I know exactly how you feel.

I love reading and have as long as I can remember. I recall in elementary school receiving a 4-page book catalog twice a semester. I would eagerly dive in searching for any and all books I was interested in reading.

When the books were chosen I would then strategize on exactly how to convince my parents to contribute the necessary funds to my book charity.  Sometimes it worked other times I was just plain out of luck.

Those times when I happily got to order books I anxiously awaited their arrival. When the big day came at last I would hold onto my treasures as though they were priceless artwork painted by a grand master.

When I got my books home I would handle with care and take some time to give the covers a long hard look. Then, with excitement and anticipation I would open and begin reading the pages. The books might have been simple and far from being literature but they did ignite the imagination and provide hours of enjoyment.

In school,  I also enjoyed reading but not so much math and science. I looked forward to history even though the ending to all the stories was very predictable.

The military is made for reading. The over used phrase, “Hurry up and wait” was not a joke. Many of my comrades and me always kept a book handy for those times we spent waiting for things to move along. A lot of well read people in uniform. Deployments were always good for a novel or two. Besides all the time waiting I soon discovered C-130s, C-141′s, and C-5s did not have in flight movies no matter how long the trip. Reading was a good way to pass the time.

When I came to live in Ubon I found there wasn’t a very good selection of books to read. At first I would make the most of my trips to Bangkok and stock up with two or three new novels on every trip. After a few years I realized I could order books online from Amazon and also Kinokuniya. That is how I kept myself in reading material until Kindle finally  became available here.

I have grown a small library over time. I enjoyed the hours of pleasure the books provided. I experiened many adventures and learned quite a bit from my time in the pages. But as with everything in life there comes a time when all must part ways.

It is now time to find a new home for some books I have read. So I am making them available to whoever wants any. My only request is if you request a book please take the time to read it. When you finish please pass it on to another reader so the book can have a long and fruitful life.

Here is a list of the titles that are available for adoption.

The Great Escape

Paul Brickhill

The Mission Song

John LeCarre

Fractured

Karin Slaughter

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

J. K. Rowling

The Eiger Sanction

Trevanian

The Ghost Agent

Alex Berenson

The Broker

John Grisham

The Rhinemann Exchange

Robert Ludlum

Rules of Betrayal

Christopher Reich

The Little Drummer Girl

John Le Carre

The Assassin

Stephen Coonts

Lost Symbol (Hardcover)

Dan Brown

If you would like any of these books just send me an email with your name and mailing address and I will send it to you. Please do not post your address in the comments. I  can only mail here in Thailand.

So why not be a hero and adopt one of these English language books today?

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Ubon Ratchathani English Books For Adoption

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But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

Robert Burns Scots Poem 1785

All of us at some point in our life have had plans go awry. They could have been simple plans, evil plans, vacation plans, business plans, financial plans or relationship plans.  But it is part of life that plans don’t always go as envisioned or hoped for.

When I was serving in the military we would always include Murphy on the manifest for every mission we executed. We did this because we knew if anything could go wrong it would and that name was a constant reminder. It was a necessity to not only plan for redundancy but also to have a plan b.

The Ubon Ratchathani Chamber of Commerce made plans to offer taxi service with a home base at Ubon’s airport. This service was suppose  to be active for testing May 1. I posted this story a few days ago but now I must recant it. Or at least part of it.

Things are not always as they seem. At the 11th hour there was a change of venue and the taxi service is now headquartered at Ubon Ratchathani main bus terminal. There are indeed here in town. I have seen them driving around, but without fares.

So if you read my story and bounded out of the airport terminal building after claiming your luggage from the carousel you would have been disappointed in your search for a blue and yellow sedan.

I can only surmise the reason for this change. There has been no reason given. But such is life. The only thing we can count on is change. You can still catch a cab at the bus terminal or call dispatch to come pick you up wherever you may be in Ubon Ratchathani.

