songhklasid

I'll be in Laos 4 next 12 days, I know the telephone system is not as good as thai, but is there a cheap way to ring o'seas from there,

any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid

YES, there is a new bar in ubon, called T.C. bar,restaraunt ,Lance & thai partner are the new owners of this neat, & tidy establishment, although he's still finishing things off, It had a opening 4 nites ago, ICE COLD BEERS, & farang & thai food, Lance & partner seem nice people & Myself & # 2 wish them the very best .

cheers songhklasid.

P.S. I,ll see you june2 after our lao adventure, I'll be tounging for a western feed by then.B)

Many times from Chaing Khan it's about 3 hours...Tha Bo ,even Sri Chiang Mai is hardly a full day trip..AfterSri Chiang Mai head to Pak Chom then Chiang Khan..Beautiful ride along the Mekong,quiet roads,small villages..CKhan is a great little town too if youv never visited..Thomas

thankyou will do,

regards songhklasid recommend anywhere for lunch?

I'll be in nong khai shortly, staying @ pantawee, What I would like to do is a day trip east along route 211 by motorbike to tha bo or even sri- chaingmai, has anyone done this trip, ( scenic trip alongside mekong river).

regards Songhklasid

I have stayed @ both, billabong is nice , safe , relaxing, good pool (about 20metres) &great food, you can short time outside, OR the flamingo is the centre of action in the street (forget #) shanghai bar across the road, walkabout round the corner, heart of darkness just up the road, & the riverfront 5 min walk, flamingo is guest friendly.

regards songhklasid.

assuming you mean Koh Chang in Trat province, and not the smaller, but charming Koh Chang just opposite Ranong.

Go to ehkamai (eastern bus terminal) daily govt bus, cheap, good service, look @ going to koh maak if you like quieter holiday.

regards songhklasid. Bus leaves early, best go book day before

I am travelling to laos next month, I was wondering with $aus 1.05 to 1 $us what would be better currency to take, or is the laos kip at a fixed rate to $us or what about thai baht, does kip fluctuate against the baht ?

thankyou for your assistance

regards songhklasid

2 years ago did Det Udom, Ubon Nong Khai. From Ubon the shortest route is about 470km via KK and Udon. Via Mukdahan & Nakhom Phanom following the river which is what I did it is about 600km. It was a pleasant drive with some stretches almpost empty of traffic in places, cruised along at 80km/h, that of course makes it a full day travel.

Thanks for your reply, Were' decided to bus it with a overnite stop in khon khaen @ the kosa hotel, I have the time this trip, then onward to nong khai for 2 days .

what are the logistics of the bus trip. Might need to get from Nong Khai to Mukdahan, which is a similar journey. Is there a bus which travels between the two?

Ubon to khon-khaen is highway, therefore less painfull bus rides, I;ll check out nakon chai air , if there buses from ubon go via khon khaen, after o/nite pit stop in K.K it's only 3.5 hours to nong khai.

rgds songhklasid.

2 years ago did Det Udom, Ubon Nong Khai. From Ubon the shortest route is about 470km via KK and Udon. Via Mukdahan & Nakhom Phanom following the river which is what I did it is about 600km. It was a pleasant drive with some stretches almpost empty of traffic in places, cruised along at 80km/h, that of course makes it a full day travel.

Thanks for your reply, Were' decided to bus it with a overnite stop in khon khaen @ the kosa hotel, I have the time this trip, then onward to nong khai for 2 days .

what are the logistics of the bus trip. Might need to get from Nong Khai to Mukdahan, which is a similar journey. Is there a bus which travels between the two?

I beleive they still do, check on thai airways website, a better alternative is nok air around midday for half the price.

rgds songhklasid

2 years ago did Det Udom, Ubon Nong Khai. From Ubon the shortest route is about 470km via KK and Udon. Via Mukdahan & Nakhom Phanom following the river which is what I did it is about 600km. It was a pleasant drive with some stretches almpost empty of traffic in places, cruised along at 80km/h, that of course makes it a full day travel.

