Thailand Off the Beaten Path Blog

One aspect of the Thai language that is critical to understanding Thai people, and successfully navigating through life in Thailand, is the word “jai” (ใจ). The Thai word “jai” encompasses 3 meanings: “heart,” “mind,” and “spirit”. This linguistic phenomenon significantly impacts Thai culture, psychology, and human relationships — for it reflects a holistic view of […]

One of the most common butterflies in Thailand is the Common Mormon, a species of Swallowtail butterfly. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Common Mormon butterfly is its mimicry behavior. It exhibits multiple forms, each mimicking different toxic or inedible butterfly species. This mimicry provides protection from Thai predators as they mistake the […]

In past years, Twitter (now known as X) wasn’t a major player on Thailand’s social media scene, compared to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok. For one reason or another, many Thais and expats in Thailand started Twitter accounts but then abandoned them after awhile (likely due to lack of engagement). However, […]

Thailand famously is known as “The Land of Smiles”. The Thai smile’s legendary status can be traced all the way back to the Ayutthaya Period (14th – 18th Centuries), with foreigners writing in travelogues about “Yim Siam” (ยิ้มสยาม) — the word “yim” meaning smile in the Thai language. Westerners, who have a tendency to frown […]

Much has been written about Thailand’s struggle to learn the English language. Nearly every year there is hand-wringing over Thailand’s basement floor ranking in English acquisition among Southeast Asian countries. Thai Education Ministers from multiple ruling parties have long championed “education reform” as a top objective. Having taught at Thai universities for for two decades, […]

To fully understand Thai culture and the Thai way of life, one must always keep “harmony” at the forefront of your thoughts. From face-saving culture and the avoidance of conflicts to the flexible nature of Thai time and art of being “greng jai,” the preservation of harmony is a driving force that shapes behavior in […]

Arokhayasala at Kham Pramong Temple in Sakon Nakhon is one of Thailand’s most prominent alternative cancer treatment centers. Established in 2004 by the Buddhist monk Pra Ajarn Paponpat Jiradhammo (who once cured himself of cancer), Arokhayasala is the first traditional Thai medicine hospital dedicated to treating cancer patients. It’s traditional approach is integrated with modern […]

If you live in Thailand, the traditional “wai” (ไหว้) greeting is a regular part of daily life. We wai so often, however, that it’s easy to lose sight of the greeting’s spiritual and cultural significance. And when that happens, we run the risk of making a casual, perfunctory wai — which potentially could offend the […]

Ask a Thai college student what job they want after graduation, and they often will say, “Mâi yàak bpen lôok jâang!” (ไม่อยากเป็นลูกจ้าง), which means, “I don’t want to be an employee.” This isn’t surprising considering that over 50% of Thais are self-employed, and over 65% of those who don’t have a job yet want to […]

Previously we talked about how Tak province produces some of the best Robusta coffee in Thailand. A close competitor are the coffee growers in nearby Kanchanaburi province. These farmers, like those in Tak, are largely members of the Karen mountain tribe. In recent years, they have developed boutique coffee plantations in the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife […]

The Northeast of Thailand is called Isaan. It also is spelled Isan, Esan, or Esarn, as there is no single accepted way to transcribe Thai words into English. The official language of Isaan is Thai. However, the language commonly spoken among friends and family members is the Thai dialect also known as Isaan. This dialect […]

While Buddhism is the National Religion of Thailand, with 92.5% of the population identifying as Buddhists, the Christian religion has a strong (albeit small) presence in the Kingdom. There are close to a million Catholics and Protestants in Thailand (or 1.4% of the population), with Catholics making important contributions to Thai education, operating over 300 […]

If you live in Thailand, you likely have had unwelcome ants in your home, especially on kitchen countertops and cabinets. During the rainy season, ants become even more plentiful as they escape their flooded nests in search of someplace dry, such as behind the ceilings or walls of a Thai house. The Best Ant Killer/Bait […]

Wan Khao Phansa (เข้าพรรษา) literally means “Rainy Season Entrance Day,” but colloquially it means Buddhist Lent Day. In Thailand, the 3 month Buddhist Lent period also is called Phak Fon (พักฝน), which means the “Rains Retreat,” because this is the time when Buddhist monks must stop taking pilgrimages and remain in a Thai temple until […]

