Tha Bo

[Bangkokbutcher]

Just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of things to do and see around this area.

OK I know it's 'just up the road' from Nong Khai and Udon, but I will be staying put this time round for my upcoming trip in a couple of weeks with the wife and kids.

Will be trying to keep myself and 3 kids (ages 6,5 & 2) entertained as long as the heat does not become to unbearable... , thankfully (for me anyway) we will be missing songkhran, ok so it may be fun for the kids but due to a bad memories with buckets of 'dirty' water ( ) being literally thrown down my throat (dont ask me how) and making me extremely ill (ok it may not have been the water, but i had to blame something ), i do my best to try and avoid it now.

I have not included the missus in the list of people to be entertained as she is currently listing a couple of hundred things that she must do, see and buy while we're back in the village, and has kindly left the rest to me until we return home to England...

All input appreciated and keep up the good work.

Also, depending on the 'state' of the house upon our return, we may be looking for a hotel to stay in, any recommendations?? TIA

Edited April 11, 2005 by Bangkokbutcher

[ray23]

Just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of things to do and see around this area.

OK I know it's 'just up the road' from Nong Khai and Udon, but I will be staying put this time round for my upcoming trip in a couple of weeks with the wife and kids.

Will be trying to keep myself and 3 kids (ages 6,5 & 2) entertained as long as the heat does not become to unbearable...  , thankfully (for me anyway) we will be missing songkhran, ok so it may be fun for the kids but due to a bad memories with buckets of 'dirty' water ( ) being literally thrown down my throat (dont ask me how) and making me extremely ill (ok it may not have been the water, but i had to blame something  ), i do my best to try and avoid it now.

I have not included the missus in the list of people to be entertained as she is currently listing a couple of hundred things that she must do, see and buy while we're back in the village, and has kindly left the rest to me until we return home to England...

All input appreciated  and keep up the good work.

Also, depending on the 'state' of the house upon our return, we may be looking for a hotel to stay in, any recommendations?? TIA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tha Bo the rice grows in season thats about it. Some activity in Nong Kia maybe 20 KMS away, udon at about 60 Kms, has bowling, pools, resturants ( Nong Kia ha these a well) There is a theatre complex in Udon, but the majority of the movies are in the Thai languge. Nong Kia has a vey interesting monument to see.

If you find something in Tha Bo let me know I will drive down and take a look myself, I still have a lot to learn about the area.

Almost forgot you can go over to Vientiene and check Laos for a little extra money, not a whole lot different, but a very interesting choice of foods. LLots of french food style resturants.

Accomodation in that area, I would look to Nong Kia not far way at all.

[Bangkokbutcher]

Thanks for that Ray,

I am aware of the entertainment available in Udon and Nong Khai, was really kinda hoping there would be something a little closer to home.

Never mind, I was hoping that I wouldnt need to travel too far for something to do.

Cheers.

[ray23]

Thanks for that Ray,

I am aware of the entertainment available in Udon and Nong Khai, was really kinda hoping there would be something a little closer to home.

Never mind, I was hoping that I wouldnt need to travel too far for something to do.

Cheers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are some resturants and and Thia bars along the river between Tha Bo and Si Cahing Mia, but I have never tries them so I don't waht they may be like. I ride throug there a lot and it seems to me that just after leaving Ta Bo, that on the left side of the road, maybe 4 KM out toward Si Chaing Mia, there is what look like a farrang owned coffeee shop. But thats about the extent of my knowledge.

[Pseacraft]

The wife says that Tha Bo is fairly sleepy. We're considering purchasing some more land over that way but haven't pursued it too far.

If we were in country I'd say stop over in Nong Song Hong some clear night or day and you could do some astronomical observing with me. We have a great dark sky site in our rice paddies a few km's east of the village. But we and all of my telescopes are back in the states right now. We'll be in country in December so if your around post it up and we'll let you know how to contact us.

Eric

Thanks for that Ray,

I am aware of the entertainment available in Udon and Nong Khai, was really kinda hoping there would be something a little closer to home.

