Life In Kohrat

[botti]

Hello there !

My wife and I just bought a very nice lot of land in Kohrat and I was looking in the "Isaan Local Forum" to see if we could find some advice about the living conditions and other issues related to it. Unfortunately there is very little about Kohrat and I just wonder if there are any expats happily living in that city. I also wanted to see if there were few farang restaurants or expat community gathering.

NOTHING ! Or maybe because Kohrat is not included in the Isaan Forum ?

Moreover we would like to see if there are good and reliable builders and architects in Kohrat since we plan to have a little house on that land. Garden centre or things of that kind.

If there is anyone there ....

[sinbin]

Look up www.koratfarang.com. If you can't find all your answers on there then give up.

[botti]

Look up www.koratfarang.com. If you can't find all your answers on there then give up.

wow... is that so serious ? is Bangkok too close ?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Look up www.koratfarang.com. If you can't find all your answers on there then give up.

Also check out: http://koratmap.com/

Mac

[bina]

plenty guys from korat but u should be specific as to what muu baan u are /what amphur etc...

we now have a small parcel of land but no house and dont live in thailand at the moment but my impressions are that korat is a huge city, it seems to have most of everything that , at least i, would need (im not a real city person so maybe i dont count); they have a big mall (THE MALL) ; there is an open market, there are restaraunts, farangs, bars, and whatever else u would want.

ifu are living in a dinky rural village, that is an other story... my husband's village is near a national park, his village seems to be enlarging and citifiying slowly unfortunately; we are a quck motocy ride from soeng saang town, which is also growing in size and therefore in ammenities (two internet cafes filled with little kids, a good open market, a sort of hospital, just my size of town)...

didnt someone say there was a bowling alley there somewhere in korat city?

and yes, korat is in the issaan forum even if the koratians think they are just the gateway to issaan and dont speak real issaan but speak korat thai.... and if four hours by bus is close to bangkok, then i dont know what far is..

bina

israel

[sinbin]

Look up www.koratfarang.com. If you can't find all your answers on there then give up.

wow... is that so serious ? is Bangkok too close ?

Did I say something wrong ?

[Mrjlh]

Korat is the second largest city in Thailand because it is so spread out. Knowing where your land is located is important to know. There's plenty of stores there. Anything you need is findable but takes time to locate. You just need a truck or car if you need to buy large items. You can rent trucks per day. Drivers there also drive better than most places. Unfornunately the local English newspaper is a total waist of time and a disgrace if you ask me. Really doesn't help locating anything.

I don't live there any more and will not go back soon. Its hot in the dry season. And I didn't find that much to do. The theaters only have Thai language and sometimes English subs. There are a lot of Faranges there but you need to search them out.

[sinbin]

I don't live in Korat but close enough to use when I'm in need. I don't like the place but it's "horses for courses". The web site I gave is exceptional in finding out about Korat and other local places. You will gain a lot of info from joining this forum. I personally find that Korat being the second largest city in Thailand somewhat amazing. I reckon Pattaya to be bigger.

[Geekfreaklover]

I lived in Pak Chong Nakhon Rachisima for about a year. Khao Yai is amazing and there are some good golf courses and vine yards. Apart from that, not much to do.

Seems to be more foreingers up in Sisaket, Buriram and Surin then Khorat. It can seem quite isolated depending on where you stay.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Geekfreaklover

[Gary A]

Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand. I have problems with Chiang Mai. Korat is also a big city. I like Korat a bit more than Chiang Mia but not a lot more. There is about everything you need there but it is not my idea of a place to lve.

[zzaa09]

Korat is the second largest city in Thailand because it is so spread out. Knowing where your land is located is important to know. There's plenty of stores there. Anything you need is findable but takes time to locate. You just need a truck or car if you need to buy large items. You can rent trucks per day. Drivers there also drive better than most places. Unfornunately the local English newspaper is a total waist of time and a disgrace if you ask me. Really doesn't help locating anything.

