Thailand Off the Beaten Path Blog

While Thailand is a Buddhist country, you can still feel the spirit of Christmas, if you visit Sakon Nakhon in December. The province is home to Ban Tha Rae, the largest Catholic community in Thailand. The friendly villagers (largely of Vietnamese descent) put on the best Christmas show in the Kingdom, with hundreds of houses […]

MySakonNakhon was happy to entertain Grace McDonald of Bikehedonia this weekend. Grace is currently on a solo motorcycle journey, which has taken her from her native Australia to East Timor, then on to Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Due to COVID and a shutdown of the land borders, she has been stuck in […]

When visiting Sakon Nakhon temples, you will see a wide variety of Reclining Buddha statues. The most famous Reclining Buddha in Thailand is found at the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, where the statue is 15 meters tall and 45 meters long, decorated with Mother of Pearl illustrations of 108 characteristics of the Buddha. While […]

Sakon Nakhon Weather Forecast Weather Advice for Sakon Nakhon Tourism Sakon Nakhon weather is a bit different from many areas of Thailand in that the cool season (Nov.-Feb.) is actually cool! In fact, it is the coldest place in Thailand. The coolest period is usually mid-December to mid-January, when temperatures during the night and early […]

Sakon Nakhon in November is when the rice fields transform from a lush green to harvest green, and the cool season officially begins, with temperatures toward the end of the month sometimes falling to around 60 degrees (15C) at night. The Sakon Nakhon weather takes on a decidedly autumn feel (for Thailand), with a lovely […]

In today’s post, I would like to offer some philosophical advice to those who are considering a moving to Sakon Nakhon, either for retirement or for employment. There is a familiar trajectory among many expats in Thailand (aka The Land of Smiles). It starts with wide-eyed wonder; moves on to self-confidence and pride; and ends […]

There is a saying among some old expats and tourists in Thailand: “If you’ve seen one temple, you’ve seen them all.” There couldn’t be anything further from the truth, especially in Sakon Nakhon. While it’s fair enough to say that visiting a wide array of Buddhist temples isn’t for everyone, it’s a wonderful experience for […]

The Buddha protected by a Naga serpent is a statue commonly seen at Sakon Nakhon temples. However, simply because the theme is common doesn’t mean that the statues are identical. In fact, I don’t think we have ever seen an identical Buddha statue with Naga protector at any of the more than 100 Sakon Nakhon […]

When visiting temples in Sakon Nakhon, you will sometimes see the monk’s living quarters. These are small structures built on stilts called a Kuti. They can appear in various sizes and shapes, but they are intended to be small, so as to discourage the accumulation of material things. The most famous Kuti in Sakon Nakhon […]

When visiting Sakon Nakhon temples, you will come across a variety of “Fat Buddha” statues. However, the term Fat Buddha is a misnomer. These statues actually depict two famous monks who were recognized for their big bellies. One of these religious men is the famous Chinese monk known as Budai, who is also sometimes called […]

One of the structures that you will see at many Sakon Nakhon temples (but not all) is a crematorium, which you can identify by the building with a tall chimney. The overwhelming majority of Thais are cremated, as that is the Buddhist practice, but some burials are undertaken among the Christians/Catholics and Muslim residents of […]

One of the most common Buddha statues you will find at Sakon Nakhon temples is that of the Buddha with an umbrella and walking stick. The umbrella (or parasol) is related to the Ashtamangala, which is a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The parasol represents the protection from harmful […]

One of the great joys of living in Thailand is the Thai food. Simple and delicious Thai dishes can be found everywhere for a little more than a dollar. You don’t have to be a spicy food fanatic to enjoy Thai food. There are plenty of Thai dishes that are not spicy but no less […]

Today’s post is not only for tourists to Sakon Nakhon, but also the expats who want to learn how to order a large portion of Pad Thai or other Thai dish. Dining at a Thai food stall or village food vendor is delicious and cheap, but portion sizes can be a little small for the […]

The three most popular Thai beer brands that you will come across in Thailand are: Chang, Singha, and Leo. The latter is rarely mispronounced, since Leo sounds just like it does in the West. However, the first two Thai beer brands are regularly pronounced incorrectly — even among long term expats in Thailand (which is […]

If you are in the habit of reading Thailand-based websites written by expats, you will undoubtedly have run across many stories of farangs confronting surly Thai soi dogs (i.e. stray Thai dogs that wander the alleyways). For some strange reason, Thai soi dogs seem to be a favorite literary topic for farang writers, second only […]

One of the best ways to learn the Thai language is to learn how to sing in Thai. If you live in Sakon Nakhon (or any larger city in Thailand), there will be plenty of opportunities for you to practice your Thai singing skills beyond the shower or inside your car. Singing karaoke is a […]

