UbonTaz

I only met Martin on a two night trip to Surin a few months back. He was cordial and friendly and made me feel welcome at Farang Connection.

Prayers go out to you Martin. Do you get to keep your cats in the hospital room with you.

Get well soon.

Darwin

Jesse,

You might want to ask this question in the Isaan Forum. Many who live there only go to that forum. I live in Ubon but have never fished here. I have known people in the past who have but they are not around Ubon now.

Darwin

anotheruser,

I don't know exactly what you are looking for but if you drive north on Chaeng Sanit Rd and turn left on the fork in across from the psychiatric hospital there is a shop with the small 1 or 2 man kayaks. They are made more for lakes or reservoirs. I wouldn't put them in any serious white water.

Jay,

That would be great if it were to happen. Maybe if it did happen they would promote Ubon more for tourism or business. I think most Thai travelers are ok with the rails as they are. The express train is fast enough but as I have rode it a lot lately going with my wife to Korat I noticed they don't maintain it well. Many of the seats are broken and the tray tables don't remain in the upright postion.

Based on travel the money might better be invested on routes to Chiang Mai and Phuket area.

Wait and see, eh?

ChefHeat,

Would love some great Mexican salsa. I have been making my own but not really Mexican.

As far as supermarkets here in Ubon I think you might not fair too well. In the last year I have noticed that shelf space for western food items is continuously shrinking. I think because they are much more expensive

it is the first thing dropped from the inventory. Lotus is growing the shelf space for Tesco brands.

Here in Ubon there are several stores that might be categorized as supermarkets:

Tesco Lotus

Big C

Yang Song Wan

Sunee supermarket at Sunee Grand Hotel

D in Warin

I like to cook some western dishes but usually have to buy things in Bangkok or Korat as they aren't available here in Ubon.

I don't think there will be much interest but you can ask. Maybe will have better luck with restaurants. There is a new Italian restaurant opening soon on Chang Sanit Rd across from Home Mart. The name on the sign is Spago's.

I am always hopeful that some stores would carry certain western items but in the 9 years I have lived here it hasn't happened. I was hoping the mart at Sunee would be a boutique supermarket and carry items the other stores didn't but that isn't the case.

Good luck.

I'll be in Ubon on Friday (12th) if anyone wants to have a go?

Trond

at 1600Hrs,,im in 10games,,ok 450Thb

I'll be there Marco!

Anyone else up for the challence?????

Btw...............I'm no pro

Might just pop in and at least watch for a few good laughs or participate and allow others to get their

laughs courtesy of me.

Darwin

Ah they are open. Last time I was in there a week ago the bowling alley hadn't opened yet.

There are a couple of lanes over at Major Cineplex in Ying Charoen.

When I first came to Ubon in '99 there were some lanes at the then Nevada Grand Hotel. I took a look at them and it seemed all the lanes were warped so I never rolled any frames. It was closed and torn down not long after I arrived.

I suggested to the staff to try to get some leagues going to build interest and business but they never heard of such a thing.

Sorry, slight thread drift - but does anyone know of an outlet in Ubon that carries news magazines such as Time, The Economist etc?

In my 8 years living in Ubon I have never seen any English language magazines. If you live here you might be able to subscribe to the ones you want. Asia Books used to have magazine subscriptions through their website but I believe it was discontinued.

You might be able to order through magazine.com or amazon but in Ubon I think it is mission impossible. They used to sell a limited selection of English language novels in B2S on the ground floor of Robinsons but the last few times I was in there I found none on the shelves. Seems there isn't a big enough market here. The locals don't seem interested and not enough expats who were buying. They seem to have gone the way of English language soundtrack movies here.

I'm thinking of staying at this Sunnee place in a couple of weeks- anyone stayed their recently or know if the swimming pool is finished?

The water park is open for sure and so is the supermarket, but is actually closer to a mini mart, maybe can call is a midi-mart. The water park is great for kids but not to good for an adult wanting to swim. There is a pool at the hotel 3rd or 4th level and a fitness center. But last time I was over there about 10 days ago neither were open yet. It could be open now though.

