wongsa

Good comments Billd766.

I am not going to get locked into the minutae of whys and ifs.

The family has been there since the village started. 50+ years.

Everything I said in my last post has been 100% endorsed by the family and neighbours.

We have many children around. None of them could ever get access to any of the firearms. Nor do they see them.

Firearms are in the sole custody of military trained people.

When we last had a large party, the security was in the form of thai elite military who sat with M16 on lap surveying the proceedings. This was mandatory for a do for 400+ people on free alcohol and organised by the police, I think.

As I said. The dogs won't let a person leave or approach the house without alerting maybe ten other dogs. This is ample time to prepare a response.

I've merely dovetailed myself into what has been there an awful long time. It's part of what I really love about village life.

Oneeyed john - Has the bike completely vibrated to bits then!!

Hiya One eyed John. How's the VN750? Cured the vibrations yet?

(No Harley riders e mailed you lately?!!)

Re: Bang!

English fellow, five doors down the road (TV thread t'other year)

Knifed to death.

Fellow four doors up.

Shot someone through the mouth.

Unfortunately was sitting in a bar talking about it (next to off duty policeman)

- Not a neighbour anymore!

We have a police supplied, and sanctioned, licensed pump action shotgun.

It is there for one reason.

Tip.

Have dogs that run loose and tussle with neighbouring dogs.

They might not look pretty, but nothing sets foot on their, or neighbouring dogs patches at night - without a great howling is triggered across the village.

It is isolated, pitch black and up in the hills. Yet we all sleep soundly.

Nice one Mike, the OceanRover!

It is staggering just how much Thai's presume to borrow. As you have said, "No business plan", in the vaguest sense.

The status thing of having a NEW Red Plate car/pickup means you are top dog.

Okay if you own a few square miles of farmland, or half the town!

We see bargains to buy up everywhere. All of them due to bad debt.

You are also may get stitched up rotten if that wallet/chequebook springs open.

I have just heard of a Swedish fellow losing out.

The missus cajolled him into building the family a complex of three houses, together, near Korat.

Cost, 4.5M Baht.

The family now have to move to another part of Thailand (Why? - Don't try to figure it out - It's a Thai thing)

Selling price, 1.5M Baht. (with probably another 1M Baht in someone's back pocket)

There are a multitude of Thai Things that be tossed into the equation. Matters that are (supposedly) status, loss of face etc etc. These all have uncanny links to Khun Farang investing a wad of cash. Then, by a Thai twist of fate (unforgetable Thailand - check the bank statements!) That investment goes up in smoke.

A friend of mine, who was in the oil business, was in Saudi. A Phillipino, who had worked for them for five years, had to be laid off. He had earnt an unbelievable amount of money.

The fellow was ecstatic about his unemployment...Why?...

He said, "I never knew I had so big a family. They all have new houses, shops and cars. I could not stop working because they always wanted something else. Now I can GO HOME and lie beneath a tree and relax!"

We are lucky, the wife and I. We have had a few instances where neighbours, and in laws have tried it on.

All have been seen off with no bother or lasting acrimony.

Anyone been targetted by the local police? That's another kettle of fish!

I like the replies folks.

This train of thought outilnes an important aspect of "live in a village full time".

An interesting thought to mull over...When we were building Our front wall on Our land...The next door neighbour started ranting and raving.

They had planted trees on their access and had got used to cutting across "another way".

That other way happened to be a lump of land I bought.

Boundary lines (walled or fenced) are an important part of Your Place in a village. People of all ages are a bit light fingered...and if you are going to lend someone anything- Lost, wrecked, given away.. Are all possible results.

This is prpbably the same the world over but for the old chestnut...Loss of Face!

Got to dash now-

Catch you lot later!

Cheers for your comments MacB.

I just wanted a knee jerk response to "Cows as a sideline".

This is altogether different to "ranching", for want of a better word.

I get weary of "creating a living" for family members who need a few 100,000 Baht to get an idea off the ground.

Who, for the sake of The Family, and trying to help out, has bought a taxi.

Easy money, easy job...then...

Mysterious Thai illness descends on Taxi Driver.

The cow project appears to be a 000,000 Baht project...(of which there are an infinite number)

This, and my last post, are not negative rants.

They outline how family and friends will discuss projects in Thai Perspective. It will then be championed by a team leader and put to Khun (Chang in hand) Farang as A Winner!

This requires someone elses money and has scant chance of being repaid!

So much for the Village Experts.

There are many Thai Pups for sale

This hasn't really struck a chord on this thread...But my friends with Thai houses and families...find it a common cause of grief!

Have fun everyone!

As MacB puts it. I will!

Anyone keep cows near the house?

The missus was toying with the idea of raising them to sell.

They would have to live on our land. With a short walk up the road to pasture.

I would be interested in other peoples' feedback.

Are they a stinking addition and more trouble than they are worth?

Is there any economic gain in turning part of the gaff into a MOO Bharn?

Turning a potentially pleasant fruit orchard (front garden) into a bovine morass...

Any cow/kwai owners. Your comments would be an insight.

