Ubon Blog Will Move to Wordpress

To all who read and subscribe to this blog. Thank you very much.

This post is to let all of you know I will be making some changes beginning in the next few days.

Ubonblog, currently uses Blogger.com. It has been good and I have learned at lot about different aspects of blogging. However, lately and at times in the past I have experienced some technical issues that have affected publishing.

I am acquainted with technology but not intimately. Many aspects of the process go over my head. So to better serve those of you who read and subscribe I have made the decision to leave Blogger, and host the blog on its parent website WeLoveUbon.com

The process might cause come disconnects but hopefully when it is completed the product will be better. First step is to move the blog back to ubonblog.blogspot.com Then I have to upload Wordpress software to my server, prepare it, then import this blogger blog to its new home. The domain name should still remain the same but the RSS feel will be different.

I am not totally sure what will happen. I have no idea what will happen to all the comments that have been made. After I publish this I will give some time before I begin.

Thanks in advance for your patience.

Ubon Ratchathani News March 19, 2009

It is Thursday March 19, 2009 here in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. This post is to provide some interesting things that happened and other information about our Isaan home.

Ubon Traveller Assistance

This morning I got up and shaved, a rare occurance. I had a meet and greet scheduled at the Ubon International Airport. The morning Thai Airways Internation flight, TG020, arriving from Bangkok at 07:05. The man I was meeting recognized me immediately. He was friendly and gracious.

The man I met is named Frank. He runs a travel agency out of London. He is married to a Thai lady from the neighboring province of Amnat Charoen. They live together with their children in London.

Frank contacted me through my website WeLoveUbon. He needed some advice to help with a smooth day trip to Ubon. He had two missions to complete during his hours here. He needed to visit a school in Yasothon, to coordinate some humanitarian work. He also needed to visit an ailing member of his wife's family in a village in Amnat.

The assistance our visiting Brit needed was a rental car with driver and an interpreter/translator. A short five minute phone call to Chow Wattana, a local Ubon car rental service, and the arrangements for a car were completed. Within two days my wife had found one of her students from nearby Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University who was on summer break following his junior year as an English major.

Frank was thrilled to get what he needed. The student, Neung, was thrilled and excited. He got to practise and improve his English skills plus make some extra cash to supplement his salary as a waiter at a local restaurant. I was happy too. It was a good way to start the day.

Another Ubon Expat Blogger

A shout out to MeMock, another Ubon expat blogger. He contacted me and brought it to my attention that he also has a blog, Life in Rural Thailand, and also made Matt's list. Why not show MeMock some expat community support and head over to his blog.

Ubon Ratchathani House For Rent

I came across this classified for a house for rent here in Ubon. It is very affordable and appears to be in a great location. I called the number on the ad and talked to the owner. He is in Khon Kaen now but has family here that can show the house. I did confirm that the house is still available. His English is sufficient to provide the needed details. If you are in the market for a house visiting his ad and making a phone call might save you a lot of time and energy searching for a nice place to live. If you are interested just click on over to the ad Ubon House for Rent.

P.S. The owner of the house for rent just called me and said he has 8 rai of land with a pond on the road from Ubon to Srisaket. It is near the new Srisaket Tesco Lotus. He would like to rent the land and says it is perfect for a business such as a garden restaurant. If you are interested his contact information is available on the classified ad for the rent house.

Looking for an Ubon local

My blog is included over at Expat-Blog. Occasionally I receive comments and questions through my listing on their site. I was asked for information about any contractors in Ubon who can build a quality affordable house on the owners land. Today I found a comment in the form of a question. Somebody named Becky asked if anybody knows a local Thai name Suwangjit Nudaeng. I don't know Becky nor the person she is looking for. I also do not know why she is seeking this person. To be on the safe side if anybody knows Suwangjit I would recommend just telling her someone named Becky is looking for her and leave it up to them if want to contact.

That's all folks. That's the way it is, Thursday March 19, 2009 from Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, The Heart and Soul of Isaan.