Never mind, I was hoping that I wouldnt need to travel too far for something to do.

Cheers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are some resturants and and Thia bars along the river between Tha Bo and Si Cahing Mia, but I have never tries them so I don't waht they may be like. I ride throug there a lot and it seems to me that just after leaving Ta Bo, that on the left side of the road, maybe 4 KM out toward Si Chaing Mia, there is what look like a farrang owned coffeee shop. But thats about the extent of my knowledge.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Bangkokbutcher]

Thanks again for the info Ray, I'll just have a drive around the area and see whats about.

And Pseacraft, I will most certainly give you a shout when your about and join you in some skyspotting

Cheers

[ray23]

Thanks again for the info Ray, I'll just have a drive around the area and see whats about.

And Pseacraft, I will most certainly give you a shout when your about and join you in some skyspotting 

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your welcome, Si Chaing Mia is a sleepy little village, just a few Kms for away. It's roght on the banks of the Mae Kong, there is a cement promenade along the river. At night the resturants put tables out on the promenade and if you like Thai food it's great atmosphire for dinner. Right Across the river is Vientien, Laos, you can see the light and believe it or not hear the music from there as well.

There is an absolutely beautiful drine between Si Chaing Mia and Loie, but I would have no idea of how to tell you to get there. I hear throught he rumor mill that there is now a Farrnag living in Si Chaing Mia. I don't know him but I might be able to get some contact info for you. I would imagine by the time yuo gte here he would love to hear some english.

On my second visit here I spent a year in five days in Si Chaing Mia. Really a neat little place but much more Thai then I could handle in those days. No one spoke english including the girl friend I had there, I couldn't eat Thai food because I didn't know how to get it not spicey. It was funny because a little old Thia man and his wife owned a resturant and they felt sorry for me. They would make rice and fry eggs for me, so I could eat. They would see me walk down the street and start cooking the eggs, and have the coffee ready for me when I got there. At some point she found breakfast rolls for me. I made a point years after that trip to take friends on bike rides there for lunch. They were very good to me. The last time I was there a few months ago the restuarant was gone. Probably one of them died and the other gave up.

[Bangkokbutcher]

Yeah I did hear that there was a French guy living in Si Chiang Mai, that was some time ago though, apparently he owned a guest house/restaurant.

Not sure if this is the same guy, but it sounds as though the area has changed a little since the last time i was there, I may be wrong but I'm sure there wasn't a promenade back then (approx 9 years ago), then again it may have just been a different part of town, I do however remember the alarms going off at the factory in town though, blimey, what a racket they made.

It would be great if you could find out any contact info for this guy up there and would be appreciated

It's great to hear that 'real' customer service is still alive and well in those areas and it's nice to hear of your experiences in Si Chiang Mai, just sad that the place isn't there any more for your trips up there.

I have actually just received an email from an old friend in Tha Bo, one of the farangs in town, apparently there are quite a few new farangs in town now (Canadian/French/Italian/US), so that may help to relieve a few of my woes whilst in the area.

I am also presuming the area is pretty ###### hot at the moment, so i'm also considering staying in a hotel with the kids as opposed to the family house, I havent been back for sometime, but I do remember that April and May were almost unbearable, and nearly 'cooked my brain' on a number of occassions.

Looking forward to the break though, will be nice just to get out of the UK again now that the kids are getting a bit older and will be able to appreciate things a little more.

[ray23]

Yeah I did hear that there was a French guy living in Si Chiang Mai, that was some time ago though, apparently he owned a guest house/restaurant.

Not sure if this is the same guy, but it sounds as though the area has changed a little since the last time i was there, I may be wrong but I'm sure there wasn't a promenade back then (approx 9 years ago), then again it may have just been a different part of town, I do however remember the alarms going off at the factory in town though, blimey, what a racket they made.

It would be great if you could find out any contact info for this guy up there and would be appreciated

It's great to hear that 'real' customer service is still alive and well in those areas and it's nice to hear of your experiences in Si Chiang Mai, just sad that the place isn't there any more for your trips up there.