There is a common misconception that Thailand doesn’t take punctuality seriously, that it isn’t considered a Thai virtue (such as being greng jai is). While it is true that many Thai people are regularly late and seem to have a “flexible” view of time, punctuality long has been considered a virtue in Thailand and a […]

Nang Kwak is a revered figure in Thai folklore and popular culture. She often is called the Goddess of Wealth & Good Luck or the Patron Saint of merchants and Thai shop owners. While she is not worshiped universally by all Thais, statues, figurines, and posters of her can be seen in offices and houses […]

Asahna Bucha Day (วันอาสาฬหบูชา) is a Thai religious holiday that marks the day when the Buddha gave his first sermon on the Dharma. The Dharma describes the nature of reality and the conduct required for personal liberation and the cessation of suffering, as encapsulated in the 8-fold path. Thailand is the only country in the […]

Phu Pha Yon Mountain, which is part of Phu Pha Yon National Park, is one of the best places in Thailand for people who love nature, history, and the spiritual life. Phu Pha Yon translates to “Sacred Mountain”. It is the location of the Phu Pha Yon Petroglyphs: ancient rocks carvings that are over 3,500 […]

Giant millipedes in Thailand have an average length of around 6-8 inches (15 – 20 cm). However, during the rainy season we have seen giant millipedes over 12 inches (30 cm) hanging out on the steps that go up the mountainside of Wat Tham Phu Pha Yon in Sakon Nakhon province. The Thai name for […]

Previously we have talked about the Thai personality and the importance of saving face in Thailand. A character trait related to saving face is “greng jai” (เกรงใจ), which literally means to have a heart that is in awe or afraid (in an intimidated kind of way). A Thai person will ordinarily only feel “greng jai” […]

With the rainy season upon us, many people are seeing scorpions in Thailand — as the scary-looking arachnids escape from their flooded burrows. While there are treatments such as hydrocortisone cream to apply to a scorpion sting, Thais have been treating such stings for centuries, long before modern medicines. So, instead of heading to a […]

From November 12th (1949) to January 1st (1950), Buddhist monks, Thai political leaders, and people from all walks of life throughout Thailand traveled to pay their respects to Ajarn Man Phurithatto (มั่นภูริทตฺโต), whose body lay in state at Wat Pa Sutthawat in Sakon Nakhon, where the revered and aged Thai monk had spent his final […]

Thailand is often cited as a country welcoming of transgenderism, due to its long acceptance of the 3rd gender known as Kathoey (กระเทย). Kathoeys are popularly known in the West as ladyboys. They are men (usually quite effeminate in build) who choose to live as a woman. Some sources claim that effeminate gay men are […]

Mystical Thailand is filled with myths and legends, many of which have never been translated into English and remain unknown to the outside world. Today, we will share one such Sakon Nakhon legend, which is being translated into English here for the first time. It’s a story about an ancient city that now lay buried […]

In Thailand, you cannot renew a Thai driving license online. However, you can partly complete the process online, so that you can get a new license more quickly. In the past, you had to sit through an hour of watching horrible traffic accident videos shot in Thailand, along with a few driving tips and rules, […]

Previously we talked about the charitable efforts of the Thai-Chinese community in Sakon Nakhon, as demonstrated by the philanthropic efforts of the Metta Tham Foundation (เมตตาธรรมมูลนิธิสกลนคร). But they are not the only charity operating in the province. The Lion’s Club and Rotary Club of Thailand both have branches in Sakon Nakhon. And there are a […]

In Thai Buddhism, as with every religion, there are different levels of understanding, different schools of thought — and by this we don’t mean the difference between Theravada Buddhism (Thailand’s official religion) and Mahayana Buddhism, but rather the manner in which people approach sacred texts and iconography. The most profound interpretations of Buddhism in Thailand […]

The Thai-Chinese community in Thailand has long flourished in terms of business success and financial wealth. Although Thais with Chinese ancestry only make up 14% of the national population, nearly every province in Thailand has a capital city area with numerous Thai-Chinese merchants, whose work ethic is strong and business savvy is keen. However, the […]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a stargazing tourism project called “Amazing Dark Sky in Thailand.” It includes 12 official stargazing spots, in provinces such as Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chaiyaphum. Unfortunately, Sakon Nakhon wasn’t included among the official places. But as we mentioned in our post on the best place to watch […]

