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Good Lucky Backpackers Lodge - Thailand (Associated Branch)
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Top level
Accommodation
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The Happy Budda
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New Backpackers Lodge opened near Ban Bo at 74 Moo 1, Tambon Tanya, Thailand. ISAAN. North East Thailand. En route to Laos (Freedom Bridge or on way to 4 thousand Islands).
Experience real country life with a local family.Close to many famous Wats, Buddas., Stupas and old ruins of famous past civilizations.Beautiful scenery. Festivals and ceremonies galore. Close to the life of a Buddist monastry and Temple.Regular ceremonies to attend. Multiple farming activities. A feast of interesting and very tasty Isaan food.Hire a motorbike or bicylce and off you go.
Thailand is one of the most economical places to travel.
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GOOD LUCKY BACKPACKERS LODGE.
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Good Lucky Orchid Collection
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North East Thailand. Isaan.
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Your Hosts
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GOOD LUCKY Backpackers Lodge is a new Backpackers in Ban Bo in the rich & fertile Province of Kalasin., Isaan (North Eastern Thailand).Open October to March each year.Three very comfortable Double/Twin rooms in a double story farm house near rural Ban Bo village. Fan in each room quite adequate for the heat. Clean communal shower and toilet (yes proper!) facilities , BBQ area, large tiled verandah & hammocks in orchid filled garden. In the centre of a farming village.
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Thai Welcome to Kalasin
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When you arrive and get settled you get your chance to get your “Good Lucky” number and message from the Buddha which sits amongst the orchids.This is sure to set up your wonderful holiday ahead.Room numbers 9, 18, 27….. are all lucky numbers according to Buddist folklore and tradition.
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Buddist Ceremony in Ban Bo
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Life in the country
Ban Bo (Healthy City) is easy bus access from Bangkok. Take bus to Khon Kaen then a one and a half hour bus ride drops you off one kilometer from us.You can also fly to Khon Kaen.Ban Bo is not on most maps.It is on the intersection of Route 214 running north/ south (
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Rice Paddy Ban Bo
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Kalasin, Kamalasai, Ban Bo, Roi Et and Route 2116 running west/east ( Khon Kaen, Yang Talat, Ban Bo, Pho Chai, Phon Thong). Distances from Ban Bo: 21kms south of Kalasin, 7 kms south of Kalamasai, 26 kms North of Roi Et, 86 kms East of Khon Kaen and 28 kms East of Yang Talat, 44 kms west of Phon
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Farmer drives past Good Lucky Lodge
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Thong,148 kms South of Sakhon Nakhon, 214 kms South of Udon Thani. You will see our signs on the Route 2116 & 214 intersection there!!Follow the yellow arrows.We are one kilometer from the crossroads/bus stop.Phone anytime and we can do a free collect.The shops nearby know where we are!!
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This one tasted real good
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Make your way to see the unspoiled, untouristy Thailand and spend a few days in a wonderful friendly rural environment. Local market twice a week, local Pra Ajen Bua Monastry (Regular monastic activities one can attend each week.) and Wat Pla Temple.Visit a school, check out local agricultural activities with us. Fishing and swimming in the clean canal water from Lake Lampan.
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Famous Wat in Khon Kaen
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The most common form of evening entertainment on a Friday or Saturday evening within easy reach is a Mor Lam Festival.Usually the Rock festival sized stage is constructed in a Temple or compound/sports field. Thousands of people attend, sitting on mats on the ground or standing watching and listening to the entertainment. The traditional music and song is accompanied by extremely colourful choreography, executed by a group of up to 50 female and some male dancers.
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Famous old Civilizations
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Fantastic costumes are changed several times throughout the program. and the transitions are bridged by raunchy gags, slap stick comedy and speeches by local dignatories.A Mor Lam Festival is a family affair and is surrounded by food and drink.
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Pumping water into Paddy fields
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Nattaya’s family farm rice and fish at Tanya near Ban Bo Village along the canal fed from the Lampan Dam.Visit a small mushroom farm and the catfish dams nearby.Harvesting rice from early November then November / December burning and cultivation of land for the second crop. January for sowing the seed. Famous area for Sticky Rice cultivation. Orchid Farm, Rural Brickmaking and large Rice Mill in nearby Kamalasai. Regular catfish harvest. See how life really is in Thailand. Village life with direct neighbour Dr D who broadcasts intermittently to the village on all village matters and activities. Source of knowledge and wisdom for all. Watch Kick boxing on television (Sunday) and join in with the local enthusiasts.Join the aerobics class every afternoon on the road with 30 other enthusiasts to the catchy rythmn of local traditional Thai music!! Many local Home Industries visits. Haircut for 50 Baht with Mr Bali. Spinster Tong Aun herds her Water Buffaloes through the village at 7.00 in the morning and 6.00 at night to bring them home. Neighbour Mr Bayi feeds his Brahmans next door near the Rice barn. Cock fighting on Saturdays and Sundays with the local enthusiasts. Its a very interesting experience as it is An Isaan pastime that has been developed into a fine art.
