Nong Khai gym..

Greetings

I originally posted this question in the Nong Khai index, 38 people viewed but 0 responded so maybe on this Sports Leisure & Adventure listing someone may read it & know the answer?

Is there a weights gym in Nong Khai or any type of fitness centre?

Regards
Charley

At the end of Prajak Road, heading east, you'll find the Fitness & Spa, on the left side of the road. Don't know how reliable the opening times are.

I looked all over and found nothing worth paying for. So, I spend the money and bought a bench, a bar, some plates a few dumbbells, a good treadmill for the wife, some ankle weights and a few other things. There is a little shop house place near Phonpisai Road that has a bunch of cast off home gym like equipment but no bar, plates, bench or squat rack. The Sanook opened near the City Lodge but they have a weight stack machine, a cheap treadmill and a bar with girls. Not a serious place.
Some with a bit of money and some effort could open a decent free weight gym and be successful. I would, but the wife is Lao and we will be going back there in a few months. Vientiane has a great little hardcore freeweight gym. Odd that there is nothing here. PM me if you want a list of simple equipment. I am a RN and certified as a trainer.

I live in Vientiane and would like to buy a decent treadmill. I'd be happy to take second hand if in good condition.
Can anybody advise where I could find this in Nong Khai or Udon Thani?

runner wrote:I live in Vientiane and would like to buy a decent treadmill. I'd be happy to take second hand if in good condition.
Can anybody advise where I could find this in Nong Khai or Udon Thani?

The green 2 story place ,on the corner at the stoplight,just past the Grand hotel heading towards Phon Phasai.She has the used equipment from the gym that closed a couple of years ago,mentioned above.

If she still has them,and I think she does,one was needed repair that was never done for over a year and the other one was working fine,top of the line heavy duty tread mills made in America,but ,of course they need servicing,which they didn't do at the gym!

For those interested,Nong Khai has a very inexpensive fitness center,1000 baht a year,no showers,4 medium HD treadmills,probably rated for less than 100 KG people,5 bikes,2 crosstrainers and a full set of weight training machines plus weights and benches.Excellent value,again poor maintenance on the electrtonic cardio machines,but very pleasant staff.

Unfortunately,they don't officially open until 3 PM weekdays and 1 PM on Sat.,closed Sunday,although they have been pretty lax about the starting times,several of us start at 2 PM and I have seen a couple that have started at 1230- 1300.

Close at 9 or 10 PM,I'm not sure!

They also have Yoga and aerobics classes in the late afternoon.

After passing Tesco-Lotus heading North,just past the Isuzu dealer on the left hand side!Yellow 3 story complex,gym is on the 3rd floor!

Staff do not speak English,but there are always several falang there to help you with questions!

nkstan wrote:

runner wrote:I live in Vientiane and would like to buy a decent treadmill. I'd be happy to take second hand if in good condition.
Can anybody advise where I could find this in Nong Khai or Udon Thani?

The green 2 story place ,on the corner at the stoplight,just past the Grand hotel heading towards Phon Phasai.She has the used equipment from the gym that closed a couple of years ago,mentioned above.

If she still has them,and I think she does,one was needed repair that was never done for over a year and the other one was working fine,top of the line heavy duty tread mills made in America,but ,of course they need servicing,which they didn't do at the gym!

For those interested,Nong Khai has a very inexpensive fitness center,1000 baht a year,no showers,4 medium HD treadmills,probably rated for less than 100 KG people,5 bikes,2 crosstrainers and a full set of weight training machines plus weights and benches.Excellent value,again poor maintenance on the electrtonic cardio machines,but very pleasant staff.

Unfortunately,they don't officially open until 3 PM weekdays and 1 PM on Sat.,closed Sunday,although they have been pretty lax about the starting times,several of us start at 2 PM and I have seen a couple that have started at 1230- 1300.

Close at 9 or 10 PM,I'm not sure!

They also have Yoga and aerobics classes in the late afternoon.

After passing Tesco-Lotus heading North,just past the Isuzu dealer on the left hand side!Yellow 3 story complex,gym is on the 3rd floor!

Staff do not speak English,but there are always several falang there to help you with questions!

Stopped by this place yesterday. Big sign next to the door:

Foreigners Price
1 day - 200 baht
1 month - 500 baht
1 year- 5000 baht

And underneath in Thai (however the numerals were Arabic):

Thai price
1 day - 50 baht
1 month - 300 baht
1 year - 2000 baht

I asked the attendant (after searching for him for several minutes) if, since I live here, I might get the Thai price. He kindly called the office, and they said "No!".

I can certainly afford the inflated price, and it's not expensive in absolute terms, but this dual-pricing thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Being pragmatic, and needing a place to work out, I will most likely pay the price, but I can't help thinking that it is yet another reason to be looking for greener pastures.

I pointed out to the guy that Thais (and anyone else) who visit he US pay he same price as everybody else, and he smiled and said he agreed that it wasn't right, but I understand that it's only his job, and he couldn't do anything about it. Kind of shows the disconnect between the average Thai, and the big boys, who own property, and don't really want us here...

runner wrote:I live in Vientiane and would like to buy a decent treadmill. I'd be happy to take second hand if in good condition.
Can anybody advise where I could find this in Nong Khai or Udon Thani?

Good luck with that.

I've seen some brands called North and Marathon in the sports store at the top of the Complex in Udon, but I haven't been able to find any information anywhere on their performance or dependability. I've contacted Nautilus looking for a dealer in Thailand. They don't have one. I'm still searching.

The NK gym customer traffic reflects their new pricing policy.I was an original member and the make up of regulars was probably about 50% falang.The price was 1000 baht for a year and it was a bargain for sure,I did 3 memberships,but the drastic change in pricing policy with a different price for falangs totally turned me off.The falang price is to high for the hours and no shower facilities.A 2000 baht price for everyone would have been justified,maybe even 3000 baht.But they have employees that are not maintenance people,their equip is not professional grade and they are experiencing maintenance fees as the warranties have expired.I go by regularly and it looks like they have very little business now.

Just another example of business in Thailand with no business sense.

Sateev wrote:Stopped by this place yesterday. Big sign next to the door:

Foreigners Price
1 day - 200 baht
1 month - 500 baht
1 year- 5000 baht

And underneath in Thai (however the numerals were Arabic):

Thai price
1 day - 50 baht
1 month - 300 baht
1 year - 2000 baht

I asked the attendant (after searching for him for several minutes) if, since I live here, I might get the Thai price. He kindly called the office, and they said "No!".

I'd LOVE to see a local falang business owner put up a sign like that, double charging Thais!

Nice way to treat a GUEST in their country Its laughable

When they say ''guest'',it doesn't mean the same as it does in the West.This is a different culture.Here a ''guest'' is expected to be subservient as the host is always the most important person or entity.It is part of a ''face culture'' where respect is expected,not earned.
Once you get the hang of it ,you learn to accept it or at least learn how to live with it!

GARYZX6R wrote:Nice way to treat a GUEST in their country Its laughable

A fee of 4 times more that the Thai price is like hanging a sign that say's "foreigners not welcome here".
(Just like they do in Japan and Korea).