Arriving on the Air Asia flight due in at 0830.

Do buses/vans etc. run to downtown Ubon and how much do they charge?

Thanks.

For whatever reason buses and tuk tuks are not allowed inside the airport. You can take a tuk tuk there but they can' hang around. You can either catch a hotel shuttle, get a taxi or walk. Once I was walking from the airport and someone stopped and offered me a ride.

Briggsy,

If you arrive here in Ubon and have a booking at a hotel or know where you want to go most major ubon hotels have vans just outside the main exit. The drivers stand across the lane holding signs for their hotel.

If you don't want to go to a hotel, when you are exiting the baggage claim area look to your left and you will see car rental booths. Chow Wattana has a taxi service. They charge 100 Baht per passenger inside the city limits.

Hope this helps.

P.S. if you think you will be wanting breakfast upon arrival I have a suggestion a newly opened expat shop near the air force base main entrance.

Svenn,

As Bergen mentioned the riverfront project is for Market Yai to move to upon completion. Market Yai sits behind the construction by Sri Isaan Hotel. The project was stopped because the term of a lady in local government who spearheaded the project was at the end of her term and other groups didn't want to continue it. She was re-elected so the construction should continue. Plus I see plans for more cement projects on billboards.

The other construction is just for an area for people to exercise, relax or have a picnic or something. I have my doubts if this will have any affect on property values. There is also a low-cost government housing project to the left of the market if facing the river. It would offset any rise in property values due to the market. I have no idea how a busy farmer's market has anything to do with property values.

The cement bleachers on the river replaced some old ones. Not really a port. There are some boat races held there occassionally.

Ovenman,

Ubon is not a big market for motorcycle rentals as there is only a small demand. Chow Wattana focuses on sedan and van rentals but keep a few mc just in case. Economics keeps them from investing in new machines.

Some of the local motorcycle dealerships will rent out repossessions and trade-ins but you have to go ask. When they do it is fairly cheap.

Also Legacy Gym out on Huai Wong Nang rents motorcycles I only heard their monthly rate is 4000TB.

Hope this helps some.

I got tired of all the plastic bags collecting around my house so I found some reusable bags for shopping. I normally use at Tesco and have never been denied the use. I have experienced a variety of reactions, smiles, annoyance, cheers, surprise and not just from the clerks. Other shoppers in line have reacted as well. My wife is in the habit of using them as well and has received several comments from foreigns that they have never seen a Thai do this before.

It takes some time to create a shift in thinking just as it did in my country USA, Europe and Australia. Long ago I think everybody had to provide their own containers when going to the market, then bags were provided for convenience and now the cycle is completed but must break habits. Makro is doing it already making customers provide their own bags.

I would think it would be better just to go to Mor Chit and catch a bus to Khon Kaen. It is only a 6 hour ride and if you have a good book the time will pass quickly.

If you took a sleeper it would arrive at an inconvenient hour. You have a good selection of times and services by bus. I saw NCA mentioned that is an excellent company with safe quality service. Whatever time you arrive at Mor Chit you can usually catch a bus within an hour.

I'll be spending more time in ubon, on my next visits to thailand (#2 resides in amnat chareon) & staying @ laitong works out a bit pricey if not carefull. I was wondering any advice on rooms/ apartments for short term stays, or other hotels,prefer pool, any info /comments welcome thankyou

regards songhklasid.

If you want under 500TB and clean rooms I recommend staying in a mansion. Phadaeng, Sapphisit and a good selection of others. Many have internet connection and many cable or sat with at least 1 English language channel. Some even offer a continental breakfast for by the night guests.

I have received feedback that people have been satisfied staying at SriIsaan down by the river. If you are coming in July rates might go higher due to Candle Festival but otherwise there is no shortage of affordable budget accommodations here.

I've recently been spending time in ubon, & what a friendly place it is , cars actually stop & let you cross the road, ( well some of the time) good cheap local restaurants,sightseeing trips,peace & quiet, after 4 days in ubon, I travelled to BKK what a shock.

regards songhklasid.

