Sakon Nakhon

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Sakon Nakhon

Post by foreigner » September 7, 2009, 7:09 am

I am a tourist from the US .. on my 10th +/- visit to Thailand since '97
I've been invited to visit a lass's home in Sakon Nakhon. She reports she has returned home from her job in Bangkok since I last saw / met her.
A Soi Cowboy lass took me to her family's hooche south of Buri Ram several years ago & it is a definite bright spot in my Thai vacation memories.

She says she is working on her families farm.. :roll: .. I'll be surprised if her hands are roughened from field work..
She reports her home / farm is a 2 hour bus trip from Udon & is near Sakon Nakhon.
Of coarse she wants to make all arrangements .. meet me at the train / air port. make reservations.. .. initially she wanted to meet in at Suvarnabhumi & we travel to Udon together (NOT!)

I joined the Udon Map Forum in preparation for my (proposed!) several day but less than a week October Udon visit.
Are there Farang hotels in Sakon Nakhon? Suggestion? I've found none on the Thai hotel reservation sites.
I NEED A/C.

I am considering coming to Udon a couple days before I meet up with her.
Is there a "Farang Connection" type establishment where some of you expats meet up during the day?
Suggestion for a guide with a car .. or guide in a rental? I fully expect to pay a fair rate .. not seeking a freebie / cheapie.

Suggested sites / drives / events .. Nong Khai looks to be an obvious site seeing stop.
Maps show a road along the Mekong .. ?
Vientiane?
Ban Chiang?
Google listed an October boat race?.. Boat races งานประเพณีแข่งเรือ

Blah blah blah .. :confused:



leehut
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by leehut » September 7, 2009, 1:20 pm

I've always stayed on a farm on the road to Kalasin, but this place looks OK.
Next to a big supermarket and nightmarket.
Lee

http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com/home ... =5220&l=en

laphanphon

Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by laphanphon » September 7, 2009, 1:57 pm

SN is bit larger that BR, and you should find a lot more options for hotels and food. just checked my map software and about 20+ hotels in main part of town. for small towns like these, the hotel sites are useless, or only have one of two of the most expensive places willing to extend them a contract to book. you don't say how long your visit will be. the mekong is ok, still rainy or end of, so it will look like the mississippi, big muddy thing, but it moves and fine to sit and watch while sipping and dining. no need to go to nong khai, though more of a developed town on the river. nakhon phanon and mukdahan are both small river towns good for few days of relaxing. NP about 100 kms from SN, amd mukdahan about 100 kms south of that. both fine for couple days. i would not go to laas across the new bridge, seems to be one giant scam, don't waste your time or money. the river road to NK is long and not much there, if really wanting to go to NK, backtracking thru udon and up to NK may be better. since being in buriram, i'm guessing you went to Phanon Rung, so i wouldn't bother with any other so called ruins in the northeast, as they won't compare. phimai is ok, if in the are, which you won't be. ho chi ming was in exile in SN area, and there is a small house/tourist spot that, though if you find it, will probably be the only person there. very small, consists of 2 small buildings, with lots of pics of uncle ho, i actually enjoyed it, though think i'm the exception. not easy to find and out in the middle of rice paddy area. 1st time there, i had a police escort, or i would of never found it.

for accommodations, TAT site, my mapping software, usually list the best options, though mapping software has no info, along with TAT site, unless hotel/guesthouse has their own website. but will provide a good starting point to google, as you may get lucky. travelfish site sometimes gets to some area, but not many in the northeast, so may draw a blank there. when i get a chance and some more internet time, almost expired, i'll do a little research if you are not familiar with TAT destination guide, or travelfish site. TAT site will also list any events such as the boat races, which i attended one time, ok for an hour or so, especially if little lady and you make wagers, makes it a bit more interesting.

hopefully, a day or so, i'll have some websites for you to check out, if i hit wifi shop, or get recharged on the 9th. i'll cross reference map and tat site, as they usually list half the same hotels. if you have a laptop, and won't my mapping software, which small town/province travel is a great help, you're more than welcome to it, a small progam, since coming to udon, a can meet anywhere, even at airport when you arrive. the TAT offices don't offer much, but are getting better, along with the website, which is much improved over the past couple years.

as far as car rental, is wanting the whole time here, go with one of the international ones at udon airport, or Lek's, one of the maps sponsors has good reputation. price and insurance, especially insurance, if just a bit extra is worth it, you really do want a zero deductable coverage. the corruption here is unbelievable, if something happens, you will need it.

