Route 22/ Sawang Dan Din

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Baiscally, it's about halfway between Udon and Sakon Nakhon along the highway...lots of buses running between the two stop in SDD (and other smaller places along the way).

But the Tesco seems like it's a kilo or two out from the center of town, and the local in town transport is pretty thin. My wife always said the local tuk tuks stop running around 7 or 8 in the evening. So having your own transport seems a necessity.

But more problematically, we couldn't find anything remotely resembling a decent (western standard) place to live there for rent. I could have put up with the slow town and limited activity options.... But the lack of a decent home was a killer.

That and, as best as I could tell, the Internet connection options there are pretty limited, mainly being TOT, being a provider that I'd really not want to rely on for dependable, quality service.

There is, however, a new Central Mall under construction now in Sakon Nakhon, which I gather is due to open in some months (I think a Robinson's sooner and then the broader mall to follow).

When we were shopping at the SDD Tesco a few times, I saw a couple of farang guys there fromn time to time... And my wife said there are some M and F farang teachers who work at some of the local schools/colleges.

Edited February 22, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[CTO]

More than 8 Farang teachers now, but they have a tight budget, Internet has improved a lot recently, there is the "German Builder" who builds what look like pretty good western houses, I like the Thai Style so not a good judge in that area

PM me next time your around, I am currently "not so tall john in Bang Na but mostly SSD"

[kevin2008]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has plenty of good facilities, including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

[kevin2008]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has good facilities in terms of shopping, including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

Edited February 24, 2013 by kevin2008

[kevin2008]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has plenty of good facilities, including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

[kevin2008]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has plenty of good facilities, including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

[kevin2008]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has good facilities in terms of shopping, and including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

[chris1dna]

Wife's village is about 25km from Ban Pan khon. Ban Nong Kung. Halfway between Ban Warichaphum and Ban Song Dao. Great area and very peaceful. Sometimes we go to Sawangdangding for excitement. Lol! Last time we went to to the Sawangdangding radio studios to meet with one of the radio station personalities who would give shout outs for us to our relatives while we were back in the US. I like Sawangdangding. Cool place.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Edited February 24, 2013 by chris1dna

[kevin2008]

Sorry folks.....multi click above......

Edited February 24, 2013 by kevin2008

[kevin2008]

SAWANG DAN DIN......the home of car showrooms ( the town is saturated with them )

[MobileContent]

SAWANG DAN DIN......the home of car showrooms ( the town is saturated with them )

That's correct. SDD is flooded with car showrooms. We are 28 km's away from SDD and often stop their for eating

Baiscally, it's about halfway between Udon and Sakon Nakhon along the highway...lots of buses running between the two stop in SDD (and other smaller places along the way).

But the Tesco seems like it's a kilo or two out from the center of town, and the local in town transport is pretty thin. My wife always said the local tuk tuks stop running around 7 or 8 in the evening. So having your own transport seems a necessity.

But more problematically, we couldn't find anything remotely resembling a decent (western standard) place to live there for rent. I could have put up with the slow town and limited activity options.... But the lack of a decent home was a killer.

That and, as best as I could tell, the Internet connection options there are pretty limited, mainly being TOT, being a provider that I'd really not want to rely on for dependable, quality service.

There is, however, a new Central Mall under construction now in Sakon Nakhon, which I gather is due to open in some months (I think a Robinson's sooner and then the broader mall to follow).

When we were shopping at the SDD Tesco a few times, I saw a couple of farang guys there fromn time to time... And my wife said there are some M and F farang teachers who work at some of the local schools/colleges.

I was informed yesterday by a friend of my from CRC that they will officially open on July 1, 2013

Edited February 25, 2013 by MobileContent

[ozzydom]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has good facilities in terms of shopping, and including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

The hospital was there 10 years ago ,you may be referring to the additional accomodation wing they built a couple of years ago.

Mind you ,I use the term "hospital"lightly. Any problem that an IV drip or ahandful of pills wont fix is referred on to Sakhon Nakhon General, with the transfer done in the back of a "body snatcher "pickup.

The huge crowds always at the local clinics(staffed by qualified medico,s) is a fair indication of the esteem the hospital is held in.(or lack of).

[CTO]

When my daughter was born in SDD hospital 11 years ago chickens walked around outside her room,

Now it's a lot better, new wings etc, some scanning gear they didn't have before, not great by Western standards, but not too bad either.

Seen far worse in Africa.

