photo credit: simminch

We are really quite fortunate living here in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. We never have to experience anything too extreme when it comes to weather and natural disasters.

The photo above is of the Montana Hotel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A sad sight and seeing the name makes me realize how safe we have it in Ubon. Our Montana Hotel is still standing.

We might have a few things to complain about here. Things like the traffic, the heat and humidity, the heavy rain or the lack of something we want from our past lives in other places. These things are all just inconveniences compare to what happens in other parts of the world.

We don’t have to live in fear of tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, bitter deathly cold, a war zone, or earthquakes. So you see we do have a lot to be grateful for where we live.

In Haiti, others have not been so fortunate. The after affects of an earthquake has killed and torn lives apart. When seeing the devastation and reading the sad stories it moves the heart to want to help in some way.

Maybe there is no way you can go there and pitch in with your time and energy to render aide but you can give of your money. Many charitable organizations are raising funds, such as Red Cross and Unicef. If you have a Twitter account there is a thread or two dedicated to helping Haiti.

If you are able and willing it would be a great humanitarian gesture to donate something to help those less fortunate.  If nothing else say a prayer in the manner that is your belief for the survivors, victims and those there helping.

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Ubon Ratchathani Can Help Haiti

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The girl is Tai Oratai, a local Ubon girl made good. She is more than just a pretty face though. As you listen and watch you will see she is also blessed with talent.

The song and music are Isaan born and bred. The music, lyrics and delivery give you a sense of what Ubon and Isaan are all about.

The location of the video is at a place known as Sam Pan Bok a Thai name meaning Three Thousand Holes. I didn’t count them when I visited, just took their word for it.

Sit back and enjoy one of the reasons, We Love Ubon.

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Beautiful Girl, Song, Scenes From Ubon Ratchathani

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A photograph from 1968 shows Tung Sri Muang, City Field, as not much more than a large grassy bare area. It is difficult to find historical archives so I must just imagine it was basically there for provincial ceremonies and functions, religious ceremonies and functions, and festivals. Looking at the photograph I was reminded of the many parade fields I stood and marched upon for change of command and other military ceremonies during my days in uniform.

Today Tung Sri Muang looks much different than it did even back in 1968. It has evolved and expanded its character and the services it provides.

Joss House at the end of red brick road

Entering through the north gate you confront a wide red brick road that leads directly to Joss House. Maybe this should be the first place visited to pray for luck and good fortune. You will have crossed the moat that surrounds the city park and inside that a red brick jogging or walking path that mirrors the moat.

Pumping Cement Station

Looking around at 11:00 the park is mostly deserted. The visitors I see are lovers catching some semi-private time on benches beneath shade trees, talking and just being close. A few motivated individuals are pumping cement, building muscle with the weights provided by Tung Sri Muang. Others are catching a late morning nap stretched out on one of the many benches.

Lone morning jogger at Tung Sri Muang

A lone jogger is braving the sun and unseasonably warm temperatures to get an aerobic workout. Another was testing out one of the many circuit training sets scattered around the park.

Circuit Training Station

At this time of day it might be lonely but as the sun begins dipping into the western horizon to bring a new day to other places, the locals begin migrating to Tung Sri Muang. Many come to participate in community exercise. In the evening you will find the park crowded with people doing aerobics, jogging, playing basketball, making the rounds of circuit training, pumping cement, or maybe just walking and talking with a friend.

Station 8 Sign - Circuit Training

It maybe be labeled as exercise but observing the scene I think you will agree it is more a social event. A place to catch up on gossip, the latest news and secrets, share stories of the day and enjoy company. As the masses begin departing sweaty and spent many make their way to one of the many food vendors around the perimeter of the park to pick up some dinner.

Monument of Merit

I began walking around the field with my trusty JVC cam trying to capture the essence of Tung Sri Muang past and present. In the far northeast corner there stands a concrete platform. It is mostly used in the evenings by an aerobics instructor and speakers to guide the crowd moving their bodies to the rhythm of the music.

But this same place is home to a monument of historical importance in the history of Ubon Ratchathani. During WWII Japanese soldiers “occupied” portions of Thailand. Many were involved in the major project of  constructing a railway to Burma. Ubon Ratchathani played a role in this project however minor it might have been.

