Bangkokbutcher

A couple of handy tips there moziman, thanks.

The in-laws are actually considering building the pool as a walk in covered unit now, basically like a giant conservatory to help keep the pests out.

Whether that will help or not, I really dont know....

I think that samran is trying to say that even though the new technology is with us, it aint worth a w**k until all retailers are using the EFTPOS/PIN readers in the shops. So the card can still be copied and used elsewhere as long as the retailer dont need a pin...

Many a true word

This site and a number of the members are true assets to the community

Has anybody got any best guesstimates at the cost of doing one of these overland trips??

For me the two greatest things are....

the freedom that the kids have to just wander off and play. I'm from England where sadly that is just not possible anymore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Couldnt agree with you more derekley.

I have just recently returned (to the UK ) from a trip 'home' to Tha Bo (near Nong Khai), with the wife and 3 kids (6,5 and 2 yrs).

All I can say is, our kids had the best time ever and to see their faces every day was such a joy. The freedom they enjoyed in the village, even though they speak no Thai at all, was absolutely amazing. It didnt matter where they went or who they went with, they were always accepted as being one of the family.

The funny thing about this visit was that it was more difficult to drag the kids away from the village this time round than it usually is for me and the wife .

It's been 4 years since we was last able to visit, but we was plesantly surprised at the fact that very little had changed since the last time in town, except the amount of building work that seems to be happening as of late.

Anyway, back to the topic, OK so I have never done a 'serious' amount of time living in Issan in one , but I have stayed there for long enough over the years to say that I would never have a problem with keeping myself occupied.

As others have stated, there is plenty to do as long as you can be arsed to get up and do it

I too have been in the meat game for most of my life, hence my user name.

Having dealt with various qualities of meat from different parts of the world, my favourite both to work with and to eat, would have to be the good old Aberdeen Angus (or Black Angus as chuchok has already stated).

Not sure if a successful breeding program could ever be started in los, but they run a good effort over in Australia, so I presume that they can adapt to some extremities in the weather.

All things aside, whether quality beef is available or not, most decent chefs and butchers will know that pretty much anything can be 'dressed' up to taste like a decent steak, just by using a sprinkle of tenderising salt or even a few bashes with a tenserising mallet (small spike on the underside of the head) can transform a tough old piece of shoulder steak (irrelevant of breed) into something that will eat pretty well. So when used on hind 1/4 cuts, rump, sirloin, fillet & ribeye, etc, then the results will be even better.

Nice job on that one there croftrobin, handy tip on the cleaning of it as well, thanks.

From what I can imagine, that looks as though yours would be ideal for what they are looking for.

Thanks for all the input guys, some very valid points to take on board before making the commitment by the sounds of things, some good, some bad.

Bottom line is that as long as it is built and installed properly, then it does sound like a value for money purchase, as I'm 100% sure that it will get more than it's fair share of use, and with the nearest publicly accessible pool being approx 30-40 km's away in Nong Khai (that i'm aware of) from their village in between Tha Bo and Si Chiang Mai.

I have passed all your info and pointers onto the in-laws and will let them make up their own minds.

Lampard10 - Thanks for the invite, I will most certainly look you up next time i'm in the Surin area.

please send my best wishes and luck to your friends attempt at building his pool, sounds like he is going to need it

Thanks again

My father in law (farang married to my wifes mum) should/may be in a position to take early retirement next year, and all being well will be looking at getting their dream house built in the village.

Now I've tried a little search but came up with nothing substantial, but was really looking for pricing and info on getting a 'smallish' swimming pool built.

Has anybody had any experience with having one built before?

and if so was it

1. worthwhile

2. easy to maintain

3. cheap enough to run

4. value for money to get built

All input appreciated

I must admit I am a little surprised to hear of the changes taking place up this neck of the woods.

I have just returned from taking the wife and kids home to Tha Bo and to help escape the boredom attacks that I suffer from time to time up in the village I am let loose for a night or 2 to grab a few beers and a meal that is slightly more palatible for myself to indulge in.

