In Korat for a bit longer... [live trip report]

[thongchai]

Looks nice that one from the pic's, even got Apple excited , roughly what area is that one ,also any rough idea on price ,
cant rember if i told you last time we were there looked at some bunglows in pakthongchai 1.2 mil upwards but unlike the pic of the first one you posted , you could pretty much touch the neighbours property but cheap at just over a mil,

apple realy want to build but is open to buying already done or a project ,bit like that one your looking at ,

always thought Alan the builder ,work /gangs looked good but think prob not the cheapest other than that cant give any advice , reading and enjoying your post ,

[prikphet]

Please tell me i didnt see pineapple in a burger !

[caller]

It's literally off the road (but some way back) to Pak Thong Chai, on the western side of the road, south of the turning that takes you to the university, so just 15 minutes from the centre of Korat - if that makes sense? It's going for 1.8m and won't be on sale for long at that price. Hence my interest, especially with the plot size and the fact it gives me the opportunity to put my stamp on a property. I'm hoping that the total cost of the work I want done, will come in at no more than 1m! We'll see.

Incidentally Andy, there's a bungalow on the same estate, 150 sqm, also on 80 wah, with a lovely mature garden, for sale at 1.7m. I loved it, but it needs quite a bit of work doing to get it up to spec - it has a spiral staircase in the living area to a small half-room of little use! With the place above, we could just refurbish and move in as it is, if needed.

Edit - this house is empty as well, but the owners live a new build on the same estate.

I didn't take any pics of the interior of the bungalow, but here's what it looks like from outside:









- - - - - - - u p d a t e d - - - - - - -

Please tell me i didnt see pineapple in a burger !

I had to have that because they didn't have any beetroot - lol!! That burger was gorgeous!!

[Linne]

Please tell me i didnt see pineapple in a burger !

yum

[caller]

always thought Alan the builder ,work /gangs looked good but think prob not the cheapest other than that cant give any advice , reading and enjoying your post ,

Missed this first time around. I was led to believe they only do new builds, unless someone knows otherwise? I'll whip off an email in the morning and see what he has to say.

[thongchai]

Yep great area that , not to far out and close enough and a good price too
, your probably right about Allan tb only seen new stuff also ,
bungalow looks fair I would want it for .075 thou lol , the zoo area down too the university area is perfect for us , how have you found out about these properties ,friends , or just looking around

PS looking at the bungalow and the house again both look in good nic if cash buying think there is some bargins to be had and no Hassel of a full build, all food for thought

[caller]

how have you found out about these properties ,friends , or just looking around

We have friends there, and were in the area and went for a look around, although our friends weren't there at the time. To be honest, I didn't expect to see anything that I could afford. There are lots of big plots in there, at least one army general and so on. Then we came across the bungalow. We met with our friends the next day and they mentioned the two story house and we were able to view it there and then!

Apparently, I'm meeting a builder tomorrow to discuss the house and work wanted doing!

[prioritypress]

Great little houses for not much money.


Nick

[DAS]

If you are buying new the houses soon go up in price if you ask for a few little extras, we are certainly noticing that.

Maybe the burger is called Hawaiian style like the pizza.

[Linne]

caller , just where did you get that burger, I am in korat and starving (not far from the flower market and the old bus station)

[rawdonlad]

If you are still starving and until Caller replies you can get some good English food round the corner from the old bus station at The Korat Chef Store, 357 Suranaree Rd, or there is the George and Dragon pub nearly next door or about half a mile further along the Check Inn with English food. I found that in the Save One market there is a brilliant place for home made burgers in the eating area next door to the gold shop. The guys is really nice speaks perfect English and makes it all fresh whilst you wait. He does burgers of all types, fresh pizza, lasagne and will cook most western foods to order. There is also another burger stall that uses pineapple in the mostly night market next to the Princess hotel.

[caller]

There is also another burger stall that uses pineapple in the mostly night market next to the Princess hotel.

And that's the one I had my burger from!

It's at the Ban Koh night market, next to the Dusit Princess Hotel. This market is now split in two by a newish road, the steak / pork / burger place is on the hotel side, furthest away from the main road. The lady that runs it lived for a while in Oz and speaks very good English. She's there from about 6pm. Further along the same road, heading towards cho-ho is a small Mall, called Platinum Mall, she can be found there until about 3.30 daily. All info from the lady herself!

There's also a really nice kebab style place on the front row of food stalls as you cross the road from the Dusit side. Far better than your average greasy joe kebab in the UK. I tried one and immediately had another!

I think the lady in the photo is the Burger lady's mum!



This isn't the full menu by the way, she does steak meals and things

[thongchai]

How did u get on with that house you were looking at Phil
hows thing going ?

[caller]

Hi Andy, sorry for delay in replying to this. In Bkk at the moment, I've only spent 2 days in Korat out of the last 12! Will write an update when I'm back in a few days (and have access to a proper laptop!) and how I'm finding things after 4-months here!

