Updated 26 Mar 2017:
Good View restaurant has been added as a recommendation under Eating/Drinking.
Updated 27 Feb 2017:
Well this update is mostly bad news in that the Sports Bar and Kiwidad’s Cafe are now closed and Eat Me moved on some time ago. I have therefore removed these entries from this post, which makes it a pretty threadbare reference point. I had more choice in massage too but several have closed and there is only one I can recommend, which is excellent for either Thai or oil.
On a related matter I have just published an extensive blog post on the businesses of Si Bun Ruang, our home town 25 km from Nong Bua – a world first 
Why not have a read and see what shopping looks like in everyday Thailand HERE.
Index:
I am going to treat my new home in Si Bung Ruang, in the North East of Thailand, in the same way as I did our time in Chiang Rai and Mai and share with you places of interest we come across in our travels. Some of these will be reports on more scenic or unusual locations and others will just be places we have found and use as part of our day to day life here.
I hope that over time we can discover some interesting material to photograph and write about as the coverage of Isaan, this region of Thailand, is pretty sparse when compared to the big names on the coast and the North West.
Now I know that probably nobody reading this will ever visit Nong Bua Lamphu so reporting on its very minor attractions may seem a little strange but you never know. Someone may take the wrong turn in Pattaya and end up here looking for a decent pizza.
Happy times in Pattaya as you can tell.
Nong Bua Lamphu is the nearest larger town to where we live, about 30 km to the North. Nong is the phonetic Thai spelling for lake, Bua = lotus flowers and “phu” is a hill. So we have a town beside a lotus lake near a hill and it definitely ticks all those boxes. It is also the name for the province we live in, Thailand’s 76th and newest.
This map shows the relationship between Udon and Nong Bua Lamphu. You can see out little home town of Si Bun Ruang in the bottom right directly under Nong Bua Lamphu..
Being in the “big smoke” also give us some other benefits such as 100% more choice in farang eating places, as Si Bun Ruang has none, and also satisfies my love of a decent massage, where once again the local scene is pretty woeful. On the former I have a funny relationship with Thai food. I enjoy it and Gaun, my wife, is a great Thai cook, but I am never hungry for a Thai meal in the way I am for a steak or some pasta. Wierd. Also in the same way I used to do something different and get some Thai takeaway in Australia, here it’s the reverse and I enjoy a change of menu back to my western roots.
Nong Bua doesn’t have much in the way of massage places when compared to farang centers of Chiang Mai or Phuket. There are two situated at the bus interchange, a fancy name for a large concrete area with a few of what look like pre-war, pick a war, buses that should never be on the roads. I have tried one of these places and they were hopeless. The second one is more upmarket and looked nice but is more expensive than “normal”. I haven’t tried this one yet.
There’s only one place I would recommend for massage in Nong Bua as follows:
Massage 4 – RECOMMENDED
Discovered on 4 Nov 2015 and definitely recommended. By far the best thing going in Nong Bua that I have found so far. It is a tiny shopfront on a backroad as marked on the map below.
The place on the right. Looks like nothing much from the outside but is fine inside.
Opposite the Christian school, which you can’t miss on the left coming from Nong Bua main street.
Nan’s Massage place. I don’t know if it is her shop but as their business card is only in Thai I have given it this name.
Nan in front of the shop.
Ask for Nan (Gaun pronounces it as Nun). She teaches massage, has worked in Korea and is spot on. 150 THB for Thai and 300 THB for oil. Try a Thai/oil combination – great stuff. They also do a good Thai massage, which I get for my stepdaughter Peng once a week. The place has three Thai massage beds off the floor and a separate oil massage space next to them with a proper in slightly short! massage table. Air conditioned and spotless.
Yes. You don’t have a Thai massage to relax. They really work the body.
Phone 086-5751800 or 082-1244275.
I have been here a many times now and Nan is a great masseuse. The massage is thorough and consistent each time.
