The Most Falang Freindly City In Isaan

[jaideeguy]

not really a poll, but would like to get some feedback from you Isaan falangs actually living there. I've been in Chiang Mai for the last decade and the Isaan wife wants to move back to her home town of Surin and I remember Surin as a backwards big town with very few amenities for the falang and I chose Chiang Mai for all the comforts of home with plenty of shopping ops for falang food as well as some entertainment and plenty of international restaurants.

Does any town/city in Isaan have as many options as Chiang Mai?? If so, where and what do they offer??

My comforts/requirements are a decent supply of fresh seafood, falang foods, vegetables, baking goods to make bread at home and other falang food items. A little [falang style] nightlife would be fun on ocassion and a cinema near by.

What does Issan have to offer after being away for 10yrs??

[hansnl]

Isan, what has it to offer after 10 years of CM

Thailand.

Udon Thani, farang friendly

Korat farang friendly

Khon Kaen, still the most Isan of the three, but picking up

[zzaa09]

Well....from a purely farang-centric perspective, one would decidingly chose Khon Kaen or Korat as probably the most Western-friendly.

As for Surin being backward, that can only be a plus and benefit for some circles.

Siliwai....

[cardholder]

Well....from a purely farang-centric perspective, one would decidingly chose Khon Kaen or Korat as probably the most Western-friendly.

As for Surin being backward, that can only be a plus and benefit for some circles.

Siliwai....

yes, it makes the local Falangs look good by comparison.

[jaideeguy]

Maybe need to prioritize my needs/desires.....access to decent [fresh and imported] falang food being #1. CM has lots of options here with a supermarket chain called Rimping that has 5 outlets with cheeses, wines, breads and fresh grade 'A' veges and meets and 50% of their product line is aimed at falangs, at higher prices of course.

It's not that I am opposed to all Thai/local food, but it is available everywhere and after 10 yrs of rice and noodles, I appreciate a decent steak and potato meal, or a hamburger or italian food....any decent pizzas there??

In actual fact, altho I would prefer living near or on the Mekong river [Nong Kai or Ubon]....the wife would prefer to live closer to her family

in Surin.....so maybe I should limit my questions to that area and I could make side trips to escape tha family and leave her with family for support.

[Semper]

My comforts/requirements are a decent supply of fresh seafood

Then a more coastal city than CM would be good. Again it depends how you define "fresh". In my vocabulary, fresh seafood means not dead. Hard to come by in CM, if you don't count fish from the local fishfarms, Mae Ping etc. as seafood.

[puchooay]

I think that you will find most things you require in Surin nowadays with the exception of fresh sea food.

[bergen]

Surin will probably cover most if not all your needs.

Swiss, German, American, Norwegian, Aussie, English run restaurants with decent food available.

Big C, Makro and Tesco, provides your basic ingredients, and some specialist shops like Staffords, Nobbies + more, will have extras.

[meatboy]

if you fancy living by the water watch the thai news,havent found anywhere to match korat.

[Focus]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

[cardholder]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Why should you ?

[jaideeguy]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

After 12 yrs in LOS, I need my falang food fix even more. I can [and have] eaten a lifetime worth of curries and other Thai foods and have gone 'local' but now need bread [not sweet and white], pastas and potatoes and food cooked with international flavors.

I think that is a common trend for expats that stay here and try to live 'local', but get tired of same same blasting hot chillies and loosing their taste buds.

At home, I eat about 60% falang and 40% Thai.

So, in Surin, can you find a decent whole wheat bread??........not the soft fake whole wheat that the superstores pass off as whole wheat??

Our Makro in CM is now offering a wider choice of falang foods and makes several whole grain breads as well as other falang foods........what about Surin's Makro??

[cardholder]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

After 12 yrs in LOS, I need my falang food fix even more. I can [and have] eaten a lifetime worth of curries and other Thai foods and have gone 'local' but now need bread [not sweet and white], pastas and potatoes and food cooked with international flavors.

I think that is a common trend for expats that stay here and try to live 'local', but get tired of same same blasting hot chillies and loosing their taste buds.

At home, I eat about 60% falang and 40% Thai.

So, in Surin, can you find a decent whole wheat bread??........not the soft fake whole wheat that the superstores pass off as whole wheat??

Our Makro in CM is now offering a wider choice of falang foods and makes several whole grain breads as well as other falang foods........what about Surin's Makro??

Makro have been inconsistent and I am not impressed by Surin (although they will have whole wheat bread) - .

My local Makro is in Buriram and, outside of Pattaya, it is the best store I have encountered. Their farmhouse bread lacks the sweetness that many of detest in Thai breads - makes a nice sandwich and toasts well.