[thongchai]

Hi Phil , thanks for reply , got the sunday afternoon blues here (work) look forward to reading next time
take care

[caller]

Decided not to proceed on the house, or any house for that matter for the foreseeable future. It's very easy to get carried away with the whole thing - viewing and planning etc, but I have only been here for 4-months! And what if after 12 months I don't want to be here any longer?

On saying that the gf wants to buy a plot of land - 104 wah - and I agree with her that will be a great investment. It's not far from the stadium complex where the swat cats play and in an area that is slowly being developed.

So four months in, how do I feel? Well, it's fair to say that Korat isn't the most exciting of cities. In fact the longer I stay in Korat, the more I like Bangkok! And as I'm not living in the centre, it's a car ride to anywhere and I don't have my own transport yet. But even when you get to the centre, there's not exactly much there. It has the Mall, which is being extended, and a few other shopping places, but culturally, it's a backwater.

It's interesting that I am a product of the suburbs and that's where I'm, in effect, living now. But being in a 'burb in London gave me easy access to any number of nearby interesting towns and where I lived, that was Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, Putney and so on and the centre of London was also within quick and easy reach. It goes without saying that there is nothing like that here.

Even where I lived out in the sticks before relocating here, a 20-30 minute drive took me to anywhere from Wantage, Reading, Marlborough or Swindon - and through some stunning countryside as well. Korat is flat. South and west of the city is different, but Korat is very flat.

But I knew all of this before I arrived as I've actually been coming to Korat since 2005.

So would having my own place make me feel more at home? Would having my own wheels make a difference? The first I'm not so sure about, the 2nd would be a definite plus. At the moment, if I want the car, I have to go with the gf to work and then pick her up again when she finishes work - and she works long hours. Having my own wheels would give me freedom to explore more and visit new places.

Another thing is, that I'm not really a night owl anymore - especially when it comes to having a few bevvies and in any case there's only a smattering of farang bars around, with only three being in the central area, whilst other places have been adopted by farangs who don't want the hassle of driving. So night's out are in the main, wandering around markets or fairs or eating out. I haven't actually been to a single farang bar in Korat since I arrived.

Well, that all sounds fairly negative doesn't it? But on the whole I'm happy enough in Thailand. I certainly don't have any thought of returning to the UK, other than for health reasons.

I think I need to get a little bit more into a routine. Starting with the gym, that's become very irregular and I've put a bit of weight on. Second, is to get all my stuff sorted that I had sent out here - it's all still sitting in boxes. Third, is to develop the hobbies I intended to get more involved in - watches is one (which can be an expensive hobby), photography another and also art. I must start doing some drawing (if I hadn't been asked to 'leave' school, it's likely I would have gone to art college and art has always been an interest).

But first I need to get my own transport. And I need to go and spend some time besides the sea. I'll do that when I have my own wheels - and I want to pass the Thai driving test.

I'll also update this thread with a few more places that have been visited!

Leaw pob Kan mai krap!

[Linne]

Caller I am not far from korat myself at the moment . It is not that bad but how would you compare it with other isaan towns/cities. My only gripe if there is one is the transport issue

A pain on the bus and the train (zzzzzzz), no air service.

Too short a journey for an overnight on the train. Will this high speed rail link ever happen. There is some massive rail construction in the north of BKK.

[thongchai]

Good to here from u , and good to hear your take on things since youve been there on a more peranant note , yep early days yet ,and i defantly think (gyming is that a new word ......and carrying on your other hobbies would be good ,
for me transport from the word go would be a must ,

yep i know what u mean about geting caught up in the house buying /planning stuff , the only good thing about being back in the uk is the time to think abit more about options etc building buying etc ,, incidently we have be offered some land in saruburi to build on , which has thrown us a bit as we do like the pak thong chai to the zoo to korat area in that order , but the saruburi land is interesting ,and we will look into it next time we visit ,
Also some of theese slightly more modern nockdown teak houses are looking an interesting option too , anyway keep us posted

PS Linne , the wife was telling me as from soonish there will be a air service from korat to chaing mai and if goes well they will do korat to phuket , sorry thats about all i know with out reading the article

[caller]

Caller I am not far from korat myself at the moment . It is not that bad but how would you compare it with other isaan towns/cities.

Hi Linne, I can't really compare it to anywhere else. I know Hua Hin, but they are like chalk and cheese and I've been to Khon Kaen a couple of times for quick visits. My initial impression, without really knowing the place, is that the latter is a nicer looking place, but I guess others are better placed to comment.

[toddmeister]

Of the short time we've spent in Khon Kaen on our last trips, Khon Kaen seemed to have more of a "City feel" to it, similar to Udon Thani. My wife has family in both Maha Sarakham & close to Chaiyaphum. If we ever have the chance to move over I think I would struggle with the smaller towns so Khon Kaen I think would be a good choice for us as it's in between.
Last trip in Sarakham I was struggling after only a few days and yearning for a farang bar to just sit and chill but didn't seem to be any. That probably says more about me than the town though
I joked to the wife that I should open a farang pub there......only problem is I've only ever seen one other farang there in all my trips


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