Dieaw May He Rest In Peace

Ten months ago I made a blog post about a strange day for me here in Ubon Ratchathani. I entitled the post, "A National Geographic Day". On that day I discovered a small turtle had magically appeared in my small cement pond in my front yard.

Sadly, I must now report that after nearly 10 months of hanging out here, the turtle has died.

I named this particular turtle, Dieaw, Thai word for "alone". I named him this because he was the only turtle around here. I have no idea where he came from or how he came to be inside that pond.

When we moved to this place the pond was full of water but had several months that it was totally dry. Can turtles survive outside of water? I know tortesoises can.

Dieaw became a passive member of the family. Whenever we were leaving we would look for Dieaw sitting on a rock or just poking his head up to get some oxygen. When we didn't see him for a time we would become concerned over his well-being.

One time I came home to find him on his back laying on a ledge in the pond. I guess he tried to climb up and fell over backwards. Seems he accepted his fate because he wasn't fighting to rollover. Another time I found him lodged between two rocks. He has misjudged the clearance and was stuck.

I was trying to clean up his home and also the water had mostly evaporated so I fixed him up a temporary residence while I took care of business. Unfortunately, I seemed to have cracked the cement and the pond would no longer hold water.

He seemed at home and would spend time sunning on the rock I supplied him with. At night I would take him inside to protect him from birds and snakes.

A few days ago, Dieaws habits changed. He appeared to be floating with one of his legs in contact with the rock. Then yesterday in the morning he was just floating and wouldn't move when I tapped on him home. I could see air bubbles arise from time to time but no movement.

Nature must have decided he have been on this earth long enough. Early afternoon, he moved no more, he breathed no more. I was saddened.

I am grateful for the time Dieaw hung around. He brought many smiles to my face and also was the topic of many conversations between me and my wife.

I have no idea what caused Dieaw to leave us. At the petshop we were told that turtle often die for no reason. Maybe the water is contaminated which creates a virus or infection. We shall never know for sure.

Yesterday afternoon I went out back in the shadow of a large mango tree and created a final resting place for my friend Dieaw. I placed the rock he spent many hours on at the site so he would have something familiar near him. I also placed a clay turtle we had bought at last year's Candle Festival to give him the impression there might be other turtles around.



I don't know if it means anything but the day I discovered Dieaw in the pond I saw a snake having a frog for breakfast. Yesterday as I was sitting at my PC I heard a bird screeching just outside my window. As I looked up I saw the reason for the birds antics, a snake was crawling along on top of the cement brick fence. Hmmmm, an omen?

So I know Dieaw was only a turtle but I believe it is a good thing to be grateful for anything in our life that makes it better. In his small turtle way he contributed value to my life.

Good-bye Dieaw, may you Rest In Peace.

Ubon Ratchathani KhongJiam Mekong

Not long ago we made a weekend trip to Khong Jiam district of Ubon Ratchathani. It is the easternmost point of Thailand and Ubon Ratchathani. It is framed by the Mekong River, or Mae Nam Kong to the east and Mun River to the south.


Being there make me think I had entered a time machine and went back in time maybe 40 years. Life is lived at a slow pace. Traffic is sparse with the near total absence of the high-pitched whine of small cc motorcycles.

Children on bicycles ride around the streets playfully yelling at their friends and laughing a lot while their pet dogs ran along behind them.

I had some free time as my wife was busy fulfilling her duties and obligations at the English Camp. I was out and about doing what comes natural and I enjoy very much, exploring and experiencing.

After 15 minutes of walking I found a place to get some breakfast. It was the local market down on the main street. It seems to be the place everybody in town socializes in the mornings. Looking around it appeared I was the only farang in the vicinity.


A good breakfast in my stomach I headed off in the general direction of the Mekong River. It came into view 10 minutes later. I found myself beside the Thai Customs house, which was at the top of the steep riverbank fronting a market.

The slopes of the riverbank was dotted with people carrying goods up and down. From the long tail boats docked at the riverside goods and agricultural items were carried to customs and the market beyond. From the market goods were carried down to the boats emptied of their Laotian goods. I could only image that the exact scenario was being played out on the Laos side of the river as well.


