How does Kalasin rate as a first go in the bush? 

Just now, save the frogs said:

in cities you have more privacy.

 

 

In the country you have even more. No neighbors. Next door is 250 yards away. The only sounds you hear are distant cars, buffalo,dogs barking, birds and chickens. In the cities, it's mostly people you don't know, more theft, traffic, accidents,  and noise. I do understand the allure to some. That's why I say to each their own. Live where it gives you comfort and your interests. I have family from Brooklyn that rarely left Brooklyn. They don't know what's out there. Some people will never see wildlife and not care. Some live to see it daily. That''s me and my family. 

18 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Thousands actually stay because Isaan is where their wives live, or because they have children here and are waiting for the right time to leave. Some like the quiet country. Yes, it's boring as there's not much to do besides garden, but after a lifetime of working in the cities, which have their own share of problems, some like to retire in a peaceful setting.

 

When we move back to Texas, we'll be living in the same type of area, the difference being I'll be close to hunting and fishing there, with lakes, scenery, good schools and all the food from every corner of the world very close. Outside a metro area but far enough away to avoid the traffic and congestion, pollution and noise.

 

I fully understand why many expats live in Thailand's country areas. Some people like the city, nightlife, bars, hookers, and food availability and some like the country. If I didn't want to go back to Texas for my hobbies, I would live at one of Thailand's beach areas, away from the crowds. 

If you had the money to leave Isaan tomorrow, would you?

 

I paid 460K baht for 7 rai in Isaan 17 yrs ago, built a big house, had a kid while working overseas. I realized as I was getting closer to retirement that there was no way after working my entire life I was going to be surrounded by rice paddies and scrawny cows, send my kid to a sub standard school. I had the money to relocate.

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

If you had the money to leave Isaan tomorrow, would you?

 

I paid 460K baht for 7 rai in Isaan 17 yrs ago, built a big house, had a kid while working overseas. I realized as I was getting closer to retirement that there was no way after working my entire life I was going to be surrounded by rice paddies and scrawny cows, send my kid to a sub standard school. I had the money to relocate.

It's not all about the money  but a negotiation for money for my house, or selling it, which can take some time, finding a good rent to own in Texas, in the area near my family and a school for my daughter, and getting another vehicle. 

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It's not all about the money  but a negotiation for money for my house, or selling it, which can take some time, finding a good rent to own in Texas, in the area near my family and a school for my daughter, and getting another vehicle. 

From what you described it's all about the money. Best of luck.

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

From what you described it's all about the money. Best of luck.

Thank you. In a way it is, but finding the last house I'll live in is important. If I had all the money I'll need, I still want a good area for us. 

8 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

i have never been to Sakhon , I heard there is nice scenery there , is that correct?   I may visit one day soon

It’s as good as it gets around issan. 
Sakhon Nakhon has a few farangs Restraunts    ( Apples Restraunt been the best , in my opinion) 

Nong han is good.  The government spending a lot of money there !

has its own airport, serviced by air Asia and NokAir 

roughly an hour to Nakhon phanom and the Mekong.  

7 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

From what you described it's all about the money. Best of luck.

Isn't your life, getting it how you want it, all about money......?  

3 minutes ago, john11k said:

It’s as good as it gets around issan. 
Sakhon Nakhon has a few farangs Restraunts    ( Apples Restraunt been the best , in my opinion) 

Nong han is good.  The government spending a lot of money there !

has its own airport, serviced by air Asia and NokAir 

roughly an hour to Nakhon phanom and the Mekong.  

Same with Ubon Ratchathani, unfortunately, the OP hasn't got a caloooooo about the place, or anything else for that matter...............🤥

15 minutes ago, john11k said:

It’s as good as it gets around issan. 
Sakhon Nakhon has a few farangs Restraunts    ( Apples Restraunt been the best , in my opinion) 

Nong han is good.  The government spending a lot of money there !

has its own airport, serviced by air Asia and NokAir 

roughly an hour to Nakhon phanom and the Mekong.  

Apple rest still going   Sakon Nakhon never did much for me.

