UbonTaz

I would only consider 2 of those institutions to be universities.

Ubon Ratchathani University is fairly new. I believe their specialty was agriculture when it was born. Now they seem to be expanding in order to increase student enrollment.

Rajabhat was a Teachers College but now offer many majors. I taught there for 4+ years.

Ratchathani University is a private institution. I personally would not classify it as a university.

UBISD also called Soon Lao or Lao Center by locals is a skill development center to teach skills to unskilled people wanting to enter the labor force. They offer courses in Thai massage, mechanics, computers, cooking etc. I have taught English there in the evenings as part of their community continuing education program.

The Sports and Tourism school across from Tesco Lotus might be your best bet. But I am not sure of the best times. There is also a good one for lap swimming at Narenakul School on Chaeng Sanit Rd just south of the clock tower by Ying Charoen Park (SK Mall).

Sunee Grand, Ubon International hotels have pools but they don't regulate at all and it's free swimming with kids playing that you would have to swim around.

If you want to rent and drive yourself then Budget might be the way to go here.

If you want a driver who knows the area then I would recommend Chow Watana.

Last weekend there was a regional seminar/workshop for Thai High School teachers in Ubon.

There should be plenty of air tickets and hotel rooms available here according to what I have been told and observations.

Siyan Tour is across Khuanthani rd, from TAT. A small hole in the wall between a news stand and shoe shop.

They offer 3 trips a day to Udon Thani and stop in KK beginning around 7:30am and last one at 12:30pm. It takes around 5 hours. You can get tickets there or at the main bus terminal. Last time I rode it was under 300Baht. The bus departs from around the corner from TAT and then travels to the main bus terminal before heading out to KK via Yaso, Roi Et, Mahasarakham.

It is not VIP so they take on as many people as are willing to pay and get on. You might have many standing in the aisle leaning on you if have an aisle seat. Other than that it is mostly ok.

Lamfa Music is one. They have many "brand" names guitars. It is on the corner of Rajabut Rd beside Sri Isan Hotel. There are also many other music shops located around town. Most have guitars prominently displayed in the windows. They are not too hard to find. You will have no problem getting yourself a guitar in Ubon.

MJ in Sakon Nakhon brings back some memories from 10 years ago. I stayed there but not too concerned with the restaurant food. I went other places to eat except for breakfast.

Is it possible to buy English books in Sisaket? Or where is the closest place?

If not anyone here up for a swap I have:

Up Country - Nelson Demille

The Bormann Testament - Jack Higgins

Cambodian Interlude - Tom Riddle

The Appeal - John Grisham

Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye -

Memories of a Bangkok Warrier - Dean Barrett

Hardship Postings - Expats in Asia Vol 3

And a couple more.

In serious need of some reading material.

If you get to Ubon you can swap them out at Wrong Way or Peppers.

Srisaket is probably like Ubon in not having English language books available for sale anywhere.

FYI if you want to order books kinokuniya out of Bangkok has a service to order online and they are delivered to your door.

I have used this service for a few years and have been happy with it.

TJK,

I know your situation. Been by to visit a few times.

What it sounds like is that who you are asking isn't sure or doesn't know.

All of the foreign tutors I have known over the time in Ubon just did it under the table. No business license no WP.

I don't know of anyone in Ubon ever getting a WP for private tutoring but that don't mean its never happened. One guy actualy had a shop but never registered the business or got a WP for what he was doing. He got his WP by volunteering at a school.

All the tutoring shops in town are Thai owned and operator and some have foreign teachers working for them.

I think you will experience more frustration before this is settled.

What type visa do you have? If it is a tourist visa you are not allowed to work so wouldn't be eligible for WP. Working at the internet shop you should already have a WP to do that.

If you teach at a school, even then there are a lot of requirements for you and the school in order to get a non-imm visa and WP.

Is the business in your name? If so you should already have a WP. If not and you are an employee I believe you must be able to show a certain salary to be eligible for WP.

Martin,

If you need anything while you are in Ubon just give a holler. Will help how we can.

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend any golf courses in Ubon Ratchathani/Warin Chamrap.

Just brought my clubs over from U.K. and looking to get some playing time.

Can you tell me the average cost for a round? Any buggys/caddies for hire?

What kind of dress code is it in Thailand? Do they have club hire for my friends?

Many questions i know, will probably be some more when they come to me

Many thanks in advance..

TJK

TJK,

There is a small golf course southwest of Warin. If you head out of town on Nam Om Rd it will turn into Highway 2178. You will come to the junction with Highway 231, go through the intersection and less than 1km on the right hand side you will see signs for a golf course. I know its there but can't answer your other questions but if you pay them a visit I am sure the staff can provide all the information you need.

Hope this helps.

There are many pubs, bars, nightclubs, discos that welcome foreigners here in Ubon.

U-Bar, e-Ba, Dawan Daeng, Country Club, Ban Ta Kiang, Ban Lao, Swing Party House, The View, Ind, S Cash, The Rock, My Friends, DNA, La Flore to name some. They all have entertainment and cold drinks and most also offer food.

Donsaiyuan,

Welcome to Ubon. Can always use another member in the community.

Being able to rent a nice furnished house within the city limits or the growing surrounding outskirts for 8K or less is most certainly doable. The biggest challenge would be driving around finding the place.

