Info About Kalisan

[thailandbluegrass]

Hi. I live in Sakon Nakhon now but have a job interview in Kalasin so I'm just wondering what it has to offer to an expat (not sexpat) lol.

Is there a Big-C or Lotus etc?

Whats a single small house rent for?

What the internet services? The usual TOT, True etc?

Any decent bars with any action (Music, expats etc)

Any farang restraunts there etc?

Thank for the help

[citizen33]

I'm just an occasional visitor, but will try a few answers and await correction from residents.

No Big C or Lotus, but Kalasin Plaza has a department store and a KFC. There is also a large new Siam Global House store on the road towards Yang Talat. There is a Big C in Mahasarakham on the Kalasin road (213) that isn't too hard to get to.

Rents and internet: Don't know, but there are posts on this forum that say internet in the town is okay.

Bars - I had a good night out in Kalasin at Easter but it seemed less good a few weeks ago when I ventured out. There is a little cluster of bars near the bus station including Darra Bar, Tawan Deng and a karaoke bar that aren't too bad, but Darra bar no longer has coyote dancers. You will find 'sao coyote' in the basement nightclub at the Rimpao Hotel, but when I was there customers were thin on the ground and the act didn't start until 11.00pm. The group playing were a kind of comedy act and couldn't resist probing the limits of my Thai (not too hard for them). It seemed like an exam and they wouldn't let up. There are a few other karaoke bars around the town but I do not know of any farang bars.

Ditto for restaurants. There is a pizza restaurant and some okay Thai restaurants. I will wait to learn more from locals.

Edited September 9, 2010 by citizen33

[Totster]

Kalasin is quite quiet expat wise and there are not many places if any that cater for expats.

To repeat what citizen said, there are a couple of clubs around the bus station, and one in town near Kalasin Plaza, that are quite good, usual stage and seating at tables arrangement and very loud. There are some singasongs about 10 mins walk from the bus station.

Very limited with regards to farang food and socialising bars, I like Cafe Frozen.. it's by the lake and nice to sit outside in the evening people watching. They also have some farang food, burgers, spaghetti, sandwhich type of stuff. The Rimpao Hotel also has some farang food along the same lines but maybe a bit more expensive and varying in quality. There used to be a guy called Amadeus who opened a small restaurant near the chinese temple with very good farang food.. but after a while ended up being closed most of the time for some reason.. I think he's packed up now, but I could be wrong.

You can also swim at the Rimpao for bt50 per day.

House rental not sure, but around the bt3000 - bt5000 would be a guess depending on what you want.

Internet - Don't think true has a presence, can't recall seeing any ads.. but plenty of TT&T pickups or 3BB around - I live out of town and use CAT CDMA

Again, repeating the previous poster.. The nearest Big C is in Sarakham, about 45mins from Kalasin, there is a Tesco in Sarakham also, near the bus station, but it's a small shop with not much selection. Roi-et has a larger Tesco if I remember correctly. Kalasin Plaza is not really farang orientated.. you can get basics, but nothing near the varitey found in Tesco/Big C.

If you are used to a big expat scene, with associated bars and restaurants then Kalasin will be a change.

If you do move, send me a message.. I'll come and say hello.

Totster

[jazzbo]

If you are used to a big expat scene ... just like in Sak Nak...

[pianoman]

Kalasin is a nice little Thai city with just enough to keep a Farang from going crazy, but not enough to let a Farang go "Crazy"....

Amadeus resturant is open Tuesday thru Saturday and serves good Astrian & German food with very large portions... Cafe Frozen is decent, but gets old after awhile based upon their limited menu... Many excellent Thai places with Farang friendly Thai food....

Rents run from 2,500 for small 1 bedroom, 3,500 for a decent but small 2 bedroom and I know of 3 bedroom 1 bath houses renting for 4,000 per month...

Internet is either TOT or 3BB (TT&T) both offering their Individual packages at 590 baht for 5MB...

There are some nice Farangs living in and around Kalasin, Americans, Dutch, German and even know one Italian...

Like mentioned above, Mahasarakham has a new Big C, and it is only about 35km from Kalasin... Also Roi Et is about 48km and offers a bit more... Khon Kaen is 78km and has almost anything a Farang could want... I tend to make the trip to Khon Kaen about once a month for shopping...

Kalasin is a nice little city with enough to keep most people happy, again with an occasional trip for the "Western Wants" offered in Khon Kaen..

