Thread: Ubon Ratchatani March 2016.

I really did enjoy this thread Terry, thanks heaps mate.

Just one thing I would like to point out. The hotel he mentioned is a crap hole! For an extra 100 - 200 baht per night you could stay in something quite luxurious.

^

The thing I like about that Hotel is the Location, the Staff and the open foyer with the large skylight that floods the place with light.

Granted it does have a few issues at the moment but for 450 baht with AC, telli, hot water and snacks in the morning I'm not gunna complain.

Get the bigger rooms and its a bargain all round. The lack of a lift is a tad fooked if you are on the 4th floor but just get the porter to lug your bags.

The joint has been bought by a guy who is in the process of sorting out the place after the other owners let it run down.

I had a good chat to this guy and he is onto it. As I said, give it 12 months and it will be all good.

The only issues we had was the door lock would not take the key so we fooked around for 15 minutes getting in and the volume on the telli was fooked.

No biggy.

But hey, lets keep all this shit in comparison.

Next month I will be back in Perth and will head North for a spot of fishing at Coral Bay.

I will drive in and park my van on a bit of dirt with no power. For this almighty privilege I will pay 1000 baht.

Na, the Sri Issan is tops in my books.

^

When I travel it's all about location when I bunk down for the night.

I want to be near the river, market, in the old part of town and be able to walk around.

Sri Issan has all of that.

Nice Wat next door for my Handbag as well.

But what I really like about that Hotel is the very friendly and accommodating owner and staff.

After telling the owner what needs to be fixed up I told him we would be back which we will.

I don't need perfect, I need comfortable and value.

I have to agree with you about friendly owner and staff. If you get that then a 2 star hotel immediately becomes a 3. Amazing what a smile, small chat and some local info can do for a customer. It is also amazing how many places fail to do it as well.

Old habits die hard- Phadaeng Mansion is my regular in Ubon, 500 bht and quite modern. Bit of brekkie thrown in too, short walk downhill to the central park (Thung Si Muang), which is a real hive of activity in the early morning, and an even shorter walk uphill to Wrong Way, a farang watering hole, which opens about 5pm.

I used to stay there a lot until nicer places opened up close by. Still a really good place to stay - even with the eccentric owners!

Originally Posted by terry57

Firstly,

It is not like Nong khai, it's a big fookin city but if you bunk up at the Sri Issan hotel it will feel like NongKhai. The old part of town is great.

Secondly, if you listen to your Handbag you are mad.

Put her arse on a plane or bus and you ride down from Nong Khai.

The road trip down from Nong Khai is brilliant.

Mekong all the way.

Ha, cool, nice one. I might do that. My bikes not a big bike as most people think of one. It's only 200cc. It looks like a big bike and it rides great. I normally travel faster long distances on it than I do in the car as there are more opportunities to overtake the slower bigger vehicles. Not sure I would want to be going more than 120kmh on these thai roads anyway.
She can take the luggage with her as well I guess...

I will deffo look into the Sri Isaan, sounds like our sort of place.
Any ideas how long the ride would take?

^

Urm,

About 3 weeks would just about do it if you go Via Australia.

Have a look at the Map, work out a nice cruisey trip for your bike and get into it.

Plenty to see and do all along the Mekong.

It's not a race, take it slowly.

Originally Posted by sabang

An even shorter walk uphill to Wrong Way, a farang watering hole, which opens about 5pm.

I passed that place in the car plenty of times and never knew it was a farang pub.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll never go there.

Only kidding, I'll check it out next time around.

Good info.

Ta.

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by sabang

An even shorter walk uphill to Wrong Way, a farang watering hole, which opens about 5pm.

I passed that place in the car plenty of times and never knew it was a farang pub.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll never go there.

Only kidding, I'll check it out next time around.

Good info

Ta.

Ting runs the place, Richard,s ex, good place and I always have unpaid bar tab, on going thing, always owe a few beers.
N joy, near the prison another good farang bar, started by an ozzy, he died recently, but well worth a visit.

Both hold the Ubon HHH runs, great places to meet the lost farang souls of Ubon province.

^

Ta, more good info.

I really like the feel of the old town. I like to walk at night have a few beers and head home.

Stay local like.

^
Stay local like?

Come on Tezza, you know that to stay local - that the few beers would be a bottle of Cheap Whisky and the foot falcon would be replaced with a brand new pick up paid with just a 20,000 baht deposit and with no license he would swerve all the way home and if lucky will not kill anyone!

^

On the corner opposite the night market on the road leading down to the Sri-issan was a hotel that had a little beer garden set up.

They had 8 or so tables set up that were old cable drums. Really great sitting there having a few beers looking over onto the Market.

They sold a small range of Imported beer, Dark Beer Lao being one of them.

Good spot Ubon.

I gave my Bunnings stubby holder a run.

Originally Posted by terry57

No fish in here but a nice novelty all the same.

True, I was 8,000 miles away and dry since Saturday night! Well ok Sunday morning.

Nice thread Terry, Always a pleasure to see your escapades. Good luck on your future fishing expedition. Be sure to hook us up with another reeling thread. I love a good fish story.


fish on!

In 4 weeks time I'll be back in Perth fishing with my mates catch the big stuff up at Coral Bay.

Grab my car, hook up my camper and spend 4 days slowly traveling 1200 KLM North.

Happy fookin Days indeed.

On the way back up I'll hit Bali for a month or so then come back to Bangkok, pick up my Handbag and head down to Southern Thailand for a ten day road trip.

Great being retired. I'm loving it.

You rock! Speaking of rocks north east of Khong Chaim their is a National Park called Pha Taem. It's on my bucket list of places to see when and if I ever find the time. Looks to be some wild sandstone formations.

I'd like to get into that Mun river as well. But (story of my life) I'm gonna need a bigger boat. My gfs kin are afraid of the area north of there was the impression I got. The place has some strong currents and easy to capsize little long tails.

Don't guess we could just roll up and visit from the east side anyhow so one day a road trip and spend the night. Looks like some beautiful vistas from the Thai side.

Good luck on the next tour. Sounds like a blast. Your keeping busy doing the things you want, so good on ya. I'm busy working so I can later. I gotta go. Peace.

fish out

The next day we left Ubon and toured Pha-Taem. I'm doing a separate thread on this National park. Bloody great it was.

This photo looks over into laos, taken from the mountain.

That's what I'm talking about!

This thread is keeping me from getting any work done. Addictive, hard to kick it. Crack on.

fish out. Tomorrow I'll check back in.

I used to say at the ratchathni hotel just round the corner from the Sri issan, prices stated around the 400baht. It was starting to feel a little tired last time I was there so I may check out the Sri issan when we are there next month, always give the outlaws a swerve now, just a quick hello and out of there...

^

If you go to Sri-issan pre-book a larger room. It's hit and miss at the moment as the owner is renovating.

Your room may be fine or you may get a dodgy lock, a TV where the volume is US or other Issues. If you have Issues the owner will sort you a Better room.

Our first three nights in the standard room was all good but the last night after our trip our room had issues.

Keep that in mind and you will like this Hotel.

Also request a ground floor room, there is no lift.

Originally Posted by terry57

Another one for Mao. A cracker example of a fully restored 60's Vespa. Bloody beauty.

That's a 50 special, my first ever Vespa

Cracking thread Terry.

You may enjoy this pic then, this was a sweet rebuild.

It was like it came straight from the show room floor.

Always good reading your travel threads Tez, keep them up.