Just for fun I happened to be looking around Ubon over to Laos on Google Maps. I presume Google Earth has a similar view as if they operate from the same database.

It seems that the view is now High Resolution from around Phibun Mangsahan over in to Laos. Its interesting to see where the Mun River flows into the Mekong and the two colors mix.

My wife can see her little village now and pick out her family's and friend's houses. The view is so hi-res you can see individual trees (not clearly of course, but you know its a tree).

Unfortunately the hi-res map doesn't extend all the way over to Ubon Ratchathani, but it is interesting to see the border area.

kenk3z

Yes Ken, the images are great there now aren't they? They are about 2 years old, I estimate, based on certain changes around my house.

It gives me a chance to do some virtual exploring before actually coming for a visit. Interesting to see the typical village layout with large fields surrounding the town. There's a lot less forest than I imagined.

While probing the limits of the hi-res pictures, I came across this town in the picture. It is to the north of Phibun near the end of the hi-res area. It has an interesting octagonal layout planning that you don't see in the other randomly organized villages. Looks like maybe the village water supply in one segment or block of the town.

What is the name of this place?

kenk3z

No one knows the name of this octagonal town?

It looks a little too structured to be your average town. Maybe part of the global secret prison network?

kenk3z

Maybe part of the global secret prison network?

Getting carried away by your imagination?

--

Maestro

Looks like a lovely little town kenk3z, things may look a little different from street level though

Nikkijah

No one knows the name of this octagonal town?

It looks a little too structured to be your average town. Maybe part of the global secret prison network?

kenk3z

That is Phibuns Pentagon,,,but seriously, can you get me cordinates, i will look from my GPS,,,this comp resolution, i cant see even the Grat wall of china

Hi All

If you like spending time using Google Earth which I often do also. There is another service called Microsoft Virtual Earth which is very similar but gives a 3D version with map overlays and other neat features. Give it a try also:

Link below:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...7689462.6842358

http://maps.live.com/

Cheers.

Jay

That is Phibuns Pentagon,,,but seriously, can you get me cordinates

15˚ 29’ 35” N; 105˚ 16’ 31” E

--

Maestro

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Hi Kenk3z

Correct Si Muan Mai bit ooutside of the circle on the NE corner.

on the road 2134 from Ubon to Chong Mek

Looks cool in GPS as well.

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Hi Kenk3z

Correct Si Muan Mai bit outside of the circle on the NE corner.

on the road from Ubon to Chong Mek

Looks cool in GPS as well.

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Ken,

Are you the Ken that stopped by my house near Wat Dorn (outside Phibun) a few days ago? If so, enjoyed meeting you and your family; if not, look forward to meeting you sometime.

Cheers,

Mike

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Hi Kenk3z

Correct Si Muan Mai bit ooutside of the circle on the NE corner.

on the road 2134 from Ubon to Chong Mek

Looks cool in GPS as well.

Marco,

It is a bit off route if you are going from Ubon to Chong Mek ! Anyway worth a drive up there to check it out...

Confusing, on GoogleEarth it shows Kong Chiam just north of Sri Muang Mai - either there are two Kong Chiams close together or they have made a mistake....

Cheers,

Mike

PointAsia.com has great resolution of most of Thailand where Google Earth dosen't. Not as many features and all items of interest are written in Thai. I navigate around with the help of ThinkNet/MapMagic (Thailand).

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Hi Kenk3z

Correct Si Muan Mai bit ooutside of the circle on the NE corner.

on the road 2134 from Ubon to Chong Mek

Looks cool in GPS as well.

Marco,

It is a bit off route if you are going from Ubon to Chong Mek ! Anyway worth a drive up there to check it out...

Confusing, on GoogleEarth it shows Kong Chiam just north of Sri Muang Mai - either there are two Kong Chiams close together or they have made a mistake....

Cheers,

Mike

Corret Mike

here is what my GPS is showing

from 2134 to right 2.3Km

2135 left 150Met and

2.4Km to Round about in the central of the "Pentagon"

total distance fro my home 104km.

Si Muang Mai is my guess now. The maps.live.com helped because it has a lot of small place names.

But I'm not sure if Si Muang Mai is the town name or amphoe name, or maybe both in this case. It must have a unique history to be laid out in a pre-planned pattern. Planning = Unique in Thailand.

kenk3z

Hi Kenk3z

Correct Si Muan Mai bit ooutside of the circle on the NE corner.

on the road 2134 from Ubon to Chong Mek

Looks cool in GPS as well.

Marco,

It is a bit off route if you are going from Ubon to Chong Mek ! Anyway worth a drive up there to check it out...

Confusing, on GoogleEarth it shows Kong Chiam just north of Sri Muang Mai - either there are two Kong Chiams close together or they have made a mistake....

Cheers,

Mike

Corret Mike

here is what my GPS is showing

from 2134 to right 2.3Km

2135 left 150Met and

2.4Km to Round about in the central of the "Pentagon"

total distance fro my home 104km.

Yes, a bit of a detour - from Ubon to Chong Mek is Route 217 all the way...

Sorry - wrong topic

Hi Mike,

I am the "Ken" that married the Thai woman from Ban Sai Mun. (Surely there could be only one "Ken" that married someone from Ban Sai Mun. )

We had plans to visit Issarn when I came over to help with the visa interview and bring her back to the US, but that plus getting her belongings packed up took much longer than we thought. So, I have never been to Issarn yet. Since then we've been delayed in returning with a child being born.

We have some tentative plans to visit within the year, probably next February. Will hope to see you in the area then.

kenk3z

Hi Mike,

I am the "Ken" that married the Thai woman from Ban Sai Mun. (Surely there could be only one "Ken" that married someone from Ban Sai Mun. )

We had plans to visit Issarn when I came over to help with the visa interview and bring her back to the US, but that plus getting her belongings packed up took much longer than we thought. So, I have never been to Issarn yet. Since then we've been delayed in returning with a child being born.

We have some tentative plans to visit within the year, probably next February. Will hope to see you in the area then.

kenk3z

Hi Mike,

I am the "Ken" that married the Thai woman from Ban Sai Mun. (Surely there could be only one "Ken" that married someone from Ban Sai Mun. )

We had plans to visit Issarn when I came over to help with the visa interview and bring her back to the US, but that plus getting her belongings packed up took much longer than we thought. So, I have never been to Issarn yet. Since then we've been delayed in returning with a child being born.

We have some tentative plans to visit within the year, probably next February. Will hope to see you in the area then.

kenk3z

You are right, Ken, you are unique in that regard ! Ok, now I have my Kens sorted out . Look forward to seeing you in Ban Sai Mun next year. You will have no trouble finding our house, consider this an open invitation when you come over.

Congratulations on your baby

Cheers,

Mike