return to Thailand. On my 36th trip to Thailand in 2005, we just quit splitting our year between America and Thailand and moved permanently to Chiayaphum.

I bought land, built a huge home, and spent everyday amongst the local Isaan people, which I've come to believe are the greatest clan/group/tribe of people in the world.

They have in all cases treated me better than anyone in any of the 39 countries I've lived or worked in or visited. They ARE the kindest, most wonderful people I've ever met.

In 2007, for my own selfish reasons (so I could be in Bangkok and enjoy daily movies, shopping malls, farang restaurants etc.) my wife and I moved to an apartment near Lumpini Park. Our complex consists of about 240 apartments, and all but 15 are occupied by Thai neighbors. I get on better with all my Thai neighbors than most of the farang neighbors. Many are Isaan btw.

I dearly love this country, and yes, for me it is still the Land of Smiles. I have always treated each and every person I meet with respect, and in return have never been treated poorly, or harshly, excepting in Europe and America on occasion.

I find the people of Asia in general so much easier to blend in with than Americans or Europeans. Maybe it's just me, or maybe for once I am totally correct in my belief.

Ken Bower

U.S. Army retired

Living in full retirement in Thailand

Planning never to leave this country again (since 2005).

My name is Ken Bower. I first came to Thailand at age 35, assigned to the US Army Satellite Communications Station at U-Tapao RTNAB in 1971 and was later assigned as Station Chief of the US Army Microwave Communications in Sriracha Thailand. It was during my 20+ years of servatude in the US military.

I had been in six other Asian countries B4 arriving in Thailand, but somehow, Thailand was so very different, somehow better.

I am now close to 74 yrs old and have worked in, lived in or visited 39 countries but since 1971 have always considered Thailand as not only the best place to visit but to live.

I fully retired in 1995 and moved to Chiayaphum Thailand, some 5 hours north of Bangkok, but in 2007 left our lovely home there and rented/leased an apartment in Bangkok. I now spend most of every month right here in the BIG MANGO.

In 2005, I stopped going back to the U.S. altogether. Haven't got any intentions of ever going back.

My kids/grandkids/great grandson ALL have a lot more money than I have and most come to visit here so why would I ever want to go back to a country I was born in but spent only about 1/3rd of my life in and didn't like all that much when I was living there?

The current cost of living/existing in the U.S. is several times what it is to live here so I'm very happy to just continue to live a little higher on the hog here than I'd ever be able to on my retirement incomes living stateside????

Ken Bower

Enjoying full retirement in Thailand

Your message has been sent.

Kenneth Bower to Thailand, bcc: kenandlat

show details 1:17 PM (0 minutes ago) Reply

Never did I think I'd get so many responces on this thread/topic.

I spent two vacations in England but never got out of London. I planned my first vacation all in London but for my second, I joined 3 Brit supervisors who worked for me in Saudi Arabia during my 5 years stint over there with McDonnell Douglas and they "promised me" that they'd show me the real England.

One of them owned a canal boat however and we spent the whole vacation on the boat not getting more than a few km out of London the whole trip. All they did was drink and fight until they passed out and then docked to replenish "stores" which mostly consisted of cans of beans and cases of beer. As I don't drink or smoke, the trip was a washout for me...lol

My brother-in-law, who was born and raised in Willows, a small village halfway between

Liverpool and Manchester might be interested in the new flight out of Newcastle. He was just here in Thailand on his semi-yearly 6 week vacation from England. My wife's sister has two of the most beautiful kids by him and I kind of spoil them to death whist he is back in England slaving away as a supervisor for some giant security company. (His brother is the manager btw).

I'm 72 yrs old now and my lust for travel has waned quite a bit but hopefully I'll get to spend another month in the REAL England B4 I die.

Ken Bower

Married my Thai wife on my 30th trip to Thailand in 1995

Retired for good in Thailand on my 36th trip to Thailand

Have NO plans to EVER return to the U.S.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways' 777's also have the 3 in the middle - at least if they're in regional configuration

Personally, my first choice would be SQ as a rule - but their prices are a bit OTT. I can get a biz class return to Europe for about 40% less if I fly TG via BKK - and if you pick the route carefully, the new Airbus A340-500's will be present - TG's new biz class is as good as anything else out there imho. Swiss is another good option - a modern A340 on the SIN-BKK-ZRH route, and from Zurich I can easily connect to Chaos Central (Brum)

Done Emirates a few times as they fly direct into Brum from Dubai - only airline that flies wide-bodies into BHX so far as I know - and no complaints but I personally prefer one long flight and a short hop to two shorter flights. Horses for courses that of course...