Many shops the sell used cars and pickups but not sure of the price and if they are competitive and reasonable or not.

As far as opening a business. Peppers Bakery and Cafe recently opened featuring breakfasts. Other than that many Thai shops offer western style breakfasts. Other expat enterprises here are Wrong Way Cafe, drinks, Thai and western food, open 2pm - midnight Monday - Saturday. N-Joy Pub open late morning and evenings. Spagos opening soon Italian cuisine. And an internet cafe.

Not sure if Ubon can support another you'd have to test the market.

You can find more info on Ubon at http://www.weloveubon.com

Hello smallpurplecat,

I have taken that journey many times. it takes almost 12 hours but it's not too bad.

There are 3 classes and 5 fares. First Class is a private compartment with 2 berths and toilet. The fare is 1180TB but I forget if that is per person or per compartment.

Next is the air car. The two rates are for upper and lower berths. Lower being the higher priced.

Finally, fan car. Lower fares than the air car and difference between upper and lower.

You can purchase tickets at the Ubon train station in Warin. As you enter the station entrance turn right and there is an advance ticket sales office. You can sometimes purchase at the window as well.

There are several agencies around Ubon who handle rail ticketing however when going through the agency you can't see where the location of your berth.

The fan is ok. I had to open the window to get some circulation so I could sleep. The conductor didn't want me to because sometimes rain will come in. Air car is good. I didn't really see the benefit of 1st class.

My only complaint is almost as soon as the train is moving it seems they want to make up the berths and an hour out from Bangkok they want you to get up so they can break down the berths.

You can see more at http://www.weloveubon.com/train-travel-ubon.html

or

http://www.railway.co.th/English/Time_PDF.asp

Its on the shelf now. 3 temperatures of salsa. 5-6 flavor varieties of pasta sauce. Appeared I was the first purchaser. Picked up a couple of sauces and the hot salsa. Will test it soon.

MeMock,

If you want to find a puzzle in Ubon you must put together the pieces of the mystery.

There are a few places you can check. Robinsons on the 2nd or 3rd floor have toys and games for children in the back behind the baby clothes.

Behind SK (Ying Charoen) there is a stationery & school supply shop. In the rear on the ground floor they have a few items.

Downtown near the river in the old part of town some call China Town there are a random few small shops. And around Ubon Vocational School downtown there are some shops with a few things. Some of the bookstores carry puzzles as well.

The items you seek are here you just must search for them.

thanks taz, a mind of information as always about ubon. Love your web site too. i was thinking about doing a web site about amnat one day......

No problem. Thanks for the kind words. Hope you get the info you need and the golf equipment.

Living in Ubon for about 8 years now. My first year here I saw very few fellow expats. The best place to see locals is at Tesco/Lotus, Wrong Way, N-Joy and now Pepper's, and coming soon Spago's.

I think many of the expats living here in Ubon are like snipers. You know they are here but seldom see them. Maybe the best way to know actual numbers is to somehow get ahold of Immigration statics for each province.

I think Ubon is somewhere around the middle as far as expats goes. Even some of the smaller provinces have a greater population.

Zoolander,

I am not a golfer so don't pay much attention. But there was a golf shop on Thepyothi Rd (ends at the airport entrance) on the right hand side around Hong Fa Restaurant. If not go visit http://isaanstyle.blogspot.com and comment on a post asking, the owner of the blog is a golfer and he can tell you where to go for sure.

My impression after several visits this past month, businesses like yours would really benefit jointly from a town map showing the locations mentioned on this thread. Isan is full of expats that probably get to Ubon occasionally, and like me, do a quick hunt online for places to see, stay and dine/drink. I could not find much and from these posts it seems even locals are not aware places exist or where to find them. I'll be visiting again and would be inclined to stay a day or two if I knew I could get a good meal and where to go for a coldy.

Anyway, I'll be sure to ask for a breakfast next time. Good luck.

ChinaVet,

That is currently a work in progress on my site, which is being upgraded and remodeled. It is taking some time as I am a one man show. But hopefully there will be exactly what you describe for expat travellers to Ubon. I am learning as well as doing and want to get it right.

P.S. They do serve hot food at Peppers, including breakfast. I have consumed several breakfasts and lunches there.

Thanks for that very useful information UbonTaz. I will head in that direction toward the end of August/early September. The land formations are very unusual.

Just FYI. The sights in the first video are seasonal. You can only get the full impact a few months after the Monsoons have ended and the water levels in the Mekhong have receeded.

SIAMBULL,

The high speed internet service here is somewhat like the markets you watch in NY, some days its bullish, some days its bearish, some days and times up and some days and time down. Also often the speed within Thailand is just fine but when trying to connect to US or other places you might have a close race with a snail.

The connection is reliable but the speed isn't always.

The second video appears to be at Pha Taem national park.

Tilokarat,

At least one of the sites is on the Mekhong and is known as Sam Pan Bok, 3000 holes.

You can see a write-up with photos here http://ubonblog.weloveubon.com/ubon-attrac...on-sam-pan-bok/

Hello UbonTaz

....are you sore after your work-out at Sunee Grand?

Speak to you soon.

Jay

Jay,

Amazingly no.