Good View is a eating place on the ringroad around Nong Bua Lamphu on the Udon Thani side. If you take the ringroad going to Udon past Global House at the second set of traffic lights you turn right and you will see Good View on your right shortly after. It is a very much a Thai place but they do offer a limited farang menu including crumbed fish and chips, which is pretty good at 150 baht. The decor is modern but in usual Thai fashion it hasn’t been maintained since opening so is already looking a little tired. If hot inside is the best option with air con. The furniture is worn but comfortable although only at hobbit height so your knees will be at your ears.
This is either distressed modern decor or just falling apart. It could be either in Thailand.,
The beer is cold and at 70 baht a large bottle very reasonable.
In normal western circumstances this place wouldn’t rate a mention but as there is almost no alternative that I know of in Nong Bua is looks pretty attractive. Give it a go.
Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant: This place has moved since my last post to a much nicer location. If you are that lost soul from Pattaya looking for a good pizza then Pinocchio’s is the place to head for. As you head South out of Nong Bau towards Si Bun Ruang on the 228 you will come to what passes as a roundabout, which confuses the hell out of the Thais. Follow the roundabout to the right as if you were driving back into Nong Bua and then immediately take a little soi off to the left. You are still in the roundabout about a third of the way through but on the other side – see photos below:
Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant
A closer view.
An Italian guy own the restaurant with his Thai partner. They have a decent menu of meats, pastas and pizza plus some Thai dishes and also have a small range of Italian cheeses and meats for sale.. Check out the special’s board, which changes regularly. The pizzas are made on site and are the proper thin crust with a range of toppings. A large 12 inch pizza will set you back 220 THB, a large beer 80 THB, so more expensive than a local meal but when you need a pizza……………………Good food and service – recommended.
Located on the ground floor of a house Pinocchio’s is well above the Thai alternatives in decor and presentation.
Update 27 Feb 2017:
We hadn’t visited Pinocchio’s for a while and called in with friends in January. We were disappointed in the food this time. The kitchen seems to have been taken over by Thais and the result wasn’t up to previous standards. My lasagne was OK but nothing like a tasty. The pizzas were alway minimal in the true Italian style but they were a lower quality this time. My friend ordered a risotto and it was so salty that he couldn’t finish it. Now we may have just hit a bad night but I now have reservations about fully recommending this place, which I had no problems doping previously.
Nong Bua Lamphu lake
Not the big one in the middle of town – Nong = lake in the town’s name, but a smaller and hidden version on the ringroad. Coming into Nong Bua from the South on the 228 from Si Bun Ruang, turn left at the petrol station and then left again at a blue sign in Thai about 100 meters on the ringroad. The lake is a couple of minutes down this road on the left.
The hidden lake of Nong Bua Lamphu! These little salas or bamboo huts sit over the water. Choose one and settle in. Bring cushions if you are intending to stay for a while.
The kitchen is in the middle of the lake. Once you have arrived a boat will paddle over and menus delivered. The boat will come back later and take your order. The food is then shipped to you!
The food and drinks arrive and are handed up to you. There is a bamboo “bell” on the side of the sala facing the water if you need to call for more beer.
At 260 THB this is the most expensive fish meal I have had in Thailand, except for Phuket which is often tourist priced. However it comes with lots of trimmings and the location and service make it a unique experience.
Update 20 May 2016. We went here recently and the food was not good. The fish was small and badly cooked and the vegetables of poor quality. It was a holiday day so they had been busy so maybe the best had gone. It took the edge off my previous recommendation. If you are paying top baht then the food needs to match.
Dentist
Did you know that the Thai word for teeth is a word that phonetically sounds like “fun”. It gets better because the name for a a dentist is “more fun”……..I can’t think of a profession that generates less fun than a dentist let alone more fun 🙂
I am about to arrange for Peng, my step-daughter, to have braces put on her teeth. The dentist at Nong Bua has a orthodontist who flies in regularly from Bangkok to provide this service. The total cost over two years is between 35,000 and 45,000 THB or A$1,400 and A$1,800. I don’t know what the equivalent cost would be in Australia or elsewhere but I am confident it would be many time this.