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Ubon Ratchathani Change of Taxi Home

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It was inevitable. It is progress, though some might consider just the opposite. I have read that Udorn Thani has taxis now and I have seen and ridden in metered taxis in Korat. Before recent days the only places I have observed taxis in Thailand was Bangkok and Samui Island. But now we have them here in Ubon.

It has been confirmed by an unnamed source that metered taxis will be put into service at the Ubon Ratchathani Airport beginning May Day or Labor Day, May 1, 2011. This will be great news for some travellers as I have received many inquiries regarding the availability of taxis to and from the airport.Now you have a new option when it comes to Ubon Ratchathani transportation.

According to the source the new taxi service is the brain child of Ubon Chamber of Commerce who are seeking ways to improve life in their home town. Taxis will add to the cars that are currently available at the two car rental booths and from the hotels who send vans to meet incoming flights. This was all because for whatever reason local tuk tuks were never allowed to wait at the airport when the planes were arriving.

The premier service package is suppose to be active beginning May 1. It is unknown how many there will be but if it is a success I am sure the numbers be increased. It is also unknown if there will be alternative staging areas such as Ubon Main Bus Terminal or Ubon Train Station in Warin. For now can only say for sure they will be at the airport.

This might be good news for some Ubon residents who are currently driving taxis in Bangkok. I don’t know the numbers but it seemed everytime I was in a taxi heading to one of the Bangkok airports when I told them domestic I was always asked, “Where are you going? Chiang Mai? Phuket?” and more often than not when I replied, j”Ubon”,  I would be told, with a big smile, “I am from Ubon”.  So they can find some work they are qualified for closer to home.

I was just informed by UbonLeaks that the initial beta testing for the debut Ubon Ratchathani meter taxi service will be on three vehicles. So if you want to use it in the test period you best double time to the taxi stand or you will be out of luck. However, after the undisclosed test period they plan to have 50 taxis in the fleet. The meter drop will start ticking at 30 Baht and then according to mileage. If you call for pick up there is a 20 Baht service charge.

There is a contact number 089-421-6040, this is the mobile phone of the manager/dispatcher. They are in the process of getting a permanent land line number but for now this is it. Do not count on English being spoken at the other end of the line.

With only 3 cars in the fleet you won’t see many around town. But soon enough they will be a fixture and a common sight.  If you are flying in and out of our fair province  on May 1 you just might be one of the first fares for the new Ubon Ratchathani metered taxi service.

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Ubon Ratchathani Airport Taxi To The Runway

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You will read about such places in travel guide books and brochures. A travel agent will have a list of places that will make your visit the best ever. If you go to San Francisco it might be Fishermans Wharf. If you visit London you must experience Eye on London. If you travel to China the Forbidden City or the Great Wall are mandatory.

When you travel to Ubon Ratchathani it is  no exception. There are places you really must go see for yourself. I have compiled a list, which is in no way comprehensive, based on my experience, input from the locals and feedback from visitors.

