4-5 day tour of lower Isaan

[The Sly Fox]

Considering a 4-5 day/night motor trip around the lower Isaan provinces of Surin, Sisaket & Buriram. So would like to hear from any BMs who have looked around those provinces in the past and can recommend some nice affordable hotels, the must-see attractions in the area, plus any other tips at all - good restaurants/pubs. Not interested in mongering as I'll be with my tirak, just plain old tourist stuff...lol

 

Thanks in advance guys.

[SemperFiGuy]

Considering a 4-5 day/night motor trip around the lower Isaan provinces of Surin, Sisaket & Buriram. So would like to hear from any BMs who have looked around those provinces in the past and can recommend some nice affordable hotels, the must-see attractions in the area, plus any other tips at all - good restaurants/pubs. Not interested in mongering as I'll be with my tirak, just plain old tourist stuff...lol

 

Thanks in advance guys.

Hey, SlyFox!---  Hope you'll get a ton of great suggestions!  The tour you described is one I'd like to take someday!

[Sick Water Buffalo]

Phanom Rung is on my list if I ever take an Issan tour.

[tweedle-dee]

Phanom Rung is on my list if I ever take an Issan tour.

Great day out and there is a sister temple to visit but less obvious up the same road.

[tweedle-dee]

Great day out and there is a sister temple to visit but less obvious up the same road.

Oh and google the million bottle temple, quite incredible place!

[The Sly Fox]

Phanom Rung Historical Park: I never been to this but have seen it mentioned many times. That's in Buriram. How's the admission on this? I think it's one of those places that slugs foreigners, I do have a Thai DL, does that help?

 

Just G'd the Million Beer Bottle Temple, that's in Sisaket, near Cambodian border. Looks like a must. Never heard of that until today. Name is WAT PA MAHA CHEDI KAEW.

 

Has anyone been to that disputed temple on Thai/Cambo border in Sisaket? Forget the name at the moment, I'm not sure if it's open or not. I know a couple years ago they were shelling each other over it.

[The Sly Fox]

Hey, SlyFox!---  Hope you'll get a ton of great suggestions!  The tour you described is one I'd like to take someday!

Tirak is from Korat and she's going home next week, I told her I'll come and pick her up in about 10-12 days time to bring her home, but while I'm up that way thought might do a short tour around.

 

We'll even go and visit Twuddles, and get him drunk so much that he becomes a public disgrace and gets driven out of town by the Shaolin Monks.

[tweedle-dee]

Tirak is from Korat and she's going home next week, I told her I'll come and pick her up in about 10-12 days time to bring her home, but while I'm up that way thought might do a short tour around.

 

We'll even go and visit Twuddles, and get him drunk so much that he becomes a public disgrace and gets driven out of town by the Shaolin Monks.

I love threats like this!  Oh as for the rung and other national places of interest,show them your drivers licence and smile

[rabbitoh]

Chong Chom

Markets is good

Cheap and on the Cambodian border

Can also

Cross the border and go to the casino

In Osmach

[SemperFiGuy]

Tirak is from Korat and she's going home next week, I told her I'll come and pick her up in about 10-12 days time to bring her home, but while I'm up that way thought might do a short tour around.

 

We'll even go and visit Twuddles, and get him drunk so much that he becomes a public disgrace and gets driven out of town by the Shaolin Monks.

Shaolin Monks????  Hope these aren't the same bunch featured in all those 1970s King Fu movies!  LOL

[The Sly Fox]

Shaolin Monks????  Hope these aren't the same bunch featured in all those 1970s King Fu movies!  LOL

You can hire them from the Beer Bottle Temple, after they empty the bottles you bring them they're up for a nasty rumble.

[The Sly Fox]

Chong Chom

Markets is good

Cheap and on the Cambodian border

Can also

Cross the border and go to the casino

In Osmach

Cheers, I've been there a couple times, I was initially thinking about entering Cambo at O'smach and going to Siem Reap...and we may still do so...need to look at finances, if enough to Siem Reap, not enough then short trip around Surin/Buriram.

[The Sly Fox]

I love threats like this!  Oh as for the rung and other national places of interest,show them your drivers licence and smile

That usually does work but not always, once a bitch on the gate at Phimai wouldn't give me Thai price even though I showed her Thai DL. She said if I don't have Thai citizenship I'm a foreigner and can pay the foreigner price. So I told her to shove it. 

 

But a smile + Thai DL will usually get the Thai admission price.

