Books on Area

[DailyLunatic]

When I decided to go to Thailand next year I began researching the areas I was interested. I began with Bangkok and Phuket, but as I am not the party hearty type have been convinced by people more in the know than I to visit Krabi instead. I was having a problem finding a book dedicated to the area. Most any general Thai book had a page or two, but nothing extensive. I eventually found a nice book called "Your Krabi" I discovered available from a Krabi Tourism site.

I have now been invited to Udon Thani and am running into the same problems. Lots of books mentioned it (for a page or two) but none really explore the area.

I would like suggestions from the group on books on the Northeast Thailand area.

Your help appreciated.

[wasabi]

You need to arrive,hire a motorbike or car,drive and explore,make your own adventure. Meet up with a few old timers and let them show you the ropes.

[Rural Surin]

You might look into Moon Publications - Moon and their rather extensive tomes on Thailand [general] and BKK.....
I believe the Thailand edition is quite regional detailed.

With the broad advent of Thai regional forums about.....one can find specific locale forums to fit one's needs. Just have to look deep.

TD's specific Thailand regional sub-forums can be quite informative as well....

[DailyLunatic]

You need to arrive,hire a motorbike or car,drive and explore,make your own adventure. Meet up with a few old timers and let them show you the ropes.

I don't like to schedule every minute, but I do like to go in with at least 'some' lay of the land. (no pun intended). Only 4 to 5 days in the area...

[jamescollister]

Can't think of any books off hand, but you might want to look at the cycling guide books of Issan. Lots of these bike riding types around the Ubon district these days. Jim

[KEVIN2008]

PIRA SUDHAM:

Tales of Thailand 1983

People of Esarn 1987

Moonson Country 1988

The force of Karma 2002

Pira Sudhams literary works are concerned with social-economic-political changes occurring in Thailand. Widely read and highly acclaimed, his books have given an expedient voice to the poor and the voiceless.

[Albert Shagnastier]

there are no books - or if there are - they're in Thai.

As the fiery green relish says, explore the country yourself.

[Cujo]

When I decided to go to Thailand next year I began researching the areas I was interested. I began with Bangkok and Phuket, but as I am not the party hearty type have been convinced by people more in the know than I to visit Krabi instead. I was having a problem finding a book dedicated to the area. Most any general Thai book had a page or two, but nothing extensive. I eventually found a nice book called "Your Krabi" I discovered available from a Krabi Tourism site.

I have now been invited to Udon Thani and am running into the same problems. Lots of books mentioned it (for a page or two) but none really explore the area.

I would like suggestions from the group on books on the Northeast Thailand area.

Your help appreciated.

Got this thing these days we call the 'internet'. Very useful for getting infomation on areas.

[KEVIN2008]

History of Isan

History of Isan

In the 1980's, pressures from the Communist forces in Laos and Vietnam are still to have a great impact on events in the Northeast. The current crisis in Laos and Cambodia in 1980's and after the fall of South Vietnam to Communist North Vietnam in April 1975, brought serious matters to Thailand. She appeared threatened from both internal and external forces.2

To trace back the Communist threats to Thailand earlier around the end of 1961, the Thai government made two raids which resulted in numerous arrests of alleged Communist agents and supporters in several of the Northeastern towns. The biggest of these raids was in December of 1961 when over a hundred suspects were arrested in Udon and Sakon Nakhon. The government found out that those arrested were recruiters of villagers to the cause of Communist Separationists who wanted to effect secession of the Northeast from the rest of the country.3