Pianoman

[thailandbluegrass]

Kalasin is quite quiet expat wise and there are not many places if any that cater for expats.

To repeat what citizen said, there are a couple of clubs around the bus station, and one in town near Kalasin Plaza, that are quite good, usual stage and seating at tables arrangement and very loud. There are some singasongs about 10 mins walk from the bus station.

Very limited with regards to farang food and socialising bars, I like Cafe Frozen.. it's by the lake and nice to sit outside in the evening people watching. They also have some farang food, burgers, spaghetti, sandwhich type of stuff. The Rimpao Hotel also has some farang food along the same lines but maybe a bit more expensive and varying in quality. There used to be a guy called Amadeus who opened a small restaurant near the chinese temple with very good farang food.. but after a while ended up being closed most of the time for some reason.. I think he's packed up now, but I could be wrong.

You can also swim at the Rimpao for bt50 per day.

House rental not sure, but around the bt3000 - bt5000 would be a guess depending on what you want.

Internet - Don't think true has a presence, can't recall seeing any ads.. but plenty of TT&T pickups or 3BB around - I live out of town and use CAT CDMA

Again, repeating the previous poster.. The nearest Big C is in Sarakham, about 45mins from Kalasin, there is a Tesco in Sarakham also, near the bus station, but it's a small shop with not much selection. Roi-et has a larger Tesco if I remember correctly. Kalasin Plaza is not really farang orientated.. you can get basics, but nothing near the varitey found in Tesco/Big C.

If you are used to a big expat scene, with associated bars and restaurants then Kalasin will be a change.

If you do move, send me a message.. I'll come and say hello.

Totster

Thanx and when I do move I will message you and meet for a frosty etc. Yeah I'm in Sakon now so a huge expat scene is not nessaccary and I'm not into the Cyote scene either so no probs there. I guess a trip to the Tesco's/Big-C's sound not so bad or far as everything is an adventure.

I will be there next Friday for the interview and sure I will be offered the job so maybe I'll spend the night and look around etc. I will be bringing my motorbike so if anyone wants to hook up maybe we can meet somewhere?

Thanx for all the great replies as it always helps. Any musicians there? Lol. I play acoustic etc.

[pianoman]

Thanx and when I do move I will message you and meet for a frosty etc. Yeah I'm in Sakon now so a huge expat scene is not nessaccary and I'm not into the Cyote scene either so no probs there. I guess a trip to the Tesco's/Big-C's sound not so bad or far as everything is an adventure.

I will be there next Friday for the interview and sure I will be offered the job so maybe I'll spend the night and look around etc. I will be bringing my motorbike so if anyone wants to hook up maybe we can meet somewhere?

Thanx for all the great replies as it always helps. Any musicians there? Lol. I play acoustic etc.

Thailandbluegrass,

I use to play a bit of Maybell Carter style bluegrass, but that was 40+ years ago, and haven't touched a guitar in almost that long... But would enjoy meeting for a coffee or whatever if and when you over this way...

Pianoman

[citizen33]

There are some singasongs about 10 mins walk from the bus station.

I like exploring new Thai-style cafes, but don't know these. Can Totster please provide the bar names or the street names or even just rough directions?

[Issangeorge]

ON and New Moon Bar. You go along the road from Thai Pizza house to the bus station and about half way down there is barbecue place turn left there and there is a short soi the singsong bars are on the left.

[jazzbo]

Thanks ... It's been a whole week since I got a big Red One... I thought maybe I was losing my touch ...

[citizen33]

Thanks to Isaangeorge for the directions.

[thailandbluegrass]

I can understand now based on your posts on the " ..Fit-In" topic and what you know about Thai people that when moving to a new Isaan town the first thing that you want to do is hook-up with a bunch of Honkies.

Well I can tell buy your posts that you have no life and whatever a "honkie" is it sounds discrimanatory to me. Not sure what that Red button thing is but I'm guessing that your an idiot and that your posts prove this?

Thankx to all the folks who DO know how to reply decently.

[jazzbo]

OK... So 'Bluegrass' maybe is not like Earl Scruggs with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys but more like The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem ... The modern version of 'Honkie' comes from Los Angeles and I never have heard an American go for a 'Frosty' unless it was ice cream ... but it's been a good day for me: 'Never had 3 red cards on one post ... show's you're paying attention.

