Issan - A Beginners Guide

[Madfrog]

What, the 4th trip in one year. You must be maso.
Well, maybe your trips were not as hardcore as mine.
Lak asked me already to go again in march. I think I will but not in papas house again.

Tell us more please, I need to learn.

Frog.

[farangbah]

(katoeylover @ Jan. 14 2011,20:41) Food and Drink

Great stuff, KL!  Thanks for taking the time.

I'm interested to hear about what you alluded to earlier about the Issan clan complaining about the Hua Hin food . . .  

Cheers.

[manarak]

Nong Bua

Sister boring ??
is this as bad as it sounds?

great field report, I love it

[PigDogg]

Always good to have first hand reports of life upcountry!

Keep it coming!

[TTChang]

Good thread KL, always like the Issan stories!

KL ... this is the guy who when we eat out together ... nearly always avoids thai food of the spicy variety      Tried the BBQ rat this trip?  Or the 10 day old mud soup with added daily veg trimmings? (you do need lots of chillies to eat that!)

[guydesavoy]

The BBQ reference threw me. But as per your description, it was the same evening I spent on the outskirts of BKK last year, somewhere near the new airport. With my ex and her family..strangely enough she is of Issan stock
(Now all the pieces are coming together...)

It was a huge open beer barn type of affair replete with carpark full of stray dogs..endless supplies of meats and vegies..by the end everyone was adding spicy sauces with gay abandon to slop up the scraps like some kind of Issan game

I was full after an hour but these guys couldn't stop

I'm not a big beer drinker, but have you become accustomed to Leo with ice ?
Seems to make sense in that environment

btw the Issan BBQ is quite similar to Japanese nabe. I wonder which came first

[Tomcat]

You can get both of the above barbies in the Silom shopping complex in Silom rd , 1st floor. I never had it but always watch as i walk past to see whats cooking.

[katoeylover]

Outside the Nattapong Grand in Nong Bua

[katoeylover]

The Big Room and Jacuzzi that didnt work

[katoeylover]

Hire car from Avis @ Udon Airport - 3 days for 4100 bt

[katoeylover]

More to come later.

[EyeMahk]

(katoeylover @ Jan. 17 2011,03:01) Hire car from Avis @ Udon Airport - 3 days for 4100 bt

I love Avis in Thailand (Hertz too). Mention to Avis "I saw your ad in Bangkok Post" and you can usually get a pre-paid rate of 700-900/day, and if you rent for more than 5 days, you can return it anywhere in the country with no drop fee. I took one once from Pattaya to Hat Yai!

Also, from their website: http://www.avisthailand.com/EN/promotions.php
Boarding Pass Discount. Avis offers 50% discount from standard rate for Domestic Airline Customer traveling in Thailand. Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Air Asia and One Two Go. Require 2 days advance booking at Reservation Center. Book now: 02 251 1131

Pre-Paid Promotion (make a booking & pay now cheaper) available everyday & every location in Thailand. Call and Check special rate. Call us now to make a booking 02 251 1131

Remember, drive on the LEFT!  

[katoeylover]

More Food and Drink & Life

It seems that life in the Villages goes from one season to the next, dep[ending where you are. At the moment the Sugar harvest is happening and you are often caught behind slow moving trucks filled to the brim with sugar canes going to the local processing plant.

March and September are rice harvest and in this time they will work all day, back breaking work. Then there is corn, rubber etc.

However in the in-between times and for those who dont own land, life is pretty boring; eat, sleep, eat some more, sleep. go market, shit. etc, and life follows this boring routine. Hence the love of Soap opera and movies, which gives them something to do at a specific time.

Also it makes meal times a way of getting everyone together. As i have said already Papaya Salad is a major part, but then again you have the local delicacies!!

In the local market you can buy all sorts of unknown fruits and Veg, Frogs, tadpoles and different types of pond fish, small terrapins, and all manner of insects.

It is thought that these were first eaten out of need, but now represent local delicacies and are seen as a treat!

But for the Farang, there is always BBQ!

[katoeylover]

Village Life:

The Local Wat

[katoeylover]

The Buffalo does exist!