Happy to hear you are having a good experience here in Ubon. WeLoveUbon too.

P.S. If you are planning to visit Ubon end of June and especially the first week or so in July and need accommodations you should make arrangements now as that is during the Candle Festival and the ubon tourism peak so rooms are at a premium.

Maybe a solution would be to get a personal mobile jamming device. That way you can protect yourself. Also would come in handy in other situations, such as closing down those who insist on long loud mobile phone conversations on buses, trains and other places.

As for Major Cineplex, I would think that, if they showed regular soundtrack movies, and actually advertised them at the mall entrances, expats would eventually get used to having them available, as there seem to be plenty of us around Ubon now. I wrote to them a couple of times about it, but they never even answered; even a Thai friend wrote, explaining that many Thais enjoy listening to original soundtrack, but again no answer.

Thanks again for your answer.

elwood,

I don't see that happening anytime soon. I think it's a matter of economics and convenience. The theaters do not have to promote much for the films in Thai but would have to invest to draw patrons for the English language movies. Also as I mentioned when they do offer English movies few people came to watch them.

Also if you sit at Starbucks or at the window facing rajabaht street in SK upstairs and watch Nevada and Major share movies, you will see guys on motorcycles transporting reels between the two places so if one shows English language both would have to offer.

I love movies too so I now just wait until I travel to BKK or wait for the DVD to come out. When I was teaching I tried hard often to get my English Major students to go see movies to help their language skills but only a small percentage of students ever went.

I think if we want English language movies back in Ubon we would have to find a sponsor. So a matter of biz if Thai language movies are packed with customers and English language is sparse or empty I guess for them its a no brainer. So just one of the things have to give up by choosing to live here.

I think the small group of Thai/Lao people in my hometown group together and show dvd.

Kalasin,

I live in town and experience this intrusion as well. I believe the only reason for it is it's a tradition and been done since 19... or 25.... . I doubt there has been post announcement surveys done to see if anybody actually listens or just do their best to filter out the noise.

In today's information and media rich world it seems very unnecessary, especially in town. People can get the news from TV, radio, newspapers and Internet.

I can maybe see it needed out in villages that don't have access to a lot of technology and media but definitely not needed in town. It usually occurs 7am or 6pm. While trying to sleep suddenly loud music comes blaring in through the bedroom window. In the evenings just sit down to dinner with the wife and can't have a nice conversation without yelling to be heard. Obviously the announcer doesn't have to listen so he or she isn't bothered by the intrusion.

It brings back flashbacks to military training in a mock up pow camp using loudspeakers to retrain the brain with propaganda. I don't think it will end anytime soon unless the people rise up to demand an end. Many Thai people complain on webboards and forums but never to the officials who can stop it.

There is no logic or reasoning or research to see if this method is still valid and relevant so for now just one of the things we must endure to live where we have chosen to live. It seems to be the same thinking as the pickups with billboards and loudspeakers driving around advertising and marketing, or campaigning. I would think it is somewhat of a waste as many people just seem to filter it out as noise.

faranginexile,

glad if my input helped.

Actually Sombat is about as good as it gets. They have had better selections in the past but have diminished considerably in the past couple of years. All I can think is that there is not a gread demand for original soundtrack dvd's and vcd's.

For the first 5 years I lived here the theater at nevada used to show an original soundtrack movie at least quarterly, but now even with Major Cineplex in town there has not been an original soundtrack offered in over a year. When I attended those movies in the past there were few viewers and often seemed I got a VIP showing. I believe it's hard to find what you are seeking because there is a small demand for it.

Does Chao Wattana also rent small motobikes (Honda Wave, Yamaha Nouvo, etc)?

Yes they do rent motorcylces. Not sure the make or model though

Local florist shops are not always around. I have found you can usually get fresh flowers at one of the local markets.

Here in Ubon I have seen live turkeys in two locations. I have no idea if they sell them. The first was a private residence behind Ubon International Hotel. The second was a small forest Buddhist temple in Kam Yai District.