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Nong Han – Udon Thani – Isaan/northeast Thailand

Middle 2008 i was with Moun in her hometown near Nong Han in Thailands Udon Thani province. We was starting on Koh Chang and going first to Korat to get the bus to Udon Thani in north east Thailand. The life here in this small farmer village is simple. Realy simple! The drinking water comes from the heaven and the water for shower and toilet out of a underground spring. Here you feel like back in the past. The most people eat the rice who grow up on the own field.

Ricefields near Udon Thani at Isaan

Ricefields near Udon Thani at Isaan

Every morning i woke up at about 6 o´clock of the chicken. Many people from Isaan (northeast Thailand) have chicken for eating or they have them for cock fighting. When the cocks fight to each other they have blades on they feeds. The fight is over when one animal are dead. Here in northeast Thailand the supermarkets are rare and unpopular anyways. Isaan people buy here thinks like meet, vegetables and clothes at the market. One time i needed a ATM, the next was around 40 minutes with the motorbike through rice fields in Nong Han. The life is on the street and everyone knows everyone. The people stand up in the morning and bring the kids to school, after they make thinks like washing clothes with the brush, cooking food or just sitting on the street and speak with the naibors or take a nap. The landscapes are mostly flat, just some mountains you can see on the horizon. Here at Isaan in the Udon Thani province the landscapes are dominated of ricefields with buffalows on. In the kitchen everythink work without electricity but not without cole or wood.

Kitchen in asia

Kitchen in asia

The food is easy, some sticky rice with vegetables and meet, papaya salad or rice with egg on wood cooked over fire. I enjoyed the food, its tasty because everything is fresh and really healthy because everything is natural. For me it was the first time here at Isaan, so time for me to say hello to Mouns parents. They kill a chicken and maked “Nam Tok Kai” with is chicken with chilly and herbs. The sticky rice what you eat together with the chicken comes fresh from the fields. Everyone who say rice don´t have taste have to try fresh one! It´s delicious! To this event nearly the hole village comes and we was sitting on the ground, eat and drink together, and the people speak and laugh. We was like V.I.P. guests this evening and was sitting on the head of this round. All people witch i meet was friendly and always someone cheers with a beer. The habitats of this village in southeast Asia say like everywhere in Thailand Chock Dii what means good luck before drinking.

Cows at Isaan in Thailand

Cows at Isaan in Thailand

From while to while some cows pass the sandstreets folow by a thai farmer who bring his animals back to home. One time i was going with Moun to Udon Thani city to buy something. The province capital is not really different as all other cities in Thailand. Traffic, fumes, many people and one shopping center with a KFC. Udon Thani is near the border to Laos, so the Isan language is the same as in Laos. But everybody speak Thai aswell. With English to communicate is hard because nearly nobody speak it. Some people speak two or three words like hello or how are you, but if you answer they don´t understand. So i was really happy to have my girlfriend with me not just for translations. Everywhere i come everybody was looking to me because white people from the west are rare. Many Isaan people try to speak and help the travellers but it´s difficult because of the leanguage barrier.

Landscape near Udon Thani in northeast Thailand

Landscape near Udon Thani in northeast Thailand

This part of Isaan is beautiful and quiet nearly everyday i was sitting on the way and reading a book and nothing disturb me. Northeast Thailand especially this small village i will never forget because of the relaxed atmosphere and the nice people. The walking on the lonely path are nice and you can forget everything while watching some buffalo’s on the neon green rice fields. This part of southeast asia is special, don´t miss the Isaan on your Thailand traveling tour! The Lonely Planet travel book will help you to come here and find the right accommodation on this adventure trip.

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