There is some truth to the idea that the culture of a country is largely revealed by how its people handle themselves when in the toilet. That Americans and Brits clean themselves up by smearing their bottoms with toilet paper, then saunter off as though clean, reveals a lot about the way they deal with […]

Plucking up the courage learn Thai? That’s great. The blog area of MySakonNakhon.com has Thai language lessons for all types of Thai language learners. English teachers who want to learn Thai to better manage their classrooms. Tourists who want to learn Thai to experience the real Thailand. Long term expats who want to take their […]

Anyone familiar with Thailand knows how to break Thai money. You go to the nearest Seven-Eleven! Unfortunately 7-11 stores (as ubiquitous as they are) sometimes are not an option — especially in small Thai villages in Sakon Nakhon. In such situations, it is handy to know how to ask the shopkeeper if they can break […]

Expats who complain about dual pricing in Thailand usually enjoy complaining as a pastime. We have never understood the whinging about dual pricing in Thailand — dual pricing being the phenomenon where locals pay less than tourists do. It’s not like dual pricing doesn’t occur elsewhere around the world. In Europe and the United States, […]

Haggling over prices is common in Thailand’s markets and mom and pop retail stores. However, it is not always easy for a foreigner to haggle successfully. Many Thais are under the assumption that all farangs are rich. If you try to haggle, a Thai store owner may think that you’re simply being a Cheap Charlie […]

Today we are going to mix a learn Thai culture lesson with a Thai language lesson. Many people unfamiliar with the kingdom have asked is Thailand a patriarchal society? The answer is complicated. While commentators do often refer to Thailand as a patriarchal society, nothing is ever as simple as it appears on the surface […]

It is easy for foreigners in Thailand to make missteps with Thai wives, especially when it comes to handling arguments. Farang husbands often manage matrimonial fights the same way they would if they were married to a Western woman, forgetting that Thai logic and cultural norms are different in Thailand. So in today’s post, we […]

When you ask expats in Sakon Nakhon why they live here, you will get two kinds of responses: the long-winded philosophical treatise and the short but sweet retort. We prefer the latter, especially when it involves Thai food. Over the past decade, Thai restaurants have popped up everywhere in Western countries, giving foreigners a taste […]

For decades, people in the West have associated the consumption of MSG with a wide variety of ailments. However, as journalist Alex Renton wrote in his MSG expose in the Guardian: “If MSG is so bad for you, why doesn’t everyone in Asia have a headache?” Renton’s article (which you can read here) is a […]

The eccentric American rock musician Frank Zappa once said that the mind is like a parachute; it doesn’t work unless it is open. That is good advice for expats who are planning to start a new life in Thailand or tourists who are visiting the Kingdom on holiday. The ways that things are done in […]

Expats in Thailand often have trouble making heads or tails of Thai logic, and search in vain for the reasons why their Thai partners or colleagues do the things that they do. The problem is that foreigners think too often with their heads and not with their hearts. When it comes to thinking and decision […]

When Americans, Brits, and other farangs start entertaining the idea of working in Sakon Nakhon (or Thailand in general), this often means taking a teaching position. However, today’s advice on working in Sakon Nakhon covers all job seekers. The topic of working in Thailand is too large cover all in one post, so we are […]

When learning the Thai language in Thailand, you also learn certain things about yourself. One thing that Brits, Americans, and other farangs learn about themselves is how much they abuse why questions. Westerners frequently use why questions not because they are seeking the unknown but because they are trying to coerce an apology or an […]

You will know when it is election time in Sakon Nakhon (and throughout Thailand) when you begin to see small billboards of politicians asking for your vote. These billboards are usually quite formal, with the politician displayed in a polite head shot or giving a “wai”. The number below or next to the person’s picture […]

October is a wonderful time to visit Sakon Nakhon. The rice fields are lush and soon to be harvested; the waterfalls are overflowing from the rainy season coming to an end; the famous Wax Castle Festival is celebrated with traditional dance and boat races (as well as the stunning Buddhist castles made of bees wax); […]

If you are looking for a tie-dye t-shirt with Sakon Nakhon emblazoned on it, indigo dyed skirts, or a dozen roses for your sweetheart, the best place to go is the area around and within Wat Phra That Choeng Chum in the center of the city. Rueang Sawat Road runs perpendicular to the entrance of […]

If you are browsing the Sakon Nakhon markets and come across some small pyramid shaped items wrapped in banana leaves, you don’t want to pass them up! What is inside is called Kanom Tian (ขนมเทียน), also spelled Khanom Thian. It’s a sweet snack made of sticky rice flour, coconut, and sugar (plus some additional stuffing […]

As you are traveling toward Sakon Nakhon city from Udon Thani, you’ll know that you are getting close when you reach the Welcome sign and the Royal Archway. The archway has photos of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and the inscription ทรงพระเจริญ, which is pronounced Song Phra Chareon and means Long Live the […]