1. Ubon Ratchathani National Museum – Displays of artwork, crafts and historical items reflecting life and culture in this area. It is located at the south end of Tung Sri Muang park.
2. Pha Taem National Park – This is located over yonder in Khong Jiam district. Make sure you take your walking shoes to hike down the edge of a cliff to view pre-historic drawings on the face. The route is at least 3 kilometers.
3. Huai Luang Waterfall – One of the best waterfalls I have seen in Thailand.  You will find this spectacle in the southeast region of the province. It is well worth all the steps you have to ascend when you are leaving.
4. 2 Color River – This is in Khong Jiam where the Mekong and Mun rivers meet. One is brown and one is green, or is it blue and green. I guess you will have to go see for yourself. You can also walk along the river, go watch the sunrise  or enjoy a nice lunch on one of the floating restaurants.
5. Sam Pan Bok – It will give you the impression you have stepped onto the lunar surface or at least on to a sci-fi movie set. A most interesting creation of nature. Best time to go is January to June.
6. Sedhapura by Tohsang – Go here and pamper yourself. You deserve it. A luxury pool villa on the banks of the Mekong in Khong Jiam.
7. Tung Sri Muang – Here you can take in some history, exercise, relax or socialize. It is best to go in the evening to catch all the locals meeting up. Afterward you can walk a short distance to the night market and get some dinner from the wide variety of street vendor offerings.
8. Wat Sa Prasan Suk – Just on the outskirts of Ubon city you can enjoy the peace and tranquility as well as some unique architecture. I have visited many times and make it a point to take guests there and never tire of visiting.
9. Gaeng Saphue - East of Ubon city around 45 Kilometers. There is a park on Mun River.  It is a great place for an afternoon picnic. Vendors will be hawking food which you can order and then relax on a provided mat and enjoy your lunch. After the monsoon waters have receded cataracts are revealed and make for some fun either watching or playing.
10. Had Kudua – A complex of restaurants on the  Mun River just out of town. The seating is provided on floating bamboo patios. It is enjoyable during the hot or cold season. It is not the food that makes this place special its the experience. Most of the  menus are basically the same in quality, quantity and price so the only decision to make is where do you prefer to enjoy the moment.

When you visit Ubon Ratchathani consider adding the suggestions above to your itinerary. If not all 10, at least pick a few that interest you the most and go have fun during your travels in Ubon.

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10 Ubon Ratchathani Must Visit Places

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Ubon is a star in its own right. It has a long and colored history and its own unique culture and cuisine. When reading travel and tourism articles in magazines or blogs my adopted home is mostly overlooked.  It is definitely a sleeper, not just for tourism but also as a great place to live.

The omission by promoters could just be what makes this a great place to be as a tourist, visitor or resident. There is a charm to Ubon that makes it a quite different experience than Bangkok, Phuket, Samui or Chiang Mai. But you would have to be here to find out for yourself.

Now, I will share with you 10 good reasons to choose Ubon Ratchathani for a short visit as a visitor or tourist or for a long term stay.

1. Accessibility – If you check out a map of Thailand you will Ubon Ratchathani located as far East as you can go and stay in the country. If you go any farther east you will find yourself floating southward in the Mekong and quite possibly end up in the South China Sea.

However, not to worry. There are many ways to get to Ubon despite its GPS coordinates. We are serviced by daily flights to and from Bangkok by 3 different airlines and you can choose Suvarnaphumi or Don Muang.

Trains run several times day and night. The selection includes sleeper, express and budget. Their is a wide choice of bus lines, routes and classes if you prefer coming and going by road.

It is easy to get here.

2. Immigration – One of the issues we need to deal with whether we are an expat living abroad or a tourist is getting and extending a visa. Ye Ole Visa is our virtual lifeline to a continued stay.

The Immigration office that services Ubon Ratchathani is located in Phibun Mangsahan district approximately 40 kilometers east of the city. As long as you have all your ducks in order and don’t make demands or attempt to deceive your dealings with them should go  smoothly.

I have been doing business with them for 10 years. In that time I have never had any major issues. They have always provide good service, support and information.

3. Lifestyle – Many factors influence the way of life in the city and the province. Buddhism, there is a higher density of Thai Buddhist temples here then anywhere else in Thailand. The agricultural economy makes for a hard work mentality but also play and partying. This formula makes for a simple but fun, easy going life.

4. Food – The tagline for Isaan cuisine appears to be, “let nothing go to waste”. Isaan chefs find a way to use everything and make it palatable as well. Along  with the Isaan and Thai dishes you will also find many Vietnamese and Chinese. It is quite an adventure to travel around town in the evening and just find a shop or street vendor and sample their wares. You must try it.

5. People – The people of Ubon Ratchathani are the grassroots of Thailand. Not only do they make their own province go round but you will find them serving you in Bangkok, Phuket, Samui and most heavily traveled tourist spots.

You will find the locals generous and friendly. If you attend any function you will be presented with a lively and memorable experience.

