As a gateway to Issan, Thailand’s oft ignored Northeast, an infant skyline looks down upon a layout of crowded gridded streets. It does little to differentiate Khon Kaen from any other Midwestern city. The region’s largest university pulls in a young, hip, and energetic crowd that harbors hopes of improving their lives in what is also Thailand’s poorest area. Khon Kaen does not incite awe at first glance; it has not a single remarkable feature. However, if curious to jump into a world far from the familiarity of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and the southern strips of Thai sand, this is where to start. Issan food is the inspiration of Thai cuisine, a trend making a name for itself in Europe and the United States. No memorable sites await you in Khon Kaen. A slide show of
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