CC

Emirates and Qatar are both outstanding. New jets, obedient and helpful staff, comfortable lounges (business & first class) I think Qatar wins the lounge award, they have their own separate building that your bussed over too for Business and fist class passengers, its huge with good food and not as crowded as Emirates in Dubai.

middle row in Emirates business has three seats

THREE SEATS in the middle!

I've never flown Emirates but I'd be horrified to board and see this! The Business class de-rigour is 2 seats together - I always take the upstairs also if on a 747.

a number of airlines who bought 777s ordered three seats in business middle row. applies also to Cathay Pacific

Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways' 777's also have the 3 in the middle - at least if they're in regional configuration

Personally, my first choice would be SQ as a rule - but their prices are a bit OTT. I can get a biz class return to Europe for about 40% less if I fly TG via BKK - and if you pick the route carefully, the new Airbus A340-500's will be present - TG's new biz class is as good as anything else out there imho. Swiss is another good option - a modern A340 on the SIN-BKK-ZRH route, and from Zurich I can easily connect to Chaos Central (Brum)

Done Emirates a few times as they fly direct into Brum from Dubai - only airline that flies wide-bodies into BHX so far as I know - and no complaints but I personally prefer one long flight and a short hop to two shorter flights. Horses for courses that of course...

CC

Qatar business.

Hiya Naam,

I,ve decided to give them a try, Bankok / Manchester.

Any useful advice based on your experience please ?

I,ve checked the web page and it looks pretty good to me.

Are there any scary episodes of getting pulled on the middle east leg that are posted on T.Visa., not that i,m a druggy or anything, but like when i visit Singapore, i,m always wary of innocent third party stuff.

Especially important, the medications for my family to use lem sip and the like i carry, is it o.k. in the hold luggage ?

What are they like for baggage, is it keen and are the limits 30 kg hold, and 15kg,s for carry on still in place ?

Some airlines are now changing allocations as we all know.

Lounge facilities at relevant airports and snacks, when available.

Any other imput re Qatar from other members / posters appreciated.

Thank you

marshbags

Flown many times with Qatar, never had a problem, I always check stop over times and have always been lucky enough to have no more than one to two hours stop over. No scary incidents!

Gee, little did I think many months ago when I started up this thread that it would last "forever".

Sure is interesting to me still.

I lived in Ban Sakanam, Gudtum, 12 km from downtown Chiayaphum for 20 mo. B4 finally deciding

to get an apartment in Bangkok and only "visit" Chiayaphum frequently (about once every two mo.)

My wife still visits our paid for home there every month as one sister of hers lives there now until her

house is built later this or next year with her two wonderful daughters, ages one and three. Her husband

is from England and visits twice a year, once for 5 weeks, once for 7 weeks.

Lat's mom still lives in our home as well, on the second floor and another sister/bro-in-law live in a separate

home on our land as well. The land can hold yet another six homes or so if all Lat's family (sisters and brothers)

ever decide to return to their "roots" and there is a chance that some of the nieces/nephews may also build

on the land sometime in the future.

We welcome all the family to live/build there as the family is so close (much closer than any family I've ever

met in the 39 countries I've lived in or visited). A great plus to be sure.

Anyhow, while living "up-country" I'd treasure the twice monthly trips to Bangkok or Pattaya just for the change

but now that Bangkok is my prime "hang-out", I really enjoy my trips back to Chiayaphum.

I guess just having both options is the one great solution to really loving Thailand so much.

Ken Bower

Thailand (on and off) since 1971

Full time in retirement since 2005

Like you, I like the Triple O's White Spot hamburgers, AND the mos hamburger offerings as well

as their fish and pork sandwiches, but for me the Garage Burgers at Central world, 7th Floor and

Four Seasons Place, 2nd floor are the best in Thailand.

Actually, those I make at home are better as they most resemble the great Fuddrucker's hamburgers

from the U.S. which are the world's best IMHO. In England, I like Wimpy's btw.

