I take these rides often trust me yuo want so many farrangs if any, I just pick a road and go.
This is a response to a P/M about the rides. I thought I would share it with other if they have desire to get in to the real Issan, but as always remember the author possesses a sick mind proceed at your own risk
The ride was about five hours. ( 200 K )
What I do is take a main road a bit further out each time when I see a paved road that looks in fair condition I turn and go. They don’t always stay in good condition so realistic speeds are a very good idea conditions can change in heart beat.
Security conditions are much better in the villages, even if there was a guy with a bad thought in his head, he doesn't know your coming and no time to put a plan together. I don't usually leave the bike anywhere, if I stop I stop someplace fro something to eat or drink and the bike is in site. So don't really know how to answer your question. Just slow down when you drive through and enjoy the sites. Anyone who speaks any English will be yelling hello at you and you will get lots of cat calls. It's the norm and part of the fun, not to worry.
I would caution about a few things unless you speak really good Thai limit your turn a bouts so you can find way back out. Look for prominent buildings ECT. Keep a good since of direction to where the main road is, you end up on very curvy roads and it's easy to lose your since of direction. Most of the main roads will loop and go back to the main road in one form or another, if you know what direction that is. But you may have to back track also goes with the experience.
I have only had two instances where I felt uncomfortable one was an old man insisting that I buy him whiskey, pack up your ditty bag and leave politely.
The other I stumble into a huge village party in the middle of the week. It seemed like the entire village was drunk I stopped for a bit and had some water, but fights started breaking out in the crowd, time to get the ditty bag again.
These are very enjoyable experiences, but you have to keep your wits about you. These are not places where people really care about your thoughts of ethics or political correctness. Unless something is very unusual a in the two incidents I described your a welcome change to the boredom. I don't drink very much at all and I never drink when I ride, but in these excursions I would avoid booze completely, you can always have a beer when you get back to the big city where people are used to farrangs.
Gas stations there is always fuel around, they call it benzene here. If you don't see a station Benzene Tee Nai will find he local fuel deposit. Many times it is nothing more then a small store with glass bottles of gas sitting in a small rack.
I ride an old restored Yamaha four cylinder 750 CC with four carbs. It eats a lot of fuel, so as a general rule I fill it up every 150K. But in any event the villagers need fuel to so it's around, just may not have big signs telling you it's a gas station.
If you really want to know what Issan really is I think this is one of the best ways to do it. You cell phone should work just about anywhere you go. Although I have no idea how you would tell someone where you are. Sometimes there are signs as you enter village the village may or may not be in English. On the main roads most are in English in the villages roads signs don't exist, just remember the loop system and you will be able back to the point entered fairly easily.
If you have trouble the villagers are very helpful people for the most part, communicating with them is where the problem is going to lie.
I recommend long pants and long sleeved shirts, the sun is really intense here even in the cool season. I forgot them yesterday as it was a spur of the moment thing, nice sunburn and I have lived here for over three years.
Just do what you are comfortable with and you should be OK.
HAVE FUN I DO
Ray.
This is a response to a P/M about the rides. I thought I would share it with other if they have desire to get in to the real Issan, but as always remember the author possesses a sick mind proceed at your own risk
The ride was about five hours. ( 200 K )
What I do is take a main road a bit further out each time when I see a paved road that looks in fair condition I turn and go. They don’t always stay in good condition so realistic speeds are a very good idea conditions can change in heart beat.
Security conditions are much better in the villages, even if there was a guy with a bad thought in his head, he doesn't know your coming and no time to put a plan together. I don't usually leave the bike anywhere, if I stop I stop someplace fro something to eat or drink and the bike is in site. So don't really know how to answer your question. Just slow down when you drive through and enjoy the sites. Anyone who speaks any English will be yelling hello at you and you will get lots of cat calls. It's the norm and part of the fun, not to worry.
I would caution about a few things unless you speak really good Thai limit your turn a bouts so you can find way back out. Look for prominent buildings ECT. Keep a good since of direction to where the main road is, you end up on very curvy roads and it's easy to lose your since of direction. Most of the main roads will loop and go back to the main road in one form or another, if you know what direction that is. But you may have to back track also goes with the experience.
I have only had two instances where I felt uncomfortable one was an old man insisting that I buy him whiskey, pack up your ditty bag and leave politely.
The other I stumble into a huge village party in the middle of the week. It seemed like the entire village was drunk I stopped for a bit and had some water, but fights started breaking out in the crowd, time to get the ditty bag again.
These are very enjoyable experiences, but you have to keep your wits about you. These are not places where people really care about your thoughts of ethics or political correctness. Unless something is very unusual a in the two incidents I described your a welcome change to the boredom. I don't drink very much at all and I never drink when I ride, but in these excursions I would avoid booze completely, you can always have a beer when you get back to the big city where people are used to farrangs.
Gas stations there is always fuel around, they call it benzene here. If you don't see a station Benzene Tee Nai will find he local fuel deposit. Many times it is nothing more then a small store with glass bottles of gas sitting in a small rack.
I ride an old restored Yamaha four cylinder 750 CC with four carbs. It eats a lot of fuel, so as a general rule I fill it up every 150K. But in any event the villagers need fuel to so it's around, just may not have big signs telling you it's a gas station.
If you really want to know what Issan really is I think this is one of the best ways to do it. You cell phone should work just about anywhere you go. Although I have no idea how you would tell someone where you are. Sometimes there are signs as you enter village the village may or may not be in English. On the main roads most are in English in the villages roads signs don't exist, just remember the loop system and you will be able back to the point entered fairly easily.
If you have trouble the villagers are very helpful people for the most part, communicating with them is where the problem is going to lie.
I recommend long pants and long sleeved shirts, the sun is really intense here even in the cool season. I forgot them yesterday as it was a spur of the moment thing, nice sunburn and I have lived here for over three years.
Just do what you are comfortable with and you should be OK.
HAVE FUN I DO
Ray.