Ubon Expat Bloggers Make Top 100 Thailand Blogs

Ubon Ratchathani, the easternmost province in Thailand has been the inspiration for many a blogs. What we lack in the excitement, glitter, nightlife and shopping of Bangkok and Pattaya is made up with natural beauty, quality of life and lifestyle. There are many blogs about or referring to Ubon about a variety of topics. You will find posts about travel, teaching, volunteering, experiences, relationships and more.

There is a relatively small expat community living here in Ubon. I have noticed, lately, the foreign population, though small and scattered is growing. You will find assorted reasons for moving to Isaan, retirement, relationships, teaching, lifestyle, weather, food, cost of living just to name a few.

Within the social ranks of expats residing here there are several who have taking up blogging. It is a great vehicle for sharing information, expeiences and insights about life and times here in Ubon. I am one of those emigrants. For me, right now, it is more or less a hobby with a goal to be helpful to travelers and residents of Ubon.

Today I was taking a journey through Technorati, sort of a blog hall of fame. I was curious and did a search for Ubon and a few hundred results came back. Most were commercial type blogs promoting hotels for a fee. One entry caught my eye, it's title is, "Top 100 Thailand Blogs". My curiousity got the best of me and I immediately clicked the link to go view the post.

The author of the post is Lost Boy (Matt) and the blog is WhatIsMatt. Matt had compiled a list of the Top 100 Thailand Blogs. It conists of Blogs in English and a couple of French ones whose topics related to Thailand. I have no idea the criteria he used to make his determination but I am sure it took quite a bit of time and effort.

I was somewhat surprised but seriously honored to find two blogs originating in Ubon made the list and a third that has ties to Ubon. The first belongs to an Aussie Ubon Expat, Jason, his blog is all about him living his life, Isaan Style. He features, insights, editorials, experiences, reviews, news and life in Isaan. The blog is centered in Ubon but also spreads to all of Isaan and other places around Thailand. Congratulations Jason.

The second blog belongs to yours truly. I was very happy to see my work listed on Matt's blog. Since you are reading this you already know what this blog is about. My intent is to offer current relevant information for travelers, expats and locals of Ubon. I also use it to support the main static website, WeLoveUbon .

The third site gets an honorable mention. Vern, who lived here for a time and left part of his heart here, and his blog ThaiPulse. He focuses on topics and issues of interest foreigners living in Thailand as well as past and present travelers. Vern feels a connection to our adopted home and I get the feeling he would love to return someday to call it home, too.

I spent a lot of time exploring Ubon, looking for new and as of yet undiscovered places to experience. I often have to revisit known locations to update myself on changes. This blog post I found was originally published last year, which means I am late acknowledging the list. It is updated so is current. I want to thank Matt for compiling the data and including some homegrown Ubon expat blogs.

There are many other blogs dealing with Ubon. Some by expats and many by locals. A lot of the sites are more or less personal journals about day to day life or a special period of life. I have seen a number of blogs that hightlight local tourist attractions that have been visited by the author. Ubon is a big place and there is always room for more blogs and bloggers. I encourage you to give it a try.

Ubon Ratchathani is a great place for living, traveling and blogging. Hope to see you soon in our Isaan home in Thailand.

Sedhapura Villas Khong Jiam Ubon Ratchathani

Nestled along the banks of Mekhong River, in Khong Jiam district of Ubon Ratchathani lies a secluded resort villa. It is Tohsang Sedhapura pool villas. I had walked through it on a prior visit to Khong Jiam and my curiosity was aroused. I had to experience staying there if I ever got the chance. That chance arrived sooner than expected.

To check-in to Sedhapura resort villas, you must go to the Tohsang Resort Khong Jiam front desk. For the special guests of the villas, located about 200 meters south of Tohsang resort, the process is expedited. I was escorted by two staff members who offered me an umbrella. I politely declined as I was in need of a good dose of vitamin D.