Want a filling done? I have been told by a reader that A$20.00 will get you one here. All in high a quality clinic with modern equipment and an English speaking dentist. Pay for your trip to Thailand with dental treatments. Update 5 Aug 2015: Peng has now had nine fillings done all with white composite material and I can confirm the 500 THB per filling cost. If you wanted amalgam you would save 100 THB per filling.
You can see the dentist on the 228 South of the lake.
The dentist clinic – that purple building.
Gas Bottle Refill
You have two choices to top up your LPG bottles. You can swap them or go for a refill of your existing bottle. Swapping is quick and easy but the downside is that if you bought your bottle new then you are exchanging it for a second hand one, although you can select one in good condition. The other possibility is that the exchange bottles aren’t filled 100%. Getting a refill is less convenient but you might be getting a 20% gas bonus for your money. All a bit marginal but at least there are choices available.
Heading out of NBL on the 228 going south turn left at the last and recently installed traffic lights.
This gateway is about 200 meters on the right.
I have recently exchanged our main 16.3 kg bottle and next time will go for a refill and see which one lasts the longest. Not a very scientific approach but it might be possible to arrive at a conclusion based on the number of cooking days.
Fish Pet Shop
Unfortunately we lost a couple of fish when we recently emptied and cleaned our lotus and koi pond that sits at the front of our house in Si Bun Ruang. Also my stepdaughter’s computer broke down yesterday and the hunt was on for a place that could repair it. We had previously found a fish shop in Nong Bua but it was it was only when we visited today that I realised there was a computer repair shop next door. Two for the price of one.
Looking across our lotus and koi pond to the garden.
The fish shop hidden away in the backstreets that can supply most of your day to day pond or fish tank needs. It is well set-up in a very small way and is clean and organised.
I have marked a temple to the left of the fish and computer shops but it isn’t worth visiting.
Computer shop directly next door on the left. A step above the average clothes shop on the right.
Owned and run by this lady who takes an interest in the business and can give advice.
These koi were over 30 cm (12″) and selling for 800 THB (A$32.00).
You will also find this lady at the Nong Bua Lamphu big local markets that happen once a month. You will need to find a Thai calendar because it is held on the Thai 11th of the month, which is different from our dates! In fact a Thai calendar is essential reading as it also shows you public holidays, which usually happens whenever you travel somewhere to use a government service! This is a country that had holidays for the police, army, teachers, government workers and many others including all sorts of Buddhist events. The only time I was a royalist in Australia was for the English Queen’s birthday when we got a day off 🙂
Major Hardware/building supplies
Global House have a huge store, which conveniently opened a week after we started building our house in November 2014. Coming into Nong Bua on the 228 from Si Bun Ruang turn right at the PTT petrol station and you will see the Global House sign.
Global House.
Thai Watsadu
An older and less organised store than GH. If you can’t find it in one then try the other. You will find Thai Watsadu on highway 210 as you drive out of Nong Bua on the right
Erawan Cave North of Nong Bua Lamphu on the 210, which I wrote about HERE. Recommended on a cool day.
Brilliant Thai scenery.
Wat Tham Klong Phen, the “tham” in the name tells you this is a cave wat. Set in a large forested area just outside Nong Bua Lamphu on the 210 to Udon Thani this temple is worth visiting. I wrote about it originally HERE and then there is an update HERE.
The cave wat.
The Isaan Cowboy Ranch
For some reason the Thais have a love affair with North American cowboys and the occasional Indian. When we lived in Chiang Mai our local area had a cowboy nightclub – well tin shed on the edge of fields truth be told – set up with straw bales and lots of people wearing cowboy hats. Mind you it was still loud Thai music and food so the theme was pretty limited in the extent of its application.
Here in our bit of Isaan in the North East of Thailand we don’t miss out as there is a place called the Cowboy Ranch, fifteen minutes drive from Nong Bua Lamphu, our local larger town and you can read all about it HERE.
