thaiophilus

Can't help with information about Korat, but you could combine your visit with a couple of nights in Khao Yai.

It's not just an "article." It's an advertisement that was paid for by the manufacturer: Spruce Natural Labs (North Carolina). 

Footnote for non-Thai speakers: literally he says "older_sibling give younger_sibling already yesterday" which is a very Thai idiom - pronouns which literally refer to kinship are often used between people who aren't related at all, because they denote relative status, which is culturally important.
So I think it doesn't have to be about "you" and "I" at all - it could also be talking about two entirely different people. Only the context can tell.
(Personally I give up trying to translate when I see ให้ because it's used in so many idioms where word order can make a big difference, and often means "cause" rather than "give". Or something like that. ☹️)
 

Footnote for non-Thai speakers: literally he says "older_sibling give younger_sibling already yesterday" which is a very Thai idiom - pronouns which literally refer to kinship are often used between people who aren't related at all, because they denote relative status, which is culturally important.
So I think it doesn't have to be about "you" and "I" at all - it could also be talking about two entirely different people. Only the context can tell.
(Personally I give up trying to translate when I see ให้ because it's used in so many idioms where word order can make a big difference, and often means "cause" rather than "give". Or something like that. ☹️)
 

Footnote for non-Thai speakers: literally he says "older_sibling give younger_sibling already yesterday" which is a very Thai idiom - pronouns which literally refer to kinship are often used between people who aren't related at all, because they denote relative status, which is culturally important.
So I think it doesn't have to be about "you" and "I" at all - it could also be talking about two entirely different people. Only the context can tell.
(Personally I give up trying to translate when I see ให้ because it's used in so many idioms where word order can make a big difference, and often means "cause" rather than "give". Or something like that. ☹️)
 

On a more prosaic mote, it is technically illegal to export Buddha images from Thailand without a licence.  Your statuette may be a monk, not a Buddha, but I wouldn't want to argue about it with officialdom.

It's like the argument over whose territory Preah Vihear is in.
It's in the interest of the governments on both sides, because it gives them a pretext for some nationalistic sabre-rattling when they need to distract the population from something else they would prefer to hide.

... one who's prepared to "accidentally enter" the new terminal and miss a flight to find out what happens?
Any volunteers?

It's like the argument over whose territory Preah Vihear is in.
It's in the interest of the governments on both sides, because it gives them a pretext for some nationalistic sabre-rattling when they need to distract the population from something else they would prefer to hide.

... one who's prepared to "accidentally enter" the new terminal and miss a flight to find out what happens?
Any volunteers?

Booking sites like Expedia provides a revenue management app to properties that lists under them. Logic is simple, if properties can maximise their pricing, then booking sites maximise their commission too.
Booking sites are like the Mamasans of the hotel world 😜

Completely off topic, but I have a couple of 60 baht notes hanging on my wall (hint: they were issued in 1987 and 2006).

It wasn't speculation before COVID.
Back in 2016, if you can believe The ASEAN Post,  "the Thai government decided to stamp out zero-dollar tourism, estimating losses of US$2 billion each year in tax revenue. Three companies were shut down, 2,155 buses were seized and several people were arrested for money laundering and operating illegal low-quality tours."
If you want speculation about the future, the Bangkok Post has an explainer with a 2023 dateline.

Completely off topic, but I have a couple of 60 baht notes hanging on my wall (hint: they were issued in 1987 and 2006).

It wasn't speculation before COVID.
Back in 2016, if you can believe The ASEAN Post,  "the Thai government decided to stamp out zero-dollar tourism, estimating losses of US$2 billion each year in tax revenue. Three companies were shut down, 2,155 buses were seized and several people were arrested for money laundering and operating illegal low-quality tours."
If you want speculation about the future, the Bangkok Post has an explainer with a 2023 dateline.

It wasn't speculation before COVID.
Back in 2016, if you can believe The ASEAN Post,  "the Thai government decided to stamp out zero-dollar tourism, estimating losses of US$2 billion each year in tax revenue. Three companies were shut down, 2,155 buses were seized and several people were arrested for money laundering and operating illegal low-quality tours."
If you want speculation about the future, the Bangkok Post has an explainer with a 2023 dateline.