Ken

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My CentralWorld burger run, part 2.

Triple O's White Spot - in the Central Food Hall, 7th floor, across from SFWorld Cinema. Bit hard to find, so look for the cinema, it is directly across behind Nut Candy and New Zealand Natural.

Ordered a Triple O Combo for 250 baht - honestly I only wanted the burger but that option did not appear to be available. And though I also love milkshakes, decided to pass on it this time as I still have to do the Garage, plus a combo would already be quite filling.

Fries - decent. I am particular to McDonald's fries (not Burger King or KFC, those never taste the same) - here the fries are a bit thicker and they're fresh.

Ketchup - Heinz, always the right choice - however, I think they need to do away with the bottles and get some dispensers or squirt bottles.

The pickle - so-so. Actually, I don't mind pickles like this - don't like them too sour - but this was a bit on the bland side.

The bun - not bad. At least it's properly grilled.

Lettuce - plenty, almost too much. The tomato was disappointing by comparison to Mos Burger.

Bacon - not as crisp as it should be but otherwise good - and way better than most other places make bacon.

The patty - almost unnoticeable. Very disappointing. Grilled, not flame or charcoal broiled. But at least the beef was not marinated and seemed to be better quality than McDonalds or Burger King.

Triple O sauce - what is it? Hardly even noticed it, I thought it was just ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard.

Drink - for 250 baht the least you can do is give me a 16 oz drink... but they gave me 12 oz. From the fountain, no less - why the heck are they charging 10 baht to go up another 4 oz when it costs them about 1 baht in additional syrup and soda?

For the damage of 250 baht - I don't think I'll be rushing back here soon either unless they sell the burgers separately, then depends on the price. I can have a Triple Whopper at Burger King for less than 250 baht and it tastes great as long as they don't overcook the beef.

Guys and gals,

I lived in Ban Sakinam, about 12km from downtown Chiayaphum for 19 1/2 months B4 we moved into the apartment in Bangkok we'd been waiting for.

Been in Bangkok now for just five weeks and already wonder HOW I lived in the village as long as I did. Now I do miss all our family, each and every one of Lat's family members and our neighbors, espacially all the kids, we have nieces 1,2,3,4 and a nephew almost 5, but not enough to do the 5 hour one way trips back up there more than once every other month or so, for B'days and holidays.

Since we've been back in Bangkok, I remember how great it is to go to a supermarket and get almost everything I could have wanted and if one supermarket doesn't have an item or two, there are many more to check for the items in.

I enjoy seeing 2-4 movies a week IN ENGLISH, and hitting all the 200 or so great western or Thai food restaurants in BKK.

I must admit, I love the Isaan people, but lean towards life in BKk for whatever years I have left. This from a man who really enjoyed each and every day in Chiayaphum.

Ken Bower

Now living in BKK

There have been a number of reports lately about marriages between Issan women and farangs bringing prosperity to parts of Issan and the women becoming farang in their eating habits. Successly relationships they seem to be generally

I am 2 years now seperated and live alone but would like to meet and possibly reside in Issan. Where do you meet prospective wives? The bars are really risky and agencies are just money making machines so it must be personal introduction friend of a friend I guess any advice on this. I don't live in Pattaya but down in Sattahip

Constructive advice only please

John

Ken Bower here. I've been married to my Issan wife for 13 years now. It has been a very unique relationship and the most possitive of my whole 71 yr. life. A rather unique relationship in that

1. We lived for 20 mo. In Chiayaphum, in her childhood home which we modified to our "tastes/needs" and everyone who lived within a block in a half ARE relatives.

2. That I dearly love each and every member of my wife's family as my own.

3. That at NO TIME have any of her relatives asked for one satong/baht

4. That even though we recently took on an apartment in Bangkok, it was only because the rent

was less than what we were spending on hotels for our usual 2 five nite trips to BKK to visit all our

friends that live there full time, and to take care of all doctor's appointments, dentist appointments, picking up my APO (U.S. mail), and being able to see movies (one of my favorite hobbies) in English, and shopping in malls, stores, groceries that actually have everything I crave for that isn't available in Tesco, the ONLY reliable outlet in Chiayaphum.