[Goanna]

Prah viharn was half closed last year. You pay full price at the entrance, and they don't tell you that you can see fuck all. Check before wasto g your time.

[The Sly Fox]

Prah viharn was half closed last year. You pay full price at the entrance, and they don't tell you that you can see fuck all. Check before wasto g your time.

Good tip mate, many thanks. I think it's a bit off the track anyway so I'll pass it up, plenty old Khmer temples to see around Buriram.

[themosch]

Sisaket has some nice waterfalls, especially Samrongkiat waterfall in Khun han district is beautifull and free entrance. Huai chan waterfall is nice to !

 

This hotel is 10 km of highway 24 in Khukhan sisaket province great new rooms in concrete building only 400 Baht/night with AC. Not the rooms on the card !

[The Sly Fox]

@themosc: many thanks mate, I've made a note of that info.

[Skalliwag]

Surin Thani in Surin is nice.

Has a body massage place in the basement.

I think I paid 800 baht couple of years ago.

That's my halfway point when I head up country so I've stayed there a few times.

[J1066]

Phanom Rung is on my list if I ever take an Issan tour.

 

Great day out and there is a sister temple to visit but less obvious up the same road.

 

There is another temple I did on the same day as Phanom Rung  - much smaller, but more remote, called Muang Tam. Not many tourists (but that was base in 1990s)

 

Also big ruins of Khmer temple at  Phimai - one of the best in Thailand.

 

Can't remember name of guest houses I stayed in - too long ago and memory is knackered !

 

In Khorat I stayed in Siri hotel - great massage place next door. Was my first introduction to Thai women and what a pleasure that was. 

[The Sly Fox]

There is another temple I did on the same day as Phanom Rung  - much smaller, but more remote, called Muang Tam. Not many tourists (but that was base in 1990s)

 

Also big ruins of Khmer temple at  Phimai - one of the best in Thailand.

 

Can't remember name of guest houses I stayed in - too long ago and memory is knackered !

 

In Khorat I stayed in Siri hotel - great massage place next door. Was my first introduction to Thai women and what a pleasure that was. 

Yes, Phimai is nice, I like the little town there too, it's nice to walk around, there are lots of smaller ruins scattered around the area.

[Captain Courageous]

Hey, SlyFox!---  Hope you'll get a ton of great suggestions!  The tour you described is one I'd like to take someday!

You can include me in that one fellas, but I'll monger there too.

[Captain Courageous]

Tirak is from Korat and she's going home next week, I told her I'll come and pick her up in about 10-12 days time to bring her home, but while I'm up that way thought might do a short tour around.

 

We'll even go and visit Twuddles, and get him drunk so much that he becomes a public disgrace and gets driven out of town by the Shaolin Monks.

 

Shaolin Monks ; now that brings back some TV memories !    "How do I know when to leave Master" ......"When you can snatch the Pussy from my hand Grasshopper".  

[The Sly Fox]

How's this for rotten bad luck. Missis is going home to Korat on Monday, leaving me alone in Pattaya for the next 2 weeks. So what you think? Foxy can have a ball being alone in Patts? 

 

Nah, couple days ago I start developing flu-like symptoms, chest infection, cough. Went to the doc and now taking antibiotics. Will probably take 2-3 weeks or more to shake this fucking bug off. So for the next couple weeks while alone in Patts - no drinking, certainly no icy-cold drinks, can't sit in bars as cig smoke will send me into fits of coughing. 

 

Yeah, yippeeeeeee Foxy is gonna have a far-fucking-out time sitting home alone taking his medicine.

[The Sly Fox]

You can include me in that one fellas, but I'll monger there too.

Even when I go on trips with Tirak my old monger eyes are everywhere taking it all in, so Capt. when i see something worth reporting back to you I will do so.

[udontony]

 

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Has anyone been to that disputed temple on Thai/Cambo border in Sisaket? Forget the name at the moment, I'm not sure if it's open or not. I know a couple years ago they were shelling each other over it.

Went there just over a year ago and it was all open on the Thai side but only as far as the the lookout across to the main temple.  There were many things to see there, mainly the spectacular views across into Cambodia over the big cliffs with massive drops.  Monkeys running around on the top of the cliffs and the soldiers there making money from taking snap shots for the tourists.  Driving license allows you to get in at Thai price which from memory was 20 baht.  Since we were there I know there has been some agreement with Cambodia over the temple but no idea if you can now get everywhere.