bergen

Drop Inn soi 20. Little boutique, great location, decent no frills

Agree, and a Top Secret bar just a few meters away........

The train is ok, though not 100% reliable. I usually take the night train or the express. The later leaves Bkk 05.55 and arrives in Ubon around 14 something. It will be in Sisaket about 1 hour earlier. The night train will arrive in Sisaket around 06.30 in the morning.

The Pompiman is Ok for 600 baht! Have massage, snooker, and a couple of drinking venues attached. The Cuckoo's Nest is a few 100 meters away.

Nightlife in Ubon is getting better and better.

If you're not looking for farang beer bars, you'll be fine!

Only the occasional shower here near the Cambodian border, just South East of SantiSuk/Kantharalak, in Ubon Province.

Still dry and still watering!

Some pics taken at Pha Moo E Dang Cliff, and Khao Phra Viharn National Park earlier this year.........

more pics of the temple, the waterfall, and other places of interest in this area, can be found on website in my profile!...............

Huai Luang Waterfall, pics taken September 2008.

A nice place to visit, but the later in the rainy season, - the better!

Sounds like a fun event! I'll be there of course.

I dropped my 90 day report at Phibun Immigration today. I usually just send by mail, but was nearby so..........

At first I was a little confused as the office was empty and a big sign in Thai said something I couldn't read, but having the wife with me, the sign was translated and I was to told to go upstairs. There I was welcomed by a lot of female officers, 2 male, and almost no customers.

I was asked what was my business, I said 90 d r, and was told to sit down.

The atmosphere was friendly today, and I left the office in less then 5 min., after having being reminded that my extension was due in June.

Putting all of the Isaan people's as stupid really means that the posters that look down on Isaan never really have lived here in Isaan. I have met many people's from Isaan that are highly educated, fluent in English, French, Chinese or Japanese and no they did not worked or came out of the bars.

A large number of farmers seems to be voting for the PTP but the same can be said in the United States were most farmers seems to be voting for the Republicans which is even worse for me then the PTP.

To one poster that praises the Democrats here in Thailand, he seems to have forgotten that the Democrats are not the same party as 20 years ago when Chuan Lekpai and Surin Pitsuwan and both had a very good and honest reputation but over the years the Democrats always ignored the Isaan region. Abhisit seems to me a good state-leader but he took the wrong people's on board such as Suthep and his group.

The political climate in Thailand are family dynasties such as the Lekpai, Banharn, Newin, Shinawatra and the late Chatchai families. Banharn and Chatchai had a large number of voters and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Newin Chidlob got a large chunk of the Isaan vote all the time so with the voters backing Banharn, Chatchai (who passed away already), Chavalit and Newin they are always able to beat the Democrats.

What Thaksin did was only merging the four political groups into one group but many people's in the North and Northeast left the Newin group and voted PTP.

It doesn't really matter who is in power in Thailand as the results are most of the time the same.

All in all it is not our business for who the Thai's vote as we are guests in the country. I lived several years in Malaysia and didn't liked UMNO or in Singapore the PAP but if politics got to much in my head I could always chose to leave those countries.

I am happy here in Isaan and would not want to change to some of those farang ghettos in Phuket, Samui or Pattaya.

Correction: The Shinawatra family is very new in the political landscape but they have a fair understanding of the North and Northeast of Thailand which the Democrats ignored for to long.

This is only my 2 cents.

and quite a good 2 cents!

I checked out the run today. Nong Kin Pen (sounds like Noarng gin Paeng the way my wife says it) is a riverside fishing village that is just crying out to be hashed.

Fabulous spot - you'll love it. About 8k from the Sisaket junction on Ubon ring road but well worth those extra few k. I can promise you a mixed trail with fishing village, rural landscapes and forest, a rustic and friendly beer stop and a circle with a river view to die for.

Don't miss it. If you want to orienteer yourself to the run-site directly then see the attached map and dir-hash-rections. Otherwise it's the Wrong-Way Cafe, Tha Phadeang at 3:45pm. We will start the run* at 4:15pm

On oooon

*Edit: loose term, as always!

Sounds great! See you at WW.

Will be there Flash Git, and looking forward to having a good one!

You play, you pay. Som nom na.

Agree!

Build it and they will come goes the saying right? I think it will do well on weekends and public holidays etc but will struggle during working hours due to it's location. Not the sort of place that you just 'drop in' for a few things.

There is supposedly a hotel going to be built right next door.

Drop the Mrs off for a few things and then pop round to see Louie for a few beers at N'Joy seems a pretty good afternoon's itinerary for me !!!

and can be done any day..................

Will be alone. Will let you know if any change!

Double post - bad net!!!

Hi WF

Count me in! Will bring beer. Sorry about the late reply.

I had keyhole knee surgery at Phyathai 2. Was quoted a price of 250.000 baht "all included", but ended up paying 110.000 baht. Insurance took care of 100.000. They basically vacumed the knee inside for loose particles. Probably needs a replacement next time. It pays to shop around a bit. Bungrumrad wanted 400.000 ++

There is a nice restaurant overlooking the river near The Grand Palace, it's normally full of Thai's, reasonably priced and good food.

I cannot find the card with it's name, but if you were coming off the river boat, as you leave the pier walk half way through the food stalls, turn right and walk under an arch, don't let the navy guy put you off, it's also the entrance to the Navy Club, turn right after the arch and the restaurant is in front of you.

Very popular and very busy, try and get an outside table overlooking the river.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

I agree with this place. Good food, but can be very crowded, and thus makes the staff a bit confused about which dish where.

What are the HOURS of the Danmark's breakfast thingie?

JT they open until 12 noon so it's great for a brunch. After 1130 the food starts to wind down a bit IMO. I can't tell you an opening time.

Since it's a hotel, it probably starts around 07.00.

Another vote here for the Danmark hotel

these are in a magazine i read,

bull mastiff at salyai kennel.tel.no.0813483333. lapitthi kennel.tel.no.060438231.

old english mastiff.tel.no.0818584005.

Thanks meatboy

Can it be an older dog?

1. Approximately 3 - 4 year old neutered male. Thought of being a Cane Corso, but more probably an English Mastiff mix? Rescued from the street by current owner. Not nice to other males, was okay with female. Kids unknown, so I don't advice that.

2. Soon to be spayed Great Dane female, 4 1/2 years old. Not nice to one of the owners' females, but with the other quite submissive one she was fine. Still I wouldn't put her together with a female dog. Good with kids.

Both dogs are brindle and are in Chiang Mai, but transport can be arranged.

If interested send me a pm then I can give you ore detailed info on the dogs and hook you up with the current owners.

Hi Nienke, no sorry I'm looking for a puppy. I don't think a grown up will blend in quietly with our mix of Bang Kaews.........

Will be drinking beer with a rubber farmer, with a 3 lettered name on the Lao border tomorrow.

We'll probably talk about this and that, solve difficult problems, and wonder what the future brings..........

When we run out of important issues, we'll send someone to fill up the ice box and start over again.

The farmers meetings have brought together different people with different background doing different things, and letting all explore different parts of Isaan. I have enjoyed these meetings in the past, and hope to continue doing so in the future. Keep it positive!