songhklasid

i LOVE UBON, Although I have a house in sankhaemphaeng,(east of Chaing-mai) my near future retirement home in my wife.s village, is good, I enjoy my escapes to ubon to catch up to #2, Over the last 4 years I really enjoy the genuine friendliness of the people, especially if you can talk thai, next the food , I love spicy thai, so it,s all here, then there's the proximity of LAOS a 3hr bus ride away to pakse, which I have visited 4 times & explored the area, good value holidays, even in ubon, you can sit down to a aloy meal @ lunchtime for a $ aust.

regards songhklasid. B)

OH, and don't forget the cheap accomadation.

Could'nt agree more, NOK rules, easier to book online, usually cheaper than AA, don muang no hassles, What's the new terminal like @ don muang,

regards songhklasid B)

I prefer nok-air when it comes to choice, less hasle & crowds @ don muang

regards songhklasid

Have the heavy rain's eased,I imagine the mighty mekong will be just that at the moment,I hate to bore you all, but any word ubon end about the Air Asia direct flights from Chaing-mai, due to start operating next month,I will be flying from chaing-mai - ubon on nov2, I haven't booked yet, waiting to see if direct flights are on, otherwise it's via BKK , thai 's 1st flight out to swampy, taxi to don-muang, then the 1100 flt (nok) to ubon just after lunch all up over 4000 baht, even if Air Asia charged 2000 baht direct, it's still cheaper, & no competition.

regards songhklasid.

The supposed start date is rappidly approaching for chaing mai-ubon ratchathani direct flights, & still no official word from Air Asia, one cant help but wonder if it is to good to be true, really, if they changed or added a midday or 1300flt from swampy to ubon, they could still provide a cheaper service than thai CNX-BKK-UBP, anyway, I'll wait a bit more, I want to go this route nov 1-2, before I book.

regards songhklasid

I know someone from there and he told me that there has been heavy rain but no mention of house flooding.

Thanks anyway, all cleared up now,bit of lao-khao madness,they all seem to slip off the rails now & then, they have had heavy rain,needing extended roof over restaurant (next to house) snake in the toilet,intermittent power, & more rain expected,

regards songhklasid

P.S. How's ubon fairing rain wise?

I didn't realise it was this bad, Isn't there another cyclone off the philipines, which will bring more rain, My girlfriend is in senang khanikhom north of Amnat Chareon in a step up house on higher ground, water has come inside house, which guessing would mean most houses would be underwater, & roads near impassible.

regards songhklasid :jap:

Should be spelt senangkhanikhom (20 klms north of A.M.)

Can some one confirm please, weather in area #2 asking more money, says house is flooded, I suspect upcoming uncle wedding needs financing weather details first.

regards songhklasidsid

For some of us, who dont happen to reside full time in isaan. We have a tendancy to get to mai-noi etc, @ the fastest possible rate bring on direct flights ,save going thruBKK.

regards songhklasidsid

Are you sure, I looked on AA's flts & schedule website, which goes to oct. 2012, No mention of CNX-UBP, I thought they would be in big advertisement mode upbeating the new flights, I'm still in Aus now, be @ my house in sankhaemphang late oct, & wanting to fly to ubon maybe 1/11/11, would be good to be on the 1st flights, I will keep checking this website & hopefully hear some positive news shortly, even if 2000 baht, it's still cheaper than 2 flts via BKK.

regards songhklasid

Have done this trip , more coming back from pakse, 1st bus leaves 0900-0930 not exactly sure but 3 hr trip no hassle profesienl trip to pakse , get to bus station early ( has restauant) & enjoy.

regards songhklasid.

That's heaps of time. The trip NK to CK is about 6/7 hours along the river, but, as all will agree, the weather is a bit dodgy until October for a motor-cycle trip.

You must be riding a bicycle if it takes you that long. If you are driving, you can take your time and make the trip in less than three hours.

The bike had a flat tyre aswell!! Yep Gary A; 6/7 hours was an over estimate but I had included a stop at the Tan Thip waterfall.

Hey Sid; check the link below for photos to wet your appetite.

CxWow, I am impressed, some really good photography there, How big a bike do you have in thailand, I tried a few shorter trips amnat-chareon to mukdahan, nong-khai- sri chaing-mai , but always end up with sore arse on my honda dream 125 powerhouse.

regards

songhklasid

http://www.captainsl...ang-confluence/

Sorry mods; I hope you dont mind!!