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arjay
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by arjay » September 7, 2009, 2:09 pm

Moved From General Topics on Udon Thani to North East Thailand (Issan) Forum!

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Bandung_Dero
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by Bandung_Dero » September 7, 2009, 2:25 pm

Wow, [-( [-X -- Tread very carefully. Sounds like the sort of situation I'd give a very W-I-D-E berth too, consider starting from scratch

Lob into BKK with a new (girlfriend) shopping list and check out the abundance of available talent.

That said Udon is great with all the ammenaties you can want and Sakon Nakhon although not as big has it's attractions including it's own airport, hotels, shopping centers, etc.

Be careful and keep your guard up.
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by foreigner » September 7, 2009, 11:48 pm

leehut wrote:I've always stayed on a farm on the road to Kalasin, but this place looks OK.
Next to a big supermarket and nightmarket.
Lee

http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com/home ... =5220&l=en
GREAT LINKs guys .. thanks!!

http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com is the most complete 'lodging web site' I've found wow! =D>

http://www.travelfish.org/country/thailand looks to be very very interesting (No banana pancakes LOL!)

TAT = ? .. http://www.tourismthailand.org

& I thought I was an experienced Thai tourist .. I had no idea!

looks like I've got several DAYs of 'accommodation surfing' :confused:

"check out the abundance of available :pirate: talent" ..
I will get some dental & medical in Bangkok & head for the country as fast as possible .. actually some of the dental will require several appointments so I will leave Bkk >> tour 8) >> return for dental appointment >> tour 8) >> .. & so on
Bangkok is exciting for a few days / visits .. but ultimately unhealthy on so many levels.

laphanphon

Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by laphanphon » September 8, 2009, 11:22 am

excellent, you found the sites, very good. they seem to be the best for small towns. tat desination guide, then simply follow the drop downs, then if no info, do google search, might get lucky, some with 1st site. travelfish is good, IF, someone has been there. good luck, any help just ask. festival schedule can also be found on tat site.

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Laan Yaa Mo
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » September 12, 2009, 1:40 pm

We spent two days in Sakhon Nakhon earlier this week and had a great time. The MJ hotel was quite good.

The first night we went to a restaurant that was a bit out of the city. One had to negotiate the way over planks on a pond in the middle of a village. There were small huts available where one ate seafood.

The town itself has some interesting wats, and you might be able to visit the local elephant area.

Just over the border into Nakhon Phanom province we visited some interesting villages. One takes leeches from the water buffaloes and puts them in alcohol and sells them to Chinese in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore.

The other villages specialises in skinning medium-size lizards from Laos (they are extinct in Thailand), and again sells them to overseas Chinese.

Both the leeches and the lizards are supposed to increase one's 'power' so-to-speak. I was given the opportunity to try both free of charge but declined this very generous offer.
You only pass through this life once, you don't come back for an encore.

laphanphon

Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by laphanphon » September 12, 2009, 2:03 pm

spent a couple nights in SN back in oct 2003, possibly again later, but no record of it. stayed at dusit hotel, at the time 350, notes say twin beds, tv/hw/ac, nothing negative or extremely positive, though freshly done over, not sure what it's like today. in my notes, have 'krong thong hotel' with 'DUMP' written next to it, may pass on that one.

did have a notation about a vietnam/thai restaurant as being very good, and if memory serves, think i ate almost every lunch and dinner there. called 'TemKum viet', 1445/14 rob muang rd, 042711566/713643, not sure what the phone # are, may be restaurant, and not sure if still there or under new ownership, but if the area. also one of the only clean, ac'd ones in the area.

DON'T EAT ANY SNAILS, THEY HAVE LIVER FLUKES. locals advised constantly, and where is the largest human infestation of liver flukes, you guessed it, SN.