 

Nakhon Phanom is decent riverside town.  Interesting Wat there.

https://goo.gl/photos/AySL2dndUD3nQmp6A

 

Nong Khai is OK, as is

Loei

 

Never really warmed up to any of the other metro, citieS, provinces of Isan.  Didn't really care for KK, Korat, or Ubon.   Can't say I spent much time in the rest, as nothing of interest to keep my there for much more than a day.  Pak Chong & Khao Yai would be an Ok area to live, if had to be in Isan.

 

Pollution really is too much for me to ever consider living there.  Better everything elsewhere in TH.

On 7/16/2025 at 9:00 AM, BritManToo said:

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

From some posts a few months ago - it seemed like Korat was to becomes overspill for Bangkok government offices - what happened to that C---Y idea?

On 7/16/2025 at 9:23 AM, Harrisfan said:

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

And if a person likes it then 25 is better than 15

Why I Live in Isaan (And No, It's Not for a Bargain Girlfriend and a Leo Tower...)

 

I ended up in Isaan for one main reason: family. My partner of 29 years is from this part of the world, and the strong family connections made it the obvious choice. Add in some health issues (thankfully sorted after a major op at Bumrungrad), and it was time to leave behind the bright lights of Pattaya, which, frankly, has morphed into something I no longer like or even recognise.

 

Back in 2000, my in-laws had four rai of derelict land here. I bought it for my wife from them and secured a usufruct for peace of mind, so there has never been any drama with the family about who owns what. It belongs to my Wife.

 

Over the years, we’ve developed it into a proper compound: four properties, fully paid for, walled in, and with no neighbours in sight. Yet, we’re only a mile from a busy little town, accessible via proper roads.

 

Before my illness, when I was still in business in Pattaya, we’d already started developing the place as a base for our later years.

 

Now, in 2025, it’s exactly what we hoped for: a comfortable, peaceful life with all the modern conveniences. A nice house, a new car, a great TV setup, and, most importantly, no stress.

 

The town itself has grown with us. It now boasts all the essentials — banks, malls, a big Lotus — and recently added a fully equipped gym, which I love. I’m in there five times a week and speed walk around a beautiful lake six days out of seven, trying to keep the 63-year-old body ticking over.

 

The lake’s got a running track and public workout area, and the town regularly hosts concerts and community events.

 

The food scene is solid — loads of great, affordable local restaurants — and I get a steady stream of friends visiting after Bangkok or Pattaya, usually blown away by the lower prices and slower pace.

 

Yes, we’ve got a large number of beer bars and even a host bar now, but they hold zero interest for me. I’ve never been Billy Barstool, belly out, beer in hand at 9 am, rambling on about fictional SAS days and paid girlfriends. Each to their own, but I’ll pass.

 

My partner’s content is keeping house and enjoying a quiet life. We’ve built something that works for us — not flashy, not fake, just right.

 

We’re an hour from Mukdahan and Laos, 45 minutes to the airport (handy for Don Muang), and I can be in Siem Reap in six hours driving, via Chong Chom. Khon Kaen is two hours away for my annual checkups and any serious health matters, though I’m generally in good shape now.

 

Would I trade this for the barstool life in Pattaya? Not in a million years. This is home — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

 

 

On 7/19/2025 at 3:51 AM, save the frogs said:

in cities you have more privacy.

 

 

Well that's true, even your next door neighbors wouldn't know who you are, while in a village they will know your lady, her history, all the rumors, all the stories about her, good and bad, lies and gossips, and they will pay attention to everything you do. You are not invisible in a village like you are in a city, and as said, it can be for good and bad. 

 

I heard all the stories about other foreigners and their wife partners, and expect the same goes around for us.

 

At least we do not drink, fight, cheat, use drugs, or built a castle with big fancy fence, and do not stick out to much. 

 

I can not live in a city, or deal with noisy neighbours, or ignorant people who think they can do whatever they want without consequences, so I'm better off at the farm without neighbors. 