This must be what free-trade is all about. People trading excess goods they have to others who need them and in turn getting goods they need in return. Maybe a good portion of our world has it wrong and this is how things should work.

I spotted a small bamboo kiosk with a sign advertising coffee that was calling me. With the approval of the vendor I took the hot coffee in a porcelain cup and sat on a bench overlooking the river. As I sat taking in the sights and sipping my coffee, a small dog came and sat in front of me. I looked around and didn't see anyone who might be with him. He looked as though he could use a pet or two so I scratched behind his ears.


The dog sat there for a few minutes staring up and me and then squeezed between my legs and layed down under the bench I was sitting on. Maybe it was his place on the river. But he seemed happy enough to share with a curious farang.

Looking around at my surroundings, I saw people who looked comfortable and secure. It must be a good feeling having the mighty Mekong constantly in view. It made them know they are at home. I tried to experience that feeling as I turned my focus back to the river.


What came to my mind is that even though the Mekong appears to be constant it is constantly changing. This river full of history and ghosts is never the same from moment to moment. The muddy water I see now will be a ways down stream by the time I take another sip of coffee.

When I was sitting there the waters of the monsoon had long been gone. Out in the river islands were visible. A big difference during the rainy season when the waters would end a few meters from where I was sitting.

The waters of this river started their journey far to the north. There are many ways each drop of water found its way to be part of the mighty river for a short time. Some came from melting snow, some came from rains, some came from other lesser rivers connecting to the Mekong as part of a network of waterways.

The water flowed without thought, crossing borders without need for passport, visa or documents. No taxes were levied on any water that was part of the river. Some of the water would pass through Laos and Viet Nam, doing its part to resupply the South China Sea. Some water would be used for irrigation, some water would be drank by buffalo or dogs.

The cotton-ball looking clouds might have been formed from water that was previously part of this river. Even though the Mekong is a comforting and familiar sight, it is constantly changing. But for the residents I am sure it has forever been and forever will be the same.


I was mesmerized by the scene and my thoughts but I got an internal nudge to move on. As I got up from the bench I had occupied my new friend gazed at me with those sad puppy eyes and said not a word. I slowly meandered over and returned the coffee cup, when I came back to the bench on the pathway my K-9 friend had left. Maybe he just wanted to share the moment.

The brick path along the top of the bank runs from the customs house south to the Mun River. In sections it is lined with shops and restaurants. Down in the water are two floating restaurants and long tail boats you can hire for a ride on the river.

It had been a peaceful relaxing morning and a satisfying time. But now I had to head back to the guesthouse and meet my wife for lunch and to checkout in preparation for returning to Ubon Ratchathani.

I enjoyed my visit to Khong Jiam. It is a wonderful place for reflection and relaxation. Try it, you might just like it.

Ubon Ratchathani Sunrise Khong Jiam

The alarm went off at 5A.M.. I quickly rolled out of bed and threw on some shorts and a T-shirt. Out on the deck the night lights were on but the darkness still bathed the landscape in thick blackness.

I wasn't sure what time the sun was due to come up so I made sure I was ready. Many signs noted that this was the easternmost point in Thailand, thus would be the first to see the sunrise. I had been to Khong Jiam before but only on day trips so this was my first chance to view the sunrise over the Mekong and Mun Rivers.

Still cloaked in darkness at 5:30A.M. and peaceful except for the distant gurgling of a longtail engine. With no light I could have been anywhere. The first dim lumination was apparent at 5:45. Some trees were visible on the opposite shore though the river was still a black hole. Ting, my wife, finally joined me so we could enjoy the sunrise together.

There it was, a red fireball rising out from behind the treeline. The scenic view coming in to focus told me that I was in fact in Khong Jiam on the banks of the Mun River. Morning had come to Thailand. The waters of the Mun River were making their way to join the waters of the mighty Mekong. Local fishermen were making their way to their old and worn flatbottom long boat to begin their daily rituals. Me, I was taking in the scene beside my wife and experiencing that tourist tradition of enjoying the point of the earliest sunrise in Thailand.

This all took place at Pak Mool(pronounced - pak moon) Guesthouse in Khong Jiam district of Ubon Ratchathani province in the Isaan region of Thailand. It is a quiet and peaceful place a stones throw from Laos. I found the short time I stayed there very relaxing. It was hard to find anyplace open early in the morning for coffee and breakfast but it didn't seem to matter much.

