SURIN - Elephant Festival

Hi, I am thinking of going to Surin for the elephant festival/roundup in late Novemeber. I know a few of you guys have been there. Can you tell me a good, average price, Hotel/Guesthouse/Homestay that is Gay or Gay friendly? Are there any Gay bars or some sort of gay presence? Any tips or ideas for places to visit in the area?

Thanks

[Smiles]

You'd best book early if you want a decent hotel in Surin during the Elephant Festival. Prices go up as well.
The Tong Tharin Hotel << http://www.thongtarinhotel.com/ >> is a good solid hotel (with pool) right in the middle of town and what one would call the 'entertainment zone'. Tong Tharin prices are in the 1000-1300 baht range, but I'm quite certain you'd have to pay more than that during the festival days.
I'm sure there is a gay place (bar) or two but I've never been to any, and I've never come across any advertised. If there is it would more than likely be Thai rather than farang oriented.

Guesthouses and small Thai hotels will be full if you leave it too late to book, and what makes it doubly difficult is that most of these smaller places do not have websites, nor are they associated with the large accommodation booking agencies.

Beside the festival, Surin is not far from two of the best preserved ancient Khymer temples, Prasat Muang Tam and Prasat Phanom Rung. About a 30 minute drive into Buriram, both well worth a visit.

Thanks Smiles. I have sent an email to thong tarin hotel so will see what the story is. Maybe I will hire a car and spend more time in the area. I have never been to Ubon so perhaps I'll spend more than three days in the area and have a good look around. I am surprised at just the one response; while I am sure Smiles is up on everything perhaps others have different experiences or places to suggest? I did a search on the board for Surin but there doesn't appear to be any specific threads about Surin.

[mahjongguy]

I've been meaning to visit Surin but just haven't gotten around to it yet. When I do, I plan to stay at the Surin Majestic Hotel.
http://www.surinmajestichotel.com/home/index.php?area=1

I believe it is the newest hotel there. The rates are similar to the Thong Tarin (starting at 1,100 baht), and likewise may be triple during the elephant festival.

[jvt22222]

Both times I have been to the Surin Elephant Festival, I stayed at the SANGTHON HOTEL

The following is from a web site with all the hotels in Surin:

http://www.farangconnection.com/index.p ... &Itemid=31 (http://www.farangconnection.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=31)

Standard Double with air ├Я400
Standard single with air ├Я330
Standard double with fan ├Я330
Standard single with fan ├Я220
Location; Town center opposite main Post Office. 10 mins walk from Farang Connection.
Another travelers Hotel. Right in the city center so getting places is no problem. Fairly comfortable rooms.

It is right on the main drag............ down which the primary event of the festival proceeds.....the parade .........right next door is a perfect little breakfast joint. ..... ask the lady if she remember the farang who fell off the elephant during the parade!!!!! ......hotel mainly a businessman's hotel, very basic, but a cheap, absolutely centrally located, perfect place to stay for an event during which you will not spend much time in your room ..... get a good night sleep and hit the road .....not a problem with being gay friendly .... plenty secure parking for your car..

The Festival is something not to be missed ....... second time was as much a hoot as the first ..... and the Issan guys you take with you will also love it.

Hi People. Have booked a room at Sangthon for 1000 baht a night which is fine by me, I did enquire of the others but they were more than double that price. Apparently one can buy tickets for the shows when there so will do that. Now just have to find a boy or two to take with me, or hope I find a few there! Thanks everyone for your help. Is Ubon Ratchatani worth a look while I am there?
AND, if leaving from Pattaya where can I rent a decent car for a week?
Ta

[jvt22222]

Great that you got a booking .......... 1000 seems high for Sangthon, but I guess worth it for what you will see at the Festival ...... I hate driving in Thailand, especially on roads with which I am not familiar and through a variety of pointless police checkpoints ..... if you can afford it, I would and can recommend a car with a driver ...... cost might (??) be a bit more then a rental, but not appreciably ........ and worth it for the piece of mind. ...... reduces by one the number of folks you can take along ..........next door to Surin Province is Buriram .......fantastic Khmer ruins in nearby Phanom Rung from which you can see Cambodia off in the distance from the mountain top .....I like Wikipedia, so for a start for what to see, check out the following and surf on from there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surin_Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buriram_Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisaket_Province
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubon_Ratchathani_Province

Enjoy.

