Isan trip, 14 days

[think_too_mut]

Roi Et, their landmark, instrument "WOT". The view from the tower (exactly 101m high, as the name of the place is) is nice.

[think_too_mut]

Could it be more Isan than this? Ubon Ratchatani. Mighty muddy Mekong river, Laos is the other bank. The hotel was nice, albeit expensive, 2,200THB.
The earliest sunset in Thai, it was 18:25 that August 8. 2024. One of many highlights from my always desired trip to Isan.
Many other places we went, no way a tourist without a Thai national and a car to find them and get there.

[think_too_mut]

Udon Thani, Buang Thalee. The sea of lotuses. 7am. Sunrise.
They grow in the water that is less than 1.2m deep, close their crowns about midday. 
Fantastic experience, I would not know about it, my Thai wife took us there.

[My Penis is hungry]

Beautiful spot, I quite like eating the seeds

[think_too_mut]

Si Saket, Samrong Kiat Waterfall Park.

Not much of a waterfall, it was after the rainy days, murky water. Even during the dry season, if you have not seen a waterfall before in your life, then, OK.

The learning was, what I saw (and even heard of) for the first time, wild bees, their bee hives high up on the jungle trees. Locals take them down and extract the honey. Along the roads, 100s of stalls selling that honey, 140THB a bottle. Tasty, albeit somewhat stronger than supermarket honey.

[think_too_mut]

The title is a bit misleading. Yes, it was 14 days trip in August 2024. Actually, it is 80 days over last years (before the pandemic) when we decided not go seaside resorts and touristy places and went touring provinces. We have been to all of them.
She was delighted her Isan background is getting such attention. "Now I will show you". And she did. Mostly, I was the only foreigner wherever we went.
Rentacar, hotels. That does not include visiting wife's family home in Wang Nam Yen for a day or two, it is Isan too although now it belongs to Sa Kaew.
 

All photos are my own, sometimes not good, sorry.

[think_too_mut]

Ubon Ratchathani. Their airport, called "International" but only domestic flights. 
The hotel was decent, 800THB for two with breakfast.
Wife told me there was a big influx of Vietnamese immigrants in the past, they brought the bakery that is how the toast bread came in in. Jasmine tea. You could pick other food.
The last picture, hotel breakfast a Vietnamese omellet. Fantastic. I made the same omelett (I am a good cook) when we got back to Bangkok. Then again in Japan.
Stupid me to admit I had a Vietnamese flight attendant girlfriend before my wife, 23 years ago.
Thai girls beleive the Vietnamese are the most beutiful women on the planet. Even like their food.
Best of both.
 

[Titanic]

Don't miss the isan Tawang Deang club in Ubon, it's the largest one and one of the best. The old cafes left over from the 60's have all gone.

[think_too_mut]

Khon Kaen, a lovely place. Been there 2 times, 4 nights. Those "Tailor of the year" in Pattaya and Bangkok, are not Indians. They are Pakistanis, settled first 200 years ago in Khon Kaen. Other surrounding nations too. The city is proud of their harmony with other nations, many became Thai.
The Pakistanis have a history of making and dealing with fabrics that is not Thai silk.
Khon Kaen City Museum.

[buffalo_bill]

Could it be more Isan than this? Ubon Ratchatani. Mighty muddy Mekong river, Laos is the other bank.

 

Dear Sir,

you have no idea how deeply you touched my soul by writing this thread. Sitting at a quiet place by the mighty river watching the Mekong passing by is what I would dream of being the last view of my life. No joke, this time. Years ago assisted by my temporary longtime girlfriend we went by plane somewhere which I now found out was Ubon Ratchathani, took a car to a riverside resort where they arranged a table close to the water and I did not leave til very late smoking cigars and drinking something. An unforgettable evening looking down at the water. More, I have desperately trying to find out where these beautiful rockpaintings might have been which we visited a day later. I did not have a clue til today as I have lost any contact with madame. Thank you very much, Sir, precious moments have been revitalised. Thank you again.