Under normal circumstances, Songkran lasts a week where I live. It's just too much. How can that shit possibly be fun after days and days of doing the exact same shit?

 

Anyway, I normally escape to elsewhere. Last year I went to Samui and had a great time. Songkran is just a day, then all returns to normal. One time I was in Hua Hin, another place that does just a day, and it was fine. But this time I decided to do a road trip to Isaan with a buddy of mine. Just looking to get out of town, as it were. We decided to do 2 days each in Udon, Nong Khai and Khon Kaen. I'd been to 2 of the 3 places before and had good times, so I thought this would be about the same.

 

We did Udon first. Songkran throughout Isaan lasts 3 days, in case anyone reading this didnt already know that. So we were in Udon for the start of things. It was fine. Plastic protector for the phone, walk around in swim trunks all day, buckets and water guns and all that jazz. Same thing every year. I did like the fact that nearly everyone in Udon politely asked (ok, mai?) before including you in the games. It was a nice touch. One I didnt see elsewhere.

 

Once the night rolled around, we began to see the problem that would plague us the whole trip... about half the bars were closed so that the staff could go home and be with family.

 

So with just half the normal girls around, and the farang-oriented nightlife already being a pretty small affair, I never found anyone I liked. My travel buddy did, but then again he's only lived in Thailand for 8 months so he's way less picky than I am after nearly 5 years. The first night the gal had been coached by a co-worker to ask for stupid money (3K LT). My friend left her sitting there and walked off. The next day she called him over and they set up a time for later and agreed to 1500 LT. He was happy enough with the gal and the service.

 

On we went to Nong Khai, where unfortunately 75% of the bars were closed. Considering there's less than 10 total, the choices were few indeed. There was still lots of water play going on along the main drag, but not enough of the girly bars were open to really see much along that particular street. I spent most of my 2 days hiding from the 100+ degree heat in my aircon hotel room. Neither of us found anyone we were interested in taking.

 

Then finally on to Khon Kaen. Again we had the same problem... about half the bars closed and of the ones that remained open, only half of the usual staff was working. Eric's bar was the only place that seemed to have any decent choice at all. The most beautiful gals were sitting outside the karaoke place beside Aussie Bar, but I didnt feel like trying the whole Karaoke thing just to be sitting with them... seems like a waste of money. We gave up on the bars and agreed we'd later try Rad, a nightclub and FL hotspot I'd read much about online. Unfortunately, it seems gone now. We walked over to U-bar, another nightclub type venue, but there didnt appear to be a single farang in the place. Very thai-centric.

 

So there ya have it...  lesson learned... if I am in this situation again, me and my buddy have agreed we'll just go to another country entirely. Due to the drought, they cut the water throwing in Chiang Mai to just 3 days, but by the time they did we had already made our plans and booked our reservations. Had I known it would just be 3 days, I probably would've just stayed home. I think any of these 3 towns are normally decent for a night or two, but not during this holiday because there's just too much closed and of those that dont close, only a few choices remain behind. If you're looking for available company during Songkran, Isaan is a poor choice. 

 

As I said though, lesson learned... next time, we'll just go elsewhere. 

Edited April 17, 201610 yr by WarProfiteer

Under normal circumstances, Songkran lasts a week where I live. It's just too much. How can that shit possibly be fun after days and days of doing the exact same shit?

 

Anyway, I normally escape to elsewhere. Last year I went to Samui and had a great time. Songkran is just a day, then all returns to normal. One time I was in Hua Hin, another place that does just a day, and it was fine. But this time I decided to do a road trip to Isaan with a buddy of mine. Just looking to get out of town, as it were. We decided to do 2 days each in Udon, Nong Khai and Khon Kaen. I'd been to 2 of the 3 places before and had good times, so I thought this would be about the same.

 

We did Udon first. Songkran throughout Isaan lasts 3 days, in case anyone reading this didnt already know that. So we were in Udon for the start of things. It was fine. Plastic protector for the phone, walk around in swim trunks all day, buckets and water guns and all that jazz. Same thing every year. I did like the fact that nearly everyone in Udon politely asked (ok, mai?) before including you in the games. It was a nice touch. One I didnt see elsewhere.

 

Once the night rolled around, we began to see the problem that would plague us the whole trip... about half the bars were closed so that the staff could go home and be with family.

 

So with just half the normal girls around, and the farang-oriented nightlife already being a pretty small affair, I never found anyone I liked. My travel buddy did, but then again he's only lived in Thailand for 8 months so he's way less picky than I am after nearly 5 years. The first night the gal had been coached by a co-worker to ask for stupid money (3K LT). My friend left her sitting there and walked off. The next day she called him over and they set up a time for later and agreed to 1500 LT. He was happy enough with the gal and the service.

 

On we went to Nong Khai, where unfortunately 75% of the bars were closed. Considering there's less than 10 total, the choices were few indeed. There was still lots of water play going on along the main drag, but not enough of the girly bars were open to really see much along that particular street. I spent most of my 2 days hiding from the 100+ degree heat in my aircon hotel room. Neither of us found anyone we were interested in taking.

 

Then finally on to Khon Kaen. Again we had the same problem... about half the bars closed and of the ones that remained open, only half of the usual staff was working. Eric's bar was the only place that seemed to have any decent choice at all. The most beautiful gals were sitting outside the karaoke place beside Aussie Bar, but I didnt feel like trying the whole Karaoke thing just to be sitting with them... seems like a waste of money. We gave up on the bars and agreed we'd later try Rad, a nightclub and FL hotspot I'd read much about online. Unfortunately, it seems gone now. We walked over to U-bar, another nightclub type venue, but there didnt appear to be a single farang in the place. Very thai-centric.

 

So there ya have it...  lesson learned... if I am in this situation again, me and my buddy have agreed we'll just go to another country entirely. Due to the drought, they cut the water throwing in Chiang Mai to just 3 days, but by the time they did we had already made our plans and booked our reservations. Had I known it would just be 3 days, I probably would've just stayed home. I think any of these 3 towns are normally decent for a night or two, but not during this holiday because there's just too much closed and of those that dont close, only a few choices remain behind. If you're looking for available company during Songkran, Isaan is a poor choice. 

 

As I said though, lesson learned... next time, we'll just go elsewhere. 

Autsch.555.

Nong Khai is really bad all year round. Udon pretty good usually.

Good to know

Cant beat the prices in Nong Khai though... 1000 baht for LT and they're overjoyed to get it!

 

It's worth looking around up there, imo. You wont find anyone that looks like they should be in a Pattaya gogo, but certainly there's some acceptable company to be found. You will need to speak at least some Thai though.

 

In Udon and Khon Kaen, 1500-2000 seemed to be more the normal asking price. LD prices are higher too (esp in Udon), as are the barfines. I think my buddy paid 250 baht for his barfine in Nong Khai last time... that's half what they charge in Udon.

Side note... it could just be ignorance, but we were surprised at the lack of cheaper food options in Khon Kaen. I can eat in a western run place in Chiang Mai (a noted tourist destination) for 150-190 baht. In Udon, there's the Irish Clock of course, but also several other places up and down that street with acceptable western food at around the 200 baht price point. Seems few farangs have ventured to open restaurants in Khon Kaen though... we mostly at the same one... the one right there between the Pullman and Kosa hotels. Forgot the name. But it wasnt cheap at all with dishes starting at 250 baht and going up through the 400 range. Didnt see any decent/cheap Thai food options nearby either. I was going to ask the local working girls where they eat.