blue eyes

Swung in along the rivrer walk area of Si Chaing Mia and it was wall to wall people, they were having long boat races. Really something t see, must be at least 40 people in each boat, paddeling like crazy and in perfect unison. I hadn't seen it before and neither had my wife.

Howdy Ray23,

Was there someone sitting in the front of the boat facing the rowers and useing a drum to keep beat for the rowers?If so we always called these Dragon boat races.They really are somrthing to see.

Enjoy your life,

im thinking of leaving england and coming to live in thailand. plz could you tell me if i can buy a nice home for 60,000 pounds or would i need more money

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Howdy Tofo,

You will have no problem buying or building a comfortable home in Issan for that kind of money.Just stay away from the tourist areas and you will be fine,as far as price that is.

Enjoy your life

Howdy everyone,

At one time someone had posted a link to a satellite that I was abel to see the weather in almost real time in Issan.I have been looking and been unable to locate again .Any help out there?

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http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/48381.html

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Thanks Thaipwriter for the report but I am really looking for the satellite link.It was an excelent site.You could control the location to look at down to about 200 sq km.It was great!! Still looking.

Howdy everyone,

At one time someone had posted a link to a satellite that I was abel to see the weather in almost real time in Issan.I have been looking and been unable to locate again .Any help out there?

This is totally new to me. Despite that I have started coming to Thailand since 1995 and started to live in Bangkok since last year, I never knew that Thai would go through this ritual for buying cars. But indeed, it is very nice of them to treat cars as living objects. I saw the pic of Watcharee wai-ing to the S-class before she started the engine. I have noticed also that some Tuk-tuk drivers share their beers with their Tuk tuk by pouring some of the beer on the Tuk-tuk's face

Good choice on SLK purchase. At least, you got a chance to drive it by yourself and still look good in it. For the S-class, at least here in Thailand, you need to be chauffeured around to look good in it and that means you are buying a car for the driver to enjoy it

Howdy susah-sih,

It is not so much that the Thai look at the car as a living object as it is that you put YOUR life on the line every time you get in or on a vehical.So it is bleesed to save your life. Not sure if that is true but sounds good.

Hi

I have been renting a place in Bangkok, and am now thinking about purchasing a cheap 'condo'. I am a foreign national currently on a tourist visa and intend to go back to my country to work, coming here every 3 months or so.

I know my chances are slim, but are there any lenders out there who would lend to someone like me?

Another option would be to purchase for cash or to purchase in the name of a friend's mother. Doing it through the mother doesn't exactly make me feel secure..

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance.

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Howdy bankei,

I have heard that there are some banks out of Indonesia that have branches in BKK that will loan on condos in BKK to farang.I do not know the names though.

Hi. I was wondering if anyone knew the nutritional value of Nampla (fish sauce). I do not read Thai, and the labels never have anything about it in English. I am most concerned with the calories and the sodium. I wouild be very grateful if anyone knew. I use it in EVRYTHING, and am having a hard time knowing how to incorporate it into my new diet. Thanks!!!

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Howdy BambinA,

In general the sodium content is the only thing that changes much.It can range between 1200mg - 1900mg per Tablespoon.The wife has found that Vietnames brands tend to have the lower sodium.Three crabs is one that is in the mid range of sodium with great flavor.But to each their own.

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Howdy Simon43,

It looks to me to be very cheap!I would be leary of this purchase.But if you do buy do not give away.In Thai eyes you will look like an idiot and would lose face not gain it.If you find it is on the up and up I would buy and lease out for part of the crop.I will look into this teak thing that ramdon chances is talking about for my self,looks interesting.There is a company that I have found and am trying to find out if anyone has heared of them or used them,it is www.area.co.th

I have a few plots of land that I am trying to find out the proper value of them in Issan about 60 km north of Korat.

Well I hope everyone has an enjoyable day!

Howdy Everyone,

I would like to find out the value of some land in Issan.I know that it is very subjective.Has anyone ever done it?And if so how did you go about doing it?I also would not like for the owners to know what I am doing,if that would be possible.Saving face and all that you know.

Has anyone ever heard of this company? www.area.co.th

They look like they would be able to do what I need.

Well I hope everyone has an enjoyable day

what is the differnce between thai beef and thai french beef?

besides the price?

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When it is on the plate look at it very carefully.