Allied prisoners of war, mostly Australian, British, New Zealand and French, were brought to Ubon for the purpose of forced labor. The plight and treatment of the POW’s didn’t go unnoticed by the locals. A feeling of sympathy towards fellow humans caused many Ubonites to risk death or injury to supply aide to others.

After the war ended and the allies returned home they did not forget the charity and kindness the received from the people of Ubon Ratchathani. They got together and raised funds to commission a monument to commemorate those who risked so much to help them.

Monument of Merit dedication plate

This monument, named, “Monument of Merit“, resides on that platform in the northeast corner of Tung Sri Muang Ubon Ratchathani. This day sadly, I had to clean the dirt and bird calling cards from the surface of the plaque to read it. It was translated from Thai with errors but the gist and message is clear, gratitude and appreciation for those from Ubon who helped them survive. For me, I wish there was more information and stories about those for whom the monument stands.

Engraving identifying Monument of Merit

Moving away from the monument I passed a university student doing her homework and a young couple on a bench, the male stretched out with his head on her lap. Then there is another monument much better taken care of commemorating one of the founding fathers of Ubon. Here at the feet and around the statue lay garlands to pay homage.

Part of Ubon history

Next, a relatively new fixture in the park, is an open air lanai populated with a family of exercise machines. They seemed to be resting before the nightly visitors arrive to give them their daily workouts.

Fitness Lanai

Crossing the red brick road to the large grassy area, I looked to the south at the Joss House and noticed Ubon Hotel staring back at me. In its time Ubon Hotel towered as the tallest structure in Ubon. It has surrendered this status to other Ubon giants today.

Ubon Hotel

In the cnter of the grassy field stands the Provincial Shrine. It is, of course, a large wax sculpture candle creation to signify Ubon’s strong connection to the annual Candle Festival help each year in celebration of Khao Punsaa or Buddhist Lent. It has become an unofficial logo or icon of Ubon.

Big Ubon icon Candle

Walking along the jogging path I noticed the exercise machines of the many stations of the Circuit Training Program. Lost in observation I was startled by the sound of some young voices, “hello, hello.” A group of students who were out on a field trip for Science Day were taking a break in the park and wanted to practise their English with the lone farang walking around the place.

Students on break in the park

The conversation was short lived as their English was extremely limited. They were surprised that this farang could speak to them in Thai. It was a pleasant interlude and one of the nice experiences to be enjoyed when out and about amongst the locals.

Joss House Interior

After a brief visit to Joss House I made my way back to the northern gate to head out somewhere to grab some lunch. I entered the southern gate and to my right are basketball courts and bleachers. Now, in the hot morning sun, the courts were deserted. In a few hours time groups of young Thai male Michael Jordan wannabes will be there showing their skills and talents. The quiet will be replaced with jump shots, lay ups, free throws, dribbles, passes, hand checks and body checks.

Tung Sri Muang Basketball Courts

As I made my way passed the cement weight training station I heard and another hello and noticed it came from a Caucasian gentleman this time, I guess I wasn’t the only farang in the park.  He turned out to be a fellow American from Virginia. He was in Ubon with his wife, an Ubon native, visiting her family. Though he is from Virginia he lives and works as a teaching in Japan.

My intention had been to take some action to cease the noise erupting  from my stomach but it turned out I had a pleasant 45 minute conversation with my new friend. Though I have visited Tung Sri Muang many times during my tenure in Ubon I left on this day, as with every visit, feeling I had learned something new and added another memory to my library.

Tung Sri Muang Ubon Ratchathani holds on to it’s past and continues to provide the people of Ubon a sacred place in the center of town to host ceremonies and festivals. It had also added design and a place to get and keep fit. It is also a place for socializing, meeting old friends and making new friends. This might just be the social center of Ubon whether its impromptu or by design.

Go make a friend at and of Tung Sri Muang of Ubon Ratchathani Thailand today.

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

Tung Sri Muang of Ubon Ratchathani Thailand

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My first exposure to Ubon Ratchathani was back in 1999. I was sent here while still active duty soldier to participate in joint training with the Royal Thai Army and Air Force. I got the impression I was in a quiet country town filled with working class people. My first time here the stay only lasted about a week. But I did enjoy myself.

