Living in Udon Thani city vs Pattaya

[NanLaew]

49 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Lived there for 17 yrs, and one of the pluses, a decent food town.  Sadly, too many really good places didn't last, as cost a wee bit more, and the CCs thought it was expensive.

 

Seem to be quite content with crap food at low prices, and washed down with even worse, cheapest beer.

 

As good as UT was for a large metro (relative to TH), there were too many negatives for us.

 

Did enjoy popping into town between 1000 - 1500 hrs, for a munch, but basically avoided it at all other times.

 

Traffic was simply horrendous.

 

Udon Thani town traffic is bad on the daily rush hours and all-day at weekends, same as pretty much any other major Thai conurbation and especially Pattaya.

 

The dining choices are far more varied these days, western, Korean, Japanese, Indian... there's even some genyoowine Isaan tucker!!

 

Of course, if driving and parking for dinner is too much of a faff about or even if one can't be arsed to rustle-up something in one's own kitchen, there's delivery and, even in bad traffic, that's pretty fast (unless it's raining).

[NanLaew]

49 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Lived there for 17 yrs, and one of the pluses, a decent food town.  Sadly, too many really good places didn't last, as cost a wee bit more, and the CCs thought it was expensive.

 

Seem to be quite content with crap food at low prices, and washed down with even worse, cheapest beer.

 

As good as UT was for a large metro (relative to TH), there were too many negatives for us.

 

Did enjoy popping into town between 1000 - 1500 hrs, for a munch, but basically avoided it at all other times.

 

Traffic was simply horrendous.

 

Udon Thani town traffic is bad on the daily rush hours and all-day at weekends, same as pretty much any other major Thai conurbation and especially Pattaya.

 

The dining choices are far more varied these days, western, Korean, Japanese, Indian... there's even some genyoowine Isaan tucker!!

 

Of course, if driving and parking for dinner is too much of a faff about or even if one can't be arsed to rustle-up something in one's own kitchen, there's delivery and, even in bad traffic, that's pretty fast (unless it's raining).

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

Saying quite a lot about you? Yes.

 

Lifestyle comparisons between Muang Udon Thani and Pattaya, maybe not so much?

 

I did the whole, wild hedonistic Pattaya decade back in the 1980's. Unforgettably great but I digress.

 

After a total 16-year Thailand hiatus, I returned around 2006 and did Pattaya 2013-2018 as the filling in an Udon Thani "sandwich". I much prefer the sumptuous Issan bread to the cloying Pattaya sandwich spread.

 

But that's just me.

Actually it doesn't say anything about me.  

 

I wouldn't choose Patts for it's nightlife or P4P availability, as don't frequent either.

 

Even avoided a couple of decent restaurants on soi samphan, once daughter got old enough to realize why the soi existed.  

 

Yes, both have traffic issues.  But Patts closer to things that interest me.  The Northeast doesn't interest me at all, or should say, got boring really fast.

 

Any free time, more than a long weekend, and I left the NE area for points much further south.  Which due to UT's location, that took 1 day in itself, so 2 days wasted.

 

Most of the time, lived 15+ kms out of town, so delivery wouldn't work, and not a fan of anyway.   I usually only eat at restaurants, just to get out of the house.

 

It was quite convenient, when playing single parent, since in town anyway, to pick kid up from school, (St Mary's & Don Bosco) and just eat at one of our favorites, though traffic really wasn't that bad back then.

 

When single, I think we ate in town, every day, and enough favorites to eat somewhere different every time.

 

Not till about 2012, when everyone bought a first or 2nd car in the household, since 100k baht rebate was given, with most purchases.

 

Air pollution being another huge negative about UT.  

 

I'd rather look at the surf, rather than rice, sugar or cassava fields.

 

As stated earlier, was tolerable, IF, having to be there.  But as soon as not needed to be, I was gone.  Rented a place in Prachuap Khiri Khan even before she was done school, as rental options were limited, and didn't want to pass up on what was available at the time.

 

Off topic, but as stated more than a few times, I wouldn't consider living anywhere North of Hua Hin.  Usually means 4-6 months are really bad air pollution.

[rickudon]

I have lived in Udon Thani for 15 years, and have no plans to go anywhere else. Many things have improved.

 

1. Traffic - inside the ring road, rush hours are a bit slow. The new ring road finished a couple of years ago is pretty close to western standards and no longer requires the annual 'repair', hasn't needed it. In town out of rush hour(s) it isn't too bad. a bit slow sometimes, but rarely gridlock. And once you know the city, you know the faster routes

 

2. Air quality - there are only a couple of official monitoring stations, on major roads - so reported air quality is always poor, Get out of the high traffic areas and it is lower. I live one kilometre outside the ring road and although i do have an air purifier, sometimes do not need it even once a year. Local burning has decreased a lot, Main problem is the air that blows in from far away and traffic fumes, Typical real AQI's are moderate, then low in wet season. Much of the old rice paddies are now unused, turning to swamp or scrub,

 

3, Roads - in the last 10 years nearly every road has been upgraded, this last year has seen an asphalt surfacing surge - smooth. haven't driven on a dirt road that goes anywhere in years - even most of the side soi's now surfaced.

 

4. Health - several private hospitals, also a good public hospital which has an international office to help us illiterates' access the right services - and no markup on costs (I use it). 

 

5, Food - all the usual big stores (Makro, BigC, Lotus, Tops) also villa market and several other western food outlets, Restaurants took a bit of a beating during Covid but still plenty of choices - even have a Michelin chef with a beautiful restaurant only 200 metres away!

 

6. sight seeing - not exactly world class, but quite a few places worth a visit, in town and out. UDtown is one of Thailand's largest entertainment, restaurant and shopping centres, The lavish landscaping exceeds anything you can see for free in the UK. Out of town - you may have heard about the 'sea of red water lilies - well i have a smaller 20 rai one 100 metres from home!

 

7. Immigration is pretty good - very few horror stories and no multiple hour waits for service.

 

8. Late night entertainment - not  much left, soi Samphan only has one bargirl area left now - most of rest is being slowly redeveloped into Bangkok hospital car parking and small hotels.

 

9. at home I have garden, Small koi pond and on the farm 200 meres away my own fishing ponds; can sit in the sala and watch/listen to the local wildlife. very peaceful.

 

 

 

 

 

[bkk6060]

Every bigger city has traffic.

Pattaya has more things to do.

Lots of golf, malls, restaurants, bars, massage, cheap as UD housing, beach, closer to Suvarnabumi and Bangkok, more available girls then anyplace I know of.

UD has some of the above but, not nearly as much as Pattaya. 

The over tourism now of Pattaya is a  

PIA.

[Hummin]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:22 PM, KhunLA said:

Don't want to go off topic, but if at Korat, click on a few of those photos in the link I posted (left side), and some tasty looking dishes.

I tried this yesterday, and have now tried quite a few In Korat city, included an Indian. Nothing special yet except Chez Andy.

 

However the wine shop next door to Nailed it downtown restaurant, did surprise me. And worth a visit if close by

 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkaB69CH1bEs1JAz5

[Hummin]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:22 PM, KhunLA said:

Don't want to go off topic, but if at Korat, click on a few of those photos in the link I posted (left side), and some tasty looking dishes.

I tried this yesterday, and have now tried quite a few In Korat city, included an Indian. Nothing special yet except Chez Andy.

 

However the wine shop next door to Nailed it downtown restaurant, did surprise me. And worth a visit if close by

 

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkaB69CH1bEs1JAz5

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Nailed it downtown restaurant, did surprise me. And worth a visit if close by

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkaB69CH1bEs1JAz5

Damn ... looking good 👍