These is a wat overlooking Nong Bua on the left as you head out on the 210 to Udon Thani. It is worth a visit even if just for the view. I covered it in my post “Watting Around”, which you can find HERE.
Nong Bua Lamphu Fishing Park
A short distance outside of Nong Bua heading South on the 228 you will see this sign to a new fishing park and cafe.
The Fishing Park. An old photo so still being built.
The front part of the property is the owner’s house, an English guy called Ian and his Thai wife. Follow the driveway past this and you’ll end up at the back of the property and a dirt carpark overlooking two large ponds. The one on the right is catch and put back while the one of the left you can take away up to 3 kg of fish you catch.
Small salas surround the lake. Settle in for the day.
A rod will cost you 200 THB to hire and the second one 50 THB. Bring your own bait.
The setup is very new and Ian either hasn’t got around to planting up with trees and shrubs or isn’t minded to. Those salas will get pretty warm in the hot season without shade.
Fish are being caught.
You can order food and drink here and it will be delivered to your sala. Ring the bamboo “bell” to get a top-up.
The view over paddy fields at the back.
Hi Tony and Guan. I have read your blog from the start..took me about 6 weeks 🙂 so much better than a book! I just have a question about how you two met. I know you don’t put much private stuff in, apart from the wedding, but I am so curious about your love story.
The house is looking fantastic. I bet you are excited about decorating it…probably more so the girls!!
cheers
Linda
Thank you for your kind comment. I am so pleased you enjoyed the stories. Life has changed from being a tourist to settling in, which has changed the emphasis of the blog and I hope continues to keep it interesting. I will write to you separately about Gaun because although it’s no secret it falls outside what I would normally share in a public space. Thanks also for the endorsement on the house. The walls were finished yesterday, which probably gets us a bit over halfway. It looks very raw obviously at this stage but once Gaun is let loose on the garden, combined with tropical growth rates, it will all soften into the landscape in no time. Warm regards. Tony
I am an aussie Living in naklang Nong Bua Lamphu thanks for the info will try the fishing lake out soon and hopefully go to the sports bar to watch the grand final cheers
Don
Hi Don.
Welcome to the area and the blog. I haven’t been to the Sports Bar for a while so I hope it is OK. The guy who owned it was trying to sell so he might not be around any more. Still I’m sure the grand final will be playing whatever and the drinks cold so what else you you need?
If you find anything interesting that is worth including in the NBL section please let me know. We’re down the road in Si Bun Ruang so don’t get there too often.
Cheers mate.
Tony
Hi tony i like your house design.
could you tell me how you got the design.
Iam a bricklayer and my wife is from
Nong Wue So and we want to build our home there.
Or is there any web sites that can help us.
Thanks matt and ooy.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the comment. The house design was mine. I wanted something simple and spacious for basically two people plus room for friends when they visited. Having outside areas was important too as I find I spend as much time outside undercover as I do inside. We have lived in it for 4 months now and there’s not much I would change. Another reader of the blog is building the same house with a few changes.
There are a few good Thai websites that can help with your build. Have a read through the 23 posts I wrote on my build. It will give you a pretty good idea of how things are done here and also give you ideas of where to buy things in Udon. The list of expenses will help you get some idea of the cost of things and when the major cost happen in a Thai building schedule.
For other good building websites coolthaihouse.com is probably the best (http://www.coolthaihouse.com/forum/index.php?sid=a9d0b8bbdabf5706ac3bacb95d991e19), http://teakdoor.com/construction-in-thailand/ is another and the thaivisa.com have building advice covered in their forums.
As you are local if you and Ooy ever wanted to drop for a lunch and building chat you would be most welcome. We can have a look around our house and I can show you what’s covered in my blog for real.
Good luck with it all and let me know if I can help out.
Nice to see your report. I live in Nong Bua. Keep up the good work
Thanks Ken. Good to hear from another local. There are more of us farang living in the area than you might expect. We are just well hidden.
If you know of or hear of any additions I can make to the Nong Bua Top 100 please let me know!