5. The fact that our mutual agreement B4 we decided to live in retirement full time in Thailand included an agreement that we WOULD split each month between Chiayaphum and Bangkok/Pattaya/and other locations I chose. This agreement "may" be the best necessity to retain sanity in living in Thailand full time. See, it's only IMHO, but I think that living full time in Isaan can lead to any farang's decreasing hold on reality and living full time in Bangkok can waste one's vision of what Thailand is really all about so splitting each month between the two makes my wife very happy in that she gets to spend ample time with ALL her family and spending half of each month in BKK gives me plenty of time to visit/socialize with all our Thai and farang friends here AND to get my fill of movies, shopping, and other activities.

6. I must state that I am a bit odd as a farang in that I am an incillin dependent diabetec, whose had two heart events, and I do NOT smoke or drink, but socialize with many friends who enjoy both, and it's not an issue ever with me.

A while back someone on this forum or perhaps one of the other 58 I belong to, said something that stuck in my mind that I'd like to share here, not so much as a warning, but just as a thought.

This poster had mentioned that 90% of all problems with maintaining long term relationships with Thai women had to do with the farang NOT being condusive to handing out money/favors to all her relatives, or supporting the "family unit". I am not even smart enough to know if I agree with this statement or not because it doesn't apply to me, but IF that is true, then I would agree with what the poster said next.

His advise was first of all, never look at bargirls as longterm companions but always pursue ladies who work as shopkeepers/shopworkers, or those working in malls, restaurants, coffee shops etc. Then pursue finding out which of your favorites have large families in Isaan or whatever area you prefer, and eliminate all those with close ties to their families, pursuing only those who had cut all ties with their families.

According to the poster, and as I can recall, he stated that the "perfect" Thai partner might be an orphan, with NO ties to family at all. He went on to state that what life with a Thai woman boils down to was her needs to be taken care of (which I would guess would be the farang's ability to financially support all her needs) and her being able to provide not only the physical sex he desired, but conversation in HIS language as well as her own. All I can add is that COMMUNICATIONS is the key to long time relationships (and that I am very longwinded...lol)

Ken

I'm considering buying a new 4 door sedan and wondered if any member here is well versed in all the available brands and tax situation for those built/assembled here within Thailand.

As I understand it, those models that are built/assembled locally within Thailand have little or no taxes involved in the sale while those imported carry quite large tax burdens along with a higher "sticker price".

Could someone tell me the 3 largest 4 door sedan models made here "in-country" and what the total drive out price might me for a "loaded" model?

Ken

Howdy,

About 15 months ago I bought a lazyboy chair in Pattaya Beach and had it shipped to Chiayaphum. It was covered in leather (or some kind of plastic fake leather) or whatever, but whatever the covering, it could NOT take the very high temperatures that are ever present in our giant living room at the house (we DO NOT have air conditioning in this room, only using floor fans for cooling).

Anyhow, B4 the lazyboy chair was even a year old, the fabric started 'blistering" and then tearing and now it is a pitiful mess.

I'd like to have it recovered in fabric, NOT leather, somewhere in Chiayaphum, Korat, or Khon Kaen or other location within easy reach of Chiayaphum.

Problem is, no one has been able to advise me of where a reliable upholstry shop is in Isaan.

Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken Bower

Chiayaphum Thailand

[email protected]

Well Moss, et al;

Lat and I live full time in Chiayaphum (two hours north of Korat, two hours south of Khon Kaen) and we moved to Chiayaphum for good 15 mo. ago. I switched my O visa which required trips outside Thailand every 90 days (3 trips to Singapore and one to PP last year) to a retirement visa so now we never have to leave Thailand again.

It was a joint decision between my wife and myself to retire up here rather than in Bangkok or Pattaya Beach etc. because we own the home and land we live in here it being my wife's childhood home. It works for us because I love each and every member of my wife's family as my own back in Orange County CA. But when we decided to quit splitting each year between the U.S. and Thailand, we also agreed that we'd spend half of each month in our "village" and half in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Korat, Udon, Hua Hin or outside Thailand as I wished. Very good reason for that.