[onionluke]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

After 12 yrs in LOS, I need my falang food fix even more. I can [and have] eaten a lifetime worth of curries and other Thai foods and have gone 'local' but now need bread [not sweet and white], pastas and potatoes and food cooked with international flavors.

I think that is a common trend for expats that stay here and try to live 'local', but get tired of same same blasting hot chillies and loosing their taste buds.

At home, I eat about 60% falang and 40% Thai.

So, in Surin, can you find a decent whole wheat bread??........not the soft fake whole wheat that the superstores pass off as whole wheat??

Our Makro in CM is now offering a wider choice of falang foods and makes several whole grain breads as well as other falang foods........what about Surin's Makro??

I have a small bread maker machine . I buy whole wheat grain at 80 bhat a kilo from a shop in China town Ubon and I do a mix with bleached bread flour . If I run out of whole grain I get some dried basil and or mint flowers from one of the older bushes in the garden and add them to the mix . I use honey from the whisky bottle instead of sugar . Another easy one is drying out tomatoes ,In the dry season I just sprinkle with salt and some herbs and sit them in the sun , in a few days they are ready for storing in oil or bags . The joys of living in the country .

[longstebe]

You can rule Sakon Nakhon out.

[cardholder]

You can rule Sakon Nakhon out.

Not if you are partial to dogs !

[onionluke]

You can rule Sakon Nakhon out.

Not if you are partial to dogs !

And practically anywhere would suit if you are partial to frogs . ( It's a rainy season thing , they sing too )

[zzaa09]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Why should you ?

Or....why shouldn't you?

[longstebe]

And practically anywhere would suit if you are partial to frogs . ( It's a rainy season thing , they sing too )

We have a pet frog, I'm saying that because I keep picking this fella up and putting him outside and the little begger keeps comin back.

I know it's the same one I can tell from his blue eyes

[cardholder]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Why should you ?

Or....why shouldn't you?

I would see no need to abandon one's culinary preferences just to pander to the locals.

Eat jing-reets and bugs if you like them - not because "oooh! we are in Thailand lets eat like the natives!"

The international food now available in supermarkets, and local restaurants, means that a Westerner does not have to sacrifice wholesome food for some msg-laden mush off a food cart.

[prakhonchai nick]

As the OP's wife comes from Surin, might I suggest he takes her down there for a few days, and scouts around to see if his needs are met.

Far better than relying on a host of differing opinions.

[zzaa09]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Why should you ?

Or....why shouldn't you?

I would see no need to abandon one's culinary preferences just to pander to the locals.

Eat jing-reets and bugs if you like them - not because "oooh! we are in Thailand lets eat like the natives!"

The international food now available in supermarkets, and local restaurants, means that a Westerner does not have to sacrifice wholesome food for some msg-laden mush off a food cart.

...forever the apologist.

[cardholder]

[

I would see no need to abandon one's culinary preferences just to pander to the locals.

Eat jing-reets and bugs if you like them - not because "oooh! we are in Thailand lets eat like the natives!"

The international food now available in supermarkets, and local restaurants, means that a Westerner does not have to sacrifice wholesome food for some msg-laden mush off a food cart.

...forever the apologist.

I must have missed the apolgy - but full marks to you Jeff for finding one where none existed !

[mario299]

...forever the apologist.

I must have missed the apolgy - but full marks to you Jeff for finding one where none existed !

I think Zza was the apologist in this one.

[Fookhaht]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Why should you ?

Because eating it will bestow upon you a typical farang body-shape (shall we take a poll here?): the bowling pin. Which, by the way, is the most unhealthy, life-shortening shape you can sport upon your frame.

. The inverted pyramid should be your goal, of which there are many more examples among those who choose an asian diet

[alfieconn]

Stay where you are matey, just follow one of alfie's old proverbs "better the wife has the ump than you''

[dragons70]

I live in Surin half of the year, the other in Bangkok/Chonburi. I agree with other posters here that you can get most farang needs in Surin. It has supermarkets, expat restaurants and a strip of bars/pubs for entertainment. There is a cinema complex in the city with a pizza restaurant etc. Good meat is hard to find, but this is the norm for most of Thailand, even Bangkok. There are plenty of good spots for fishing and water sports and if you're into golf a few driving ranges and a golf course. The only thing that I can get in Bangkok but not Surin is my daily dose of pollution - the air and noise varieties. Try Surin for a few weeks and if you dont like it move on. Then again, not being too close to the in-laws might be a good thing...

[Tokay]

After ten years in Thailand you haven't kicked the western (falang) food?

Didn't move here to eat Thai food.