As I approached the entry, a Spanish style hacienda came to mind. I fully realized I was in Thailand on the eastern bank of the Mekhong but maybe my California upbringing came into play at that time. On the other hand, it might have been the fact they use the term villa to describe the rooms.

The door swung open to reveal a small but spacious courtyard. The decor within reminded me with no doubt I was indeed in Thailand.

The doorway to the left led to a lounge area with an open view of the river. It is furnished with stylish, comfortable seating. The area has plenty of seating which is separated into groups for privacy and comfort.

Down a set of stairs and along a pathway, to the right flows the Mekhong, to the left the private villas. Between the pathway and the river stands a shallow pool with two lounge beds with a strategic scenic view.

The single two-story villa is nested at the end of the pathway, a perfect honeymoon suite. I passed through the entry and the private pool immediately caught my eye. It is small, maybe 4X5 meters and 1.5 meters deep and 3 jet massage nozzles at the end with steps. However, what made it special, it is private, and it is personal. Up 3 or 4 steps I was standing on the porch. Plenty of room and covered to protect from sun and rain. A modern cozy lounge seat is ready for before and after pool time.

We were led inside and introduced to the living floor area by our guide. To the left and right are wall-mounted settees with an abundance of throw pillows. One side a coffee table and easy chair keep the settee company, While on the other side the settees companions are a small table with two chairs.

On the far wall a wooden unit provides a home for the mini-bar, which is complimentary and shelves topped by a large screen plasma TV and dvd player. Within the cabinet you will find a device to heat water for coffee or tea. Plates and flatware are also provided.

The rooms are tastefully and subtly decorated. They spoke of luxury, but it was an understated, comfortable, homey feeling. Many luxurious settings never give you a chance to relax. No need always remaining in a high state of alert fearing that you will break, dirty or damage something. Here you can relax and make yourself at home.

The large luxurious bathroom brought a smile to my face. One of the things I miss living in Thailand is soaking in bathtub. Before my eyes was a large, deep bath with head pads at each end to relax and soak in comfort.


The bath is enclosed in glass giving a view of the outdoor enclosed garden and shower. No worries though, it is private, but if you are shy or the weather is bad there is an indoor shower fixture in the tub.

In this 2-story bungalow the sleeping area is upstairs on the second floor. When my eyes topped the railing the first thing I noticed was a wall of windows offering a panoramic view of the river passing by heading south enroute to South china Sea.

The room is dominated by a comfortable king size bed, footed by a settee. A large easy chair with a sturdy footstool stands beside your sleeping place. A second large screen plasma TV with independent functions, which is good, just in case there is a conflict about what to watch at any given time.

I was pleased with the amenities offered at the villa. Did I mention there is free wifi? There is a good selection of channels in both Thai and English if you want to watch TV, mini-bar, and of course that private pool just out your front door.

Outside again there is a live bamboo fence separating your sanctuary from the neighbors. There is plenty of privacy. It isn't soundproof but small chance you will find yourself relaxing next door to loud, obnoxious, belligerent neighbors.

After lunch and waiting for the obligatory digesting period. We decided it was time to experience our private pool. It's not large enough to swim laps or anything but perfect for cooling off, relaxing and enjoying the view. I found the jet massage very soothing offering a bit of Jacuzzi action.

Sitting in the pool it is easy to get the feeling you are on top of the world. Peace and quiet, environment provided by mother nature and Sedhupura. The view, the water, the surroundings creates a perfect environment. Found myself thinking how nice it would be to sit in here and share a chilled bottle of wine in the evening to candlelight and moonlight.

You will find no restaurant on the villa compound. We walked over to Cafe de Khong at Tohsang Resort Khong Jiam for lunch. It is just a 5 minute stroll. The food there is excellent and there is a good selection. The staff, knowing we were staying at the villa, informed us they could deliver our meals, along with a table and chairs to our front door. You have to admit that is great service. Immediately, a vision of a candlelight dinner, with my loved one, overlooking the Mekhong, made the moment.

