troysantos

I just reported the survey site post. I DON'T KNOW that it's a scam, but it stinks just the same. If you're inclined to go for it ... be prepared to be one of those "less fortunate" who will be asking the foreigners to "chip in" so you can have a bite to eat once in a while!

Putting together a list ... right on! You're using internet I guess. There are quite a few sites I've seen over the years with Thai / English / Latin names. A few years ago I spent a couple of months compiling a list of plant names and food names. Wish I could find it now!

By the way, the word โหดร้าย isn't a rude word. It just translates as cruel, ruthless.

All the best to you.

This is the variety that I found for sale on the Thai ag forum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus_polyphyllus. Note that the wikipedia page mentions that Lupines have been invasive where they're not native. And, judging from the areas where this is grown, it does indeed require a cold spell.

This is interesting though: lupins have adapted to the sub-artic climates of Alaska and Iceland, the arid climates of east Africa and Mexico, and the sub-tropical parts of South America and the USA. This comes from a website called lupins dot org and has some interesting information. Seems like a good idea to make an educated guess as to which species might do well in your area, where it was so cold outside during winter that your something froze off!

I read where some permaculturists on the southeast coast of Australia sowed lupin seeds during the winter there. I saw somewhere that Lupin(e)s are grown more in Australia than anywhere else.

They do very well in badly depleted soils, so would be great in many places in LOPS (Land of Poor Soils!).

In Iraq ... sorry, but I sure hope you actually get out! Do you know the name of the variety that you brought over, and the climate where it goes best?

The YT link was great. Hilarious. Thanks. Robin Hood's got nothin' on this guy!

I am not so sure that Lupins won't grow in the hotter areas of Thailand. Wikipedia page says that they grow in North and South America and Africa. Maybe all in colder climates, but I don't know yet. Do either of you know that they only grow where there's a cold spell?

This is one way I often look for information in Thai about something for which I don't know a Thai name: Find the scientific name, then do a Google search with that name, and a Thai word so that you'll get a Thai website with the scientific name. A good example, Xxxxx xxxxx ชื่อภาษาอังกฤษ The x's would be the scientific name, and the Thai translates as "English name".

Another way is to look up information on Wikipedia in English then see if there's a page in Thai. This is how I found this wikipedia page in Thai. http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/ลูพิน I don't know if you can read Thai or not, but if not, and you can ask someone for help, then you can use this way to find info.

Also, there is a really good Thai ag website with lots of good info, lots of helpful people, various fora, and I'm sure more than a few of these people know a decent amount of English. http://www.kasetporpeang.com Lots of groups of people with names like, "Lovers of xxxx". There are tons of such groups who love everything you can imagine. Some of these people are interested in "exotics", flowers, nitrogen fixers, etc.

I'm also interested in this. So, I'll look around for some.

I didn't read the English wikipedia page but did read the Thai page. Interesting. Really ought to be some species that will thrive here. According to the wiki page, there are between 200 and 600 species. Seems there's some intersting diversity among them.

Thanks for igniting me:))

For what it's worth, I thank you for starting this thread. Nothing better than genuine interest in something to motivate / invigorate / inspire us. Keeps flames going. Until, for whatever reason, there's no more interest. I applaud you, sorry don't know your name, for the thread and I encourage you to keep an open mind to this question. What in hell are you here for anyway? I ask myself this question often. It appears spontaneously, and it sparks wonder in me, as well as stimulating me to keep wondering. I do believe there are people who don't have any interest in this question anymore, because they've got it at a deep level, not some answer coming from reasoning and logic, or because they believe what they've heard or read. As for your monk friend, who knows, he may really have realized why he gets up every day, maybe not ... many monks have studied a lot, and have learned answers like that from their studies.

Heard or read any cool Zen books lately? Or anything in any non-dual tradition? Very very cool stuff, in my opinion. I do believe that 'tis a good idea to not believe in any of it

Your very post can be taken as an inquiry. For some people, inquiry is a core part of spiritual practice.

One thing that seems to pop up in me often is acceptance. I'll often ask myself if I accept what's occuring in any moment. Usually the thing I'm accepting or rejecting is a sensation. All our senses create a sensation that I either like or dislike. To accept, to me, means to be neutral towards the sensations. Seems this acceptance is not something I can will, or intend, nor force!

So, I'm curious ... what are you waiting for? Why get up each morning? My dad is 84 years old and not doing so well anymore. I often wonder what's left for him. Ideally, we have something that really inspires us to get up each morning, really interested in what's happening.

One final comment. In response to: "I think, instead, the monk should be waiting to live every moment." ... I suppose upon reflection you'd reword this statement to something like "living every moment" ... no?

Now this is more like it! More replies here ... Thanks Thanyaburi Mac And, I did Google Green House Penang but didn't find a coffee shop. No problem. I've been told of another place to go to find expats living here long term. Hotel Noble, here in Georgetown.