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Water Buffalo pass Good Lucky Backpackers
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Thai Family Backpackers
Graham Chennells and Nattaya Taptanee & family have opened this large double story house into a Backpackers Lodge with three initial rooms and a further three next year.Graham (English, “n bietjie Dutch/Afrikaans & Zulu) has a Backpackers Lodge and Tour company in South Africa and has had extensive worldwide experience including six months in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) & Nepal. Nattaya (English…. Slowly Please….and Thai).
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The Neighbours stud Brahmin
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Quality Thai massage, pedicure, manicure and can cook the genuine Isaan cuisine. If you have not tried sticky rice with the traditional dishes yet here is your chance! Chilli’s are a way of life but optional for those with a delicate palet. Daughter Nan can tell you about School and a future for young people in Isaan.
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One very Tall Budda in Roi Et
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Annual Ceremonies. Check Thailand Tourism website for updates. Surin Elephant Festival in November.(If you can’t make that, visiting the Elephant farm is a must. I have an original Elephant painting which I would not swop for a Van Goght!!) Flower Festival Bung Kaen Nakhon in April.Silk Festival in Khon Kaen city Nov/Dec. Rocket festival in Yasothon. Candle festival in Ubon during July.Naga Fireballs of Nong Khai.
Go to a bigger market in Kalamasai to buy BBQ requirements…we can make your sauces…choose various live fish, prawns (from local farms), calamari, fresh vegetables and fruit. Frogs, lizards, grasshoppers, crickets, rodents, eels and other delicacies for the less squeemish, can also be purchased. Some of these are served as snacks or delicacies. Isaan food is distinct from Thai and Lao cuisines. Som Tam papaya salad. Larb meat salad. Gai Yang grilled chicken. All cooked to suit your pallet. We will show you how to do a Chinese Braai (BBQ) as well. Wonderful evening meal and entertainment. Tom Yum Soup a must.
Restaurants available nearby.
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Giving Alms
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Prices & Services Provided..
Accommodation. Double / Twins rooms 250 Baht. Single 200 Baht.
Breakfast. 75 Baht. Traditional Dinner from 200 Baht.
Cold Drinks & Beers Available. Rice wine and coke (with ice) for a bit of variety.
Reliable Internet 100 Baht per hour.
Motorcycle (350 Baht per day) & Bicycle hire.(100 Baht) Plus Map.
Various Thai massages, pedicure & manicure. Prices on request.
Thai Tea & Coffee free.
Laundry. Quote on quantity.
English Books. Library of 50 at least.
GOOD LUCKY Backpackers Lodge.ISAAN.Landline. Tel 0066 43830152
***Direct booking and enquiries to Graham info@eshowe.com.Cell. 00279824926918
COME HERE AND HAVE SOME FUN.
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Graham on tour in Isaan
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CENTRAL ISAAN.(North East Thailand)
Central to Isaan area and the following towns. Amnat Charoen, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanon, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, Buri Ram, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sachon Nakton, Udon Thani, Chalyaphum, Maha Sarakham, Maha Sarakham, Nong Bue Lam Phu, Si Sa Ket, Yasothon, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Nong Khai & Surin.
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Harvesting Catfish in Ban Bo
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Visit us on your journey NORTH to LAOS… Ventianne, Vang Vieng (Backpackers Paradise), La PraBang across Freedom Bridge, or EAST through Pakse or Savannakhet to Si Phan Don on the Mekong (Four Thousand Islands), Don Det Island (Somphamit Falls, Irrawaddy Dolphins). Time magazine: November 2009.
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Mobile Markets
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Prominent features of ISAAN.
Mainly Agricultural economic activity.
Indigenous form of folk music called “mor lam” (Festivals Most weekends)
Kick Boxing.
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Cock Fighting next door
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Cock Fighting. (Weekly)
Celebratory Processions.(Very Regularly)
Food: Sticky rice & fiery Chillies staple.
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Local Buddist Ceremony
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Some Things about Thailand.
1.Everyone is so Patriotic. Flags everywhere. Pictures of the King on every highway and town entrance.The Kings Birthday celebrations nationally .5th Dec.
2. People drive slowly and carefully. Excludes big cities where traffic jams make it difficult.
3. Stop Streets. 90 seconds and they give you an electronic countdown.
4. Not uncommon to see a couple and two or three kids on a 110cc motorcycle in busy traffic.
5. Seven Elevens everywhere.
6. Bus system good, modern & budget prices.
7. Perfectly manicured town & city gardens.
8. Bread Butter & Milk scarce.
9. Colourful Bougainvillas a common site as is the colourful yellow Cassia Fiscula..
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This one is also lovely
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Author: Graham Chennells. Eshowe. Zululand. South Africa.
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Prize Orchid
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Plenty of Wats, Temples Stupas and Buddas
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Basket Weaving School
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Local Tuk Tuk
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Cottage Industry in Ban Bo
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Village Weaving
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