The
Northeast of Thailand is also
abbreviated as Isan (Thai:
อีสาน
also Isaan, Issan, or I-san
Isarn) called, includes
about
a third of the Kingdom. The
northeastern provinces are a
little touristy part of
developed country, here one
finds particularly in rural
areas, often before even the
original Thai way of life. Large
open spaces with square rice
fields and water buffalo are
interspersed with huge mountain
ranges. Isaan is geographically
the center of the Khorat Plateau
and is bounded north and east on
the Mekong from Laos and
southeast of Cambodia. In the
west separating the Phetchabun
mountain range the Isaan of
northern and central
Thailand.The Isan is for culture
and nature-oriented tourists,
one of the most fascinating
Zieln in Thailand.
Cultural and historical
Highligts are the major temples
as the heir of the great Khmer
empire with its many
archaeological artifacts.
Three of Thailand's most popular
national parks - Khao Yai, Phu
and Phu Rua in Loei Kradung -
can be explored. Starting point
for adventurous journeys to
destinations along the mighty
and myths and legends defy
Mekong River across to Laos.
In
the Isaan region, a third of the
population of Thailand. In
2000, the population of 20
million people in Isaan. Four
provinces surrounding the major
cities in Isaan, bearing the
same name: In 2000 there were in
the city of Udon Thani 220 500
inhabitants, 204 400 in Khorat,
Khon Kaen in 141 000, and Ubon
Ratchathani had 106 500
inhabitants.
Like
all Thai country, so is life
in Isaan strongly influenced by
Buddhism. Animism, belief in
spirits is German, also in the
lives of people in Isaan deep
roots. The Buddhist Temple
(Thai: Wat) is the most
important building the
villages.These temples are not
only of religious worship, but
also be used as a solid and
assembly halls. Architecturally
outweighs the Lao-style, which
is simpler than the ornate
Thai-style, this is also true
for representations of Buddha in
Isaan.
The people in Isaan
celebrates a number of
traditional festivals, the
Thai festivals water festival
from next Songkhran 13th
April to 15 and Loi Krathong
Festival of Lights in
November April, there are many
worth visiting regional
festivals in Isaan.
The best known are the silk
Festivals of Loei and Khon
Kaen, the Naga fireballs
(Bangfai Phayanak) from Nong
Khai, the candle festival in
Ubon Ratchathani, which the
Buddhist Lent in July, heralding
that, and the famous elephant
festival in Surin.
The
majority of the population is
ethnic Lao and we speak
from the Isan also a Laotian
dialect, however, very much
in common with the Thai language
has. For in the historical
period between the 9th and 14
Century was the North East of
Thailand, part of the great
Khmer Empire, which (Cambodia),
Angkor was dominated by.So you
find today in Isaan more than 30
large classical Khmer ruins, the
most famous is certainly Phimai
in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The
ancient kingdoms of the Khmer
and Lao people from Cambodia and
Laos have now determined in the
past centuries the history of
this area. Everywhere one meets
here, far more than in any other
country in Southeast Asia, the
testimony of Buddhist relics and
colorful past, traces of old and
the oldest civilizations and
magnificently restored Khmer
temples and ruins from all
centuries.
The
large number of large
national parks and wildlife
reserves make the area for
tourism for nature lovers very
interesting. Over 200 different
wild animals including elephants,
tigers, deer and a wide range of
birds and snakes, for example,
in the Khao Yai National
Park, Phu Kadung in the province
of Loei and the Wildlife Reserve
in the province of Chaiyaphum
Phu Khiao.
The
Mekong is Southeast Asia's
largest river and forms the
border between Thailand and Laos
and is one of the attractions of
Issan.
The Mekong rises in Tibet and
flows from China to the Mekong
Delta in Vietnam. The Mekong is
the largest freshwater fish in
the world, the Mekong Catfish is
at home. WWF has launched as
part of its "Living
Mekong" program a bailout
for the giant catfish and other
threatened fish species.
In
Isaan, the people are very
hospitable. The visitor is in
the remote villages often
admired as one white Europeans
(Thai: Farang) mostly from the
TV knows agriculture. The
people live mainly in the.
Since in Isaan usually less rain
than the rest of Thailand and by
the relatively nutrient-poor
soils, the rice yields are often
sparse and the merit is
correspondingly low. Unlike the
rice bowl of Thailand, the
estuary of the major rivers in
central Thailand, where possible,
usually two rice crops per year,
in Issan only one rice crop a
year is possible. Grown, both
high-quality jasmine rice, which
is generally produced for the
sale, and sticky rice, which is
intended for internal
consumption.
TheIsaan is the center of Thai
silk. In addition to an
increasing extent, is cultivated
sugar cane and cassava. The
water buffalo is for many
farmers still an important work
animal. For meat are bred mainly
in Isaan pig, cattle, chickens,
ducks and fish.
The sticky rice grown
anywhere in Issan - Khao Niau
is the main food. In the
northeast, the courts will once
again sharply spiced and
eaten separately. The
regional specialties such as
Som Tam, the green papaya salad
with fermented shrimp or fish of
the season and a lot of chili
are not necessarily suitable for
Europeans. At a minimum, a
larger water bottle may be
present. But the Thais know that
and are able to Farang's to cook
delicious dishes.
In Isaan you can eat what can
not run away fast enough, or fly
away. Roasted grasshoppers,
crickets, larvae, water beetles,
silk worms and ant eggs are a
delicacy here and are offered by
many street vendors.
Children
in Thailand are generally more
pampered than common in
Europe.In school, you will,
however, greater respect for
elders, parents, teachers and
Buddhist leaders as taught in
the Western world. They enjoy
absolute authority.
The
duty of children to care for
their parents later this course.
In Thailand there is no age
social security and now only a
minimum pension for people in
the village. Even if the
children no longer live in the
village, you are often the only
protection and support of the
elderly. Many work in companies
in Bangkok and tourist areas.
Who is talking intensively with
the girls at the bars of
Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, you
will notice that most are from
Isaan. With the money earned to
support their children in large
families at home in Issan to
bring you back a modest standard
of living.
Isaan
is the climate in the
continental climate, with the
very hot season, March to June
and relatively cool nights in
the winter months around the
Neujahreszeit. Although we are
here near the equator, so in the
subtropics, so it can be in the
high mountain areas at night
very cold.
Intense rains are unpredictable,
but they focus on the rainy
season from May to October.>>
Thailand
Weather & Climate
So
if you want a real taste of
ThailandThat
would definitely visit again the
Isaan, to which there is still
much real unspoiled nature. The
Isaan is a bit exhausting, and
for "new" farangs
often do not understand that
simple. You may not see
everything with "western
eyes", but should strive to
put blinders to understand the
country and its people.
Travel
in the Isaan and within the
region is through the very
extensive bus network and 3 rail
lines today without problems.
The accessibility of the Bangkok
to Isaan has been offering
domestic airlines scheduled
flights to all regional airports
for tourists easier. Especially
in major cities in Isaan, it is
possible to find a hotel with
European standards, sometimes
even luxury hotels.You can find
here accommodations to all
destinations and can book
directly online.
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