[Totster]

Amadeus resturant is open Tuesday thru Saturday and serves good Astrian & German food with very large portions...

That's good to hear, I shall make an effort to pop by and have a Goulash

totster

[nev]

Just like to add there is a golf course being built at yang talat on the left comming from khon kaen 1k before the left turn to kalasin.

Had a look around today starting to take shape i know 2 workers there,will be 18 holes and around 1500 baht a round.

[Totster]

Just like to add there is a golf course being built at yang talat on the left comming from khon kaen 1k before the left turn to kalasin.

Had a look around today starting to take shape i know 2 workers there,will be 18 holes and around 1500 baht a round.

I have wondered what was going to be there for a while now.. that's answered that then.. cheers

totster

[citizen33]

Just like to add there is a golf course being built at yang talat on the left comming from khon kaen 1k before the left turn to kalasin.

Had a look around today starting to take shape i know 2 workers there,will be 18 holes and around 1500 baht a round.

It must be near a garden centre that I have used from time to time. A golf course certainly adds to the limited options in the area (a couple of fishing parks etc), but I wonder how many locals from Yang Talat, Kantarawichai, Chiang Yuen, Kalasin and nearby can afford B1500 a round. This is not a wealthy area.

[Totster]

Just like to add there is a golf course being built at yang talat on the left comming from khon kaen 1k before the left turn to kalasin.

Had a look around today starting to take shape i know 2 workers there,will be 18 holes and around 1500 baht a round.

It must be near a garden centre that I have used from time to time. A golf course certainly adds to the limited options in the area (a couple of fishing parks etc), but I wonder how many locals from Yang Talat, Kantarawichai, Chiang Yuen, Kalasin and nearby can afford B1500 a round. This is not a wealthy area.

It's right next to the truck weighing station.. large site.

totster

[jazzbo]

I may be a 'no life' idiot but I know the best thing to ever come out of Kalasin ... I call her the 'Patsy Cline' of Thailand in that she died at age 20 in a car crash near Ubon:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=SUsqUppt1g4

and for a real turn on watch this: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=naRk0IVMC74

Edited October 7, 2010 by jazzbo

[citizen33]

I may be a 'no life' idiot but I know the best thing to ever come out of Kalasin ... I call her the 'Patsy Cline' of Thailand in that she died at age 20 in a car crash near Ubon:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=SUsqUppt1g4

and for a real turn on watch this: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=naRk0IVMC74

Thanks for this reference to what is an interesting but very sad story. Here is a bit more information that I found:

http://www.blogcatalog.com/search/frame?term=isaan&id=3fc79fb9b44d791a7de779d9d79ddd33

[jazzbo]

You're welcome ... what a voice ... and boy did she have the moves.

[pianoman]

Just like to add there is a golf course being built at yang talat on the left comming from khon kaen 1k before the left turn to kalasin.

Had a look around today starting to take shape i know 2 workers there,will be 18 holes and around 1500 baht a round.

I have wondered what was going to be there for a while now.. that's answered that then.. cheers

totster

You would be surprised at the number of wealthier Thai's that call Kalasin home... Several of my neighbors are regular Golfers and often make the drive to either Roi Et or Khon Kaen to play the courses there... Also there is a decent 9 Hole Par 3 course outside of a village about 18km towards Som Det..

Pianoman

[pianoman]

I have been told that Kamalisai (on the road to Roi Et, about 20km from Kalasin) now has a Lotus Mini... Which I understand is right next to the 7/11 and only slightly larger than the 7/11....

Plus have heard a rumor from two different people that the Petrol Station & BBQ place on the By Pass in Kalasin has been closed and that the property is going to be used for a large (possibly Makro or Big C) type store...

Kalasin is growing up, slowly but surely...

Pianoman

[Totster]

I have been told that Kamalisai (on the road to Roi Et, about 20km from Kalasin) now has a Lotus Mini... Which I understand is right next to the 7/11 and only slightly larger than the 7/11....

Plus have heard a rumor from two different people that the Petrol Station & BBQ place on the By Pass in Kalasin has been closed and that the property is going to be used for a large (possibly Makro or Big C) type store...

Kalasin is growing up, slowly but surely...

