Thread: 2 day trip to Udon Thani

Originally Posted by Propagator

The girlfriend who had originally said she would come with me decided against it, and a travelling companion/ bed partner was duly arranged by her.

how is that arrangement going props??

So after the usual stop for loo somewhere just outside of Nong Bua Lam Phu it was off to Udon. Having arrived on the outskirts of Udon it was time to ring Peter and ask for directions to his place. Made it OK and it was down to a session of Isan beer and a good chin wag. 5pm quickly arrived and I thought that I had better check in somewhere and we arranged to meet at the night market for a meal. I will give details of the hotel later. Got lost trying to find the arranged meeting place but eventually did so after about 3 calls to Peter, had walked past the end of the road 3 times!!!!

So we met in the Irish Centre and it was then only a short walk to the night market for dinner.

The photos below are just a few random shots of the market





Below - one of the beers girls, had real motion when she walked.






And finally a shot of the meal that we had. By this time we were half way through it before I remembered to take the photo



The fish was absolutely top notch

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

how is that arrangement going props??

No probs at all - will bump the original thread later.

We stayed at the Chareonsri Grand Hotel in the centre of town, within spitting distance of the night market. It was 1300 baht per night walk in, including a good buffet breakfast.



The foyer was bloody huge







The rooms were big, clean and airy. Unfortunately I only remembered to photo them just before we left, therefore excuse the mess.






Large bathroom, and the water was really hot




I had tried to get a photo overlooking Udon from the hotel, but the early morning sun was to bright and created to much reflection, as can be seen.

You woudn't know the place at the moment Prop Cold wet and low cloud, just like home.

Forcast today Udon



69° F | 55° F
21 Deg | 13 Deg





Rain 80% chance of precipitation


I can just imagine the delighted response when I tell "her that must be obeyed" we are going camping to night!

Looks fun Prop. Do you get one of these special "travelling companions" on all road trips?

Originally Posted by peterpan

You woudn't know the place at the moment Prop Cold wet and low cloud, just like home.

Not quite, woke up to snow here this morning

Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

Do you get one of these special "travelling companions" on all road trips?

Yep - if the girlfriend don't want to come along

After last nights nocturnal activities and a good buffet breakfast under the belt, it was time to have a little walk around the hotel area. It was only a little walk, as most of you know that trying to get a Thai girl to walk more than 50 yards is a major achievement, unless they are shopping. Some random snaps

Taxi rank



Nearby shrine with someone paying their respects





As it was now approaching 11am and Robinsons had just opened, we took a walk round inside and of course up to the food court where my companion topped up on breakfast!!!

We now headed out to get some earthenware flower pots. For some unknown reason to me the flower pots in the region of Nong Bua Lam Phu and Udon are of a much superior quality, and at least half the price as those around Loei. If I had forgotten them I would have likely been castrated with a rusty knife. So it was back towards Nong Bua Lam Phu where I had noticed many stalls the previous day.

The centre of Udon



Closer look



My companion then tried a self portrait



Then on me







Some 15 kms outside of Udon I found the stall I wanted and was able to get everything that I wanted for the g/f who duly showed her appreciation later.




The owner of the stall had a little food place at the rear and here she is making Som Tam



Now it was a matter of getting peterpan and his wife something they could put in the garden, which I got here



By now the sun was way past the yardarm, and returned to Udon, where I phoned PP and arranged for an afternoon drink.

Well come on, more please!

Originally Posted by NickA

I was going to say you needed a prettier travelling companion

Shame on you Knickers. Very bad form indeed. Reds delivered.

Originally Posted by NickA

I was going to say you needed a prettier travelling companion, then I saw your picture... Last edited by NickA : Today at 10:54 AM.

You think your'e gonna be forever young NickA?

Originally Posted by NickA

Only joking BB, I hope Props will take it that way...

No offence taken

Originally Posted by Propagator

Hey! you got big arms methinks.
That's sexy!

Originally Posted by Propagator

Methinks Sharon might change her opinion now.

No no.. I don't change, I really mean it. Look, I said your arms, not the whole body.

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

After of good nights sleep and breakfast tucked under the belt it was time to head back. I had intended taking the scenic route through from Nong Khai to Chiang Khan, then to cut back down to Loei.

I must say that it was a very pretty route, many twists and turns, ups and downs, a distance from NK to CK of about 190 kms. Not a route that you could speed along, and some very spectacular views. This last part of the trip is more of a photo pictorial and if I can identify any places will do so. The first 40 odd km to Nong Khai was along dual carriageway



Somewhere between here and the next picture I got pulled over by the BiB. No seat belt - funny thing though that they checked my licence, made my companion produce her ID, then made her to sign for the offence and the fine. I just paid the 300 baht, and was wished a safe journey.

Here the welcome to Nong Khai



and the BiB looking for and catching the unwary motorcyclist

Nice pics Props. except for the ones with you in them...

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Nice pics Props. except for the ones with you in them...

Well I gotta put the horror pictures in somewhere


First view of the Mekong







I think this was Si Chiang Mai





Came up to this. At first thought it was someone pulling an overloaded cart




No - it was an m/c loaded with 3 people and pulling an overloaded cart. Had mirrors but there was no way he could see me

Another police check

Another stop - this time by the Army. I presume that they must have been checking for illegals, as along this stretch of the river I reckon you could have walked across the Mekong to Lao hardly getting ones feet wet.









This little village was somewhere between Sabgkhom and Pak Chom






That was the last picture of the Mekong as we then headed a little away from it going into Chiang Khan.

For those of you that know Kaeng Khut Khu and the road that leads to it just outside of Chiang Khan, it is now blocked off and you cannot reach Kaeng Khut Khu, unless there is another entrance that I don't know of. From Chiang Khan we turned South to Loei and thence on to Nong Hin and Phu Kradeung.

Hope you all enjoyed the journey.

well done prop great thread and pics

Brilliant trip report mate.

Ive just done this trip myself for the first time following route 212 from Ubon Ratchathani to Nong Kai .

Lovely scenery following the Mekong river, through Beung Kan, Nakhon Phanon down to Mukdahan.

Thanks for the piccys.

Thanks for sharing prop, some awesome pics.