Havent been back for over 4 years now and met up in the Aussie bar with a guy from another forum with whom I enjoyed a few beers and a mini pub crawl of the local area, and never saw a spot of bother, albeit it was a 'little' noisey in the Aussie bar due to the military presence. Apart from that it was an enjoyable night and shudder to think that trouble does kick off once in a while unfortunately, I sincerely just hope that they are occassional incidents and they do not become a regular part of the night life in Udon.

Great to hear the roads been sorted, I kinda remember the 'river road' journey, although I doubt if it was that bad back then.

Ray, I really would appreciate it if you could forward me the guys details, as long as he is ok with it of course

Cheers.

Thanks for the info aletta

Been to Tha Bo several times when building houses.Very quiet place.

Tha Bo is famous in Isaan for three things,tomatoes,wood and yar bar.

There are hundreds of tomato farmers in the area who sell to the factory in Nong Khai that makes sauces.

The wood comes over the river from Laos which is a stone throw away as do the yar bar.As you drive around Tha Bo you will see the usual poor Thais and then there are several enourmous mansions on the banks of the Mekong with lines of Mercedes.I understand the heavy suppression on the Burmese border means shipments now come through Laos and over the river.

Also Tha Bo has a very large Vietnamese population which is reflected in the food available,lots of Vietnamese food vendors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not sure that this is the best news I have heard about the area, but nonetheless it wouldn't surprise me.

As for building houses, is this something that you do often in the area?

I only ask as I know this is on my wifes agenda for sometime in the future, she has the land and will want a house or 2 built on it at some stage.

Yes very hot now last week, one day with the heat index was 116, most of the time it has been running in the low hundreds F.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, just what I thought

Looks like a bargain to me, wish I'd known about it a few days ago when I booked with Thai for £378, ah well thats just my luck.

Yeah I did hear that there was a French guy living in Si Chiang Mai, that was some time ago though, apparently he owned a guest house/restaurant.

Not sure if this is the same guy, but it sounds as though the area has changed a little since the last time i was there, I may be wrong but I'm sure there wasn't a promenade back then (approx 9 years ago), then again it may have just been a different part of town, I do however remember the alarms going off at the factory in town though, blimey, what a racket they made.

It would be great if you could find out any contact info for this guy up there and would be appreciated

It's great to hear that 'real' customer service is still alive and well in those areas and it's nice to hear of your experiences in Si Chiang Mai, just sad that the place isn't there any more for your trips up there.

I have actually just received an email from an old friend in Tha Bo, one of the farangs in town, apparently there are quite a few new farangs in town now (Canadian/French/Italian/US), so that may help to relieve a few of my woes whilst in the area.

I am also presuming the area is pretty ###### hot at the moment, so i'm also considering staying in a hotel with the kids as opposed to the family house, I havent been back for sometime, but I do remember that April and May were almost unbearable, and nearly 'cooked my brain' on a number of occassions.

Looking forward to the break though, will be nice just to get out of the UK again now that the kids are getting a bit older and will be able to appreciate things a little more.

Thanks again for the info Ray, I'll just have a drive around the area and see whats about.

And Pseacraft, I will most certainly give you a shout when your about and join you in some skyspotting

Cheers

Thanks for that Ray,

I am aware of the entertainment available in Udon and Nong Khai, was really kinda hoping there would be something a little closer to home.

Never mind, I was hoping that I wouldnt need to travel too far for something to do.

Cheers.

Just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of things to do and see around this area.

OK I know it's 'just up the road' from Nong Khai and Udon, but I will be staying put this time round for my upcoming trip in a couple of weeks with the wife and kids.

Will be trying to keep myself and 3 kids (ages 6,5 & 2) entertained as long as the heat does not become to unbearable... , thankfully (for me anyway) we will be missing songkhran, ok so it may be fun for the kids but due to a bad memories with buckets of 'dirty' water ( ) being literally thrown down my throat (dont ask me how) and making me extremely ill (ok it may not have been the water, but i had to blame something ), i do my best to try and avoid it now.

I have not included the missus in the list of people to be entertained as she is currently listing a couple of hundred things that she must do, see and buy while we're back in the village, and has kindly left the rest to me until we return home to England...

All input appreciated and keep up the good work.

Also, depending on the 'state' of the house upon our return, we may be looking for a hotel to stay in, any recommendations?? TIA

just gets worse and worse