As promised, all was delivered and set up at the time we requested. It reminded me of a scene from a romantic movie, but it was a real experience and not a film crew or director in sight. It was a personal memorable moment caught in my mind and heart to be replayed on a request. Maybe the only thing that could have been better would be dining on a pristine beach of a secluded island off Bora Bora.Ah, good company, fresh air, picturesque scene, what more could a man want?

After dark you have many options. Go sit in the pool again, watch a movie, spend time with your sweetheart, surf the Internet courtesy of the free wifi, grab a book and soak in the bath.

I woke up after a restful sleep on the king size bed. It was still early so I went down to brew a cup of coffee and checked the day. It turns out, sadly, viewing the sunrise would be impossible due to some visiting clouds on the horizon to the east. When conditions are right you couldn't be in a better place. When I finished my coffee, I discovered the large leisure chair on the porch was a perfect place to meditate.

Staying at Sedhapura was quite the experience. I must recommend it. The villa, however, is not meant for extended stays, and it's not for everyone. The nightly rate might exclude some.

You might not want to select this private, peaceful, secure luxury every time you are in Ubon Ratchathani, Khong Jiam but there are times when it is the perfect place to fulfill your plans and dreams.

Here are some excellent reasons that came to mind for choosing Sedhapura by Tohsang Pool Villa for a memorable time:

• Honeymoon


• reunion


• making-up


• Asking the big question


• birthday


• anniversary


• Personal reward


• Reward to a loved one


• Just to pamper yourself


• Just because you deserve a bit of luxury

When you have one of those life's special occassions come up and you are looking for a romantic or private place to spend some time you might consider Sedhapura Pool Villas in Khong Jiam. It is one of the most luxurious accommodations in Ubon Ratchathani and is much more than a hotel.

A Night at Sunee Grand Hotel Ubon

If you travel to Ubon Ratchathani, it is nice to have current information about your destination. There have been several new accommodations built here in Ubon but Sunee Grand Hotel is the only new true hotel opened in Ubon, since I have been here.

The best way to write about something is to experience it for yourself. I have stayed in many hotels, of varied classes in numerous locations around this planet, but I have never stayed in a newly opened hotel. The limited operation opening of Sunee Grand Hotel presented an opportunity, so I decided to become a guest for a night.

You can enter the hotel from two entrances. One entrance is facing the open area between the hotel and City Mall, and can be accessed on foot from Chayangkul Road. The other entrance is at Chayangkul Soi 16. There is still ongoing construction and finish work so you will find activity whichever entry you choose.

Check-in is quick and painless. It took less than 5 minutes. A bell hop took the key card and led us to the elevators or lifts, whichever you prefer, located to the left side of the front desk. There is a bank of 3 elevators. Inside there are mini video monitors inside each that provides you with something to look at during your short journey to your designated floor.

At the door to room 808 you just hold the key card in front of the sensor and the flashing green light lets you know you can enter now. There is also a door ajar alarm which alerts you if the room door isn't completely closed. Beep, beep, beep. Our escort slid the key card into the slot to activate the power, introduced us to the room and disappeared out the door.

The hotel room is dominated by a king size bed. The mattress is firm and comfortable. You will not find a hotdog bun mattress the folds around you when you lay on it. Plenty of pillows to suit any style of sleeping you might use. In the far corner is a sofa you can use for relaxing, reading or sit comfortable while having a conversation. The other corner offers a desk with a hanging light to illuminate your reading, writing or computer work.

The solid row of windows gives you a panoramic view of the town. Things always look different as seen from above. A wide screen plasma TV is attached to the wall across from the foot of the bed. There is cable but no non-Thai entertainment channels are provided.

You will find a bit of convenience through a mini-bar, water heating device and some free drinking water. When you open the wardrobe you will find robes, house shoes and a room safe. Room 808 is a superior room so in the bathroom is a bath shower combo and a large mirrored sink area.