What is Sakon Nakhon known for? Sakon Nakhon is known as the birthplace of Indigo dyed fashion in Thailand. It’s Wax Castle Festival and Christmas Star Parade have made news worldwide. The province’s organic cattle farm cooperative Pon Yang Kham produces the best beef in Thailand, with a flavor that some experts say is tastier […]

In Thailand, the lotus flower is known as “bua” (บัว). It is a symbol of goodness, with a special relationship to Buddhism, the country’s national religion. According to legend, Jivaka Komarabhacca, the Buddha’s personal physician, prepared a concoction made of lotus flowers to cure the Buddha’s exhaustion after long meditation in the forest. Doctor Jivaka […]

The Mystery Snail, which is known in Thailand as Hoi Khom (หอยขม), Hoi Joop (หอยจุ๊บ) or Hoi Doot (หอยดูด) is the snail most commonly seen in Thailand. It is found near ponds, canals, and flooded rice fields during the rainy season. Mystery Snails are also called River Snails, Pond Snails, or Marsh Snails. Some have […]

The people of every country have a unique personality or character. The French are different from the Germans, and Germans different from the Italians. Japanese people are different from Koreans, and Koreans different from the Chinese. And so it goes all around the world. Of course, there is great diversity of personality among individuals in […]

The current Thai National Anthem was written in 1939 by Luang Saranupraphan (หลวงสารานุประพันธ์), who won a lyrics contest that was held when the Kingdom’s name was changed from Siam to Thailand (which literally means “Free Land” in Thai).  He submitted his winning lyrics on behalf of the Royal Thai Army. The lyrics for the anthem […]

Last time we talked about the controversial Thai dowry. Today, let’s discuss another aspect of Thai culture that causes consternation among foreigners who work and live in Thailand. That is, the concept of “saving face” and the importance of not doing anything that can cause anyone (including yourself) to “lose face” (เสียหน้า). Face saving culture […]

Thai astrology is an ancient art form that continues to use the “Prommachart” texts (ตำราพรหมชาติ) of the Ayutthaya period, which flourished from the 14th to 18th centuries. These divination manuals forecast life horoscopes; predicted and interpreted dreams; analyzed auspicious times; advised how to set up a house and choose a spouse; described methods of exorcising […]

The Thai dowry or bride price, known as a “sin sod” (สินสอด), is a practice that many Westerners view as a backwards tradition. Even some wealthier, educated Thais believe this old wedding custom should be abandoned. Thais jokingly say that the “sin sod” (pronounced sin sawt) is to reimburse the bride’s mom for her “mother’s […]

Every one of Thailand’s 77 provinces has a provincial seal and motto. In Sakon Nakhon’s, the temple known as Wat Phra That Choeng Chum takes center stage. This highly revered temple in downtown Sakon Nakhon city has a majestic white and gold stupa that was built to cover the footprints of the last 4 Buddhas: […]

In recent years, mock funerals in Thailand have made international news. During the height of the Covid pandemic, temples such as Wat Bangna Nai in Bangkok attracted 100s of visitors a week who underwent mock funerals in the hope of being “reborn” with better financial luck. However, the ancient Thai Buddhist ritual of the Requiem […]

Thailand has a number of sticky rice desserts that are wrapped in banana leaves which are a must try. These “boiled rice” desserts are especially delicious in Northeastern (Isaan) provinces like Sakon Nakhon, which have some of the best sticky rice in the kingdom. Sticky rice desserts are popular at merit making festivals, and any […]

If you hike the forests of Thailand, or travel back roads through the woods, you will undoubtedly see a sign for Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่า และพันธุ์พืช). These signs have a curious emblem or logo that is a mystery to many tourists, who wonder over the identity of the […]

Sakon Nakhon not only has the best sunsets in Thailand. It also has some of the most beautiful moonrises, with a full moon rising slowly over undulating mountains and rice fields, taking on new colors as it pushes its way through wisps of clouds. The moon, and the full moon in particular, has special meaning […]

Based on our 20+ years of experimenting with Thai language books, learning software, and videos, we believe Ling to be the best Learn Thai app. If you have read reviews of the Ling language app, you already know that it is filled with engaging quiz-based material for learning Thai, as well as other languages. While […]