Completely off topic, but I have a couple of 60 baht notes hanging on my wall (hint: they were issued in 1987 and 2006).

Completely off topic, but I have a couple of 60 baht notes hanging on my wall (hint: they were issued in 1987 and 2006).

... putting it very mildly, and not just because of the language. Are you sure you can handle the potential boredom of small-town life?
Also, the land route from Songkhla to Padang Besar takes you into "FCDO advises against all but essential travel" territory. To satisfy the need  for regular visits to Malaysia, you might be better off living in Bangkok and flying to KL or Penang. (it might even be quicker!)
 

Yes. Difficult to forget, as until you tap the gate doesn't open 😄

... putting it very mildly, and not just because of the language. Are you sure you can handle the potential boredom of small-town life?
Also, the land route from Songkhla to Padang Besar takes you into "FCDO advises against all but essential travel" territory. To satisfy the need  for regular visits to Malaysia, you might be better off living in Bangkok and flying to KL or Penang. (it might even be quicker!)
 

... putting it very mildly, and not just because of the language. Are you sure you can handle the potential boredom of small-town life?
Also, the land route from Songkhla to Padang Besar takes you into "FCDO advises against all but essential travel" territory. To satisfy the need  for regular visits to Malaysia, you might be better off living in Bangkok and flying to KL or Penang. (it might even be quicker!)
 

... putting it very mildly, and not just because of the language. Are you sure you can handle the potential boredom of small-town life?
Also, the land route from Songkhla to Padang Besar takes you into "FCDO advises against all but essential travel" territory. To satisfy the need  for regular visits to Malaysia, you might be better off living in Bangkok and flying to KL or Penang. (it might even be quicker!)
 

Been there, done that, back in 2001, though I don't suppose it's changed much since. If the river level was low, some of the older wooden boats took three days in the upstream direction. In that case, instead of the relative metropolis of Pakbeng you get to stay in two tiny no-name villages.  The trip had its moments...
Late on the first afternoon we met another boat identical to ours, which had hit a sandbank and sunk. So we stopped for a couple of hours while our boat's crew helped the other crew to rescue their cargo. By the time we moved on, it was dark. Very dark.  Those boats have no lights and we now knew that apparently even an experienced crew can run aground, even in broad daylight. It was a welcome relief when we reached Village #1. The evening meal was noodles or rice; breakfast was rice or noodles. The "hotel" was a row of mats.
When we reached Pakbeng at midday the following day I chose to leave the wooden boat and complete the journey on a (slightly) faster and stronger steel boat the following day. Meanwhile I enjoyed the UNESCO world heritage delights of Pakbeng: choice of guest houses! private rooms!  beds! choice of restaurants! choice of food! electric light (until 9pm)!

Slower than usual slow boat up the Mekong.

Pakbeng
 

Luang Prabang

Been there, done that, back in 2001, though I don't suppose it's changed much since. If the river level was low, some of the older wooden boats took three days in the upstream direction. In that case, instead of the relative metropolis of Pakbeng you get to stay in two tiny no-name villages.  The trip had its moments...
Late on the first afternoon we met another boat identical to ours, which had hit a sandbank and sunk. So we stopped for a couple of hours while our boat's crew helped the other crew to rescue their cargo. By the time we moved on, it was dark. Very dark.  Those boats have no lights and we now knew that apparently even an experienced crew can run aground, even in broad daylight. It was a welcome relief when we reached Village #1. The evening meal was noodles or rice; breakfast was rice or noodles. The "hotel" was a row of mats.
When we reached Pakbeng at midday the following day I chose to leave the wooden boat and complete the journey on a (slightly) faster and stronger steel boat the following day. Meanwhile I enjoyed the UNESCO world heritage delights of Pakbeng: choice of guest houses! private rooms!  beds! choice of restaurants! choice of food! electric light (until 9pm)!

Slower than usual slow boat up the Mekong.

Pakbeng
 

Luang Prabang