The longer I'm here the more places and things I find that I like.

I like that there are Muslims in South Thailand. More diversity for the senses! So I really like that about Penang! A melange of cultures is right. But you know, I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I don't think I've seen a city anywhere on earth as diverse as SF. Yet, I don't want to live in the US anymore.

And yeah, I agree, there are lots of temples in Hat Yai.

One thing I haven't yet come across is information on setting up a business in Malaysia. Still haven't done much investigation but I'll get to it. I read people on TV complaining about doing business in LOS ... they're surely not Smiling when they type those complaints!

Thanks for the replies. Thanyaburi Mac ... can this be moved to the general section? I'd like a bit more exposure because I'm sure there are more than a few people on TV who've lived in both countries. Thanks.

I really doubt that it's immigration or border control enforcing this. I agree ... why would they? Also, I've been told that vans can enter, it's just that they'll get fined 600 RM (6000 baht) if they're caught. I don't know how they'd get caught. I'm staying at a hotel in Georgetown now, and was surprised to see a van with a Thai plate yesterday at the hotel. He snuck across, with passengers, and will come and go again.

Sorry about not having an answer for ya. I tried to post the question to http://www.kasetporpeang.com/forums/index.php?board=1.0 but for some reason I can't post. Tried twice. Try yourself, or ask a Thai to post for you.

Gulab กุหลาบ is the Thai name for rose.

I'd say just give basil and chilies decent soil, doesn't even have to be terrific stuff. Keep the soil moist. Seriously, I've grown both in just these conditions. Little sunlight, decently fertile soil, kept moist by watering and by mulching. I don't know the variety, but you know, typical chilies. You buy basil at the market, take off the leaves, then put the stalk in the ground, right? Most common and easiest way to propogate it.

Wanna improve the appearance of your garden, and improve the soil at the same time? Get yourself some perennial peanut / brazil peanut. ถั่วลิสงเถา / ถั่วลิสงบราซิล Wikipedia has an entry for it. Pretty little yellow flower is the only edible part, so I've read. It's perennial so it'll last for years. Pretty drought hardy. When the flower is in bloom, and it covers the ground, all is yellow and is very very pretty. More than likely, it'll fix nitrogen to boot. I don't know where to buy it, but I see it all around. Chatuchak surely has it. Plant nurseries maybe.

Basil and chilies really should grow well in little or no sunlight. Even the soil doesn't need to be great. Too much or not enough water or something else killing them? Colantro grows easily in shade, mustard greens, วอเตอร์เครส (this is the Thai for watercress, but it's not the water cress that I know. Look this up to see images, then get some. Grows so so easily in shade.) Lemon grass grows easily. ใบชะพลู is another but I don't know the English name. Careful how much you plant cuz it'll spread all over. You probably get some sunlight, and that helps. Pak wan (sweet leaf) should get some sunlight but does fine without tons of sunlight. This is all I can think of off the top of my head.

)

I have lived in Thailand for a total of about 10 years. Just moved to Hat Yai but just staying with a friend for the time being. I came to Penang to get a visa, and have been here for quite a few more days than I'd originally thought. And really enjoying it ... again. I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy this place. I just read the thread about Ipoh being a cheap place to retire, and the posts by people who say it's too crowded. All in all, there are lots of things I like here. Feels sort of like I felt when I first went to Chiang Mai about 15 years ago.

Just would like to read comments from people who've lived in Malaysia only, or both countries, to see what you think of / thought of living in Malaysia as an expat. Penang in particular, but any comments at all about Malaysia are welcome.

I'm 50 years old and don't have nearly enough money to qualify for even Thailand's retirement visa, so there's no way I can afford the MM2H deal. Also, wondering if anyone knows anything about foreigners farming in Malaysia. ... farm work is a passion of mine.

Any experience with Malaysian ladies? They seem less interested in foreign guys than Thai women seem, and in a way I really like that.

I was talking with a Brit a few days ago who's been coming for 20 years. Fun to talk with. He told me about what he calls, "creeping Islam", what another person called "Islamification" of the country. The first guy talked about how Sharia law is law in two states and people in other states want to make it law in their states. He says that in years past, the government could be aptly called a kleptocracy. I might be mistaken about this, but I think he characterized the current government as extreme Muslims, bent on implementing Sharia law. We talked for a good 10 or so minutes ... very entertaining guy.

He said there is a coffee shop called Green House, near Jalan Penang that is run by Aussies and that they'd be real good to talk with about expat life here, but I haven't found the shop, can't find anyone who knows of the place, and can't find a coffee shop by that name on the internet. Also, someone today told me of a hotel where, he says, there are lots of long term foreigners. Haven't yet had the time to go and chat it up with anyone.

Of course I'm doing my own research, and asking others for their opinions is part of it.

