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

This post via UbonBlog which provides valuable and useful information about: Life and Times in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand . Content you can use.

Ubon Ratchathani Line 3, A leisurely Ride

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When I fist came to Ubon Ratchathani, Line 2 was serviced by a full-sized public bus as a part of Ubon Ratchathani transportation system. During that era I only rode it one time.

I was a bit apprehensive to ride one of these buses due to their obvious state. They must have been in service back in the 60′s or 70′s when Americans and Australians were posted at the Royal Thai Air Force Base, Wing 21.

What I noticed most was their attitude as these white buses made their way down the road. Viewing the vehicle from the front it was easy to see the rear peeking it’s butt out and one side or the other. It appeared as though they were executing a “Tokyo Drift” maneuver while driving in a straight line. Many of the buses also listed to one side or the other like a ship rolling on it’s side just before descending to the bottom of a sea.

The much used buses were finally put to rest and granted a well deserved retirement about a year after I made Ubon my home. They were replaced with the currently used white mini-buses or songtaews.

Line 2, which is white in color, runs south to north from Ubon Ratchathani Train Station to Skill Development Center. It is the line you would take if going to or arriving at the Ubon train station.

Line 2 Route North to South:

• Sathani Road
• Sathit Nimankan Road
• Upparat Road
• Khuan Thani Road
• Luang Road
• Phichit Rangsan Road
• Upparat Road
• Sapphasit Road
• ChaengSanit Road
• Ratchathani Road
• Chayangkun Road
• Highway 231
• Highway 212
• Klang Awut Road

Route Highlights South to North:

• Ubon Ratchathani Train Station
• Warin Chamrap Market/Bus Stop
• Nakhon Chai Air
• Mun River
• Ubon Buri Resort
• Big Market
• Tung Sri Muang Park/Museum
• Ubon Hotel
• Ratchathani Hotel
• Main Post Office
• Wat Tung Sri Muang
• Tokyo Hotel
• Cowboys & Indians Pub
• OTOP
• SK Shopping Mall
• Rajabhat University/Cultural Center
• Ubon International Hotel
• Ubon Sports School
• Lotus
• Nong Bua Market
• M&M Coffee Shop
• Rajavej Hospital
• Labor Office
• Big C
• Makro
• Ubon Bus Terminal
• Skill Development Center

This post via UbonBlog which provides valuable and useful information about: Life and Times in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand . Content you can use.

Ridin’ Line 2 Ubon Ratchathani

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Ubon Songtaew Line 1

Line 1 is the green and yellow songtaew that runs north/south from Highway 24 outside of Warin Chamrap district to Highway 24 on the way to Yasothon not far past the Forestry Office.

It was time to do my research ride so I went over to Chaeng Sanit Rd and caught Line 1 (sai neung), songtaew beside SK Shopping Mall. It was late morning so the mini-bus wasn’t too crowded.

It made it’s way through town and across the Mun River to Warin Chamrap. We made a stop near the Warin Market and most of the passengers got off. One of the remaining passengers was actually the fare taker. She looked me over then asked me in Thai, “Where are you going?”, “pai nai?”. I explained to her as best I could that I was just riding to see where the songtaew traveled. She seemed to understand and it gave her a good laugh.

I had no idea where we were going as I had never been on the 1 Line before. It was evident we weren’t terminating in Warin as we were now speeding out of town on Highway 24. We finally ended up still on Highway 24 almost to Ubon Ratchathani University. All that was there were the songtaews and a few roadside food vendor stalls. I guess that was chosen because there was a place to do a U-turn there to head back the way we had come.

As I disembarked from the rear of the pick-up I noticed all the drivers staring at me. I guess they were thinking I might be lost as there was no place to “go” in the vicinity. Surely I didn’t come all the way out there to get some lunch.

A few of the drivers began laughing at me and shouting over to the people running the food stalls. I couldn’t really blame them. It was a bit strange me riding all the way out there for apparently nothing. Maybe I just got on the wrong songtaew.

After about a 10 minute wait the next truck in the queue fired up his engne and pulled out on the soi. I jumped on the back, ready for my ride to the other end. I was the only rider so for the moment at least I had VIP chauffeur service. Pretty cool.

As we were pulling away, one of the food vendors walked out from her hidden location. She was a nice looking girl not yet 30 years of age. She yelled at me, “hello!!” and waved. I promptly returned the greeting. She continued to stare at me as we drove onto the highway and I heard her shout, “I love you.”

I knew she was only joking, (pood len) as she doesn’t know me at all. Besides that I am no longer a young stud and my body is in need of a major makeover. But it’s still good for the male ego to hear such things. We made our U-turn and she hadn’t moved. The last I saw of her she smiled and blew a kiss in my direction. Ah, what can I say? Amazing Thailand.

That was my experience riding the Line 1 songtaew in Ubon Ratchathani.

Route North to South:

Highway 24; Upparat Rd,; Phrom Rat Rd.; Khuan Thani Rd,; Burapha Nai Rd,; Sapphasit Rd,; Chaeng Sanit Rd,; Highway 231; Highway 23.

Route Highlights:

Warin Market & Bus Terminal; Nakhon Chai Air; Mun River; Big Market; Srigamon Hotel; Oliva Italian Restaurant; Ubonrak Thonburi Hospital; Nanatana 3 Coffee Shop; Jumpahom Restaurant; Sapphasit Hospital; Police Station; Sincere Restaurant; Intro Pub Indo Jeen Restaurant; Cowboys & Indians Pub; SK Shopping Mall; Rajabhat University & Cultural Center; Makro; Bus Terminal; Kwan Na Tong Restaurant.

Never know what can happen when you get out and mingle.

UPDATE:

Since I originally wrote and published this post there have been some changes. Now line 1 has extended its route to past Ubon Ratchathani University. That means there are now 3 buses you can use to go out to Ma Ubon.

Several people have experienced confusion about what mini-bus goes where. I have been asked if I could create and post a map with the routes. After much frustration and hair-pulling I have made a page for Line 1 that includes an interative map with the route traced with periodic markers. If you are curious about the finished product you can go test it out here, Line 1 map test page.

This post via UbonBlog which provides valuable and useful information about: Life and Times in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand . Content you can use.

Line 1 Ubon Ratchathani

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