| I fell in love with Thailand many years ago, as so | | | | you will notice is the food - almost everything is |
| many visitors to this wonderful country do, with | | | | served with Khao Nio (sticky rice) and there is |
| good reason. The beauty of such places as | | | | heavy use of chillies, so be careful if you don't like |
| Phuket, koh samui etc is well documented, but | | | | spicy food! You will possibly see a lot of Mor Lam, |
| less well known is the North east of Thailand, a | | | | traditional Isaan/Lao folk music and dance, which |
| region called Isaan. | | | | is usually more akin to theatre than mere folk |
| Isaan is situated on the Korat Plateau ( Korat is | | | | music with lots of dancers (usually female) |
| the name locals use for the city of Nakhon | | | | performing well choreographed routines in |
| Ratchasima) and is bordered by the Mekong river | | | | flamboyant costumes. A must-see for any new |
| to theEast and the North, Cambodia is to the | | | | visitors to the region. |
| south and the Petchabun mountains separate it | | | | A really good way to experience the Isaan region |
| from Central Thailand.Isaan is the poor part of | | | | is to start at the top, Nong Khai (near to the |
| Thailand, as agriculture is the economic mainstay, | | | | Laos capital of Vientiane) and travel down through |
| but the hot, dry climate doesn't really help the | | | | Isaan following the mighty Mekong River as it |
| output! In spite of this the people are always | | | | marks the border between Isaan and Laos, you |
| genuinely smiling and making the most of life. It is | | | | will pass through cities like Mukdahan, but mainly |
| humbling to see how they manage to stay so | | | | you will experience the rural life of Isaan and |
| cheery when compared to the West they have | | | | meet some of the loveliest people that it is |
| so little in the way of money and healthcare, not | | | | possible to meet. The only drawback with this |
| to mention the lack of any kind of social security | | | | plan is that you miss out on large chunks of Isaan |
| should they be unable to work! | | | | that are not near the river...... so you will need to |
| There are some major differences between | | | | go back and explore the rest of the region at a |
| Isaan and the Central Thailand that are obvious | | | | later date! |
| when you arrive - firstly most people don't speak | | | | I hope that this has made you want to leave the |
| Thai, they speak Isaan, which is similar to Lao ( | | | | normal tourist areas of Thailand for at least part |
| except near Cambodia, where they speak | | | | of your vacation and go to check out the North |
| Khmer) although schools are now made to teach | | | | East. |
| the Thai alphabet and language. The second thing | | | | |