6. Culture – Even if you are familiar with Thai culture what you  experience here is truly distinctive. It is Thai culture but it is also Laotian culture with emphasis on the Lao. The combination is the foundation of the Isaan culture of Ubon.

7. Cost of Living – Whether you are a tourist, visitor or resident you will discover that things are mostly cheaper here. It is true with most things you have on your budget list, accommodations, dining, entertainment, and purchases. This is one of the perks we benefit from here. You can rent a nice furnished house here for less than a small condo in Bangkok.

8. Enough – It is true that compare to your hometown or major cities around the world you might few Ubon as lacking quite a bit. But I have found most of what I need to enjoy a good and comfortable life here. If you really need something that you can’t find you can take care of it with a quick trip to Bangkok. Also with the Internet it is easy to order things from Amazon or other places.

Just a personal note, I have learned that  many things I thought I needed to get by are now not even missed.  So Ubon doesn’t have everything but it has enough.

9. Peace of Mind – With all the joys, excitement and variety in big cities there is also the dark side. You experience overcrowding, noise and air pollution, high prices, crime long long commutes.  It is easy to realize it causes a great deal of stress.

Ubon is not Shangri-la but it does provide quality of life and a high degree of peace of mind. You can get across town in 20 minutes. You can go out at night and feel safe. The residents are mostly local so it is their home, they can help and also offer some local pride.

10. Location – What does the location offer you? Ubon is bordered to the east by Mekong River. Along with its history it creates many visitation worthy sites. The geography in the south also makes for interesting places to visit. You can easily travel to Laos from here through Chong Mek or a short tip up to Mukdahan.

But wait… There’s more… As a bonus I am offering an additional reason We Love Ubon Ratchathani

11. (Bonus)  Candle Festivall – If you only come to Ubon once, or once a year you must come during  the full moon in the month of July. That is the time of the most famous Candle Festival that is held in conjunction with the Buddhist Lent. This is the time to experience the extraordinary craftsmanship of the candle sculpture artisans. You can experience the parade that showcases not only these candles but also the people of Ubon.

Take part in the celebration activities and observe religious and cultural traditions and ceremonies. It is quite a spectacle and certainly worth experiencing at least once in your life.

I hope these 10 11 reasons why we love Ubon has inspired you to add visiting or living in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand to your bucket list.

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10 Reasons Why We Love Ubon Ratchathani

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I can still vividly remember arriving at the then Ubon Ratchathani International Aiport. At that time there was a daily flight to Da Nang, Viet Nam but has long since been scraped.

The hotel I stayed at my first few nights here was Nevada Grand Hotel. Now it is Ubon International Hotel.  Another thing that has changed since I was first introduced to this first lady of Isaan.

I am not sure who has changed the most in the past decade, me or The Lotus City. I know I am a different man from the one who arrived here in a transition period not knowing if this chapter in my life would be short or long.

As it turned out it has been a very long chapter that is not yet completed. In my life I have lived in many places and for the duration of stay Ubon now ranks number 2.

• The place I have lived the longest is my hometown of Redding, California, USA
• Taking second place at 10 years is Ubon Ratchathani
• A close third is Berlin, Germany. At the time I was living there it was known as West Berlin, West Germany. I was there that cold and foggy night of November 9, 1989 when Humpdee Dumpdee sat on the wall but this time it was the Wall that came tumbling down.

When Ubon was still new to me there was no Tesco Lotus or Big-C. There was a Tops Market on the ground floor of Robinsons. There was only a single bridge going across the Mun River between the city and Warin. Sunee Grand Hotel was a deserted hospital.

I remember driving the streets and there was seldom any traffic congestion. Ubon Ratchathani University was still an infant and I felt like I was entering a ghost town when I visited. Rajabhat was not yet a university and across the street from the main entrance you could get a good lunch at Fern Hut long before SK was around.

Nevada Complex actually offered English soundtrack movies about every 2 months. It was a challenge to find a place to check email and most of them were so slow an hourglass was used to time connections.