I did this trip ubon-nong-khai earlier this year, admitterely we had time on our hands. We caught a express VIP bus to khon khaen, o/nite @ kosa hotel reasonable price,good pool, then next day tuk-tuk to bus station, direct to nong-khai, from K.K. there is numerous buses daily to udon regards songhklasid.

Yes Sid. Chiang Khan is a great place to base yourself for a few days.

Heaps of guesthouses on the riverfront.

If you are driving from Nong Khai along the river then maybe a turn inland for the "Tan Thip" waterfall just before you exit the Nong Khai province.

Also to the east of CK is Pak Chom, wonderful sunset dinners etc.

Inland, as mentioned is the Phu Ruea national park, and all the surrounding districts are abserrloootly superb .. loved it; can't wait to go back.

To the west is the interesting drive through the Tha Lee and Na Haeo amphurs .. again, great driving.

Not sure what time of the year you intend going but around Aug Pansa there is a big 6/7 day MorLam festival in the town of CK itself. Again, well worth a visit. We first went in 2003 and the last was in 2009 but I feel that in recent years it has regressed to Thai pop music with the usual running battles of the local Thai youth from surounding villages ... <deleted>!

But please mate, never mind advice from the internet and TV, please go to the Loei province, Chiang Khan town and follow your heart; enjoy!!

Thanks sounds good, have to put CK on my to visit list, #2 (my little isaan princess) will definately enjoy, maybe hire motorbike from nong-khai, & spend a week there & back to nong- khai, is that enough time ?

regards songhklasid.

CNX-UBP return has been mentioned in isaan forum, but you can't book as yet, I'm hoping it's guuna be advertised 2 months from 1st flight, which is end of month.

regards songhklasid

Is that Ubon-Chiang Mai non-stop? Or through BKK?

I read on isaan board previously that A.A. were starting flts CNX-UBP31 sept return flying mon, wed, fri, tues & thurs CNX-udon, but I tried booking cannot as yet,

regards songhklasid.

CNX-UBP return has been mentioned in isaan forum, but you can't book as yet, I'm hoping it's guuna be advertised 2 months from 1st flight, which is end of month.

regards songhklasid

Just stay clear of the joints, there the 1st targets for any extremists/ terrorist attack, prime example of yank capitolism explioting youth of countries worldwide, Why anyone would eat that shit when you can have khou mun ghai, khou tom moo, phad khapou nua sap, for a third of the price & cooked fresh while you wait.

regards songhklasid

Oh & #11 lance's new bar, TJ's, 1ques what's ratchathani asoke?

regards songhklasid. (see you'se all nov.)

Just perusing short holiday destinations, Loei looks good, as well as chang-khan. Anybody enjoyed the experience, feedback welcomed.

regards songhklasid.

I always stay @ pornping tower,5 min night bazaar, backs onto galare food centre, has good pool, breakfast, downstairs disco, rooms start around 1200B in old wing.

regards songhklasid.

If the 3-cities deal with Thai is actually cheaper for you, than the cost of returns to the 2 cities you actually want, then consider booking a 3rd return-flight and simply not using it ?

Or add a few days in Phuket or Samui to your itinerary ?

Yes I see your point allowing exchange rate, roughly equals $69 aus per sector, flying thai (booked luggage, conveniant flights) & freq fly points, If Air asia flts dont materialize (CNX-UBP direct) I'll fly with thai.

regards songhklasid

I need to visit CNX from BKK, then onto UBP from BKK, in total 4 sectors, thai airways are offering visit 3 cities for $278, which has to be return, so that's 6 sectors, but cant contact by e-mail to confirm, anyone help? Rumour has it that Thai Air Asia will start to fly direct from CNX - UBP, that would be perfect for me, but go to A.A. website, cannot book. Iam flying in-out oct-nov from aus.

regards songhklasid.

Guenuine people, food , friendliness,proximity to laos,khong ghiam,phra them,isaan food,quiet lifestyle,cheaper prices, khon thai jai dee,there's your'e ten,

enjoy songhklasid

Could have been worse, he could have run into them @ the thermae bar. with mother & son working.

regards songhklasid