Pianoman

Oh.. thats a shame, I like that BBQ place.. ah well, the price of progress I suppose

totster

[pianoman]

Oh.. thats a shame, I like that BBQ place.. ah well, the price of progress I suppose

totster

I also enjoyed eating there, but found that it had gone downhill the last month, now I know why... I was told that the Lady who owns / owned it has openned somewhere eles, but have not heard where it is...

So there may be hope for both of us to keep "Over eating" from time to time...

Pianoman

[pianoman]

Oh.. thats a shame, I like that BBQ place.. ah well, the price of progress I suppose

totster

I was told today that the New BBQ place is / will be on the road heading out of Kalasin towards Som Det... The large road out past the Toyota & Nissan Dealerships, towards the Tech. College...

Also was told that there is now a shop in Kalasin that is supplying Quality Beef from the Thai-French Beef Coop. in Sakhon Nakhon... I will search at out later today as I am out of both Hamburger and steaks...

Pianoman

[Totster]

Oh.. thats a shame, I like that BBQ place.. ah well, the price of progress I suppose

totster

I was told today that the New BBQ place is / will be on the road heading out of Kalasin towards Som Det... The large road out past the Toyota & Nissan Dealerships, towards the Tech. College...

Also was told that there is now a shop in Kalasin that is supplying Quality Beef from the Thai-French Beef Coop. in Sakhon Nakhon... I will search at out later today as I am out of both Hamburger and steaks...

Pianoman

Excellent info.. that means it will be slightly closer for me then..

looking forward to info about the beef supply..

Totster

[pianoman]

Now the "Word", according to a Thai we know, is that the New Store is going to be a Tesco Lotus... They told us that it was discussed on a local radio show, and also that the current de-construction workers have been told that as well... So probably a Jr. Lotus such as in Roi Et... Still will be nice to have such closer than either Roi Et or Khon Kaen, but will probably really hurt the business of the Plaza and the smaller surrounding businesses...

Pianoman

[jazzbo]

Maybe -- but who it will really hurt is the wholesalers who supply all the small shops in Kalasin who will now load up with shopping carts full of 1-liter cooking oil every time there is a 2-baht off promotion at Tesco-L ... or sugar or NesCafe or LactoSoy, etc.

Edited October 14, 2010 by jazzbo

[tubber]

Kalasin is quite quiet expat wise and there are not many places if any that cater for expats.

To repeat what citizen said, there are a couple of clubs around the bus station, and one in town near Kalasin Plaza, that are quite good, usual stage and seating at tables arrangement and very loud. There are some singasongs about 10 mins walk from the bus station.

Very limited with regards to farang food and socialising bars, I like Cafe Frozen.. it's by the lake and nice to sit outside in the evening people watching. They also have some farang food, burgers, spaghetti, sandwhich type of stuff. The Rimpao Hotel also has some farang food along the same lines but maybe a bit more expensive and varying in quality. There used to be a guy called Amadeus who opened a small restaurant near the chinese temple with very good farang food.. but after a while ended up being closed most of the time for some reason.. I think he's packed up now, but I could be wrong.

You can also swim at the Rimpao for bt50 per day.

House rental not sure, but around the bt3000 - bt5000 would be a guess depending on what you want.

Internet - Don't think true has a presence, can't recall seeing any ads.. but plenty of TT&T pickups or 3BB around - I live out of town and use CAT CDMA

Again, repeating the previous poster.. The nearest Big C is in Sarakham, about 45mins from Kalasin, there is a Tesco in Sarakham also, near the bus station, but it's a small shop with not much selection. Roi-et has a larger Tesco if I remember correctly. Kalasin Plaza is not really farang orientated.. you can get basics, but nothing near the varitey found in Tesco/Big C.

If you are used to a big expat scene, with associated bars and restaurants then Kalasin will be a change.

If you do move, send me a message.. I'll come and say hello.

Totster

Thanx and when I do move I will message you and meet for a frosty etc. Yeah I'm in Sakon now so a huge expat scene is not nessaccary and I'm not into the Cyote scene either so no probs there. I guess a trip to the Tesco's/Big-C's sound not so bad or far as everything is an adventure.

I will be there next Friday for the interview and sure I will be offered the job so maybe I'll spend the night and look around etc. I will be bringing my motorbike so if anyone wants to hook up maybe we can meet somewhere?

Thanx for all the great replies as it always helps. Any musicians there? Lol. I play acoustic etc.

Have you been across to Kalasin yet Bluegrass? I like the ride across Phu Phan if you want company.