Australia Day at N-Joy in Isaan Thailand 2010.

Well as many would have known, yesterday was Australia Day. Being in Thailand I haven’t really celebrated it. Most times it has been a quiet beer at home and maybe a pie and chips or something else a bit Australian.

This year I decided to head on down to N-Joy, an expat bar here in Ubon Ratchathani. If you go to this post you can see the directions on how to get there. Also they have a company STA Services that can sell property, book hotel or long term rooms, hire cars and even tours. They can also organise trips to Savanakhet in Laos near Mukdahan to do visa runs.

It has only been in the last year that I had actually stepped foot in N-Joy. For over 3 years I never had been to the place. One night a friend invited us down for a beer and to watch football, so I went along and enjoyed myself a lot.

I am not a regular as many of the other expats are, but I am trying to get there a little more often than I do now as the owner Lance and his other half Lek who run the bar are great people.

Lance is an old fashioned bar owner, loves a quiet beer and doesn’t mind a chat. He is usually full of colourful stories. Don’t be worried about his noggin, it may look a little rough and that he has been 12 rounds with Ali, but really is a soft touch.

The early doors crowd had gathered to have a quiet beer or two and happily posed under one of the two Aussie flags flying.

This is Mr. B, he is an old Ubon Ratchathani local. I know him pretty well and is a very interesting character who has lived a full life across the globe. And he swears like a trooper to boot.

At the bar was another Aussie, the old bar owner, Lou. He was helping out and you can always catch Lou for a beer and a chat.

And another Aussie I had seen before at N-Joy but never chatted to is Mick, I had a good chat to him a bit later in the night and look forward to catching up with him again for a chin wag. Mick was hitting the free food Lance had put on. If the free food isn’t on you can order something as Lance is a bloody good cook.

There was some really delicious chicken and what I called a Shepard’s Pie but others called it a Cottage Pie. I love Shepard’s Pie and can not remember the last time I had one. I will tell you now that is was a ball tearer and me being a greedy and hungry little pig burnt my mouth as I scoffed into it.

Lance had also knocked up a Chilli Con Carne, everybody said it was great as they started to sweat and they weren’t just being polite as many of us went back for seconds or thirds.

It was a really good afternoon and evening. A few games of Kelly Pool were played. One game lasted two shots. The first player broke the balls and the next player being Pommy Bob potted his and took the kitty. He actually won twice.

There was an Australian quiz and Lance and his Irish mate decided they didn’t need to have an Aussie on their two man team to advise them. There was some cheating for sure going on but they still managed to come last and there were accusations that I had cheated by speaking Australian and confusing Lance.

But in all seriousness, it was a really good time. Some piss taking which we Aussies are good at, also I met plenty of Australians who had dropped in for a beer or two. I didn’t know we were in such numbers here in Isaan.

I went home at about 9pm, Miss Noot had dropped me off and come to collect me. I will not drive after having a few beers. It just isn’t worth the risk. It isn’t being caught by police as those chances are so slim but the chances of having an accident. Thais are the worst drivers of cars and motorbikes I have ever come across and I like to be 100% on the ball when driving especially at night.

I had 3 tall beers and one bought for me by Lance. I bought a couple of beers for my mates Lance and John and my Bill still only hit just over the 300 Baht mark or $10 Aussie dollars.

So thanks to N-Joy for a great day and also to the people I met. I look forward to Paddy’s Day and the English version of Australia Day called St George’s Day. I had never heard of it and truthfully cannot remember any of the Poms celebrating it in Australia.

So that is about it for now. I am slowly starting to process about 500 pictures that will be uploaded over the coming weeks or months, depending on time and also enthusiasm.

Brunty