The room is decorated with relaxation in mind. No loud colors to distract your mind. The theme is local but the inspiration appears to be nature. If you just need a place to crash for the night after a long evening of partying the state of the room don't really matter much, but if you want a relaxing atmosphere how the room is presented makes all the difference.

We waited until around 7pm to go down to dinner because that is when the entertainment is scheduled to begin. We crossed the bridge to the “Warin” side of “Mun River” where the restaurant is situated. There are several sections to choose from, but we sat next to the river with a good view of the piano. Only a few tables were occupied as it was still early for many locals to out to eat.

Menus quickly appeared from the hand of one of the waitresses on duty. The pages of the menu are mostly filled with Thai and Chinese dishes but there is also a selection of European cuisine as well. The prices are in line with what you might expect to pay considering the environment. The meals you are served are well worth the price. When your dish arrives you can expect it to be presented well and served politely with a smile.

The piano man, the evenings dining entertainment arrived in a white suit that reminded me of John Travolta character in “Saturday Night Fever”. He hopped across to the island where his piano awaited him. While we dined the piano man played and sang softly in the background. The songs were in English and older, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Credence Clearwater. A good meal with some good music.

The rooms are non-smoking but there is a smoking room available on each floor. If you smoke you don't have to leave the hotel to do so.

I was reading a novel by Stephen King and had watched “1408” on Star Movies a few nights before. “1408” is a movie staring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson based on a Stephen King novel about a hotel room with a life of its own. Maybe that was on my mind as I walked down the corridor on the 8th floor. Since this newest hotel in Ubon is not fully operational yet not all the rooms have guests. I was noticing the deep quiet that hung in the hallway. A total lack of noise from outside, from other rooms and from other people. I thought Mr. King might come up with a story about a guy who woke up in the middle of the night at a fully booked hotel only to find he was the only guest.

I didn't let imaginative thoughts to disturb my sleep. The bed was big and comfortable and the pillows were like marshmallows. I was disappointed that I didn't have any dreams about hotels, but I was refreshed. I heated some water and had a quick cup of coffee, then enjoyed a long hot shower with rare high water pressure.

The next morning I was relieved to notice other rooms had envelopes with service satisfaction surveys stuck under the doors. So much for the great novel. It could also be considered a VIP service. So those were my thoughts as we headed down to breakfast.

Breakfast was from the menu because there aren't enough guests yet to justify a buffet. You can choose from American, European or Asian breakfast selection. Morning serenade, in the beginning, was provided by an opera singer. Opera is definitely quality music but not on my top 100 list of favorite genres. I am thinking the faces I made convinced the staff to change to modern contemporary songs. Ah, much better.

After a good breakfast, a relaxing shower and a good nights sleep it was time to check out. This process was painless as well. Granted, there is a low occupancy rate but the staff is getting good training. There are a few staff members who can speak English so if you visit Sunee Grand Hotel and have a challenge just be patient.

If you are traveling on a budget this would not be the place for you to stay. There are plenty of accommodations and hotels around Ubon for under 500TB per night. If you are looking for affordable luxury, whether for business or pleasure, then this would be for you and definitely worth a try if you are in Ubon or planning to visit soon.

Ubon Travel and Living News

Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand January 23, 2009

During my travels around town I have noticed a few changes here in Ubon.

Closures:

Felice nightclub at Phatumrat Hotel is no longer open for business.

New openings:

E-ba at Laithong hotel is a new nightclub. It has already been open for a few months. It feaures food, drinks and live bands playing contemporary Thai music.

IND Pub at Phatumrat Hotel a small pub beside the now closed Felice. Live music and a DJ.

Ban Lao just north of Montana Hotel where you will find live music, food and drinks.

Sunee Grand Hotel is open with limited operations. 79 rooms are available for accommodation and the ground floor restaurant in the lobby is well worth a night or afternoon out.

City Mall is open at Sunee Tower complex. Presently clothes shopping is all that's there. More to come later. The supermarket is schedule to open February 7.

Changes:

Cowboys and Indians Pub is closed and will be Fuku, a Japanese restaurant.