There were 3 flights a day between Bangkok and Ubon with the fares costing only 800TB.  Only Thai Airways International was servicing the heart and soul of Isaan. There was no Nok Air and nobody here had ever heard of Air Asia.

During my first 7 months here I was teaching English at Northeastern Polytechnic and only made one other farang. I am sure there were others here but I just never ran into them. If I was an Ugly Duckling I didn’t notice.

At the time I first came to live here 911 to me, was the number to call in case of emergency while in the US. times have changed.  A tsunami was something that happened in Japan, Hawaii or a movie not a Boxing Day tragedy.

Over that past decade I have made so many deposits to my experience vault and fortunately most of them are on a positive note.

I have a lot of memories of this Isaan Lady known and Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand and on or about the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year it has been a nearly perfect 10 for  me.

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Ubon Ratchathani Thailand – 10 Years On

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Amnat Charoen is an hours drive to the north. It is a small province that was a district of Ubon until December 1993.

The town of Amnat is a small quiet village. If you continue north through the town you will come to Wat Dan Phra Bat. Take some time to park and look around.

You can also visit Mekhong River in Amnat Charoen. At Chanuman you will be rewarded with some beautiful scenes in certain times of the year.

Yasothon is at the northwest corner of Ubon. It too was a part of Ubon until December 1993. It is best know for the Rocket Festival held every year in May. Large rockets are launched to bring the rain to feed the rice crops.

If you are not into the lively and noisy festival you are welcome to visit Yaso anytime of the year. There are many temples in both Khmer and Lao style that you can visit and explore.

Sisaket lies to the west of Ubon. It is known for its Khmer style sanctuaries scattered around the province. If you want to learn more about the place, my friend over at Thai Pulse just published an informative article about Sisaket on his blog.

You can also travel to Laos from Ubon. Head on down to Chong Mek and you can cross over for a bit of shopping and a meal, getting a visa exemption or onward travel. There is a bus from Ubon city that goes all the way to Pakse in Laos.

This has been an overview of Ubon Ratchathani’s neighbors. If you travel to Ubon you can plan a nice day trip to any of these locations. If you are traveling to any of these destinations and want to fly you must fly into Ubon and complete your journey overland. You can travel to Sisaket by  train or bus from Bangkok without actually coming all the way to Ubon. There are also buses to Yaso and Amnat but by train you would have to get off in Ubon and finish by other means.

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Ubon Ratchathani Neighbors

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The Gateway

I passed through the gate and at first felt a bit of disappointment. It looked to be a typical small village Thai Buddhist temple. At first glance I could find nothing remarkable. I was compelled to come here so there must be a reason.

The Symbols

My first glimpse of something special was when I noticed to the left, a large eagle statue. Between its mighty wings stood a Thai Buddha image. It was appropriate for us seeing these icons of our countries connected. The eagle representing America and the Buddha image representing Thailand.

Purple Blooms

That was great but there must be more. We made our way to an area in front of a building. It was shielded from view by trees. Upon entry what we discovered was the treasure that was the reason for our journey. Though a treasure it was not gold, silver, diamonds and rubies. So what was it that brought a smile to our faces and made us forget about the heat of the day?

White Bloom

There before our eyes lay a garden of colorful flowers. There were red ones, blue ones, purple ones and white ones. A totally unexpected and incongruent oasis of orchids. This garden of orchids melted away the fatique in our muscles and brought a joy to the heart. All we could do was stand in awe of the splendor of nature.

Pink and Red Blooms

We walked through the kaleidascope of color but instead of collecting the gems we enjoyed them in their place. The treasure of this temple was indeed the beautiful blooms of hundreds of orchids.

Taking time to smell the ... Orchids

Once again I have been rewarded by chance and by nature after taking a risk to answer the call of an adventure into the unknown. You might not find this obscure temple in any guide book but what I have discovered during my time in Ubon Ratchathani is some of the most enjoyable places are found by simply exploring new frontiers.