[diggledunc]

Interesting to notice how the bar/food business is in its beginnings and starting too develop on one street, but at this stage not a decent comfortable bar in SDD. The resorts are nice, but certainly do not have a bar atmosphere, otherwise SDD has good facilities in terms of shopping, and including a newly built hospital. It does get boring in town, but for an escape, UDON is only 45 mins drive on a good road ,most dual-carriagway.

Yes thing is Kevin it's getting more farang but still not enough to be overrun. Good heavens what speed do you do to Udon. Joking but yes that's what I do go there. Think it's a place on the up but there a some good places to go and good place or bad it's who you go with. I like the beer garden. Nice chap who has it. Must play him at snooker sometime he keeps asking. Some good restaurants but don't know about you but I didn't come here for farang restaurants can get them in UT. Breakfasts at Kens kanagaroo pizza place I have been told are good. Like the fact it is relaxed Thai atmosphere. I live 20 kilos away would like to get in more often at night but a bit far to get back.

[diggledunc]

How about different activities around SDD. Racing course, car or motorbike? Thai boxing? Squash?

Think i heard about a motorbike track around somewhere, but the directions i got where a bit dodgy, havent located it yet. Local football team maybe?

Race course at Udon open saturdays I think but there are two so maybe sometimes more. Motorbiking maybe be Birds Paradise Extreme. You can look it up on internet.By the way have heard golf course development there halted due to ill health of owner.

[kevin2008]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..
New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

Edited February 25, 2013 by kevin2008

[diggledunc]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..

New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

Could the new hotel be to do with the golf course they are building. Guys name starts with R. I would guess you go in the beer garden and I do know an antipodean guy whose an 'R' who maybe also goes in there. Suppose there are a few everywhere. Wondered what they were doing on that site. So Tesco tries to conquer another country. I was surprised when they built two big new Tescos near where I lived in UK one was very similar in design to a Tesco in Chiang Mai.

Maybe see you in the beer garden. To help recognise, currently cultivating a small but growing expat paunch, slightly folically challenged, drink Leo and drive white car.

[CTO]

<<they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story. >>

Go to the toilets in Tesco, you'll see a sign on every western toilet door,

"Don't stand on the frob"

I have no idea what a frob is, but I assume they mean the toilet.

I love the "hose" while talking about toilets, and I prefer a Thai style house, but I don't like squats for the simple reason I love to read in the loo!

[MobileContent]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..

New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

My wife was at the PK Hospital end of last year and I can confirm that the toilets still have not been fixed as we requested a western style toilet when she was admitted and they actually have the squad toilet back.

BTW: The person that starts with R can be often seen on Saturday at 12pm at a Thai restaurant in Tesco in SDD. Heard about him as far as Phang Khon.

[diggledunc]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..

New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

My wife was at the PK Hospital end of last year and I can confirm that the toilets still have not been fixed as we requested a western style toilet when she was admitted and they actually have the squad toilet back.

BTW: The person that starts with R can be often seen on Saturday at 12pm at a Thai restaurant in Tesco in SDD. Heard about him as far as Phang Khon.

Good morning MobileContent. Well narrows it down to one for me. Good heavens that's some distance for a farang to be known.

[MobileContent]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..

New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

My wife was at the PK Hospital end of last year and I can confirm that the toilets still have not been fixed as we requested a western style toilet when she was admitted and they actually have the squad toilet back.

BTW: The person that starts with R can be often seen on Saturday at 12pm at a Thai restaurant in Tesco in SDD. Heard about him as far as Phang Khon.

Good morning MobileContent. Well narrows it down to one for me. Good heavens that's some distance for a farang to be known.

I know of a farang in Phang Khon that is known throughout Sakon Nakhon province as he was beaten up three times in the last 6 months at three different Tawan Daeng. He still try to explain to me that he didn't do anything wrong AND ITS THE LOCALS and I suggested Isaan and Thailand isn't really for him and I had a lough when he told me he wants to go back to Pattaya.

[bowitz]

Race course at Udon open saturdays I think but there are two so maybe sometimes more. Motorbiking maybe be Birds Paradise Extreme. You can look it up on internet.By the way have heard golf course development there halted due to ill health of owner.

Birds has ATV and motorbike tracks yes, but i heard there was a motorbike track somewhere close to SDD central. Driving from Song Dao to SDD just before the gasoline station behind or around the temple there. Been around, but havent seen it.

But thai boxing? still havent seen anything around, got a 6 year old thats interested in getting some training.

[CTO]

Thai Boxing in SDD, I'll get you the contact details when I am back, a few of them.

Also there is a "Pattaya 4" themed like Pattaya 2 KK on a dam near which I hadn't heard of before nor the wife but she went past it yesterday on the way to Udon, seems to have been there a while too.