I don't live there any more and will not go back soon. Its hot in the dry season. And I didn't find that much to do. The theaters only have Thai language and sometimes English subs. There are a lot of Faranges there but you need to search them out.

There is plenty 'to do' and an amazing array of stimulation available in the immediate Korat area, that is if you don't limit yourself to Farang-centred activities.

[zzaa09]

I lived in Pak Chong Nakhon Rachisima for about a year. Khao Yai is amazing and there are some good golf courses and vine yards. Apart from that, not much to do.

Seems to be more foreingers up in Sisaket, Buriram and Surin then Khorat. It can seem quite isolated depending on where you stay.

Isolation. That's the idea, yes? As to the Farang resident populations of Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram in comparison to Korat, I might suggest that there is quite a substantial ex-pat coomunity that clearly outnumbers the provinces and locales to the south. The Surin and Sisaket expansion is a bit of a myth, as the foreign resident population is not that numerous.

[happylarry]

If you dont play golf and dont understand Thai then there is not much to do in Korat at all. There is a lovely fossil museum and a terrific zoo and also a water park but of course you only want to visit these for a one off.

There used to be two bowling alleys a long time ago but because they closed at 10pm and Thai people dont venture out until 11pm they did not make any money so they shut them.

The cinemas only show films with Thai dubbing and only once in a blue moon you may get a film with English speaking. Of course the crux of the matter is this not a tourist destination so why would they cater for ferang when their clientelle consists of 999.9% Thai people.

I like living in Korat very much but when it comes to socialising after dark there is very little choice of things to do unless you are addicted to alcahol.

HL

[Mrjlh]

Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand. I have problems with Chiang Mai. Korat is also a big city. I like Korat a bit more than Chiang Mia but not a lot more. There is about everything you need there but it is not my idea of a place to lve.

Looked it up and I was suprised neither Chang Mai nor Korat is the second largest. check it out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_citie...d_by_population

Chang Mai beat Korat by only 1,000! Interesting....

[Geekfreaklover]

I lived in Pak Chong Nakhon Rachisima for about a year. Khao Yai is amazing and there are some good golf courses and vine yards. Apart from that, not much to do.

Seems to be more foreingers up in Sisaket, Buriram and Surin then Khorat. It can seem quite isolated depending on where you stay.

Isolation. That's the idea, yes? As to the Farang resident populations of Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram in comparison to Korat, I might suggest that there is quite a substantial ex-pat coomunity that clearly outnumbers the provinces and locales to the south. The Surin and Sisaket expansion is a bit of a myth, as the foreign resident population is not that numerous.

Isolation is not a good idea unless you like being isolated.

I spent 2 years in surat thani, 5 years in surin, 1 year in Khorat and have now settled in Bangkok.

I found there was a large expat community in Surin and Buriram, Surat Thani were mostly holiday makers, Khorat not many foreigners and Bangkok foreigners mostly working folk, but lots of them.

But hey, thats only a decade of living in 4 different provinces.

For such a large city, geographically, Khorat does not have that much to do for the foreigner. It has a mall, a good zoo and a world heritage site national park and a sprinkling of bars and resturants. Some of the smaller isaan provinces have more foreigners per capita as, to be frank, these are the areas that the women seeking work in the tourist areas migrate from.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Geekfreaklover

[thrilled]

One of ya is saying chiang mai is the biggest city in thailand,one of you is saying korat is the biggest city in thailand.I( just read A website that udonthani had the 2nd largest .population in thailand.

[happylarry]

When you live in Korat you tend to think it revolves around the Miratrap Road and the Mall etc., because obviously that is where most people go to shop or socialise. But on occasions I have driven around the southern areas of the city and I have been amazed just how big Korat is.

Because it is so flat here, there is nowhere to go where you can get a feeling for the full extent of the city, but it is most certainly very very big.

HL

[Mrjlh]

One of ya is saying chiang mai is the biggest city in thailand,one of you is saying korat is the biggest city in thailand.I( just read A website that udonthani had the 2nd largest .population in thailand.