 

Even here in Norway now, I stepped up to the neighbour in the middle of night,  and told him to turn down the music. It gets tiresome to man up to do such things the older you get. 

 

He was used to do whatever he wanted for a long time,  until we moved in, and now it finally stopped. 

On 7/16/2025 at 2:58 PM, Harrisfan said:

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

4 Rai land  Roi et, keeps me busy 6 days a week. 

On 7/16/2025 at 9:10 AM, 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.

I am like you. Need to see some green through out the year. Not semi desert for half the year.

Well, i have lived in Udon Thani for 15 years. It was the first place i ever visited in Thailand (not counting passing through Bangkok) and have never felt any desire to live anywhere else, although i do like Hua Hin for holidays. Pattaya? Dirty beach, overbuilt, polluted and only fit for sexpats and alcoholics. Chiang Mai? unliveable for 3 or more months a year. Bangkok? too big, too smelly and everyone trying to rip you off (especially taxi drivers).

 

In Udon you have a city big enough to have all the infrastructure you need, plenty of shopping choices, people are far more accepting of Farangs and if you had too, can walk anywhere in the city in an hour or two. Immigration not much of a hassle.

I live in a house 5  km from the city centre, can get anywhere  by car in 30 minutes. Have a large garden where i grow vegetables and a bit of fruit, and a small farm with fishing ponds (i am an angler), easy to relax. Although monitors say pollution levels are moderate outside of wet season, those monitors are on main roads - i am one kilometre from the ring road and in the last 10 years have only needed to turn on my air purifier about 10 times. Play cards once a week (Bridge). Never lack for something to do. Have wife and daughter (there are reasonable, affordable school options). Airport only 10 km by car. The pace of change up here is tremendous, compared to 15 years ago, totally modernised - roads are often better than the UK! 15 years ago no internet in the village, now have fibre and Netflix.

 

Gripes - a bit to hot.

 

2 hours ago, rickudon said:

Well, i have lived in Udon Thani for 15 years. It was the first place i ever visited in Thailand (not counting passing through Bangkok) and have never felt any desire to live anywhere else, although i do like Hua Hin for holidays. Pattaya? Dirty beach, overbuilt, polluted and only fit for sexpats and alcoholics. Chiang Mai? unliveable for 3 or more months a year. Bangkok? too big, too smelly and everyone trying to rip you off (especially taxi drivers).

 

In Udon you have a city big enough to have all the infrastructure you need, plenty of shopping choices, people are far more accepting of Farangs and if you had too, can walk anywhere in the city in an hour or two. Immigration not much of a hassle.

I live in a house 5  km from the city centre, can get anywhere  by car in 30 minutes. Have a large garden where i grow vegetables and a bit of fruit, and a small farm with fishing ponds (i am an angler), easy to relax. Although monitors say pollution levels are moderate outside of wet season, those monitors are on main roads - i am one kilometre from the ring road and in the last 10 years have only needed to turn on my air purifier about 10 times. Play cards once a week (Bridge). Never lack for something to do. Have wife and daughter (there are reasonable, affordable school options). Airport only 10 km by car. The pace of change up here is tremendous, compared to 15 years ago, totally modernised - roads are often better than the UK! 15 years ago no internet in the village, now have fibre and Netflix.

 

Gripes - a bit to hot.

 

Still playing bridge ... how's Gus doing ?  

Gus is still going strong. Only 4 of us left. Ray (Indian born chap, you should remember him from the night market meet ups)

  not so much, currently in ICU.

8 hours ago, rickudon said:

Gus is still going strong. Only 4 of us left. Ray (Indian born chap, you should remember him from the night market meet ups)

  not so much, currently in ICU.

Ray Charles ... he has rental units, a bunch of 'em.   That will stress you out 🙄

 

Pass along my 'best wishes' for speedy recovery, hopefully 🙏🙏  Say 'Hi' to all still kickin'.   Miss our get togethers.  Scott (JetDoc), Richard (Shado).   See what happens when we don't get together monthly, the world went to sh!t, without our input 

 

Ree says 'Hi'