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by Laan Yaa Mo » September 12, 2009, 3:18 pm

Thanks for the warning about the snails LA, but you are about two weeks too late.

I ate a lot of them in a Thai restaurant in Khon Kaen.

Moving from Khon Kaen to the Nong Khai market, I saw a huge wasp and warned three others to be very, very careful. About five minutes later, I felt a stinging sensation and was off to the nearby hospital for treatment.
You only pass through this life once, you don't come back for an encore.

laphanphon

Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by laphanphon » September 12, 2009, 4:06 pm

thankfully not something i developed a taste for. i have noticed, that snails, and hoy, don't seemed to be overcooked as most four legged meat, or chicken. maybe because the are assumed to be alive and fresh and don't need the extra time. not sure if well done, kills the liver flukes, i would imagine so, or there would be a major problem here. just since SN has that damn large/largest fresh water lake and cheap snails, they have a bit of a problem there. we're not exactly close to the ocean, and refrigeration isn't a high priority here, so i'm always a bit leary on local SEAfood. though pig out rather well when near salt water.

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by wazza » September 13, 2009, 8:31 pm

an old rule in the Sahara, if you cant see the sea , dont eat the seafood, as it takes serious travel times to get to you and who knows where that caterers truck has been with its gen swiched off at night to preserve diesel etc

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by foreigner » September 23, 2009, 10:47 pm

re: "notes say"
I wish I had taken notes .. + not "lost" that hard drive full of .jpgs..

I can recall hotels I hated & hotels I loved .. but not a clue as to 90% of the names..

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michaleo
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by michaleo » August 28, 2010, 3:47 am

Can anybody tell me about spending some days in Sakon Nakhon?

Is there any hotel like Top Mansion, Udon Thani, in Sakon Nakhon? Where should I stay?

Where are the bars?
Are there any?

What about night - life in Sakon Nakhon?

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by virginprune » August 28, 2010, 5:32 am

I spent 5 weeks in SN last year...there are some nice restaurants but not much in night life compared to udon, the MJ hotel is nice for a drink, there is 1 expat bar called Toon Bar if you require that sort of fix...I wouldn't bother with SN again by choice but it is fine for a short visit!
There is a forum type thing for SN...you will find it if you just google Sakon Nakhon...have fun!!

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by michaleo » August 28, 2010, 3:38 pm

Thanks, virgin.

Yes, I would like to do a short visit, just because it is the main city of the province where our family lives, and I find I should have an idea about that town.

I were googling Sakon Nakhon but up to now I did not find any forum about it, just tourist informations about some wats and so on.

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Adhoc
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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by Adhoc » August 28, 2010, 6:36 pm

Sakon Nakhon is not a bad place, smaller than Udon. There is one farang bar, The Welcome Bar, the owner, Paul, is Welsh, but don't hold that against him. (well not too much anyway).
There are a few Thai bars and a couple of discos.
There are plenty of places to stay.
They have a website: http://sakonnakhon-live.blogspot.com/
8)

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by michaleo » August 29, 2010, 12:00 am

Adhoc wrote:There are plenty of places to stay.
Thanks, Adhoc, for that link!
It looks quite informative.
I'll bring some pictures here, when I have been there!

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Re: Sakon Nakhon

Post by virginprune » August 29, 2010, 6:54 am

Adhoc wrote: There is one farang bar, The Welcome Bar, the owner, Paul, is Welsh
They have a website: http://sakonnakhon-live.blogspot.com/
8)
thats the website I meant...surprised you didn't get it off google because thats where I got it :-k

regarding the Welcome Bar...maybe it has taken over from the Toon Bar...is Paul a small guy with dark hair that used to be an english teacher?...if so he is a really nice guy...I hope he makes a good business out of it =D>

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Jed
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Sakon Nakhon

Post by Jed » September 30, 2014, 3:06 pm

Want to stay overnight in Sakon Nakhon next week with my family.

I think a resort-type place would be preferable to an in-town hotel, but would appreciate any recommendations anyone has.

Thanks.

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