P.S. This Thai Buddhist temple I am referring to as The Temple of Bloom is actually, Wat Tam Ku Ha Sawan, located on Highway 2222 just before the junction with Highway 2134  on the outskirts of Khong Jiam. It is worth a visit, especially when the flowers are in bloom. When you travel to Ubon Ratchathani this a nice attraction to visit.

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Ubon Darwin and the Temple of Bloom: The Quest

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The bottom of the path

The trail was wide, covered in red dirt and boulders and walled in by water starved trees and shrubs. Mother nature felt no need to offer shade for a travelers respite from the heat. All we could do was sweat and continue moving upwards.

looking back along the path

Halfway up the ascent there appeared a small clearing on the right hand side. Planted in this clearing were several large boulders. It looked as though the rocks had rolled down the hill and decided to stop. Or maybe a giant mythical bird had laid its eggs here and they petrified before they hatched.

Whatever the reason they were there or how they came to be in that spot all I could see is precious shade. Without a word I veered 90 degrees to my right and made my way to the place where there was no sun. Ah, cool relief.

As my body was slowly cooling I dug out a bottle of water to hydrate. I took a sip and focused on the refreshing liquid flowing down my throat. It was then I heard the creaking and a rumble. An earthquake? No, the boulder that was providing me shade was moving to cover that shade with me still in it. What to do? I wasn’t in a position to make an escape.

a feat of super human strength

I summoned all my strength, which out of fear, must have escalated to super-human. I managed to stifle the intent of the potentially body crushing large stone. I quickly exited the shade and realized the sun was far less dangerous then vindictive boulders.

A thought came to me that this must be a booby-trap to test travelers as to their worthiness for the quest. It seemed I passed and was allowed to continue.

On the plateau

Still hot and thirsty but safe and sound we reached the summit that is a stone plateau. We strolled passed the trees that lined the rim and there it was, the treasure that had called us to this quest….

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Ubon Darwin and the Temple of Bloom: The Journey

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I find myself getting anxious to reach my destination. I have the need to stretch my legs. The volume from the call of nature getting louder and clearer. Such is human nature but causes us to allow attractions to go by unnoticed.

On a recent trip to Khong Jiam I saw something interesting out of the corner of my eye. I had been riding for more than an hour so was more focused on the journey’s end. I quickly let it go from my mind and began preparing for exiting the vehicle at Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort.

After checking-in and getting settled into the room, Ting and I walked out to a cliff overlooking the Mekhong. It is the cold season, which is why there was a drop-off to the river. During the height of the monsoon season this same point would, of course, be the river bank.

Again, I noticed something from the corner of my eye. I turned to look and what I saw looked like a golden spear reaching high into the blue heavens and seemingly piercing the cotton-like white clouds. It must be an antenna though for I could hear a message, “Darwin, Darwin, Darwin”. How could I not be drawn to it?

The Call

My attention was taken elsewhere as we tried to decide if the goats grazing on the island in the center of the river are Thai or Laotian. We came to the conclusion they must be Lao as we could see other goats on the far bank and none on our side.

Not much later we decided to head into the village of Khong Jiam. Our goal was to buy a few items from the shops lining the the topside of the river bank. We purchased what we wanted then headed back to the local market and bus terminal with the intent of getting transportation back to Tohsang Khong Jiam Resort.

As we crossed through an intersection the golden antenna came into view again. As I looked it began calling to me once more, “Darwin, Darwin, Darwin.” Was I being seduced into a quest? Did I need to discover why I was being called? The answer evaded me momentarily.

As I turned my eyes from the spear they came to rest on a wide path leading up to a plataeu. I knew now what I had to do. I called out to Ting and nodded in the direction of the path. She didn’t seem to enthusiastic because it was a rather warm day and it appeared to be a sharp ascent. But she finally agreed.

We made the turn and began heading to the pathway up the hill…

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Ubon Darwin and the Temple of Bloom: The Call

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