Sakon Nakhon has several famous mountain cave temples, such as Wat Tham Kham and Wat Tham Pha Daen, where long ago Thai monks took shelter in caves while wandering the forests to meditate and practice the dharma. But there are also many lesser known cave temples around the Phu Phan Mountain range, such as Wat […]

We’ve discussed what sato is — the homemade rice wine popular in Isaan. Today let’s learn about its kindred spirit yoo (อุ) or lao yoo (เหล้าอุ), which is sometimes incorrectly referred to as lao khao (เหล้าขาว) or white whiskey. Yoo is different from sato (rice wine), as it has a different preparation and fermentation process. […]

One of the best places to stargaze and watch meteor showers in Thailand is Pha Dong Ko (ผาดงก่อ) viewpoint, located in the Northeastern Thai province of Sakon Nakhon. This clifftop vantage point is atop Phu Pha Lek mountain, and is the highest peak in the Phu Phan Mountain range, which stretches across Sakon Nakhon and […]

While there are millions of citizens of Thailand who have Chinese ancestry, the depiction of Chinese mythological characters at Thai temples is rare, except at Chinese Buddhist temples that serve the Chinatown area of a particular province. It is even less common in the Northeast of Thailand (Isaan), where there are fewer Chinese communities, the […]

For hundreds of years, supernatural abilities have been attributed to the monks of Thailand and ancient Siam. Many of these miraculous monks have come from the Northeast of Thailand (Isan). One such famous Thai monk was the venerable Ajahn Waen Suchinno/Sujinno (พระอาจารย์ แหวน สุจิณโณ), who was born in Loei province in 1887 and ordained as […]

Sakon Nakhon has been the birthplace and/or wandering grounds for many famous monks in Thailand, who found the mountains and forest of Sakon Nakhon especially suitable for meditation. One notable Thai monk who is a little lesser known today than he was 50 years ago is Phra Ajahn Wan Uttamo (พระอาจารย์วัน อุตตโม), who was born […]

Thailand was home to many highly revered monks during the 20th century, Buddhist monks whose renown spread throughout Thailand, as well as in neighboring countries such as Laos, Burma, and Cambodia. The most famous monk in Thailand during this period was Ajahn Mun, co-founder of the forest tradition of Thai Buddhism. The Northeast of Thailand, […]

Over the years, some monks in Thailand have appeared quite rich, driving around in Mercedes, flying on private jets, and wearing luxury items. These flamboyant Thai monks often make the news and trouble the Buddhist authorities in Thailand, who rightly see such monks as tarnishing the image of the Kindgom’s national religion. The rationale that […]

If you were to make a bucket list of “must see” temples in Thailand, Wat Phu Tok (วัดภูทอก) in Bueng Kan should be on it. This legendary Isan temple is known for its stunning cliffside location and the challenging pilgrimage that devotees must take to reach the summit. Wat Phu Tok has been described as […]

Phi Ta Khon (ผีตาโขน), also known as the Thai ghost mask parade, is a merit-making festival like no other in Thailand. It is held usually in June or July in the Dan Sai district of Loei province. While Thais typically are quite scared of ghosts, and do all they can to avoid them, this lively […]

The dress code for temples in Thailand can be summed up in four words: “Dress comfortably but conservatively.” There are no hard and fast rules that cover all Thai temples, and enforcement varies greatly, but you rarely can go wrong if you follow the comfortable but conservative code — along with easy to slip off […]

Monks in Thailand have many important roles. The main role of a Thai monk is to provide spiritual guidance and teachings to the people. They also frequently lead ceremonies and rituals, including weddings, funerals, and other important life events. Many revered monks have served as advisors to school and university administrators, as well as to […]

The two most common Thai greetings are: “Sà-wàt dee khráp/khá” (สวัสดีครับ/ค่ะ), which is the equivalent of “Hello” or “Good Morning/Afternoon,” and “Sà-bai dee măi?” (สบายดีไหม), which means “How are you?”. Both greetings are accompanied by the polite “Wai” gesture. How to Say Hello in Thailand When using the Thai greeting “Sà-wàt dee khráp/khá” there is […]

The current Thai year is 2567 BE, which is 543 years ahead of the Western or Gregorian calendar year (2024). While Thai New Year’s Day (Songkran) is celebrated on April 13th, the calendar year is officially moved forward on January 1st. The BE abbreviation in 2567 BE stands for the Buddhist Era. It’s also sometimes […]