Thanks for your reply, Were' decided to bus it with a overnite stop in khon khaen @ the kosa hotel, I have the time this trip, then onward to nong khai for 2 days .

I have posted this topic before in isaan section, (limited replies) but time is approaching as I like to book accom in advance, My main question is can I easily travel by taxi/private car ubon ratch. to nong khai in 1 day or allow 2 days for bus travel via nakhom phranom or khon khaen, I want to firm up itinerary nong khai onwards to laos.

thanking all for your advice regards songhklasid.

I have read conflicting stories on entering udon to vientanne by bus, you must have visa prior, If so can 1 be got in udon straight away?

Or can I please enjoy in nong khai 2/3 days then tu tuk to border visa ,then local laos songthow/minibus to capital. ( I prefer this 1)

any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid.:jap:

There is a bus from Udon to Vientiane from the central bus station but you must already have a Lao visa in your passport. The bus won't wait for you while you get a visa at the border.

I can confirm the requirement for a Laotian visa in advance.

Even though I was the only foreigner on the bus that had to be processed, the rest of the Thai passengers whipped through Immigration and the bus left without me - luggage included.

If you can't organsie the visa beforehand then simply offfload your belongings at the checkpoint (knowing that the bus is going to leave you) and take a taxi for the remaining 8km.

Or can I just stay @ nong khai & get tuk-tuk to border,get visa, &carry on with local transport to vientianne, this route sounds more convenient,can I go this way?

regards songhklasid.

I am planning to cross border udon thani to vientianne in may , I have read somewhere ther's an international bus leaves from udon bus station over bridge to vientianne, has anyone done this recently, any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid.

LAOS.:jap:

Answer to most of your questions would be yes, dont forget tad fan ,wat phu, & the fur for breakfast,

god I miss laos. ( the south is best)

regards songhklasid :jap:

off the beaten track places more for thais? HELLO this IS thailand,why not try khong chiam resort on the mekong river, very relaxing & romantic spot & has a 30 metre pool, good food, although a tad expensive good for 2/3 days.

regards songhklasid.

yes, ubon ratchathani to udon thani ? Anyone travelled this route, regular or vip bus, how longtravel time,any informationwelcome,

regards songhklasid.

I have stayed at the Nakorn Phanom River View hotel and although a bit dated it is very nice.

Hotel website

I stayed also, june this year, excellent hotel, good pool, food is sensational (thai cusinne) apparently is rated one of top 50 hotels in thailand. In nong khai I stayed @ the grand hotel, 25 metre pool, pretty ordinary, & pays to have motorbike, little bit out of town.

Hope info helps,as you see, I like my pools.

regards songhklasid.

I have friends in senangkhanikhom, 20 klms. north of amnat chareon, I was wondering how this general area is coping with floods, or is it more concentrated to the centre of thailand,

thanking you for any info.

regards songhklasid.

We want to bring my wife's cousin from her village (C.M.) to australia for 3-6 months help with house work,look after son, whilst she is busy with work,as am I, also he can spend xmas with us & holiday. What I was thinking is a tourist visa, with me sponsoring him (provide food & housing). I was going to start paperwork from here, can I do the lot thru australia? He is east of chiang- mai, Is there thai consul in C.M. or does he have to go to BKK ?

this is new to me any help would be appreciated

regards songhklasid.

Considering its her 1st time outside thailand, There's only 1 choice LAOS, the language & food are similiar, more importanly the people friendly, not like cambodia, I took isaan g/f to camb & because of her dark skin & beauty yhey asumed she was cambodian, & was stared at which got a bit off putting,Laos is a beatifull country, I have only been to mid- to south regions, but plenty of things to see, & cheap compare to thailand.

regards songhklasid.

Sounds interesting,what is best time of year to visit , where exactly is it ? bungalows ? tell me more

regards songhklasid.

That minibus ride from the border to surin would have to be one of the worst travel expieriences in the L.O.S.

no aircon, old bus, jammed packed, nursed my bag,3 seats had 5 jammed across first row, stop every 10 minutes ,sweltering heat

ah'well, the pool @ the majestic never felt better.