Ubon Ratchthani - Much To Do For Farang?

[Geekfreaklover]

Hi,

Am thinking about a move to Ubon Ratchthani to work in one of the schools and do some writing work there. I've spent almost ten years in Thailand, mostly in Isaan, so I am fine with the culture, language and dilects. Just wondering if there would be much to do in town and around. I don't want to spend all my spare time in a bar, having been there and done that and got the t-shirt. I quit the booze. I'm male early 30s.

The sort of things i'm interested in are as follows:

Muay Thai - Thinking about taking it up - is there a gym?

Cinima ?

Temples - I know there is a famous retreat temple for farangs, can't think of the name of it.

National Parks ? - Am a closet twitcher. Anywhere to birdwatch?

Massage / spa? (happy endings or not)

Anything else?

Oh, also accomadation. Need somewhere with internet. Thinking about staying at the Nartsiri.

Thanks for any info / thoughts on the town.#

Cheers,

GFL.

[MeMock]

Ubon is quite popular with many westerners coming here to train in Muay Thai as well as fighting against the locals.

Two cinemas but it is very rare to get a movie in English.

Plenty of Temples including the one you mentioned which I also have forgotten the name of.

Plenty of National Parks as well, most good ones are an hour + drive away though.

Natsiri mansion is nice but a little on the pricey side. Two places that I always recommend are Pan House and Phadaeng Mansion.

There is ten pin bowling now in town if that is your thing.

[Geekfreaklover]

Thanks MeMock. Will check out those other accomdation places. Any idea what they charge a month for rent right now? do they need a deposit?

cheers.

GFL.

[MeMock]

I think Phadaeng is 5,000 and Pan House is 5,500 per month or close to this anyway. A month in advance I believe is what's needed.

[bergen]

I think Phadaeng is 5,000 and Pan House is 5,500 per month or close to this anyway. A month in advance I believe is what's needed.

You can also rent a "decent" house for that amount or less, if you intend to stay a while

[rgs2001uk]

I have a farang friend who lives there.

He told me best thing to do is invest in a decent internet connection.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

At Phadaeng Mansion, the nightly fees are 400 and 500 bt. When I stayed there in January, I was very impressed with this very clean, modern, feature-filled place. Lots of nice touches, too, especially the multi-level work desk in the 500/night room. It had FREE high-speed internet service and it was pretty good. When I go back later this year, that's where I'll happily stay again.

BTW, the pretty good Wrongway farang cafe is across Phadaeng Road, and farther up the same road and left at the airport property (take the transit bus Rte. No. 10 -- I think) is Peppers Cafe, which just might be owned by a previous poster in this thread ;-)

*Disclaimer: I have no relationship whatsoever with the hotel or its owner or any of the cafes mentioned.

[MeMock]

Spot on Kaoboi Bebobp.

Phadaeng is in a better location like you mentioned plus it is close to the main park. However I believe that Pan House has better quality rooms and furniture including beautiful new slumberland mattresses.

Of course as bergen said you may as well rent a house and get the internet connected for the same price!

[zoolander]

For info on Ubon visit http://www.weloveubon.com. I can also recommend Phadaeng Mansions and the Manager of the place is also very helpful. Visit Peppers and speak to Andy and the other expats for more local info. Plenty of golf around if thats your thing.

[Svenn]

Temples - I know there is a famous retreat temple for farangs, can't think of the name of it.

Plenty of Temples including the one you mentioned which I also have forgotten the name of.

Wat Pah Pong, home of the late Ajahn Chah, and Wat Nanachat, accompanying temple for farangs. Ajahn Chah was probably among the most famous Theravada teachers in the world. He and his disciples were originally 'forest monks', but unfortunately it's become a bit of a big business with temples, some quite ornate, all across the world. The solitary monk wandering the forests of Isaan and Laos is not very common anymore...

A nearby national park is Pha Taem- interesting rock formations and negrito pictographs (don't believe the rangers who say they were done by Tais, who at that time were still up in Yunnan province)... it's profoundly hot though, so enjoy it if you can.

[ontherig]

I've stayed at Pan House, Phadaeng Mansion and Nartsiri. All good places for short stays.

Nartsiri is brand new - more expensive 800 / night and a bit more plusher / very secure. Bigger room than Phadaeng / Pan House. All marble fittings inside, loads of shelf space - felt more like a posh businessmans hotel - less homely. The poshest bathrooms of the 3 (enclosed glass shower). Farang TV not so good. Free WiFi - quick. There was a balcony but no sink and you couldn't get to it - only a half length window which i found annoying - so if my towel on the balcony fell to the floor you'd have to climb through the window to retrieve it. Great underground secure parking. Secure swipe card after reception. I liked the location because it was the quietest of the 3 and was about halfway between the only 2 farang bars! I'd say more Thai people go here than Farang. Most Farangs stay at Pan House / Padaeng. For 800 bht however - Pan House and Phadaeng are better value.

Pan House is great (inside) but the location is not great - its opposite the hospital on a busy road and overlooks a derelict parking lot but next to a half decent wet market. The rooms are brand new / modern, but the smallest of the 3 hotels. Also the rooms were a little dark with limited bag space. The best mattress by far. Best TV - Good Farang channels. Balcony with sink and quick free WIFI. Secure - swipe keycard after reception. Only small space at the back for parking - not so secure. I also looked at the monthly rooms and wasn't too impressed - the room was even smaller with no window / balcony - maybe because it was full?. Pan House - long stay - no. Short stay - yes - if you have your own transport.

The Phadaeng has the best location. Its central and its 5 minutes walking distance to the park. Great for early evening exercise and the night food market and spitting distance from Wrong Way Bar. The rooms are a standard size with balcony/sink, free quick internet, good Farang TV. Theres also a bloody good place for Thai breakfast down the road and great Thai food next door to the Wrong Way. Good parking - less secure - as you can walk in off the street if no one is in reception - they also leave the keys out on the counter - which i didn't like.

I liked the Phaedeng my Thai girlfriend liked the Nartsiri best.

For longer stays i'd look for house or bigger apartment - i wouldn't stay at any - for 5000 month - you're basically renting a hotel room -> too small, limited cooking facilities, with onsuite bathroom and small balcony/sink setup.

You'll be surprised how limited Ubon is for 2 room apartments ie 1 bedroom, 1 living room. One place i stayed at was Baan Thai Apartments (its where the Police bosses stay) on Luang Rd near the airport - rates were 3500 (1 tiny studio room) to 6500 (2 room - 1 bedroom / 1 living room/kitchen). I'd recommend the 2 room for long stays - as long as you have transport. WIFI (500 BHT month extra), good farang TV, secure / keycard / security and felt like an apartment instead of a hotel room.

[Geekfreaklover]

Thanks loads for all the info. Looks like the Phadeang could be the place until I get settled and look for somewhere longer term.

GFL.

[MarcoH]

If you like Biking (Bigger or smaller) Ubon has a lot's to see but like mentioned, far from the town, but goodroads to ride around

im doing time to time abr 400Km day trips around when im home, and dont think that you cant explore with small bike,, i know the guy's goin around thailand wit honda wave,,it's just if you really want to do it...

hope in and welcome to ubon(im 40Km out for town)