No longer just a gawker

Guess I should introduce myself - I been gawking for some time now and I guess I should take a more active part. Thanks for all the great tips I've leaned during the past few months. We are looking forward to being in Udorn this January. I will be staying all winter or maybe long enough to catch the Rocket Festival in May (my favorite festival.)

I spent over 5 years in Vientianne from 1968 to 1973 . My wife

Welcome Uncle Tom,i am sure you will find what you are looking for on here.

Welcome Uncle Tom.

Have you got any pictures of Udon Thani from your time here between 68' and 1975?

I'll look but I can only think of one picture - a soul food restaurant near the base...

Not much to photograph then,

I am sorting out thousands of pictures, slides, negatives and trying to digitalize them. Will let you know when I find some of Udorn

Welcome, Uncle Tom. Y think you'll find the site a great help.

Were you at Udon RTAFB or Ramasun? My husband was at Ramasun in 72-73 as a Russian language specialist; his ex-wife is from Udon and, in fact, is visiting there with her family now. Based on what he showed me when we visited last year, much is the same or recognizable from the 70s, while much is new. It's a busy place.

Did the Ernesto rains last night nearly wash you away?

Welcome, Tom. I was a steenkeen defense contractor back in those days, mostly in Udorn, and can tell you that there have been many changes. The old town has grown tremendously in population and size. Now you will find malls, KFCs, 7-11s and, let's not forget, a night market. A better, more interesting place to live in my opinion. Nong Khai? Now that was a real dusty town in those days. Be prepared for the changes.

Ron

Welcome Uncle Tom and if as you say you have been doing a lot of "gawking" here I'm sure you've read my posts and questions on Bang Fai or the Rocket Festival (bet the members didn't see this coming ) and have you been to see it personally? If you have been do you have any photos?

Alagrl wrote:Welcome, Uncle Tom. Y think you'll find the site a great help.

Were you at Udon RTAFB or Ramasun? My husband was at Ramasun in 72-73 as a Russian language specialist; his ex-wife is from Udon and, in fact, is visiting there with her family now. Based on what he showed me when we visited last year, much is the same or recognizable from the 70s, while much is new. It's a busy place.

Did the Ernesto rains last night nearly wash you away?

Alagrl I was a civilian across the river with USAID and getting to Udorn via Air America was a great treat then. Walking down the base seemed a bit like home with good food and great PX. It was great to become americanized again before returning to Vientianne. I truly loved Laos but appreciated an occasional break.

We are living in Wilmington NC near wear Ernesto reached land. The winds were stronger than I expected and blew down several branches. I'm 7 miles from the ocean and floods are no problem on my corner. I guess its a high spot. We've been very lucky. Never had any hurricane damage in over 15 years.

Anxious to see Udorn. If I remember there was only one Hotel. Don't remember the name but spent our wedding night there while driving south.

Thai_1_On wrote:Welcome Uncle Tom and if as you say you have been doing a lot of "gawking" here I'm sure you've read my posts and questions on Bang Fai or the Rocket Festival (bet the members didn't see this coming ) and have you been to see it personally? If you have been do you have any photos?

Its funny how I seem to know many of you on the forum just by "gawking". You are the guy in Melbourne Fl who sent us Ernesto. Thanks.

You also brought up my favorite subject Bun Bang Fai, I almost delayed my wedding date when I realized there was a conflict. I scheduled the wedding on the same day as the festival. I am familiar with the ones in Laos where the festival is a little more earthy and ran for several weeks. Each little village near Vientianne had its own show, The big festival was on the Mekong and was kind of sterile for visitors. The real good show was at Wat Tat Luang. What made the festival so much fun was the singing of filthy songs in Lao that were meant to embarrass any females in the crowd. the groups singing were usually high on drink and often covered their bodies in paint. I could go on and on and probably will some time.

I have over 200 slides plus as many black and white negatives. I also have a half hour of poor quality Super 8 film which I have digitalized.

I think we need to together and compare notes...

Sure you were in Udorn? More than one hotel back then. Names? Udorn Hotel, Sri Udorn Hotel, Charoen Hotel, Paradise Hotel to name a few.

polehawk wrote:Sure you were in Udorn? More than one hotel back then. Names? Udorn Hotel, Sri Udorn Hotel, Charoen Hotel, Paradise Hotel to name a few.

You are certainly right polehawk a town that size had to have more than one. Blame my memory on age and the fact that the one hotel I remember was where I spent my wedding night.

I can understand that you were preoccupied, uncle tom. Must have been one of those hotels that I mentioned because they were considered top of the line back then. Well, maybe not the Paradise.

You probably noticed from the Udon Map but some things remain the same as 30-40 years ago. The town still has three circles (roundabouts), samlors, train station and even a bar and a few massage parlors still running from long ago.

I didn't spend a lot of time on the air base but did go to the PX, post office, movies and O-club (found that the NCO Club was less stiff and more fun). I hear that the buildings and hangar from Air America days are still there. Don't know if they would allow you to go on base and visit but worth a try.

tom your going to like what you find im ex usaf left thailand in 1973 but have returned 10 times since we left and we have enjoyed each trip. my thai wife from khon kaen and i will retire to udorn next spring and hope to enjoy may years in issan with our friends there . ps khon is nice also but too close to family for comfort cheers john