[kevin2008]

Nice way to chill out for an evening is a visit to the huge lake/dam south of Phon Khun.....take some beer/food/camera and watch the sun setting over the lake. Beautiful. Going east on 22 take a right in Phon Khun on 227 and take a left past the college.

Boxing is a sport i dislike, Thai or otherwise. Fail to understand how enjoyment/pleasure can be derived from watching two persons face punch or kick the &lt;deleted&gt; out of one another. Sadistic pleasure ?

[kevin2008]

Sawang Daen Din has a facebook page ..."SAWANG DAEN DIN"......click "like" or become a friend.

[diggledunc]

I see a hoarding across from Tesco advertising a new hotel for SD town ?? .... yeah agree, great english breakfast in Kens Kangaroo Pizza place..........not looking for Farang restaurants but i do like a good atmospheric bar with good music and the toilets in bars....enough said. Porns Bar most nights has a good band ,..... but its early days for the bar strip in SDD. .....and your right its who you have a beer with that makes a night ( or a day ) .......few very boring ex-pats around SDD, top of the list is a guy name starts with R..

New Tesco Express due to locate rear of Bangkok Bank opposite side from 7eleven...site cleared.

FUNNY STORY

There is another hospital heading east on 22, on left just before Phon Khun. About 3 years ago my wife had major surgery on her lower abdomen there, ...her choice of hospital as its very close to her home town. She had a private room with a toilet attached which had an Asian pan. She found it near impossible to use the Asian hole with a line of fresh stitches on her lower abdomen, so i suggested to the manager that it might be more convienent for patients to have a western toilet fitted. The manager said "that we already fitted TWO western toilets in that room but the farmers from the villages broke both in not being able to use the western toilet, they kept standing up them to go to the toilet". True story.

My wife was at the PK Hospital end of last year and I can confirm that the toilets still have not been fixed as we requested a western style toilet when she was admitted and they actually have the squad toilet back.

BTW: The person that starts with R can be often seen on Saturday at 12pm at a Thai restaurant in Tesco in SDD. Heard about him as far as Phang Khon.

Good morning MobileContent. Well narrows it down to one for me. Good heavens that's some distance for a farang to be known.

I know of a farang in Phang Khon that is known throughout Sakon Nakhon province as he was beaten up three times in the last 6 months at three different Tawan Daeng. He still try to explain to me that he didn't do anything wrong AND ITS THE LOCALS and I suggested Isaan and Thailand isn't really for him and I had a lough when he told me he wants to go back to Pattaya.

I take it they're Udon, Sakon and PK. Now that is a big area to get a reputation in. Is he going?

Are there any farangs more famous/infamous over a wider area.

Maybe someone could help.

[kevin2008]

There was another Ex-pat in SDD who made a complete ass of himself, but i believe he is gone.... Met alot of Farangs around SDD who were not very sociable, maybe they think their shit dosent smell .

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg, even if you are half &lt;deleted&gt; cracked.

Edited February 28, 2013 by kevin2008

[bowitz]

Thai Boxing in SDD, I'll get you the contact details when I am back, a few of them.

Also there is a "Pattaya 4" themed like Pattaya 2 KK on a dam near which I hadn't heard of before nor the wife but she went past it yesterday on the way to Udon, seems to have been there a while too.

Thanks, sounds good.

Pattaya 4? Ive seen the Pattaya 3 on the way to Udon, big lake, many small resturants. Was up there a couple of months ago, no action, but now when the schools start to finish and the temperatures are what it is now i guess its more people there now.

[diggledunc]

There was another Ex-pat in SDD who made a complete ass of himself, but i believe he is gone.... Met alot of Farangs around SDD who were not very sociable, maybe they think their shit dosent smell .

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg, even if you are half &lt;deleted&gt; cracked.

Yes I agree and I find it strange. I always say good morning or whatever but particularly in Tesco very few even make eye contact. Many people have said this and I don't understand why. Maybe it is just not done in the country they come from.

What did the farang do in SDD as a matter of interest.

Living about 20km from sawang I don't get in to much at night.

[CTO]

Ahhh - maybe that is what she means, I haven't seen it myself yet, will investigate further,

There was a farang nutcase in SDD, oddly it's only been Drunk obnoxious Farang's the wife has had to ever throw out of the restaurant, never a Thai, errr had me throw out,

Kevin - your not half cracked but I still think your a good egg, your wife is a great egg though

Are you still around? I am stuck in Bangkok on a never ending project, wife and kids arrive tomorrow for a few days.