Travel: Nongkhai

Nongkhai, 7th place in the World’s best cities to live in
By: Supanida S.

Nongkhai is my hometown. I was born there and had lived there for 15 years. I thought that it was just another city near Meakong River in northeastern of Thailand. However, when my mum told me that Nongkhai has been ranked the 7th in the World’s best cities to live in by the Modern Maturity magazine, I was surprised! Oh, How come? I started to be curious since then. Maybe because of I am used to it, so I might overlook the beautiful things that surround me.

So, my latest journey back home, I decided to pretend that I am a tourist to Nongkhai instead of being the host myself. Are you ready to start the journey with me?

I decided to catch a train from Bangkok to Nongkhai. The ticket for second class air condition compartment costs about 600 baht. When I arrived Nongkhai, first thing I saw was the bright clear sky which I have never seen in Bangkok. And the air was so fresh, I could smell the grass because the other side of railway station is a wide green moor.

I was hungry at first I decided to go to my favourite restaurant but I realised I went there as a tourist. So I asked the Tuk Tuk man who was so kind to me, to take me to any good and also cheap restaurant for the breakfast. The Tuk Tuk dropped me at one small restaurant which has no shop’s name, but the shop looked so bright and clean. It was kind of a home-made restaurant. I ordered Two Vietnamese buns, pan eggs and hot chocolate. It was a very nice meal and I was so full. Guess how it costed? It costed only 50 baht. It would be surprising for people in the big city but the cost of living in Nongkhai is very cheap.

After that I asked the restaurant owner about the nice hotel. She told me the long list of hotel names which are in different grades. I decided to pick the small hotel which located by Maekong River side. The hotel was so nice and the view is wonderful. I rent a bicycle of the hotel to sight seeing around the city. Nongkhai is a clam and charming city. There is a combination of the modern city, the ancient and the nature. Starting with the river side road, you can fill up your lung with the pure fresh air and fill your heart with the wonderful view. Mee Chai road is the road that represents the ancient city, there are so many ancient buildings and homes along the road side where people live in a traditional way. Prajak Road is the road represents the modern life, providing anything you want as in the big city. Nongkhai also have Indo-China market where you can do shopping without concerning about money that much because the stuff is cheap.

Finally I have an answer for myself that it is not surprising that it has been ranked 7th as one of the best cities to live in the World because of the charm of the city itself, friendly people, delicious meals, nice places for traveling and more important thing is everything is cheap. Lucky for me, this wonderful city is my hometown.