The guesthouse was only 500 Baht per night, which included a room with a bed, air-conditioning, TV and hot water for a shower. Well worth it. No breakfast included and in fact the guesthouse didn't even appear to have a kitchen. Food can be found close by, but not until a time after the sun comes up.

A very laid back village. Not a lot of movement, not a lot of noise. I highly recommend visiting there. If you are on vacation it's a nice place to relax, if you live in Ubon it's a nice place to get away from the city. A 2 hour drive or ride from Ubon city but maybe a 20 year trip back in time. Take some time and enjoy the sunrise and peacefulness of Khong Jiam.

Ubon Ratchathani House For Rent

Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday. Wish you the best in 2008.

If anybody is searching for a place to live long-term here in Ubon you might be interested in this. There is a house for rent off of Soi 10 (Soi Lotus). The sign says, it's a 3-Bedroom house. I have never been inside but I did look at it from the street. It is small, with a small fenced yard and a covered carport.

The neighborhood is mostly quiet and safe. The noise is some dogs barking and there is a neighborhood public address system, which is annoying at times. But other than that it is peaceful. There is not much through traffic so not a lot of vehicular noise. Next door to this house there lives a high ranking police official so there is a safety factor.

You can walk to Lotus in about 5 minutes and there are several places to eat close by.

If you are interested you can go look at the house on Chayangkul Soi 10. You go up Soi 10, the soi on the entrance side of Lotus. Go up the soi to the first street to the right. On that street go to the second street to the left just before the dead end. The house is almost to the end on the right hand side. It is next to a house with a bright pink fence.

You can contact the landlord at mobile 0894-982-5422 or local Ubon land line, 045-245-583. I have no idea what the monthly rent is but if you need a house it would be worth a trip to check it out.

Buying Real Estate In Ubon Ratchathani

I have had several inquiries via my website in regards to buying a house and/or property here in Ubon Ratchathani. I admit to be lacking on this topic as I have never had any experience in this matter. So I did some research.

It is virtually impossible for a foreigner to own land here in Thailand. There are ways to buy a house though. As I see it all ways involve a certain amount of risk to the person who puts up the money.

This is what I have learned but I cannot vouch for how accurate the information is. If you are married to a Thai citizen you can pay for a house but it must be totally in your spouses name. You can have a house built on leased property and own the home but not the land. As I understand it the leasor can terminate the lease at anytime for any reason. Another way is to invest a sum of money in Thailand and then you are allowed to purchase a home.

If anybody has any different or further information I would appreciate any input that is valuable and can benefit visitors and readers of this website.

I located one company Kittrong land and House on Chayangkun Rd. I visited the office and one sales associate spoke limited English. His name is Peter Chen. He told me he could help any foreigners who are interested in buying a home here in Ubon. He also told me he is knowledgeable in regards to Thai laws about foreigners buying real estate in Thailand. I cannot confirm or deny this claim.

If anybody is interested here is the contact information:

Peter Chen
Kittrong Land and House
504 Chayangkun Rd
Ubon Ratchathani
office phone: 045-313336
mobile phone: 085-497-6243
email: peterchen_siripun@hotmail.com

I hope this helps anybody who is interested in buying a home here in Ubon Ratchathani.

Once again if anybody reading this has personal experience or knowledge I would appreciate the information.

Home is where the heart is, Ubon is home.

Ubon Ratchathani has a New Bird in Town

There's a new bird in town now servicing Ubon Ratchathani. Now we have a choice of three airlines for our trips to and from Bangkok. Nok Air has two daily flights from Bangkok to Ubon and Ubon to Bangkok. It seems they are expanding into Isaan. Nok Air is a subsidiary of ThaiAirways International. It is their version of a "no frills" airline.