While we have paved roads to our property, have electricity, running water, phones, and have "modified" the house to include a more Americanized floorplan, with large covered front porch with concrete floor, huge 24 x 24 ft. living room and an air-conditioned bedroom/bathroom suite, etc. I can only stay up here about two weeks tops and then NEED to head for Bangkok or other area where all our farang friends live just to be able to speak English for a few days, and eat all the American foods I crave that aren't available at the Tesco in Chiayaphum, i.e. Rib Eye Steaks, good pizza w/anchovies, occasional American junk foods etc. and to take in a couple of movies in English, and visit a few of my favorite malls, which would include Paragon, Emporium, MBK and Esplanade in Bangkok or Royal Garden, Mike's, and Big C in Pattaya Beach and the new mall in Hua Hin.

Splitting up each month was the smartest decision we ever made. It eliminates the boredom of living in the village all month and also the stresses of living in the "city" all month. I'm always ready to make the transition both ways.

So, it might be a thought that all the other members of this forum might want to follow.

JMHO,

Ken Bower

Fully retired (and some say retarded) in Chiayaphum Thailand

For those of you that don't already know about it, on Dec 14th, there was yet another new shopping mall that opened in a very uncrowded, unpretensious location with many perks.

Esplanade Mall: Ratchadalai St. (west of Petchaburi) where Soi Asoke again becomes Ratchadalai St. (If you are coming from Sukhumvit, via Asoke, when you cross Petchaburi St. you'll be half way there. It will be on the left, first building complex after the National Cultural Center MRT exit 3.

MRT subway exit NATIONAL CULTURAL CENTER exit 3, turn left, it's right next door.

6 stops from Lumpinee MRT station (26 Baht) (about 77 cents U.S.)

3 stops from Asoke/Sukhumvit MRT station.

Distinct advantages of shopping there. New Mall - has done almost NO advertizing, no one else knows where it is or how to get there, therefore the shops, theators (14 theater movie complex), food venues are near empty of customers so far. The secret won't last but even once everyone finds the advantages of shopping here, it will remain a favorite for me because, since I always stay in the Lumpinee/Rama IV/Soi Ngam duplee area, I can walk to the subway station at Lumpinee, and NOT have to ever take a cab again........ No rush hour traffic, no problems...

Now even though they had their grand opening on Dec 14th, about half the store space is still in the development stage or empty. I've listed a few of the stores/shops/restaurants I'd visit. Yes, they have loads of clothing stores, optical, dental, shoe stores etc. but I have no interest in any excepting Adidas for casual men's clothes. Just drop in at the Esplanade mall and check out all the "shops" for yourselves.

Basement Floor:

MK Restaurant

Tops Supermarket (not completed yet)

Noodles Bar

Famous Amos (not completed yet)

Scoozi Pizza and Italian

Miss Saigon Restaurant

Whittards of Chelsea (not completed yet)

BBQ Plaza

Uomasa Restaurant

KFC S&P Bakery

Auntie Annies

Wine Collection - Wholesale Prices

Ootoya Restaurant

Fuji Restaurant

Tayoi Japanese Restaurant

Ground Floor:

Starbucks

Caffe Nero Black Canyon Restaurant

Hay Cafe (not completed yet)

Adidas

McDonalds

Gardian Pharmacy

Coffee World

Mixx Dining

Mezzanine:

Health stores, vision, dental, health stores etc.

2nd Floor:

Cafe Kaldi

Tohkai Esplanade (not completed yet)

Bangkok, and many other banks

Theater Box office

3rd Floor:

Shabu Five (not completed yet)

Wasabi Restaurant

Nokia Shop

Book & Music B2S store

IT connect

Future Now Computers

Forth Floor:

Blu Bowl Bowling (not completed yet)

Sub Zero Ice Skate Club (not completed yet)

Country Hobby (not completed yet)

Country Hobby shop (not completed yet)

Ratchadalai Theater complex (14 screens)

Now as I said, there are many shops, stores, etc. I didn't mention because they have no interest to me. If this new mall sounds like something you'd be interested in, just drop in and enjoy it. I certainly was very favorably impressed.

Ken Bower

Chiayaphum Thailand

(spend 6-10 days/month in Bangkok however)

My good lady stays 1 hour away from Khon Khan by car hope this is of help to you.

How will i contact you all.

Thanks for the offer of the beer but i dont drink you will be saying whaaaat, the food and a glass of nam would be gratefully accepted and the farang company thanks guys.