The spot where Mark's life ended.

On the "Who wears the trousers" subject.

The missus and family know that all the money I have put into The Relationship is expendable.

I can, and have, got up and walked out. With just a carrier bag of stuff.

When the sister (with her pet farang husband) tried to call the shots, last year...

I got a neighbour to give me a lift to the nearest main town and caught a bus to BKK.

The look of utter shock on a crowd of people watching the car pull away said it all.

We finally met up 300 miles away on the coast.

No mobile telephone link was available.

I had found, and got to, the tiny bit of coast, where we had stayed the year before. I had booked up and paid for two bungalows. As cheap and infinitely better than the sister had found the year before.

Don't think that Thais can get you a better deal than you can find yourself.

Keep your independance and consciously interact with where ever you are.

The f*** ups are half of the crack!

Let the people get used to the idea...I got up, off my ass, and got here.

It's no great deal to go right on back!

Thai existance is a bit Poker Faced.

Whatever the expressions facing you. Don't rely on your intuition.

Rely on your own dynamics. You need a raft of insular talents to stay content.

Like Gary A, with his workshop. You want to stand alone apart from just flinging money about.

People will respect you for your resourcefulness.

...And there is always TV to be your Virtual drinking partner!

Pip pip!

Nice houses, workshops and views over a Chang.

I love the "termite nest" high and narrow hills in Indo China.

The trees seem to hang on for all they're worth.

The quality of light and heat generated mist makes life here very satisfying.

Riding your motorcycle past fields of maize and sunflowers.

The blazing road and a distant glimmer of a Wat amongst the trees.

The twenty mile shopping journey weaving past the potholes. The clink of the beer laden fridge opening again...

Coming home has never felt so good.

What's in the workshop Gary A?

Bharn Thai upgrades.

Interesting to read Gary A with his plans for a civilised home.

Water pressure can be nigh on non existant...Depending on

the time of day and village use.

We, like most decent szed houses, have a whopping great water tank.

It sits at the back of the house on metal posts about 3 metres high.

It is about 2 metres across and is fed with a normal cistern ballcock affair.

A bit of an outlay, just to get water sloshing out of a tap!

But, as Gary puts it...Us stroppy gits need our comforts.

It is a fairly fine line between contentment and gnawing despair!!

We have two cars and a motorbike.

I don't think I could cope without the motor.

The mother in law is a diamond. Never ever asked for a thing. Nothing.

I could see family matters tipping the balance in a lot of situations.

Tolerance and humour cross the cultural divide...and if you are a tinkering sort

of guy. It's good to look around the hardware shops and builders merchants.

There are loads of plus points to country life.

We are up in the hills on the edge of Khao Yai National Park.

Just driving around is fascinating.

To be perfectly frank. The UK is becoming third world, service wise.

At a frightening rate of knots.

I like the house in Thailand...I really like the Traditional style of house.

Picture of my front wall (hopefully downloaded ok) made out of silalang

and stone carved lotus buds.

We will build a concrete and glass hill house someday>

Don't fall out of your hammocks!

All the best.

MR THAKSIN HAS BEEN IN LONDON FOR SOME TIME.

Mr Thaksin has two properties in London, at least.

He appears to be at his (£4m+) luxury apartment in a block owned

by a friend of his. MOHAMMED AL FAYED.

The Thai government are enquiring into what assets he has in the

UK.

Two pictures didn't download...

Try again!

Hi folks,

I thought I would get in on the act and post some pics of our place.

I designed it Traditional style.

Three wings with a central raised area.

The ever going project.

Want to landscape, lawn and fruit tree plant the front.

View of cows in road is out front.

Keep occupied!

Getting married at the house...(continued)

The future missus and sister were whisked far far away to have their makeovers.

That left one person with the vaguest grasp of english (apart from me, that is)

How many people have hit points where, for all your accumulated wisdom and experience - Have thought - What the **** have I got into here!

I was escorted to a house across the road/field.

We were now at the point where the male and female polarity becomes an issue.

I was now in a room with a group of tattooed thai men. Who now started to produce, compare and start loading handguns.

Loads of shoulder clasping and having small bottles of jollop pushed into my palm.

This, by the waves of excitement and laughter generated, would blow my head off!

The fact that I couldn't speak the language mattered not a jot. "We" were the "Lads" and it felt as though a military campaign was being unveiled. An assault was being devised on the mother in law's.

After some time. A procession of maybe twenty children turned up.

They held great banana leafs, over a metre long.

The smaller ones held green coconuts. Cut open to drink. Oodles of foods and drinks were held.

These small people, augmented by the armed men. Would be my "Calling Card!"

Off we slowly danced. The thundering and infectious Isaan beat. Pistol shots ringing out and the smiling, almond eyed children bearing our "gifts"

The shouting and whooping as though they had found an auspiscious white elephant.

We were now at the edge of the mother in law's land.

There hovered a gaggle of strutting, defiant young women.

They held a length of white cord across the gateway.

The gist of the conversation developed as follows....

"Who the **** is this? If he was a race horse , he'd collapse and die before the race was over!"