Thailand has a reputation for dangerous roads. But do they deserve this reputation? Well, it is true that Thailand ranks high among nations for traffic road deaths. And every year during Songkran, grim statistics of daily death tolls are published nationally and internationally. However, these media headlines and Thailand’s road death ranking are misleading, causing […]

The most iconic vehicle of Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is the “samlor,” a colorful three-wheeled motorcycle with a cab in the back. Some people refer to samlors as tuk tuks, the three-wheeled taxis popular in Bangkok. But samlor is the name most commonly used by locals, with tuk tuk being reserved for the two-stroke engine Thai […]

Songkran 2024 is upon us, so lets dive into some Songkran greetings in Thai that you can speak to friends, co-workers, or acquaintances in Thailand. To begin, there are 4 ways that you can say the equivalent of “Happy New Year!” to someone during the Songkran holiday. Each of these greetings you would deliver while […]

The traditional New Year’s Day in Thailand, celebrated since ancient times, is known as “Songkran Day” (วันสงกรานต์). In 2024, Songkran activities will vary among the Thai people, and include going to the temple to make merit and honor deceased family members, pouring water over Buddha statues, building sand pagodas at temples, blessing elders by pouring […]

The most popular English to Thai translation app for travel in Thailand is undoubtedly Google Translate. But even though Google Translate is the translator app used most by tourists, it is not the best one for all situations. Yes, Google Translate does do a good job translating Thai signs and Thai menus with its camera […]

For years we’ve ignored the “kanom pia” mooncakes at the 7-11s and mini Big Cs in Sakon Nakhon, thinking they would be disappointing compared to the delicious mooncakes of Chachoengsao province (where the bakers of the best mooncakes in Thailand live). But, that was a mistake. The mooncakes sold at mini Big Cs are made […]

Are you looking for a cure for arthritis, back pain, or muscle aches of any kind in Thailand? There is a Thai herbal remedy for pain relief that you should know about. It can be found in the homes of probably hundreds of thousands of Thais throughout the Kingdom. This cure for pain is called […]

The best mountain views and viewpoint in Loei (Thailand) are at the Phu Ruea National Park and the Chiang Khan Skywalk. When tourism websites talk about Isan, Thailand they often say that the Northeast isn’t mountainous like Chiang Mai and the North of Thailand, seemingly forgetting the majestic mountain views to be seen in Loei […]

Time Magazine recently included Isan (The Northeast of Thailand) among its 50 Greatest Places of the World. It describes Isan (also spelled Isaan) as a culinary capital of Thailand, a region famous for its bold combinations of spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. It noted that Micheline expanded its Thailand guide this year to include Isan, […]

The Isan temples of Northeastern Thailand have some of the most curious histories, statues, and monks in all of Thailand. Previously we wrote about Sakon Nakhon’s Luang Pu Sorn Paphassaro, the only long-haired Buddhist monk in Thai history. Today, we introduce you to perhaps the only statues of revered Thai monks, where the monks have […]

Wat Amalakaram (วัดอัมลการาม) in Sakon Nakhon now has built the largest statue of Thao Wessuwan in Thailand. Last month the Buddhist temple held a prayer ceremony to celebrate the completion of the statue, which goes by the name Thao Wessuwan Thanjai (ท้าวเวสสุวรรณทันใจ). The word “than-jai” in Thai means instantly. It was included in the name […]

The jackfruit season in Northeastern Thailand (especially in provinces like Sakon Nakhon) begins March and continues through July. Jackfruit is one of Thailand’s most amazing fruits. And it is used in a variety of Thai dishes, desserts, and salads. It is a superfood, loaded with nutritional value and medicinal benefits (according to traditional Thai folk […]

The khaen (แคน) is a musical instrument that plays an important role in the cultural landscape of Northeastern Thailand. The khaen is the signature wind instrument of Mor Lam: the traditional music genre of the Northeastern Thai (Isaan) people. It’s importance is so significant that villages throughout Thailand are named after the khaen, with the […]

You know that you have stumbled upon a “good luck temple” in Thailand when you find a rural temple of unusual wealth relative to the surrounding community. Wat Si Sawat (วัดศรีสวัสดิ์) in the Sakon Nakhon village of Ban Don Koi (บ้านดอนกอย) is just such a temple, granting good luck via a special Buddhist chant and […]