Howdy Marshall,

If fate brings you into Chiayaphum province, please drop in and visit us here at:

19/1 Moo2, Ban Sakinam, Gudtum, Chiayaphum, 36000, Thailand

We are about 12 km North of downtown Chiayaphum on Hiway 201. Call us at 06-090-8686 if you CAN visit. We welcome all Thai and Farang members of this forum to visit. BYOB as we don't drink but enjoy others who do imbide.

Ken/Rattana Bower

[email protected]

As most of the members here know, some 13 mo.+ ago, my wife Rattana and I moved/retired here to the small village of Ban Sakinam, in the suburbs Gudtum or Kudtum on some maps, some 12-15km from downtown (Muang) Chiayaphum.

It was a decision we jointly made AFTER my wife had spent some 9 1/2 years in the U.S. with only short/limited vacations back to Thailand during that time, and I felt I owed it to her to move with her to her "roots" in order for her to enjoy being with all her family, friends, neighbors. It may have been the best decision of our lives.

Although I do NOT speak Thai (even after having visited Thailand for a total of 41 trips if you count the trips in and out of Thailand since we retired here in Oct 2005), living here in Gudtum, which has a total of 17 villages with myself as the ONLY farang living full time out here in the sticks, it has NOT been a major problem for me.

We spent about half the month each month travelling to Bangkok (where we spend most of our time outside Chiayaphum), Pattaya, Korat, Udon Thani, and other locations in Thailand, and Singapore or Phnom Penh outside the Kingdom.

While here in the boondocks, my wife Lat speaks good English as does her sister Piroon and her niece Som and I have long conversations with the rest of her family and our neighbors in my native tongue and they respond with everything from answers in Thai or Thai/Lao or just nods of the head or occasionally just blank stares.

I've found that there are plusses and minuses in this arrangement. Firstly, I have not been in an arguement in 30 months...lol Secondly, I am not required to be socially brilliant in supporting any topic of conversation. On the minus side, there are times when I long for friendship/socialization in English between our frequent trips to Bangkok and beyond.

But last nite, while attending a birthday party for a niece, Angie, age 1, who is amongst my favorite of the flock of nieces/nephews and neighbor kids in our neighborhood I took the time to reflect on my presence in the "hood". I have been well acccepted by ALL our family and our neighbors. I've been made to feel at home and a part of the village at all times, never feeling like an outsider. I've been ACCEPTED here.

More so than anywhere in the 39 countries and all 50 United States I've visited. Odd perhaps but I have always thought of the Thai people and espacially those from Isaan as the friendliest people anywhere in the world.

Is it just me or do others feel the same way?

Ken Bower, Retired in Paradise

Ken do you mind me changing your post slightly, if you have a problem please PM me and I will change

The Danish guy had to leave because Denmark was cutting off his gov't pension since he stayed outside the EU for more than 90 days???? I know nothing about EU politics so can't comment on why.

For those who are looking for a farang hangout, I'll ask one of my friends here but since Lat and I don't drink alcohol or smoke, we know nothing about any bars in town. BYOB if you come over to our place btw. We aren't snobs about it, just don't drink. I because of diabetes and Lat just because???? Who knows why women do anything????

For those who would like to stay overnite, there is a brand new resort called Siam River Resort by the hospital, just a block or so north of the monument circle. It's great. Our friends up from Pattaya have stayed there, and I've booked my sister and the three other members of our family there for two nites next month. They have an outside dining room that serves Thai food only and drinks and have a band in the evening AND they have a large Massage and Karioke Building that we did not investigate but looked great. A room there cost 800 baht/nite and up and the rooms are quite modern and nice but have small bathrooms.

Hope to see y'all up here sometime.

Ken/Lat Bower

Chiayaphum

Hi Guys,

Was that Danish Bar next to an internet cafe ? I was in Chaiyaphum last year and seem to remember seeing a farang type bar as I came out of the internet place but I didn't have time to go in.

The reason I ask is that I will be in Chaiyaphum again from 14th November to 1st December and like Ken was also hoping to find a farang watering hole and had that place in mind. Shame that it's gone.

Have to agree about the farang food too !!! Doesn't bother me as I love Thai food, but last time I did just fancy a pizza when I saw the place near where Tesco Lotus is now. Shouldn't have bothered !