I have actually just received an email from an old friend in Tha Bo, one of the farangs in town, apparently there are quite a few new farangs in town now (Canadian/French/Italian/US), so that may help to relieve a few of my woes whilst in the area.

I am also presuming the area is pretty ###### hot at the moment, so i'm also considering staying in a hotel with the kids as opposed to the family house, I havent been back for sometime, but I do remember that April and May were almost unbearable, and nearly 'cooked my brain' on a number of occassions.

Looking forward to the break though, will be nice just to get out of the UK again now that the kids are getting a bit older and will be able to appreciate things a little more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will see what I can do like I said I don't know him but I know he is American. Yes very hot now last week, one day with the heat index was 116, most of the time it has been running in the low hundreds F.

[aletta]

Been to Tha Bo several times when building houses.Very quiet place.

Tha Bo is famous in Isaan for three things,tomatoes,wood and yar bar.

There are hundreds of tomato farmers in the area who sell to the factory in Nong Khai that makes sauces.

The wood comes over the river from Laos which is a stone throw away as do the yar bar.As you drive around Tha Bo you will see the usual poor Thais and then there are several enourmous mansions on the banks of the Mekong with lines of Mercedes.I understand the heavy suppression on the Burmese border means shipments now come through Laos and over the river.

Also Tha Bo has a very large Vietnamese population which is reflected in the food available,lots of Vietnamese food vendors.

Edited April 17, 2005 by aletta

[Bangkokbutcher]

Yes very hot now last week, one day with the heat index was 116, most of the time it has been running in the low hundreds F.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, just what I thought

Edited April 17, 2005 by Bangkokbutcher

[Bangkokbutcher]

Been to Tha Bo several times when building houses.Very quiet place.

Tha Bo is famous in Isaan for three things,tomatoes,wood and yar bar.

There are hundreds of tomato farmers in the area who sell to the factory in Nong Khai that makes sauces.

The wood comes over the river from Laos which is a stone throw away as do the yar bar.As you drive around Tha Bo you will see the usual poor Thais and then there are several enourmous mansions on the banks of the Mekong with lines of Mercedes.I understand the heavy suppression on the Burmese border means shipments now come through Laos and over the river.

Also Tha Bo has a very large Vietnamese population which is reflected in the food available,lots of Vietnamese food vendors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not sure that this is the best news I have heard about the area, but nonetheless it wouldn't surprise me.

As for building houses, is this something that you do often in the area?

I only ask as I know this is on my wifes agenda for sometime in the future, she has the land and will want a house or 2 built on it at some stage.

[aletta]

Hi Bangkokbutcher

Had a few houses built around Korat for the wife and family and always,always source the materials myself.For some reason the hardwood used for doors is very cheap in Tha Bo and comes across the river from Laos.You can save maybe 500 baht a door which on a large house is worth having.Door and window frames are also much cheaper than elsewhere in Isaan.

As for the smugglers it happens all along the Nong Khai border and recently two huge weed shipments were intercepted i Nong Khai,one i think 700 kilos.Not a thing to worry about but common on Thailands borders.

As for building a house in the area it is cheap as there is a huge Laos population working on the building sites for 150 baht a day.Just make sure they are registered or you may have a 50,000 baht fine.

[Bangkokbutcher]

Thanks for the info aletta

[aletta]

My pleasure.

[ray23]

Yeah I did hear that there was a French guy living in Si Chiang Mai, that was some time ago though, apparently he owned a guest house/restaurant.

Not sure if this is the same guy, but it sounds as though the area has changed a little since the last time i was there, I may be wrong but I'm sure there wasn't a promenade back then (approx 9 years ago), then again it may have just been a different part of town, I do however remember the alarms going off at the factory in town though, blimey, what a racket they made.

It would be great if you could find out any contact info for this guy up there and would be appreciated

It's great to hear that 'real' customer service is still alive and well in those areas and it's nice to hear of your experiences in Si Chiang Mai, just sad that the place isn't there any more for your trips up there.