Zodiac Pub at Ubon International Hotel had closed its doors and reopened with a new name, Friend Bar. The sign says entertainment is provided by a DJ.

Just a few differences I have noticed in our ever changing city.

Ubon New Year Tohsang Khong Jiam Part 2

In the far east of the eastern most province in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani, perched on a small cliff overlooking the might Mekhong River sits Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort. In my quest to experience as many Ubon hotels and accommodation, I can, I spent the recent New Year holiday there.

If you are coming through the town of Khong Jiam you turn left just across the Mun River. If you are coming from Sirinthon heading north to Khong Jiam you turn right just before the bridge. You would not expect to find much down this road, by the scenery. On the right is a National Park and on the left are scattering small buildings. Just after cross a small bridge a bit more than 2 kilometers into the road you will see a grouping of signs prompting you to turn left for Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort.

You still will not feel like you are close to anything, but soon you see the entrance to the accommodation. It looks like not much more than a facade, but in fact it is the resort lobby. It is a small lobby containing only the reception area and a small gift shop. You will be greeted by the staff and offered a nice welcome drink.

After checking in you are ushered through an opening opposite the entrance. You are greeted by a designer wall that provides a bit of privacy for the swimming pool on the other side. A walkway that is there as well and if you turn right will lead you to the villa rooms and turn left leads to the deluxe and superior rooms.

The rooms are housed in two 3-story buildings between the front wall the Mekhong River. The doors are all facing a garden area and windows facing the scenic river. Superior rooms are on the 2nd and 3rd floors on both ends of the two buildings. What makes them different and more valuable are the sun decks. Here you can sit on the lounge chairs and sunbathe, take in the view, read or just relax.

Inside the room you will find a large comfortable bed seemingly covered in pillows, a wall mounted plasma TV, riverside view completely windows, mini bar and room safe. The bathroom features a separate stand up shower, a bath quite comfortable for me but might not be the same for a professional basketball player. The room experience is enhanced by a peaceful room decor. The only thing that breaks the river view is the trees which provide shade to your room against the afternoon setting sun.

Outside again exploring the facilities, first was the swimming pool. It is small and 1.5 meters deep. There are lounge chairs surrounding the deck. Directly, behind the pool is the restaurant, Cafe De Terrace. It offers opening air dining on a deck overlooking the river. There is also an enclosed section for those days when it is raining or cold. Moreover, some might not enjoy eating in the great outdoors.

The menu is varied, containing both Thai and Western dishes. The food is good quality, tastes great, presented well and reasonable priced. My experience with the staff was they were friendly and helpful. Two waiters who served us several times, Mom and Chang, always wore a smile and were anxious to use and improve their English skills.

My one disappointed with the restaurant was the evening entertainment. For me it was poor quality, something akin to a karaoke. I would have preferred taped music, a DJ or silence. It seemed very much out of place at a quality resort.

Walking through the restaurant you will pass a gift shop that offers clothing and other items. They are Thai silk mostly and made there locally. Beyond the gift shop is the spa, you can get relaxing Thai, foot or aroma therapy massages for relatively cheap compared with other spas where I have stayed.

The Garden Terrace is where the breakfast buffet is served. Each morning you get a choice of continental, American, Thai and Kai Grata. Of course also available are the usual suspects of drinks, coffee, tea, water, orange juice, grape juice and Bolan (Black coffee or coffee Lao).

At the end past the Garden Terrace, the villas are situated. They are few in number but all have an unobstructed view of the river. Besides the view they offer more space, more privacy and a deck to enjoy your meals at your room or just to relax.

Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort is not large, but it is in a great location and offers a peaceful atmosphere. It is great for a weekend away from Bangkok or whatever city you are living in. There are cheaper accommodations in Khong Jiam but if a hotel adds resort to the end of its name you can have greater expectations. You can expect to pay more, have a more relaxing environment and great service. Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort in Khong Jiam district Ubon Ratchathani province can meet such expectations.