I spent nearly two weeks there last year and having an extended stay this time I was hoping I might find a bar to escape to. Looks like I'll be out of luck. I gather there are a couple of hotels there, anyone any idea if they have bars.

If you follow route 201 north out of Chiayaphum in about 3 km or so you will come to the Route 201 and 202 junction. Route 202 would take you to either Khon Kaen or Korat depending on if you turned left or right. Do neither, but continue on straight on 201 for another 5 km or so, past the electric company on the left hand side of the road and a small resort on the right, and take the next crossroad. It will be marked only in Thai and I think it says Gudtum road or Kudtum road. There will be a bus stop on the southeast corner where you turn and a Thai school on the southwest side of the turn. This will be Village 1 in Gudtum and we live in Ban Sakinam, which is Village 2 (there are now 17 villages comprising Gudtum). As you go straight, take the first left you can and continue until you have to bear a little left to get to the "checkpoint" which will be the end of village 1. Continue past the "checkoint" until the road has a Y in it and take the right hand side and you will continue on past another "checkpoint" which is the start of Ban Sakinam, Village 2. Continue on and you will pass a grade school on the left, then next a Wat, and at the next corner (there will be a spirit house there), turn left and go one block to where the paved road ends. You do not turn left or right nor do you continue on the dirt road that would be a half right but enter the driveway which is a half left. This is our family compound and it has two houses on it and a cement driveway. The large house is ours and the stilt house behind it to the left is one of Lat's sister's houses.

You are welcome to visit us anytime we are home: We should be home everyday excepting Oct 30-Nov 15, when Lat and I will be entertaining my sister and three other relatives in Chiayaphum, Pattaya Beach, Hua Hin and Bangkok and then we'll be back in Bangkok on Nov 23-26, Dec 7-11, Dec 27-31.

Please call us at 06-090-8686 B4 you come over. I guess that number will be changing shortly to 086-090-8686 whenever we get around to going to AIS and having them add the mandatory extra digit to my cellphone.

We welcome company and do cook American food for those that show up and want it and ThaiLao food for those who'd rather have that.

Ken and Lat Bower

19/1 Moo 2, Ban Sakinam, Gudtum

Chiayaphum, 36000, Thailand

[email protected]

Hi Ken Bower,

I can't find your village on the map - are you near Ban Ladyi or on the Khon Khro road? Our village in in Ampur Khon Sa Wan, we generally visit once a year or so. You're right about eating places in C city (city???). Some of the small family eateries are pretty good, but sometimes we just need what we're most use to. Seeing KFC has moved in, I expect McD's will be there next visit. Might boost their (McD's) economy, but won't do much for the locals.

I did meet a Canadian in 'The Gate' (now Tesco) a couple of times, but have not heard from him for about 2 years.

If possible we might look you up next visit?

Paul.

Ken,

Ken Bower here. Lat and I live in Chiayaphum and I believe we met you at Cheeky Farang's B Day party in Korat a couple of months ago.

There WAS a Danish restaurant in Chiayaphum until last Feb. The owner closed it up and

went back home when the Danish gov't threatened to take away his gov't retirement pension because he was outside the EU for more than 90 days (he'd had the restaurant for 2-3 years).

There also used to be a Korean restaurant for awhile, but trust me, there in NO where in Chiayaphum that has any worthwhile farang food (even the KFC at Tesco is terrible) excepting

the daily meals served by my wife and her sister right here at our house in nearby Ban Sakinam, Gudtum (about 12-15km northeast of Chiayaphum city).

IF you find yourself in the area, give us a shout and IF we are home instead of in BKK (we make two trips/month) or elsewhere in Thailand or SE Asia, you'll certainly be welcome to stop over for a visit and a meal.

Just let us know in advance that you are coming. Same goes for anyone else I met in Korat or Udon Thani.

Ken/Rattana Bower

//email removed//

06-090-8686

Ken Bower here. I'm 70 years old, and live in a small village called Ban Sakinam, which is also called Village II in Gudtum, an area some 12-15km northeast of downtown Chiayaphum Thailand.

My wife and I live in her childhood home here and her mother (and one of her sisters and her two daughters presently live upstairs) in what was the whole stilt home until we moved back here and retired.