I have actually just received an email from an old friend in Tha Bo, one of the farangs in town, apparently there are quite a few new farangs in town now (Canadian/French/Italian/US), so that may help to relieve a few of my woes whilst in the area.

I am also presuming the area is pretty ###### hot at the moment, so i'm also considering staying in a hotel with the kids as opposed to the family house, I havent been back for sometime, but I do remember that April and May were almost unbearable, and nearly 'cooked my brain' on a number of occassions.

Looking forward to the break though, will be nice just to get out of the UK again now that the kids are getting a bit older and will be able to appreciate things a little more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well I found out who the guy was in Si Chaing Mia, he is an American. I don't know him but got his name and e-mail address. I have sent him a not4e asking if i could give you the information. So when he gives me the go I will give it to you, in a P.M. Like I said I don't know him, so I don't want to release the information wihtout his permission, hope you can understand. When you get here let me know I love to ride the bike up there so we will come shoot the breeze with you.

[aletta]

Ray,

have you riden along the road that follows the mekong in Tha Bo recently.I have not been for a couple of years and the road was horrendous at the time,no faster than 20 and a million big pot holes.Great views though.

[ray23]

Ray,

have you riden along the road that follows the mekong in Tha Bo recently.I have not been for a couple of years and the road was horrendous at the time,no faster than 20 and a million big pot holes.Great views though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes a a matter of fact I was doing just that about a month ago all repaired from Tha Bo to Nong Kia, excellent road now a far cry form the first time I rode it.

[Bangkokbutcher]

Great to hear the roads been sorted, I kinda remember the 'river road' journey, although I doubt if it was that bad back then.

Ray, I really would appreciate it if you could forward me the guys details, as long as he is ok with it of course

Cheers.

[ray23]

Great to hear the roads been sorted, I kinda remember the 'river road' journey, although I doubt if it was that bad back then.

Ray, I really would appreciate it if you could forward me the guys details, as long as he is ok with it of course

Cheers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm still working on it no response thus far from the net, but it might not be that easy to check e-mail there. I don't know if he has a phone if he does I will try calling him.

[flydiamonds]

Yeah I did hear that there was a French guy living in Si Chiang Mai, that was some time ago though, apparently he owned a guest house/restaurant.

Not sure if this is the same guy, but it sounds as though the area has changed a little since the last time i was there, I may be wrong but I'm sure there wasn't a promenade back then (approx 9 years ago), then again it may have just been a different part of town, I do however remember the alarms going off at the factory in town though, blimey, what a racket they made.

It would be great if you could find out any contact info for this guy up there and would be appreciated

It's great to hear that 'real' customer service is still alive and well in those areas and it's nice to hear of your experiences in Si Chiang Mai, just sad that the place isn't there any more for your trips up there.

I have actually just received an email from an old friend in Tha Bo, one of the farangs in town, apparently there are quite a few new farangs in town now (Canadian/French/Italian/US), so that may help to relieve a few of my woes whilst in the area.

I am also presuming the area is pretty ###### hot at the moment, so i'm also considering staying in a hotel with the kids as opposed to the family house, I havent been back for sometime, but I do remember that April and May were almost unbearable, and nearly 'cooked my brain' on a number of occassions.

Looking forward to the break though, will be nice just to get out of the UK again now that the kids are getting a bit older and will be able to appreciate things a little more.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will see what I can do like I said I don't know him but I know he is American. Yes very hot now last week, one day with the heat index was 116, most of the time it has been running in the low hundreds F.

i am one of those farangs that live in tha bo i am an australian anything you want to know my name is lou [email protected]

[ray23]

Boy a three year jump. since the original post my nephew built a home in a village about 15 Klms Sri Chaing Mai, now he is back in the states earning more money.

About 25 Klms past Sri Chaing Mai

40 or so klms out a farrang resturant on the river owned by an Irish guy, pretty good cheeseburger.

The trip over the mountain to Nom Som a worthwhile adventure.

I would imagine Butcher has finished his vacation by now but he might ready for another