Kratom use in Thailand stretches back hundreds of years and is an integral part of Thai culture, especially in the southern provinces, such as Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, where the largest numbers of Thai Muslims reside. Kratom is a deciduous tree native to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. It has big, broad leaves that […]

Seen Above: The Asian Openbill, which birdwatchers sometimes see in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand’s lakes and reservoirs. Thailand has a beautiful and diverse population of over 1,000 bird species. It’s thus no surprise that the Kingdom attracts bird watching enthusiasts from around the world. The best bird watching spots in Thailand include the Doi Inthanon National […]

Many Thai guidebooks and websites will tell you that deep fried bananas, known as kluay tod/thawt (กล้วยทอด) or kluay khaek (กล้วยแขก), are a must-try sweet, Thai snack food. And we could not agree more! Thai fried bananas are one of our favorite street-side deserts in Thailand. However, you must know how and where to buy […]

March is harvest time for the Thai rose apple, also known as Chomphu (ชมพู่) or Chompoo in the Thai language. The rose apple is a bell-shaped fruit native not only to Thailand, but other Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines. Today, it is also grown in Hawaii, Florida, the Caribbean, and other […]

Our search for the best coffee in Thailand leads us to our first review of Robusta bean Thai coffee, as all our previous Thai coffee reviews were of Arabica bean coffees. Today we sample the Robusta bean coffee grown in Tambon Mo Kro (โมโกร) in the Umphang (อุ้มผาง) District of Tak province. Like the large […]

As February comes to a close in Northeast Thailand, the Thai rice wine (sato) making season begins. While sato (สาโท) can be made all year round, the most popular time for making Thai rice wine is from the end of the cool season through the Songkran holiday in April. Sato is a sweet Isaan wine […]

Our deep dive into the world of tea drinking has led us to the highly prized Pu-erh tea (ชาผู่เอ๋อร์). While Pu-erh tea is not grown in Thailand, it is drunk by many tea connoisseurs in the Kingdom, especially among Thais of Chinese descent. When we discovered that a 375 gram Pu-erh tea cake aged since […]

Now is the start of the red ant egg hunting season in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand. The hunting begins in earnest around mid February, after the first hot period that marks the end of the cool season, especially when the hot weather is accompanied with a bit of rainfall. Both a hot spell and some rain […]

Sakon Nakhon not only is home to the biggest spider in Thailand (The Huntsman). The largest moth in Thailand (The Atlas Moth) also makes its home here. The Atlas Moth (มอดแอตลาส) is recognized as the largest moth in Thailand because it has a wingspan of up to about 12 inches or 30 centimeters. The Atlas […]

Thai music has a rich and diverse history that is closely tied to the cultural and religious traditions of the country. It can be traced back to the early civilizations that lived in the region, including the Khmer Empire and Sukhothai Kingdom, which both had a significant impact on Thai music and dance. During the […]

When people think of Thai temples, they don’t usually think of sacred places with a sense of humor. But indeed many Thai temples (and the monks who live there) do have a keen sense of humor. This is especially true in the village temples of Northeastern Thailand. We were recently reminded of this fact when […]

Thailand is a popular tourist destination. Therefore, it’s not unusual that a lot of booze is consumed in the Kingdom. But it is not just tourists and expats that enjoy beer and liquor to excess sometimes. Thai drinkers have made Thailand the 5th largest consumer of alcohol in the world per capita, with beer and […]

Having begun a search for the best coffee in Thailand, we decided also to undertake a search for the best tea in Thailand. Our ratings will be based not only on the flavor, but also the physical benefits of the Thai tea, and how it made us feel (calm, energized, euphoric, mentally clear, etc.). The […]

One thing that is hard to come by in Northeast Thailand is a good sandwich. While Subway sandwiches has a strong presence in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, there is only one Subway shop in all of Northeast Thailand (in Khon Kaen). Yes, there is an expat restaurant here and there that sometimes does an […]

Udon Thani Airport (UTH) is the airport you are looking for if you would like to visit Sakon Nakhon and are flying in from a neighboring country such as Vietnam, China, or Cambodia. It is one of 15 international Thai airports and one of 2 in Northeastern Thailand (the other being in Khon Kaen). After […]