Next visit to Ubon was October 2000. I was out of the military and after a year in the states I decided to spend some time in Thailand. I found a job teaching English here and made it my home. That was 9 years ago and I am still living here.

During the past nine years of living here and with contacts from my website and this blog I have heard a wide variety of reasons for ending up in or passing through Ubon Ratchathani. Often times through mutual agreement the couple will set up a new life together and make Ubon their home.

Other couples in love met elsewhere outside of Ubon and come back here to visit. The foreign half of the relationship is brought back to meet and visit the family and community. The new love gets to participate in traditions and ceremonies and gets an introduction and glimpse into rural village life.

There are also couples who chose to live in the homeland of the foreign half of the partnership. They make trips to Ubon to spend time with family and see how the province has changed. It is not uncommon after retirement for these couples to come live here.

Return To Memories

During the 60′s and early 70′s, Ubon Ratchathani provided bases for soldiers and airmen supporting forces in Viet Nam. Though they were in the military they had a unique opportunity to experience Thai culture and lifestyle.

Many of the soldiers and airmen who were from U.S, UK and Australia made lifelong friends here in Ubon Ratchathani. Not all but some, remembering that special chapter in their life, return to catch up with old friends and see the changes that have occured in the 30 years or so since they left.

I have also come in contact with a few that actually came back her to live either year round or for 6 months a year.

Love

There are a number of foreign residents of Ubon Ratchathani, both male and female, who by some means met and fell in love with a local Ubon resident. Through mutual agreement they decide to come set up a new life together here.  The ones I have come in contact with are happy and content with their lives.

Some come here only for visits. The couple met working or traveling outside of the province. They come here so the foreign half of the partnership can meet the family and get a glimpse of rural village life. Usually they will be required to participate in ceremonies and traditions such as the extended family buffet meal.

Another group who come to Ubon due to love are Thai/caucasian couples who decided to live in the western homeland. They travel back home to visit with family, catch up on the latest news and get a dose of Thai culture.

Teach English

I fell into this category originally. I have known and know many expats who come to Ubon specifically to teach at one of the local schools. Some come here by chance, as in it is the place they could find work and were offered a position.

Others chose to come here. They might be tired of life in Bangkok or Chon Buri and want a slower, quieter lifestyle. Also, the cost of living is a lot less in Ubon than in those other areas.

Volunteers or Exchange Students

This is quiet common. Schools out in the rural areas are often quite poor. They look for volunteers to come and teach their students English.

Many of the volunteers will either live at the school or stay with a local family who has volunteered to be their sponsor. It works out for all. The volunteer gets to make a contribution while at the same time getting a unique life experience.

The  school gets a good learning experience for their students and an English tutor for the teaches. The village also gets to see how other people outside of Thailand live and think.

Foreign exchange programs place mostly young people not only in schools as students but also positions to live and work in a rural Thai setting. Most travelers I have met in this category are loving it. One reason is the locals treat them like minor celebrities and they find themselves special guests at many parties and other social gatherings.

Thai Buddhism

I have seen reports that Ubon Ratchathani has the highest density of Thai Buddhist Temples in all of Thailand. That might be the reason so many foreigner come here to explore Buddhism on many levels.

Many come to spend time learning. Wat Pa Nana Chat which ws established to educate non-Thai speaking people who want to study Buddhism or possibly become a monk.

Others come here to explore the many temples with their range of stories and architecture.

Muay Thai

Ubon Ratchathani has several highly reputable Muay Thai training facilities, as well as several more that offer a more personalized one on one training. The former offers dormitories and other amenities where as the latter offers the student to live with the trainer and family.

There are always foreigners here participating in Muay Thai training in one level or another.

Miscellaneous

Some people travel to Ubon Ratchathani once a year to participate in the Candle Festival celebration and activities. Others come here to observe first hand life in rural Thailand. Still others come here to natural attractions along the Mekhong.

I have met one man who came here to conduct research and another man from Germany who was using Ubon as a pit stop on his way to Laos.

As you can see there are many reseasons the compel people to travel to Ubon Rarchathani, Thailand. What is your reason?

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

Why People Travel to Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

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