Noodle soup in Thailand is called gŭai-dtĭao, and it is ordered either with wide large noodles (sên yài) or thin noodles (sên lék). The soup includes a dark broth or clear broth. The dark noodle soup is called gŭai-dtĭao nám-dtòk (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวน้ำตก) — the phrase nám-dtòk literally meaning waterfall. However, if you just order gŭai-dtĭao, you […]

Both expats and tourists visiting Sakon Nakhon, often wonder what is the best way to learn Thai. There are many different opinions on the best ways to learn the Thai language. Some successful Thai language students are adamant that the best way to learn Thai is at a language school or a Thai language program […]

If you are a Western tourist or expat in Thailand, you may hear the expression “farang” spoken in your direction. There is probably no word which causes more arguments in Thailand’s expat community than the word farang in Thai. Many expats find the term “farang” to be racist and resent any and all usage of […]

Aficionados of the red culinary sauce known as ketchup (Yes, we mean Americans) will be happy to know that ketchup can easily be found in Thailand. In fact, dare we say that Thailand produces the very best ketchup in the world. The best ketchup in Thailand is made by Roza, and it beats the American […]

In Sakon Nakhon there are many Thais who like to talk with foreigners, especially students attending Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University. But they are a bit nervous about speaking English. They might even come over and ask if they can talk to you. Rather than speaking with your new Thai friend immediately in English, you can […]

Today we are going to show you how to say super delicious in Thai, as well as the Isaan dialect spoken in Sakon Nakhon. You perhaps already know the ordinary word for delicious in Thai, which is a-ròi (อร่อย). But that word is so commonly used in Thailand, that it doesn’t really pass as a […]

The following is the pronunciation guide for the free Learn Thai material at MySakonNakhon.com. While we encourage serious students of the Thai language to learn how to read Thai, this Learn Thai online pronunciation guide will help those who don’t have the time to learn written Thai and need to get talking right away. Learn […]

If you are visiting Sakon Nakhon and aren’t eating the street food, then you simply aren’t living. Thai street food often is the best cuisine to be found in Thailand (and the world), as well as the cheapest. Many tourists and expats shy away from Thai street food because of fears of getting a little […]

One of the biggest faux pas a foreign tourist can make while eating in Sakon Nakhon restaurants is blowing your nose. If your nose is running because of a spicy Thai dish, then you may dab your nose with a tissue. But a full blown blow is simply not done. If a nose blow is […]

It certainly helps to know a little bit of the Thai language when traveling around Thailand, especially if you are traveling off the beaten track to provinces like Sakon Nakhon. Many upcountry people have little to no experience interacting with foreign tourists, since so few come to their provinces. It also helps to know how […]

When you learn Thai it is important to pay attention to correct Thai pronoun usage. When younger Thais talk to each other, they usually will use different pronouns to refer to each other than many older Thai adults would — unless the adults are very close friends. You could cause offense if you use informal […]

In today’s learn Thai lesson, we are going to teach you not only how to say like in Thai but to how to say like in Thai like you really mean it! The word like in Thai is among the most common words you will hear in Sakon Nakhon. It also is one of those […]

Does Thailand smell? Yes, it does! One of the great pleasures of living in Thailand is the wide variety of smells: some delicious, some putrid, some intoxicating, and some downright bizarre. In other words, the smells of Thailand reflect life in its beautiful diversity. We all have different likes and dislikes. Just as one person’s […]

Are you a serious kind of person? Well, you may have some rough going if you chose to move to Thailand. In the Land of Smiles, a friendly person will always be more welcomed than a serious person. Anyone who has spent time working in the Kingdom will tell you this, especially expat English teachers. […]

When learning Thai there are times when words of wisdom pop into your head that you want to share but lack the Thai language skills to do so. For example, if you are an expat living in Sakon Nakhon there probably has been occasions when you have wanted to quote the Rolling Stones and say […]

When starting out learning a foreign language, one of the first words that people often seek out is the word for please. After all, most people like to be polite. And foreign tourists learning Thai often quickly seek out how to say please in Thai because they have heard that the Thai people place a […]

In today’s Thai lesson, we are going to teach you how to say boss in Thai. Remember that when talking to your Thai boss you should always use the most polite form of the Thai language. The most common Thai words for boss are phôo-nam (ผู้นำ), which literally means person who leads, hŭa-nâh (หัวหน้า), which […]

Read our updated, in-depth article on paying a Thailand bride price at: Thai Dowry. The Thailand bride price or sin sot (สินสอด) is one aspect of Thai culture that causes consternation (and more than a few arguments) in the farang expat community. The idea that one is expected to pay money to the bride’s family […]