Nok Air offers an early morning flight and a late evening flight. Their hub is Don Muang Airport in Bangkok so it makes it a lot more convenient and quicker to get into Bangkok city than from Suvarnabumi Airport. Here is their flight schedules:

Bangkok To Ubon

• Flight DD9310 departs BKK 06:20 arrives Ubon 07:30
• Flight DD9318 departs BKK 19:55 arrives Ubon 20:05

Ubon To Bangkok

• Flight DD9311 departs Ubon 07:55 arrives BKK 09:00
• Flight DD9319 departs Ubon 21:30 arrives BKK 22:35

It is comparable to Air Asia in service but you do get reserve seating. You can make reservations online, purchase your tickets and choose your seating. You can even check-in by phone but you must do this prior to 2 hours before the flight. You can only use phone check-in if you have no checked baggage. Also for some reason you don't get the flight insurance if you check-in by phone.

They still seem to be working out the kinks. Check-in was suppose to close 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure time but at 25 minutes there were still 20 people in line waiting to check in.

Don Muang is a skeleton of it's former self. Not near the traffic as before. There are a few restaurants open there but only in the terminal. Once you enter the passenger waiting there is nothing. So eat before you enter. No city buses from Don Muang now but there is a bus to Suvarnhabumi Airport.

The fares are reasonable the the price fluctuates. It seems to be driven by supply and demand. I think it is also effected by the day of the week. If you are planning to travel and you see a good fare you should grab it. I was planning my travel and there was a good rate in the morning but when I decided to go with Nok Air in the evening the ticket price had gone up by 300 Baht.

All in all I was satisfied with the service. The flight times aren't ideal but that is a small thing. If you are coming to Ubon Ratchathani or going from here to Bangkok I would recommend you give Nok Air a try.

They have a website in English you can visit them at Nok Air.

Ubon Ratchathani Line 3, A leisurely Ride

Sadly to say the experience of conducting research on Line 3 here in Ubon Ratchathani was rather uneventful. This pink colored songtaew also used to be a full-sized public bus but was upgraded in the interest of public safety at the same time as 2 Line.

I caught the songtaew at the entrance door to Tesco Lotus. The southbound route drives through the Lotus parking lot after 10:00 in the morning. Before that they stay on Chayangkun Road. I rode it to it's southern terminal/starting point on Highway 2178 (Kantaralak Road) across from Ban Go School.

It stops and begins there in Ban Go and heads north to Ban Don Klang on Soi Techno across from Ratchathani University, formerly known only as Techno.

As I said the ride was rather uneventful, yes I like a good adventure, so I spent my time gathering info, watching people, and enjoying the trip. From beginning to end the journey took a bit more than an hour. I got off on Soi Techno to stretch and wait for a songtaew to take me back to Lotus.


It was around 12:30 and my stomach suddenly alerted me to the fact that it hungry and needed some lunch. Phad Thai immediately came to mind so I was off in search of a shop that offered Phad Thai. Being near a school there is an abundance of cheap food shops so I easily found what I was looking for. In no time at all I had consumed my meal and paid my 20 Baht. A small price to pay for a filling, good-tasting lunch. Amazing Thailand.

Line 3 Route South to North:

• Highway 2178 in Ban Go


• Through Warin around the market


• Upparat Road


• Phrom Rat Road (south to north)/Phrom Thep Road (north to south)


• Khuan Thani Road


• Luang Road


• Phichit Rangsan Road


• Thepyothi Road


• Sapphasit Road


• Upparat Road


• Chayangkun Road


• Highway 231


• Highway 212


• Soi Techno

Line 3 Highlights South to North:

• Warin Market/Bus Terminal


• Samchai Coffee Warin


• Nakon Chai Air Terminal


• Ubon Buri Resort (must walk from Upparat Road to resort)


• Big Market


• Sri Isan Hotel


• Main Post Office


• Wat Tung Sri Muang


• Risotto Restaurant


• Sapphasit Apartments


• Sapphasit Hospital


• Police Station


• Sincere Restaurant


• Intro Pub Indo China Restaurant (Vietnamese)


• Cozy Restaurant


• Swing Party House


• Robinsons


• Racha Hotel


• Regent Palace Hotel


• Pathumrat Hotel


• Thai Airways


• Rajabhat


• Ubon International Hotel


• Ubon Sports School


• Tesco Lotus


• Nong Bua Market


• Northeastern Polytechnic College


• Rajavej Hospital


• Labor Office


• Big C


• Makro


• Bus Terminal


• Ban Don Klang


• Ratchathani University