I have used cement blocks to enclose the whole downstairs that includes a 24' x 28' living room and had a bedroom/bathroom which I have fully air-conditioned and keep very cool 24/7. It's my hiding place for whenever it's to hot in the rest of the house and outside. We also had a covered front porch 14' x 28' built with cement floor. I really enjoy this as we can sit out there even in the monsoon season's heaviest rains and not get wet.

B4 we left San Antonio Texas, my wife and I agreed that I'd do whatever she wanted as improvements to our home and land, and she'd agree to accompany me half of each month travelling/visiting friends all over Thailand and SE Asia. We are here on O visas so we travel abroad every 90 days mostly to Singapore but have made one trip to Phnom Penh for "visa runs".

In the two weeks or so that we are actually in Chiayaphum, I get up whenever I want and go to bed whenever I want, but most days I'm awake and arrise between 6-8AM and hit the internet to talk to friends who are located all over the world, and usually look through some of the url addys in my homepage, and have a look at the info available on the 59 forums I belong too, time permitting.

I usually spend around 4 full hours each day online. That takes me from breakfast until an hour B4 lunch. During that hour, I play with all the nieces, nephews, enjoy the company of all our immediate family. Another sister and her family live in another home on the common family land, and there is room on our land to build 5-6 more homes if other family members moved back to this area. Lat has another sister in Sakonnakorn, and brothers in Ubon and Udon provinces.

It helps that I really love all my wife's family and they have accepted me as well. As her father is the head monk for the village, all the family was brought up properly and there is no black sheep really although we do have one nephew age 19 that hasn't found anything he wants to do except ride his motorbike and get drunk with his buddies. He is the ONLY family member that drinks alcohol or smokes btw. Kind of odd really.

Now after lunch, I am fortunate to have a friend in Bangkok that lends me novels (about 15/mo.) and he has over 3,000 ALL authored by authors I enjoy as well so I need not buy any books and he buys more new titles every month so it appears that my "supplier" will NOT run out of books to lend. We visit and hang out with him about twice/month when we are in Bangkok for 3-4 days each trip.

I have met a bunch of great farangs from all over the world who live in Korat and Udon Thani etc. as well, and just have to work out getting to those areas more often somehow.

So anyhow, I read for about 4-5 hours during the heat of the afternoons when in Chiayaphum, and then spend another hour with the kids/neighbors B4 dinner. As my wife spent 9 1/2 years with me, she now can cook ALL my favorite dishes btw, so even though I rarely eat Thai or Isaan entrees, I sure eat well. I majored all my life in gluttany...lol

Upon returning to Thailand (36th trip since 1971) and retiring in Chiayaphum, I immediately had the UBC Platinum satellite TV hookup installed so in the evenings I enjoy watching all the sitcoms, movie channels, and certain sporting events. I do watch ALL the MLB, NFL, NBA GAMES that usually come on LIVE but in the AM over here and forget to mention it earlier.

I usually sleep around midnite or so, and only the niece and nephew are still up when I retire.

Even though I speak NO Thai or Thai/Lao, I get by quite well here as my wife, her sister Piroon and niece Som all speak English and they translate for me whenever I talking to all the other family members or neighbors.

Hope this info is helpful to you (or at least someone).

Ken and Rattana Bower

Chiayaphum Thailand

MBK used to have a large box of tupperware style freezer/refrig storage boxes for sale. I think there were 64 storage boxes in the large box with maybe 4 of each different size to accomodate all needs to store leftover veggies, fruit, meat, etc.

Went there last week and could NOT find what we wanted. Can anyone tell me what dept. stores or other shop has such an offering.

Ken Bower

Chiayaphum Thailand

Best American Breakfast in Bangkok or Thailand for that matter has to be at

Bourbon Street in Washington Square. Texas Lone Staar breakfasts are also

exceptable as are the offerings at JUSMAGTHAI for those who are active duty

or retired military or even just have an American passport.

Ken Bower

Chiayaphum Thailand

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I'm looking for a tasty American style breakfast in Bangkok, preferably along a public transportation route. I'm talking basic eggs, pancakes, breakfast sausage (not those tasteless British ones), and good coffee. Definitely NOT looking for something trendy. Just honest diner style fare.

Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.