Into the heart of Thailand

Rice fields in Thailand

To bring you the best experience when traveling to Udon Thani, Northeast Thailand we decided to interview Ten from the Gecko Villa.

Tell us about yourself – where are you from and what do you do?

My name is Ten and I live in rural Northeast Thailand (or “Isaan” as we call it) , near Udon Thani

When do you recommend travelers visit your location?

The timing of your visit to Isaan will largely govern what you will see and experience here. From May to October most locals are busy ploughing and planting the rice paddies, so the area is green and fertile. We would be delighted to offer you the chance to try your hand at ploughing or planting in the paddies, but be warned, this is hard work! December and January we like to consider our cool season, as although days are hot and sunny, nights can be cool and fresh. From February and through till May the region really gets very hot and a splash in a pool or lazing in a hammock is always more appealing that strenuous labour.

What are several very special places or things to do which locals love but most travelers don’t know about?

Northeast of the kingdom is seldom visited by travellers, who tend to follow the crowds to the tourist destinations of Phuket, Pattaya or Chiang Mai. As those who have visited the northeast will testify, this is a great pity, as Isaan is known to have the most friendly and welcoming people in the country, and offers guests the chance to see the “real” Thailand, mostly unchanged by rapid industrialization. The Northeast is Thailand’s rice bowl, but also produces many other crops such as sugar cane and cassava.

How can travelers get the most out of these special places to see, or special things to do?

Because I and my family wanted to share our culture with overseas visitors, we launched Gecko Villa in the middle of our rice fields here. We wanted to offer guests the possibility of escaping from the homogeneity of city hotel rooms, offering them the comfort of their own house and a private swimming pool as well as freshly cooked meals – but in the heart of the countryside. Guests may either enjoy the villa in complete privacy, or allow themselves to be integrated fully into the local ways of life by the local villagers, who are the best placed to explain time-honoured traditions and details of the local culture, and to accompany visitors to hard-to-find local areas of beauty or historical interest. There is a wealth of things to see and do, from World Heritage museums to visiting small rural villages, schools, markets and temples, to music and morlam festivals, to experiencing traditional rites, or simply enjoying areas of natural beauty with lakes and waterfalls.

What local foods or drinks should travelers be sure to try?

The food in Isaan will be one of the highlights of you visit. Whilst the people of Isaan are famous for our ability to eat whatever moves (including lizards, snakes, frogs and insects), we are also home to numerous spicy and fresh dishes that are now favourites throughout Thailand. At Gecko Villa, I am delighted to be able to show guests both Thai and Isaan cooking – not from inside a kitchen, but by taking them through our garden, picking the fresh herbs and spices we need, and then showing them how to make more unusual specialties. We grow much of our own produce organically, including pandanus leaves, kaffir lime leaves, limes, mint, coriander, mangoes, papaya, passion fruit, jackfruit, etc.A deceptively simple Northeastern Thai dish that can readily be prepared worldwide is Laap Neua, a spicy beef salad. The blend of fresh herbs and lime juice makes this salad very refreshing

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This post involves:

Gecko Villa, Isaan, Laap Neua, Northeast Thailand, rice paddies, Ten, villa

... and focuses on:

Food, Localyte, Places to Go, Where to Stay, drink, when to travel

Posted by Localyte.com Team on December 20, 2008