Yep seemed a bit high to me too but then its difficult to book from a distance and at least I have somewhere to stay.
I have driven in Thailand before. Would be interested in a price for a car with a driver. Then again maybe I can find something in Surin. I will have a look at those links.
Might just get a bus or catch the train there and see what happens. I would even consider a motorbike.
Thanks

[painai2]

I have been to Surin when it wasn't the elephant festival. I found the town to be a peaceful stop but definitely not a place to look for gay hook-ups. It's worth visiting the nearby Hindu temple Khao Phra Whan in Si Sa Ket province. I went the Friday before it was closed due to the ongoing war June of 2008. I would check first to see if the temple is open before venturing over there. The owner of the Farang Connection restaurant (straight but informative owner) could tell you if it is open or closed.

[ceejay]

This year I'm doing pretty much the same as you Diao Maa - going to Surin for the first time to see the Elephant Festival and spend a few days looking around the area. I'm going to stay in Prasat rather than Surin City itself, so I have somewhere to get away from the crowds if I feel like it. I'm hiring a car and a driver for a few days. As well as the Festival I intend to see Phanom Rung and Muang Tam in Buriram Province, and Wat Lan Khuad in Si Sa Ket Province - this is the Wat that is made entirely of recycled bottles.

There is a place called Prasat Sikhoraphum about (Ithink) 20 or 30 km from Surin. It has a big sound and light show on the Friday of the festival (20th November) It sounds worth a visit and I plan on going.
[youtube:asenk4sm]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdWEZjUmc7s[/youtube:asenk4sm]

Anybody else who is thinking of going to the Elephant Festival, I advise you to book a hotel now. I already came across a couple that are booked out for the Festival weekend.

[elephantspike]

I hope you guys post pictures of this. I love pictures.....And elephants!

Hey ceejay thank for the response. What is the car and driver gonna cost? I have been looking at maps etc. Had I a motorbike or a car or some inexpensive form of transport I would like to look around the area quite a bit and maybe slowly make my way to Nong Khai (where I have been a few times). I am beginning to think a motorbike is the best bet (but what happens if I want to take more than one boy with me!). Hey spike, I will take at least a few pics and will have my video camera so hope to get some nice footage of, well Elephants actually.

[ceejay]

What is the car and driver gonna cost?
I have booked Khun Suphot (Smiles' other half) who charges 1600 baht a day plus fuel and expenses, which seems very reasonable.
gay-thailand/shameless-annual-flogging-business-for-high-season-t16931.html?hilit=suphot (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/gay-thailand/shameless-annual-flogging-business-for-high-season-t16931.html?hilit=suphot)
It is also Suphot's home province, which can only be a plus.

I will possibly end up in Nong Khai as well - but arriving from the North. After the festival, I intend to head East to Laos, have a look around Champasak then head North to Luang Prabang via Konghlor and Phonsavan (Plain of Jars). Depending on time, I will fly direct to Bangkok from Luang Prabang, or go to Udon Thani via the Friendship Bridge and fly back from there.

I did think "shall I take a boy with me?" but no, I think not. I would want to spend a few days getting to know him before I commited a week to his company, and I don't have that time. I speak no Thai - I wouldn't want to end up with some poor boy bored shitless and traipsing around Khmer temples with me, with us not even able to chat together. In addition to which, my preferred timetable for temple watching is an early start (so as to arrive around 9.00 am) a break between say, 1 and 2.30 in the afternoon (back at the hotel or for food somewhere) and then carry on somewhere else for the afternoon. That way, not only do you avoid the hottest part of the day, you get (in my opinion) better light for photography.

But, I do not believe I have the moral fibre to extract a bar boy from his bed at 7.30 or 8 am every day for a week :pale:

[Smiles]

" ... But, I do not believe I have the moral fibre to extract a bar boy from his bed at 7.30 or 8 am every day for a week ... "
LOL ... What makes you think you not need heaps of moral fibre getting Khun Suphot out of the sack that early?
He'll do it of course, but I'm the one who'll end up taking the whining when he gets back home to HUa Hin. Just another 'Thai Smile' you'll have to attempt deciphering. :cherry:

Okay, so now I have the Hotel booked and a car almost organised...

I am thinking of driving this way to Surin:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... e=UTF8&z=8 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pattaya,+Thailand&daddr=12.752874,101.898193+to:Surin,+Thailand&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=8&via=1&sll=14.05172,102.31481&sspn=4.091704,7.13562&ie=UTF8&z=8)

And then taking a week or more to look around using this route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... .13562&z=8 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Surin,+Thailand&daddr=Ubon+Ratchathani,+Thailand+to:Mukdahan,+Thai land+to:Nakhon+Phanom,+Thailand+to:Bung+Kan,+Thail and+to:Nong+Khai,+Thailand&geocode=&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=16.553272,104.247967&sspn=8.081749,14.27124&ie=UTF8&ll=16.841348,105.254517&spn=4.037052,7.13562&z=8)

I know that some of you will wonder WTF! I just want to get a sense of this area and see a bit more of Thailand. If you have any experiences of these places or knowledge of the road conditions, please let me know.