" Couldn't of done much work - He's white as a bedsheet! I hope you're gonna tell us he has some money!"

"Keep your squawking down sisters!"

"This is the finest catch that'll ever swim down your stretch of the river!" (Blah, blah, blah...)

Eventually the bartering is over.

The cord is lowered and the groom steps across.

Much shouting, gunfire, screaming and dancing from all assembled.

Some way up the land we encounter another, higher status group of women.

They put forward their argument as to "Why him?"

A large length of bamboo is held to bar the way.

Eventually the women are won over and the bamboo is lowered to welcome the groom.

Even greater noise erupts from a growing crowd.

Finally we are at the very door of the house.

Here the mother in law and her "sisters" and the family wait.

All points are gone over again. After some jockeying of "this and that"...The groom is accepted as part of the household.

The younger brother of the bride will then wash the groom's feet, before he enters the family home.

A small financial gift is bestowed on the brother. This is accepted with the appropriate status wai.

WELL.. I DIDN'T GET SHOT OR POISONED!

After a couple of hours...I was finally into the house...And thankfully kneeling next to to woman who brought all this about!

(To be continued...)

"

Has anyone experienced the decibels of a Thai "celebration".

We have had a couple of "full bore" parties at the house. Where most of the village turn up.

Considering how peaceful the place is day and night. The noise generated is collosal.

On the day before our wedding a tractor arrived towing the PA speakers.

(The size of this trailer could have carried a couple of cars - Plus the speakers were double stacked)

I presumed they just brought the whole rig and ran a few speakers as needs required.

We are talking a PA for a rock concert in a fair sized park.

Everything was set up and the music came via cd player to amps and speakers.

Coloured lights were fixed everywhere that lights could be fixed.

This little piece of Thailand now resembled a Close Encounters set!

The "day before" music was playing and the village was getting cranked up for a party.

The women were dancing to and from the house and the pick up full of food was being prepared for the wedding day.

More than a dozen charcoal burning (chimney pot) stoves were glowing away as the food bubbled and simmered. Grinders for stripping the flesh fom coconuts were operated by teenagers whilst the men clinked their favourite bottles of whiskey.

The atmosphere was relaxed but you could tell by peoples' grinning daft expressions that this was going to be a blaster of a do!

At ten the music stopped.

Come midnight you could tell a common consensus was reached...

...Off to bed...conserve yourself for tomorrow!

I was shown to my room.

The house reluctantly joined the rest of the village.

Silent

Pitch black

Sleeping.

I lay awake. Like a message in a bottle, way out to sea. Important, yet totally divorced from my surroundings.

I did all I could to prepare myself for the following day...

As I opened the latch on the door and strolled over to the edge of our land. I stood emptying my bladder under the dome of the milky way. The distant flash of aircraft marker lights, high in the night sky, a tentative link with where my (and our) journey started. The silhouettes of the palms and tamarind tree, now Mine in a sense. The chirping and fizzing of my insect neighbourhood.

Twenty four hours ago I was in Sukhumvit Road, part of the roaring, racing city.

My lonely nocturnal needs sated, I returned - Back to my bed and into a solid, Singha sleep.

Whaaat!

It is technically dawn. The PA thirty feet from my teak bedroom bursts into life with the Thai version of Guns n Roses!

No dingling of bells or polite tapping on the door - Just a complete onslaught of noise!

This...I am told...Is the sign for the people to wake up and come start cooking etc.

I don't know how many miles away they are living but it sure must be a long way.

It is 4 to 5am. With a PA thumping out about a thousand watts!

Well, Farang.

This, is IT!

to be continued...

An excellent thread!

As mentioned before - One of the best.

We are back in the UK at the mo. (back to the house in January)

Our three winged, Bharn Thai house, that I designed, is between Pakchong and Khao Yai and up in the hills. Asian chickens everywhere.

I will get up just after the mother in law. Great sloshings of bowls of water, and washing being hung up to dry.

The coffee mug filled, I just pootle about, The sound of mopeds and cow bells. Feeling the heat of the sun building by the minute...

No, I am not at the house as I sit typing this, but my good wishes go out to all of you in the Boonies.

Who of you got married at the house?

I will keep reading your posts. Every picture and observation noted makes me more gutted that I'm not HOME.

Keeping flying your own farang flags!

Chok Dee

Metabolism, genetics- alot of slim/slight oriental men and women.

Many girls use oriental, herbal teas etc to give the system a good purging.

There is a catalogue of pills etc available over the counter at your local pharmacy. Uppers, under the counter at petrol stations...

I think the original posting by Donz simply outlines a lucky woman.

Pretty dull reply but the subject is not unique to Thailand.

Two chickens chat as they are walking along.

"I think I'm going to cross the road"

"I wouldn't.

You'll never hear the ****ing end of it."

Saw the nice house and garden some posts back.

No digging for me!

Starting organising new part of family firm.

Wongsa Neo Thai.

This part designs and builds custom houses.

All conducted in English language. No Thai talking.

Started website. Waiting call from Thai Chamber of Commerce regarding promotion.