Unprepared For My Issan Trip

[NewGuy]

I'm flying to Ubon Rachatani early in January, returning to Bangkok by air from Udon Thani three week later. Why? An Air Asia promotion ages ago (250 Baht each way - all in) and I have backpacked a lot of the rest of the country already. My plan is to take a series of buses to hit all centres in Issan between the start / stop cities. I've been on the Lao side of the Mekong but want to stay in Thailand this time. I don't have a really good idea of where to go other than the bigger dots on the map or what to do. My transportation restriction is a bit of a pain - I don't drive a car or a motorcycle so trains, planes and buses are it for me.

Let's hear your suggestions.

[Geekfreaklover]

Can you speak Thai? It makes a big difference if you can. If not buy a phrase book.

[jackr]

Read this and play with the links

[ALFREDO]

Buy a Lonely Planet Thailand and check it out.

[rfukata]

i live (retired) in ubon, not much happening here. do you have a specific hobby or something that can interest you?

you'll be in close proximity to several borders from ubon. (Chongmek, Suvannakhet, Chongchom, etc) if you want

to cross over and hang out.

- as the commenter stated, better if you speak the lingo + get a phrase, travel, lonely planet books...

have a nice trip in issan.

[asanee]

youre prepared enough

1.planes can only bring you back to BKK. Trains are very, very limited, the express trains are also mainly to bring you back to BKK.

2.you state to have bekpekked extensively-well why ask then-its no different from that. You will have noted the merits of a guidebook, you must have noted that buses can bring you everywhere, you must have noted that food and accomm is in abundant supply at low prices about anywhere in Thaild (except Phuket+some isles-its there, but not cheap), and really Issaan is not hard working compared to laos-the language is made much more of a prob as it really is.

3.main point is rather (and I have some reason to say-I have visited all provinces there), that is pretty boring. The sights are not that many and spread out quite far. Most bekpekkers mainly seem to travel for meet+mate-and you will note thats also in short supply there. All those ''main centres'' look same-same and NOT different as 13 in a dozen.

4.the main asset of the Isan are its friendly and easy-going people. You (assuming to be male) will receive hundreds of marriage proposals. And you can meet them everywhere-no need at all to seek out 'must-see'' sights for that.

[roamer]

youre prepared enough

1.planes can only bring you back to BKK. Trains are very, very limited, the express trains are also mainly to bring you back to BKK.

2.you state to have bekpekked extensively-well why ask then-its no different from that. You will have noted the merits of a guidebook, you must have noted that buses can bring you everywhere, you must have noted that food and accomm is in abundant supply at low prices about anywhere in Thaild (except Phuket+some isles-its there, but not cheap), and really Issaan is not hard working compared to laos-the language is made much more of a prob as it really is.

3.main point is rather (and I have some reason to say-I have visited all provinces there), that is pretty boring. The sights are not that many and spread out quite far. Most bekpekkers mainly seem to travel for meet+mate-and you will note thats also in short supply there. All those ''main centres'' look same-same and NOT different as 13 in a dozen.

4.the main asset of the Isan are its friendly and easy-going people. You (assuming to be male) will receive hundreds of marriage proposals. And you can meet them everywhere-no need at all to seek out 'must-see'' sights for that.

Boring ? Its what you make it. I always found it was where I tended to meet people that helped me scratch far more below the surface of Thailand than in other parts. As you noted its the easy-going people that help make the trip. True it might be short of stunning scenery but I found myself being escorted to some truly original sights that were not in any guidebook, sharing a fun top table experience as an honoured guest at a high school parade and quite a few memorable drinking sessions. Of course it helps if you speak some Thai but being approachable and prepared to go with the flow is maybe more important.

[Tilokarat]

Go to the Phra Thaem National Park a few hours from Ubon and hike to the petroglyphs. There are about 30,000 of them. You can also see the Two-coloured river near here, and saam paan bot (3,000 islands).

Further north going to Nakhon Phanom stop at the sacred wat, That Phanom, and pay homage, tam bun (make merit) and expiate your numerous sins. Lots to do and see on your way to Udonthani and Nong Khai. If possible hike in the Phu Phrabat Park near Loei.

And, if you want to know what young Thais are up to, visit the Tae Wan Daeng (Thai music, dancing, and tons of university students) in places like Buriram, Udonthani and Khon Kaen.

[SantiSuk]

Go to the Phra Thaem National Park a few hours from Ubon and hike to the petroglyphs. There are about 30,000 of them. You can also see the Two-coloured river near here, and saam paan bot (3,000 islands).

Further north going to Nakhon Phanom stop at the sacred wat, That Phanom, and pay homage, tam bun (make merit) and expiate your numerous sins. Lots to do and see on your way to Udonthani and Nong Khai. If possible hike in the Phu Phrabat Park near Loei.

And, if you want to know what young Thais are up to, visit the Tae Wan Daeng (Thai music, dancing, and tons of university students) in places like Buriram, Udonthani and Khon Kaen.

Plus get up early in Ubon and treat it like the centre of Chiang Mai - i.e. walk around the temples in the centre - there are about four or five good ones reachable in a two hour walk. Smile a lot at the locals and you will have a great time.

Note that Isaan residents prefer to speak Isaan (or Kmer in some Cambodian districts/villages) but all the young people (under 40) speak and understand Thai and all the old people understand Thai; they have to to watch the dam_n soap and comedy series on TV!

[richieudon]

Go to the Phra Thaem National Park a few hours from Ubon and hike to the petroglyphs. There are about 30,000 of them. You can also see the Two-coloured river near here, and saam paan bot (3,000 islands).

Further north going to Nakhon Phanom stop at the sacred wat, That Phanom, and pay homage, tam bun (make merit) and expiate your numerous sins. Lots to do and see on your way to Udonthani and Nong Khai. If possible hike in the Phu Phrabat Park near Loei.

And, if you want to know what young Thais are up to, visit the Tae Wan Daeng (Thai music, dancing, and tons of university students) in places like Buriram, Udonthani and Khon Kaen.

Could you elaborate on sarm pan bot (3000 islands) please, like where is it exactly? I've heard of it before but can't seem to find it when I google it...Thanks

Plus get up early in Ubon and treat it like the centre of Chiang Mai - i.e. walk around the temples in the centre - there are about four or five good ones reachable in a two hour walk. Smile a lot at the locals and you will have a great time.

Note that Isaan residents prefer to speak Isaan (or Kmer in some Cambodian districts/villages) but all the young people (under 40) speak and understand Thai and all the old people understand Thai; they have to to watch the dam_n soap and comedy series on TV!

[NewGuy]

The itinerary now looks like this:

Fly Bangkok to Udon Ratchatani, buses from there to Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Beung Kan (or Sakhon Nakhon to Beung Kan, if I have to), Nong Khai, si Chiangmai, Chiang Khan, Loei, Udon Thani.

I'll take a Buriram, Surin, Si Saket, Yasothon, Roi Et, Kalsin, Sakhon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen tour in a year or two.

Thanks to all

[dmax]

one thing i will say is that most small villiages in isaan have got resorts near for 200-300 thb per night so dont worry about going to the smaller towns and villiages off the main drag.

[dmax]

forgot to say , most small villiages and towns have got reasonably good bus services considering.