Thanks much.

I don't know, I see that nobody else has replied, so I posted the question to this Thai group http://www.kasetporpeang.com/forums/index.php?action=unread Tons of people on this site. Someone will know. I'm intersted in plants so I'd be happy to know the name.

Last month I crossed the border with Malaysia at the Sadao border crossing. That was my third time in a row. Upon coming back nex time, the immigration lady kindly informed me that I'd have to have a visa, any kind of visa would do. I'm American, that was my third time crossing the same border checkpoint. The immigration lady told me that only three stamps are allowed, and that I wouldn't be allowed in again unless I had a visa.

Mr. Nomad ... where did you stay that it was only about a mile from the consulate? Boy, that's close. What's the name of the place? Details ... like dorm room / single room, and the cost, and anything else about the place? How'd you get there and get back? I'm still here, and suppose I'll take the van back though I don't know yet if Thailand is banning Malaysian vans from going into Thailand. When I came last Thursday, I took a van from Hat Yai but we all had to get off at the border and a Malaysian van picked us up. Made the otherwise 4-hour trip longer. I asked a few people but nobody could give me a definitive answer. A Malaysian guy though said it might be that the Malaysian van operators complained. But, for me anyways, that raises a question or two further. Never mind that.

I sure didn't think the guy at the consulate taking the application and then handing back passports was "friendly" but he was informative. Par for the course really. I'm also American and was there the same day as you. Also had no troubles at all. The manager at Mingood Hotel told me that I'd better get to the consulate early because, since the previoius day was a holiday, tons of people would be going to get visas that Friday. But like you say, it was pretty light.

I'm in Penang now. Always like this place. If I hadn't already decided I'm gonna live in Thailand, boy, this would have to be the place. Even Georgetown is really cool. Tons of gorgeous old trees, and I love big fat trees ) Friendly, helpful people. Cultural diversity brings lots of things to keep the senses stimulated )

If you do want the van from Hat Yai, realize that vans from Thailand currently aren't crossing the border. I went to two places this morning and was told that there aren't any vans running at all. I did manage to find a company but what they did was take us all to the border and we changed vans there. Same price, but it took about 7 hours instead of 4. But we had van troubles so I think that took about two hours. I really wish I could tell you the name of the company, but I can't remember and can't find the card. Darn. It's way out of the way, way over by Diana department store. Tell a motorcycle taxi driver to take you to the van company out by Diana departement store, that ought'a do it. Cost me 30 baht for the taxi to the van place. 400 baht. Friendly and very pleasant lady at the desk.

My understanding is that this is a kind of ตำลึง tamleung. The Latin name is Coccinia grandis. I don't think I'll ever meet anyone who knows it as Ivy Gourd, but that's one English name for it. Look at the wikipedia page for these names and see if the fruits are not the same.

I've eaten the ripe fruits plenty of times and they're sweet. I've been told that it's not a good idea, but haven't been told why. I've sometimes seen Thais pick the green fruits and make whatever dish from them.

The leaf in your picture and the leaf on the wikipedia page aren't the same, but again, my understanding is that they're both ตำลีง. I just had a Thai friend look at your picture and she confirmed this. I'm guessing they're different varieties. I don't know why they don't eat these leaves yet do eat the leaf in the wikipedia picture.

I've seen the vines grow up a pole 7 or 8 meters high, then run many more meters along the wires. The plant was cut down so who knows how much longer the vine would'a grown. Talk about hardy!

Sorry Mr. Moo Moo ) but that link shows an entirely different plant. I'm not sure what that is, but for sure, they're not the same thing.

Wow ... nobody has yet responded to this. I would just wonder if the fertilizer isn't doing your plants in. Maybe the soil is too hard. But, heck, if you're watering, the soil should be plenty soft enough for the roots to go where they want to go. If the last haven't yet died, consider going without the fertilizer. Clay soil is high in minerals already. Could there have been something in the soil already that did them in? Maybe the spot had a large concentration of something dumped there at some time in the past. Banana plants are pretty darn hardy, usually just want water and sun. But even lacking sun, they won't just wilt and die.

Yep ... they grow wild. I've seen them in Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Pathom, and probably in the mountains of Chiang Mai but I don't remember for sure. Now, I'm living near Had Yai city and they grow wild here too. I've also never seen them for sale. I take the fruits that have fallen off the plant, and squeeze them over an area where I want them to grow. If I eat too many at one time though I get an unpleasant taste in my mouth. It's a Nightshade, right, and some people avoid all Nightshades because, they say, there are toxins.

Roger that ... I'll do my best )

I'm also interested in planting these fruit trees. I'll go to Malaysia sometime in the next few months. I'll see if I can get some seeds. I'll send some to you if I can get them. Or, heck, if you get seeds before me, maybe you can send me a few.

I don't see any pictures.