As you bring the knife nearer the french beef will surrender

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HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Howdy Everyone,

I would like to find the true value of some land in Issan.I know that this is always very subjective.Has anyone ever tried to do this?And if so how did you go about it?Another thing is I really would not like the owners to know what I am doing.You know the problem with saving face and all.

Also has anyone ever heard of this company? www.area.co.th

It looks like they may be able to get it done.

Thanks to all I hope everyone will have a wonderfull day.

If you are not adverse to ordering via Internet, I have used all three of these places and service and delivery has been excellant. Delivery to Chiangmai usually in 2-3 days.  I don't use my credit card, just an ATM transfer to their account.

http://www.pantipprice.com/

http://www.tohome.com/

http://www.shop4thai.com/

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Howdy tywais,

Why do you use ATM transfer and not use a credit card?It seems that at least with the card you have some protection.

Gee

Can't imagine living in Korat. 1 - 2 days OK, 1 week max. Been there, done that, next.

Howdy Khun Larry,

I do not care to much for city life.But I do like Korat as a city.BK I can live without.I guess you find it diffucult to understand how someone could enjoy living upcountry,and only coming to Korat when they need something that only a city can provide.I could never even come close to explaining how enjoyable it is to live in a small mooban.All people are different.That is what makes our lives so beautiful.

And buadhai,I'm with ya on Korat it is a great city.Has everything that I need and then some.

Lovekindness to all,

What is wrong with Korat?

I am visiting this city since 1977 and now I am living there permanently.

There is more in the world than the bar scene

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Howdy dutch,

I am with you on this.Korat is a great city for me because it does not have all of the crazy bar crap that so many farang are into.If I need something that I can not get upcountry, Korat will usally have it.I personely do not care for city life.Therfore I find Issan to be a great place to live.If farangs would just talk and hangout with more Thai people instead of trying to turn there little bit of Thailand into farang land they might find out that Issan is a fantastic place to live.If not please stay in the bar away from Issan.We love it here.As far as stickman is concerned,I enjoy reading his writtings and the site in general it is entertaining.

Lovekindness to All,

I feel safer in Hawaii but since I can't afford that, then I live here. I live a better way of life (cheaper food and housing) and I have a great family here and am happy to live here. To say that I feel safer here would be a LIE. Granted Hawaii can't be compared totally or even at all with the rest of the BIG cities of the US but it's still a great place. I was in Hawaii for 24 years and was never drugged and robbed. I lived here over the last 3 years and have been robbed, burnt with ciggarettes and dumped on the road. I can't blame Thailand for that because I let my guard down but I at least think I wouldn't have had this happen to me in Hawaii.

Just my opinion, doesn't mean that it means anything

It really doesn't matter as it's all water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned . I learned a valuble lesson and will go on. Still it does make you think about what is going to happen in the future.

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Howdy Kringle,

I am glad to hear that you never had problems in your years in Hawaii.But In the 2 weeks that my brother and I visited our parents,who lived there for 3 years.We got robbed twice in two different areas of Wikakie beach.And we are a couple of seasoned travelers and not into anything shady.Just my little bit about Hawaii.

Issan is a fantastic place!But then again I love Thai culture and my beautiful Issan wife.Can not stand the city life in any city or country.Just love the solatude and safety of Issan.

Lovekindness to All,

I wouldn't put salt on the ground in my garden...it is bad for the soil.  For slugs I put a tablespoon or two of salt in a quart jar and then fill it 10-20% with water.  I plant dwarf marigolds around the edge of the vege garden and slugs love to eat them.  Every morning I take a pair of chopsticks which I keep for this purpose and I go and pick the slugs off of the marigolds and drop them in the salt water.   Also I put old boards on the ground in damp areas (or use a hose to make a wet area) and in the morning I turn the boards over and voila!!! lots of slugs like to hang out on the underside of the boards...I pick these and put them in the salt water too.  The salt water dissolves them...if you have a big garden you may very well end up with an entire quart of salty slug juice!!!! yummy!!!!    no no no not  really...just joking...even in Thailand they wouldn't eat salty slug juice!!!  At first you'll get quite a few (if you have them at all)  but after a few days you will notice that there really aren't very many any more....but you've got to do it every day for a while...twice a day is better...until you get the population down...then you can miss a day now and again with no big problem resulting.

