Every month or so I make an Isaan trip. Previously and even more so now(fuel at Bht26+/liter), I find it better to fly on AirAsia to Khon Kaen or Ubon Ratchathani and rent a car from Budget at the airport(Call Budget or e-mail them for a reservation to their RCA, Bangkok office). That way you arrive in the heart of the place fresh and with less expense. If you drive from Bangkok, the route is not so interesting and a waste of time. Khorat really isn't real Isaan and apart from the swimming pool on the roof of The Mall, not so exciting.
At Khon Kaen you have the large lake to cruise (south and south-west end) and walking distance from The Beach and a very beautiful square temple. There is another sauna called Dolphins on Srichan soi Supathera..Walking distance from Sofitel. It has massage but not tried yet.
In Khon Kaen, Fairy Mall is pretty ok. Also if you have a car, take a long drive through Khon Kaen University...it is a huge campus and very interesting...take a snack in the student rec areas and chat to some boys there...they like to chat.
After Khon Kaen, head east to Mahasarakhan and drive through the Mahasarakhan and Ratchaphat universities...teaming with talent. Mahasarakhan uni is the area's best/largest uni for teaching English. There is a new, small mall in the city centre called SermThai Plaza that is cruisy. On the way to Mahasarakhan from Khon Kaen you will see signs to Isaan Jurassic Park..It’s in Kalasin and worth a visit if you have time...it's a museum with dino relics and excavations.
Contrary to what you might expect, Isaan is not packed with cute boys..they mostly seem to have gone to Bangkok already. But at the universities you will see hoards of them...very few deeper in the country side.
After Mahasarakhan, head for Yasothon and then Ubon. Stay at Nevada Hotel or Inn.....or Ratchaphat Hotel(A huge edifice built for the government and then handed over to Ratchaphat uni to run as a hotel). In the central Candle park, there are some commercial guys at night..never found a good one. The rent boy shop is on Phrommarat Rd...do not go near...let your Thai friend go alone.
At the south end of Udon province, just inside Si Siket, is access to Phra Vihan temple. It is very interesting and beautifully perched on a high hill just 3 kms inside Cambodia and overlooks Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. You have to walk the 3 kms..but it's worth it and the Cambodian guide boys are super pleasant.
From Ubon, head east to Phibun and Kong Chiam at the confluence of the Mun and Mekong rivers, From Mae Nam on the river bank, you can rent a little boat for Bht200 to take you across the river to a Laos village where you pay Bht50 to the local police in lieu of visa and shop around and buy stuff cheaply.
Then head north and follow the Mekong River all the way via Nakhon Phanom(stay a night on the river and mingle with the lads on the river bank in the evening). Then continue all the way up and around to Nhong Khai. Stay at the guest houses on the river bank and eat there also..often many cute waiters. If you want to pay the $30 plus taxi, then visit Vientiane for a night across the Friendship bridge. Leave the car at some hotel car park in Nong Khai. Then head west along the Mekong to Chiang Khan..stay on river bank in many cheap and good guest houses...all seem to serve muesli for breakfast. Then head south to Loei...just west of Loei, there is a lake where they tow you out to the middle on a raft and then bring food out to you after you send signals using flags on a pole. You can have scintillating sex in a perfect setting if you have the right guy with you.
Then head for Nong Bua and Udon Thani. Visit Robinson's mall and eat at Sizzler on the roof. Just opposite and to the right is a boy bar, but it's deteriorated into a mindless karaoke place..but used to have some fantastic lads a few years back. then drive back to Khon Kaen.
It is more interesting to use some of he gay web chat sites to find lads living in the area before you go to act as guides and hosts.
Now is a good time to go as the scenery is stunning in the rice areas with all the recent rains.
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