Isaan by Clemens
Isaan is the poorest region of Thailand, due to the poor land and weather conditions and to a lack of development. The following table, with data for 1998 from the National Statistical Office, will give an idea of how Isaan compares to the rest of the country. Many tourist accommodation options have sprung up along the Mekong River, including bed and breakfasts, inns, taverns, lodges and guesthouses; the other rivers of Isaan are The Loei, Songkhram, Chi and Mun. Isaan girls arriving in Bangkok find that they can only earn the 300THB per day they were earning in the country. And while you can live on 300THB per day in Isaan, it is a much harder achievement in Bangkok. Isaan cuisine borrows heavily from Lao cuisine and is distinctly different from central Thai cooking, although there has been a considerable amount of cross-pollination. Perhaps the best-known Isaan dish is som tam, a spicy salad prepared from unripe papayas. Neverless Isaan is a wonderful place. It´s like anything else in Thailand, the whole region has its unique charm.