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Howdy Everyone,

As far as the slugs and snails go.For many years we have kept them under control almost to the point of having none.The trick to it is to give them a drink!!Around every garden that I have had I place (as many as needed) pie plates level with the ground and fill with BEER!In the states we call it the snail bar !It works fantastic.Snails love a good beer.They snife it out, belly up to the bar and climb on in for a drink and then drown from drunkenes.Snails LOVE beer.I guees the only draw back to this is you have to supply the beer, word gets around that you have a snail bar and all the neighberhood snails come for a drink.But hey it really does work.

Lovekindness to All,

Gee

Howdy Everyone,

We are planing on building 2 homes just north of PhiMai off of A2.The first Thai style home we would like to start building around Nov Dec.We will use this as a "hotel" whenever we visit the mooban.This is a home for the "family".Around 2013 we will be moving to Issan and at that time would like to build a home simaler to #2 home in the photos.

I am wondering what the cost to build each would be in this area.We already have the land so it is just the cost of the homes.I know the cost of the 2nd home will be different 8 years from now.This should be the link to the photos.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/geebro2003/a...m/ph//my_photos

Lovekindness to All,

Gee

Howdy Everyone,

Would just like to add that I have now gotten some plans drawn up for the home that we are going to build in Nov.If you go to..... http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/geebro2003/d...8&.dnm=b5e7.jpg

I have added it so you will be able to see the plans,part of them that is.Still looking for a cost estimate of this home in the Phi Mai area.It is as you can see an Issan Village style home.

Lovekindness to All,

Thanks,Gee

Hi,

My wife brought some kapow - ?????? seeds here to farang land and we planted it.

Its growing ok, but something seems to be eating the leaves right after they germinate. Any ideas? I've sprayed it with multiple sprays yet every morning when we go look, something is chowing down bigtime.

Sean

Howdy Sean,

We had the same problem with something eating our herbs.Mainly the hot and sweet basil.Same as you.We finaly found out that it is a type of weval that is enjoying the fruits of our labor and leaving us with the stems.We noticed that the basil that was close to the garlic chives or green onions seemed to have less of a problem of being eaten.We planted green onions all around and in between the basil plants and now after about 4 weeks YEPPEEEEEEE!!!!The basil is now supplying our need and then some!!Give it a try.Oh to start with we also would look for and remove any bugs that we could find a couple of times a day.

Lovekindness to All

Howdy Everyone,

We are planing on building 2 homes just north of PhiMai off of A2.The first Thai style home we would like to start building around Nov Dec.We will use this as a "hotel" whenever we visit the mooban.This is a home for the "family".Around 2013 we will be moving to Issan and at that time would like to build a home simaler to #2 home in the photos.

I am wondering what the cost to build each would be in this area.We already have the land so it is just the cost of the homes.I know the cost of the 2nd home will be different 8 years from now.This should be the link to the photos.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/geebro2003/a...m/ph//my_photos

Lovekindness to All,

Gee

Howdy Everyone,

My thoughts where that their health issues stem from the dreaded “Lao Khow”.

I think the same way out of my experiance with "Lao Khow"and the men in the village.

Whilst at home I drink rain water straight out of the concrete jugs all year round, no problems thus far and it’s particularly nice and sweet now the season has turned.

I also have always drank rain water from the LARGE concrete jugs.But let me say first that I did not know that I was drinking rain water until my 3rd visit to the village.But I do still continue to drink it and have never had a problem.

We did have a problem with bottled water in the village a couple of years back:- A working girl bought her latest snare (a Scandinavian) home to meet Mum and Dad, after inspecting "Ap Nam" the culture shock was so severe that they had to buy up every drop of bottled water so as he could wash himself before catching the first set of wheels out of here. Left us with a severe shortage of the commodity.

This is great!!!!!!!!The chap is best to stay in Scandinavia,for his own sanity.

Lovekindness to all

Hey as I understand the "company route" is really expinsave if you are only trying to get it to live on.

Howdy everyone,

Why do Thai's bend over three times in front of Buddha,and also three times to there pillow before sleep in the bed?

Thanks,Greg

hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and have a Q.I see people talk about buying land.I thought that as a US citizen I was not allowed to own land in the kingdom.I hope I am wrong.I plan to retire with my Thai wife north of Korat and would like to build a home and own the property also.

Lovekindness to all,

Greg

Howdy people,

I will be in Chiang Mai the end of Nov.I am from South Florida the sub tropics and was wondering what the temprature is like at that time.

Lovekindness to all,

Greg