Cheers Tony
Hi Tony,
I have met a nice lady from Nong Bua Lamphu area – she is building a house near a village called Nong Tang but I can’t find it on Google Earth?
Have you heard of this village near you?
I intend to visit in April so would love to see you both and the nice home you have built.
Many Thanks
Ian
Hi Ian. Congratulations. I have a soft spot for Isaan woman (in a general sense I quickly add).
I don’t know of a Nong Tang but there’s a Ban Nong Saeng (thanks Gaun) on highway 228, the road out of Nong Bua Lamphu to our home town of Si Bun Ruang. Google maps has it marked. I suspect this is an example of why finding places can be so challenging here based on Thai spelling or pronunciation of English. No blame on the Thais as I struggle myself and am often rescued by spellcheck.
Let me know if we have pointed you in the right location.
We would be happy to meet you and your girlfriend when you’re next in the area.
Tony (and Gaun).
Thanks for info Tony and Gaun – I spoke to my girlfriend Jackie and she has been to your village and believes she has spoken to you in the market. I am still trying to clarify the village she is from!!! We would live to visit you both and see your nice home and garden as Jackie has a nice house nearing completion but no garden yet. I think I will be helping there. Gaun can advise re suitable plants.
How funny that I may have already unofficially met your girlfriend. There’s nothing Gaun enjoys more than sharing her garden with visitors so we can have a beer and chat while the ladies explore the greenery. One of the many joys of Thailand is the cost of plants. I hate to think what the cost of our garden would be in Australia. Here just a few thousand dollars and it looks like a million dollars! The only downside is that for half the year we get NO rain. Unless you have a decent water supply and distribution system then having a proper garden here is impossible. Gaun is hand watering and will be doing so for the next four or five months.
See you in 2016.
Tony- your blog is superb! Great photos, very well written. You’re putting Nong Bua on the map! I’m a Yank married to a Nong Bua lady for 30+ years. We have a nice farm in town. Next time we’re in town, we’d like to meet you. Glad you enjoy living there. And thanks for your useful advice.
Thanks very much Jon. You won’t be thanking me once the tourist buses start rolling in 🙂 Of course with the opening of makro we have hit the big time!
We would love to meet up and say hello. I have visitors arriving this week and will get in touch once we are free agents again.
Look forward to meeting you both.
Tony
Hi again Tony & thanks for the fast reply!
My Girlfriend is convinced whatever event she is trying to describe is in March, but I will mention what you said in our next exchange & see what she says.
I want to go in late Feb. anyhow because her birthday is the 28th.
And in the meantime between when I sent and you replied I read some of your stuff- especially the Living with a Thai Girl piece… very good info!!
you are spot on with your observations and characterizations, and you make a lot of sense with your financial advice- I have already been asked to help with mortgages on their land. I will be very careful to set an even tone as you advise when I meet them.
My girl seems to be a cross between the rural and the “HiSo” you mention, so once again you give good insight on how to mangage something like this… I have been a bit worried about it.
And yes, I would love to meet you when I am there… sounds like you got this whole Thai life down to a science and I could use the help… us Americans aren’t famous for being very culturally smart 😉
Cheers!
Robert
Hi , I live in NBLP .
The sports bar is closed now , so is kiwidads.
The last time I tried to respond to you I could not write a comment about ice or steam but, it looks ok now.
Hi Ken. Thanks for the update. I knew the Sport’s Bar had closed but Kiwidads was still a goér last time I noticed. I will update the blog. NBL just doesn’t have the farang numbers to really support specialised eating/drinking places I guess. Being a local do you know of any other places with a mixed western/Thai menu? I tried Good View on the ringroad on the eastern side of NBL and it was a disaster for farang food. Thais mostly just have no idea about our cooking, which I guess is fair enough.
Cheers.
Hi Tony , correct , not a lot of Fallang eateries in NBLP but, you can get plenty of info from a Facebook group, Nong Bua Lamphu, we love you.
I’m on the admin so I will await your request.
Enjoy your weekend
Ken
I never knew your FB group existed. I will send a few more people your way. Request sent.
Cheers.