Why do people want to live in Isaan?

[Harrisfan]

Apart from reading books, walking, gym there really isn't much to do and those things can be done anywhere.

[Will B Good]

 

Are you trying to wind me up?

[BritManToo]

I went once, Korat, never felt the urge to return.

 

[Harrisfan]

Just now, Will B Good said:

 

Are you trying to wind me up?

Well no. I'm there now. It's not as good as CM. Even the book prices are double 

 

I did find some nice Khao Soi.

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I went once, Korat, never felt the urge to return.

 

Korat is very sleepy. Udon is the best city, Nong Khai no 2. Still CM is much better.

 

Udon has decent farang food.

[transam]

Perhaps because farangy's know you won't be there.........

[cjinchiangrai]

Because most men like living with their families.

[Dan747]

 Most of the expats living in Isaan that I know are here because of their wives being from here like me in Ubon. 

[KhunLA]

Wouldn't recommend it myself, and that's talking from 16 yrs of experience living there.  Traveled the rest of the country a few times, and Isan is the last place I'd pick to live, if ever I moved again.

 

I wouldn't move anywhere North of Chumphon.

[TheTightArseTraveller]

Because its so backwards...

I love that there is pretty much zero crime, we dont lock our doors, its super chilled out in every way.

I lived the 'Western' way busting my balls all day for shiiiiiit I didnt actually need for three decades.  Now I have cows, buffalo, chickens, dogs, a sh!t cat, and and endless view of the rice paddies and a golden sunset over them.  Super cheap here for food, beer is cheap as it gets....

I run a company in Australia from a laptop on a crappy bamboo table looking over said rice paddies.

I hoon around on my motorbike in thongs and a tshirt and hardly see any traffic unless I head into Krasang.

Oh, and I love walking the buffalo out and in every day, plus watching all the neighbours walk theirs past our door...

 

I think that covers most things.

[Harrisfan]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Wouldn't recommend it myself, and that's talking from 16 yrs of experience living there.  Traveled the rest of the country a few times, and Isan is the last place I'd pick to live, if ever I moved again.

 

I wouldn't move anywhere North of Chumphon.

Cuts out a lot of places.

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Because its so backwards...

I love that there is pretty much zero crime, we dont lock our doors, its super chilled out in every way.

I lived the 'Western' way busting my balls all day for <deleted> I didnt actually need for three decades.  Now I have cows, buffalo, chickens, dogs, a sh!t cat, and and endless view of the rice paddies and a golden sunset over them.  Super cheap here for food, beer is cheap as it gets....

I run a company in Australia from a laptop on a crappy bamboo table looking over said rice paddies.

I hoon around on my motorbike in thongs and a tshirt and hardly see any traffic unless I head into Krasang.

 

I think that covers most things.

Food can be cheap anywhere in Thailand. Beer isnt cheap in Thailand. Cheaper in Dan Murphys.

[Bday Prang]

16 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Apart from reading books, walking, gym there really isn't much to do and those things can be done anywhere.

It keeps me away from tourists and the majority of expats,   what's not to love

[transam]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Wouldn't recommend it myself, and that's talking from 16 yrs of experience living there.  Traveled the rest of the country a few times, and Isan is the last place I'd pick to live, if ever I moved again.

 

I wouldn't move anywhere North of Chumphon.

Isaan is a big area, there is even a beach if you know where to go.

I have been here longer than you, so my eyes are open, and waaaay more open than the OP, he probably doesn't even know there are 7/11's in most streets now......

[IvorBiggun2]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Wouldn't recommend it myself, and that's talking from 16 yrs of experience living there.  Traveled the rest of the country a few times, and Isan is the last place I'd pick to live, if ever I moved again.

 

I wouldn't move anywhere North of Chumphon.

 

Horses for courses. Korat I hate. Other than that sod all wrong with rural NE Thailand

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Isaan is a big area, there is even a beach if you know where to go.

I have been here longer than you, so my eyes are open, and waaaay more open than the OP, he probably doesn't even know there are 7/11's in most streets now......

I've been to every city. You have not. There are several so called beaches along the Mekong. Pretty lame though. 

[TheTightArseTraveller]

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Food can be cheap anywhere in Thailand. Beer isnt cheap in Thailand. Cheaper in Dan Murphys.