Khob Khun Khrap

[jvt22222]

Truly envy you your trip ......... wish I was going along ......... I just got back from a trip (all by air) that included Phnom Penh (lived there for nearly 4 years), Vientiane (my 4th) and Luang Prabang (my 3rd) which has got to be my favorite city in this region.

Re your first map>>>>The several times that I have gone by car to Isan, from Pattaya have gone the route (I think Road 304) that includes Kabin Buri up to Pak Thong Chai and Road 24 to then head east on to Buri Ram, Surin, Sisaket and beyond..... one benefit of this route as compared to your route is that it puts you quite close to a great place to buy ceramics -- Dan Kwian -- which is on Road 224 ........ GOOGLE "Dan Kwian"........ also there is a section of Road 304 that goes through a (somewhat precarious) mountainous area on which there are several roadside stalls on either side of the road selling the most beautiful, multi-variety orchids that you can imagine for unbelievably cheap prices.

Re your second map>>>>did the shorter version -- went from Ubon up to Mukdahan and then simply returned much the same route rather than proceeding northward ....... check out going through Khemmarat and Amnant Charoen as that seems to go along the Mekong which might be more picturesque than the route you have chosen. ....... on your map do not see a road number for that route, but checking my atlas it seems to be Road 2050 out of Ubon to Road 2242 which becomes Road 2034 up to Mukdahan city.

I don't consider these 4-digit roads as bad as one might think ...... I was amazed at their quality... particularly since you are not driving yourself.

On one of my trips to the Elephant Festival, Suphot was my driver ........ he is good driver, knows the roads, all the sites to see and a great traveling companion ........... ONLY one caveat ....... at that time he had a double cab pick-up ........ one person in the front passenger seat, one person scrunched up in the bench seat behind and 3-4 persons in the back of the pickup which was covered and installed with a movable sofa for "comfort" ......... really the only comfortable seat was the driver's and the front seat passenger.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!! You surely will.

Hi and thanks for the response.

Too be honest I may end up going that way or may consider coming back that way. It's surprising you should mention Dan Kwian as I really do want to go there. I worked as a potter for a while and so Dan Kwian seems logical.
From what I can gather Suphot is busy with Ceejay and I am hiring a car anyway. The only thing I am really worried about is the Police checks - not for any reason in particular. I have driven in Thailand before but usually with another farang who could speak the language. I will take the roads as they come. Thanks for your help. I am storing up notes and will be guided by them when the pedal hits the metal.

[Smiles]

" ... On one of my trips to the Elephant Festival, Suphot was my driver ........ he is good driver, knows the roads, all the sites to see and a great traveling companion ........... ONLY one caveat ....... at that time he had a double cab pick-up ........ one person in the front passenger seat, one person scrunched up in the bench seat behind and 3-4 persons in the back of the pickup which was covered and installed with a movable sofa for "comfort" ......... really the only comfortable seat was the driver's and the front seat passenger.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!! You surely will. ... "
Hi JVT (and anyone interested in a driver/guide through Isaan, or in fact anywhere in Thailand). NEWS FLASH!!! Suphot has a new vehicle now . . . still a pickup, but a nice big Toyota Vigo. This puppy has four doors and a full-sized back seat to equal any large car ~ certainly big enough for 3 any-size farangs in total comfort. Better aircon, better stereo, better, smoother ride.

I totally hear you on the complaint above JVT, and in fact Pot has realized that for some time now, and started planning a while ago to trade the Nissan in for something more roomy and appropriate (especially for long trips). This new vehicle adds much more comfort to any tour he takes with more than one passenger.
I'll post a photo of it soon.

[jvt22222]

Smiles, that is great news ........... as I said in my post, everything else was spot on ....... glad that he has been able to solve this bit of a hitch .......... all the best, DALE

[Smiles]

Some photos of his new 4-door pickup. This one is a beaut ... very comfortable and the 'ride' is much smoother. The leg-stretchin' room in the back seats is easily as much as a regular touring car. The song taeow-style roof cover and side seats are gone, and he's going to put in one of those lockable, roll-away covers over the back box to keep the customers' luggage secure and dry.

As per usual, this new high-status toy has pushed me down a few notches on the "what's-most-important" list. I'm now #4 (after being #2 for years): ahead of 'Us' is (1) the vehicle itself, (2) specific 'parts' of the vehicle, e.g. the incredibly hi-so mag wheels, and (3) the fancy stereo system with movies and GPS functions. (4) Smiles.



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