We recently asked the Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT bot to write a poem about Sakon Nakhon and were quite surprised by the result of its first attempt at Thai poetry in English. The original Thailand poem hit many of the right notes, mentioning rice fields, temples, lakes, lotus flowers, rolling hills, etc. And we simply made […]

The Vithidham School in Sakon Nakhon held a music festival on the evening of February 2nd. Vithidham is known as a “Way of the Dharma” school, which provides students with both moral training and practical skills via field trips throughout Sakon Nakhon Province. The Vithidham School aims to create well-rounded students, and that includes music […]

Congratulations to our friend Dr. Sawai Boonma (ไสว บุญมา), who was awarded the 2022-23 Narathip Award (รางวัลนราธิปพงศ์ประพันธ์) from the Writer’s Association of Thailand. The Narathip Award is delivered to senior writers whose works have been widely praised. The award was delivered to him by Thanpuying Wiwan Worawan Sreshthaputra, an heir of Prince Narathip Praphanphong (1861-1931), […]

Bulletproof coffee has been popular in the United States for a number of years. Made by mixing grass-fed butter or coconut oil with your morning cup of joe, bulletproof coffee is drunk by many people who are on the keto diet. Enthusiasts say that bulletproof coffee improves digestive health and blood sugar levels. It also […]

The water buffalo, along with the elephant, are the two most recognized animal symbols of Thailand. Both have a long and storied history within the Kingdom — as they are strong animals that have helped the Thai people with jobs demanding hard labor. The water buffalo and elephant also have sacred significance in Thailand. You […]

When traveling Thai villages, you sometimes will see monuments where the dedication (or meaning behind the monument) is unclear. A few hundred meters north of Wat Nong Bua Sang (Sakon Nakhon) there is just such a monument in the form a large, closed lotus flower. It is named the Memorial Monument to an Enduring Angel […]

While we haven’t had any colds in Thailand for over 7 years (after daily supplementing with Vitamin D and Zinc), when we did get coughs and colds, the best Thai cough medicine we ever used was Leopard Brand’s Brown Mixture, otherwise known as Ya Gae Ai Nam Dam (ยาแก้ไอน้ำดำ), which translates to black cough medicine. […]

Previously we wrote about what to do if you get diarrhea in Thailand. Today, we’ll talk about what many people view as the best Thai stomach medicine, one that can help cure food poisoning, or allow you to eat spicy Thai food without heartburn (if that is a problem for you). The natural Thai medicine […]

Near Arun Lat Priest’s Camp Site in Sakon Nakhon, there is a lovely white Buddha statue placed at the edge of a rice field. Seeing the Buddha there reminded us of the Thai Rice Goddess Ceremony, which sadly is disappearing from Thai society. This ceremony, which is sometimes called The Beckoning of The Rice Goddess, […]

Is the GPX Legend 250 Twin III a Good Motorcycle? Yes, it is!  It’s a gorgeous, vintage-style, Thai motorcycle, which (if you are patient with it) should bring years of fun riding. It’s our vehicle of choice when traveling the roads of Sakon Nakhon in search of undiscovered Thai temples, hidden cafes and coffee houses, […]

One Western fast food chain in Thailand that is often overlooked by tourists craving food from home is Auntie Anne’s — a restaurant that specializes in Philly soft pretzels and related food items. Perhaps the reason that Auntie Anne’s is overlooked by many people is that Philadelphia soft pretzels are more of an East Coast […]

Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road is a well-known tourist destination in Thailand. What many tourists don’t realize is there are also Chinese communities in Northeastern Thailand (Isan). For example, Sakon Nakhon has its own Chinatown, which is centered around two Chinese temples: the Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine (ศาลเจ้าปู่-เจ้าย่า) and the neighboring Dtai Hong Kong Shrine […]

If you have spent any time in the Thai countryside during the rainy season, you have undoubtedly seen villagers with traditional Thai fish nets attached to wooden polls. These nets are lowered into overflowing canals and ponds after rains, and then lifted up again, hopefully with some fish caught in the nets. These Thai fishing […]

Student searches of Thailand University English Programs often focus attention on the large well-known universities of Bangkok, such as Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Mahidol, and Silpakorn University. However, these Thai universities are extremely competitive, attracting excellent English students from across the country, most of whom have studied in English Language Programs at the Mattayom 4-6 (High School) […]