No...Nonthaburi is according to Wiki. Korat is the the 4th. Chang Mai 3rd. Still nothing to do there for X-pats unless you want isolation. You can go to the mall and swim for a few baht if that's your thing. has a bowling alley, lots of stores, etc. Thats it! Khao Yai is a nice place to visit. Lived there once and would go back but nothing else to do there.

[happylarry]

Do you live in Korat Mrjlh?

You are the second person to state that we have a bowling alley. They were closed long ago. Apart from the swimming pool there is nothing.

HL

[gotlost]

Korat is the second largest city in Thailand because it is so spread out. Knowing where your land is located is important to know. There's plenty of stores there. Anything you need is findable but takes time to locate. You just need a truck or car if you need to buy large items. You can rent trucks per day. Drivers there also drive better than most places. Unfornunately the local English newspaper is a total waist of time and a disgrace if you ask me. Really doesn't help locating anything.

I don't live there any more and will not go back soon. Its hot in the dry season. And I didn't find that much to do. The theaters only have Thai language and sometimes English subs. There are a lot of Faranges there but you need to search them out.

"Korat is the second largest city in Thailand" With that statement you will upset the elite cultural center of the north 'Chiang Mai' which bills it's self as the second largest city in Thailand.

[puchooay]

In fairness to all lists of the largest "cities" in Thailand the list should only consist of one name. Krungthep(Bangkok) is the only city in Thailand.

A city has numerous ket whereas Khorat, Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi etc have Amper and Tambon.

In Thai textbooks Khorat is usually listed as the largest "Town" by area as it has the largest Amper Muang. After that it is Chiang Mai. This often leads to the preception that Khorat is the largest provice in Thailand.

This is incorrect as by land mass Chiang Mai is.

This also leads to the argument of "How many provinces are there in Thailand?" The usual answer is 76 when in fact there are only 75. Bangkok is not a province, it does not have a Sala Glang, and should not be listed as such.

I'm sure this will lead to another opinion. The Thais have been disagreeing about it for years.

[dereklev]

Regardless of it's ranking, Korat is a large city with a growing farang population. Many farang have relocated here from more expensive parts of Thailand.

It is not a tourist centre so if you are seeking all mod cons and top class farang venues then forget it. If you are happy to settle for a more sedate way of life then Korat fits that bill.

[keemapoot]

Regardless of it's ranking, Korat is a large city with a growing farang population. Many farang have relocated here from more expensive parts of Thailand.

It is not a tourist centre so if you are seeking all mod cons and top class farang venues then forget it. If you are happy to settle for a more sedate way of life then Korat fits that bill.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[happylarry]

dereklev....I agree with you 100%....as I said in my previous post "i like living in Korat", but it still doesnt belie the fact that it would be nice to have something to do as a pastime other than prop up someones bar!!!!

HL

[gotlost]

dereklev....I agree with you 100%....as I said in my previous post "i like living in Korat", but it still doesnt belie the fact that it would be nice to have something to do as a pastime other than prop up someones bar!!!!

HL

Your propping up the income, propping up the rice fields and propping up your PC. Isn't life great in Issan!!

[jazzbo]

... it would be nice to have something to do as a pastime

As regards many things in Korat and elsewhere in Isaan:

If

you

didn't bring it, it ain't there.

BTW The largest city in the USA by incorporated area: Jacksonville, Florida (excluding a couple of cities in Alaska)

[gotlost]

... it would be nice to have something to do as a pastime

As regards many things in Korat and elsewhere in Isaan:

If

you

didn't bring it, it ain't there.

BTW The largest city in the USA by incorporated area: Jacksonville, Florida (excluding a couple of cities in Alaska)

If Sarah Palin had her way that would change.

[rick75]

Happylarry I take it your not a golfer, Korat has some great courses.

[happylarry]

Rick75....had one go at it in UK but never learnt to play ...so the answer is yes you are quite right...I am not.

HL

[rick75]

You should take it up, Thailand has the bonus of gorgeous caddies to take care of you as well, the only down side is the heat.