Yup, food prices are as cheap as you will find.  Beer is $2 a can.  Im happy with that when it goes with the rest of my post...

 

And as far as Dan Murphys goes, its the $800 rego, $400 speeding ticket, $350 gas bill, $180 electric bill, $100 wifi that goes with Dan Murphys that makes that a null and void comment

[Bday Prang]

Jesus how bored must some people be to ask such stupid questions,   Why does anybody live anywhere ?  

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, Bday Prang said:

Jesus how bored must some people be to ask such stupid questions,   Why does anybody live anywhere ?  

Proves my point. I've done every city. What to do now? I never get bored in CM.

[TheTightArseTraveller]

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I've been to every city. You have not. There are several so called beaches along the Mekong. Pretty lame though. 

Clearly NONE of us know as much as you, but as far as my tiny local knowledge goes, I haven't seen any fences keeping you here, or an army dragging you here.  If you dont like it, thats up to you.

[scubascuba3]

24 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Apart from reading books, walking, gym there really isn't much to do and those things can be done anywhere.

Drink, most farang turn to drink eventually 

[BeastOfBodmin]

14 minutes ago, Dan747 said:

 Most of the expats living in Isaan that I know are here because of their wives being from here like me in Ubon. 

Ditto. Round the opposite side of the lake from Sakon Nakhon. I don't like Thai cities much. OK to visit for a few hours. Having said that, we were in Ubon Ratchathani last week. Buddha event with wax candles and visiting my wife's cousin. Compared to SK it seemed big (maybe wealthy) enough to have a greater variety of stuff than S-K and was nowhere near as ugly and built-up as Krung Thep. I wouldn't want to live in the city but the suburbs are more accessible since there isn't a bloody big lake in the way. Maybe get the Chinese to build a fly-over? 😉

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, TheTightArseTraveller said:

Clearly NONE of us know as much as you, but as far as my tiny local knowledge goes, I haven't seen any fences keeping you here, or an army dragging you here.  If you dont like it, thats up to you.

No need to take offence. Just wondering. 15 years in Isaan would seem like 25 to me.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I've been to every city. You have not. There are several so called beaches along the Mekong. Pretty lame though. 

Guessing again, so I haven't been to every city in Isaan, you know nothing, chap......😂

[Bday Prang]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Proves my point. I've done every city. What to do now? I never get bored in CM.

Then simply stay there then. 

   What do you mean you have "done" every city ?    Sounds like that American guy I met who claimed to have "done" Europe, ... He was there all of 2 weeks

[Harrisfan]

Just now, transam said:

Guessing again, so I haven't been to every city in Isaan, you know nothing, chap......😂

I know a lot. You know 1 beach at the river. You can't even name 1 good restaurant 

[Hummin]

32 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Apart from reading books, walking, gym there really isn't much to do and those things can be done anywhere.

The possibility of living on a large piece of land without neighbors, and have enough room for everything you got and collected by time in Thailand. After 10 years, it is a practically free base where you can travel to and from. Call it a long term investment in wife or a gf you have no doubt about. 

 

Nature, quiet, no close neighbours, good place for animals, growing vegetables and have live stock for food and security, your own well with water,  cheap living and this is the place where wife is most happy in life among her own. 

 

When that is said, it is not for everybody, same as any tourist place can become a living nightmare for some individuals. 

 

The good thing, we all have our own choices and preferences what we want in life, not depending on what others think they know about our life or lifestyle. 

 

But, if you cant cope with her family or her friends, then better not do it. 

[Packer]

Because the uneducated woman they need to pay to live with them is their boss and tells them what to do. 

[transam]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

No need to take offence. Just wondering. 15 years in Isaan would seem like 25 to me.

Yet you spend so much time in Isaan, which is rather confusing ol' chap, but as we know, it is a baiting thread for your amusement......

[it is what it is]

 

there was a guy on here, farang in issan, or something like that, documenting his life in a small issan village. i found it fascinating, he seemed happy enough, but the low cost, basic level of life isn;t for me, not that for one moment i'd suggest money brings happiness, but is does bring a level of comfort and security. 

 

anyway, horses for courses, depends on your expectations from life, if life in rural, poor thailand with few amenities suits you then all power to you. not for me though.