Living in a quiet Issan village.

[473geo]

46 minutes ago, garrya said:

The feeling is always like this. You never feel being hunted, do you?

I never felt unsafe but when every week I heard stories of Somchai being murdered, and Somsee being beaten to death et cetera, I though <deleted>? 

Thailand is a place where locals know everything but nothing is known to public.

 Welcome to countryside of Thailand.

There are undercurrents we never see below the apparently calm surface.

Being 'in and out' I get to notice how perception and relationships change. Mr popular on one visit can be Mr we don't talk about on the next visit, I never need to know why, sometimes may get an inkling, but mostly will probably be some comment that has got back and upset somebody of note!

I just carry on treating people as I find them, I just don't know who I should be ignoring!! ?

Swisse touched on the importance of family, in a rural community therein lies the strength. I have probably 100 relations in a 10km radius. Do I find this comforting? perhaps a little yes. A large family can exert influence, and they do, makes for a reasonably secure environment for my immediate family. Certainly goes a way towards explaining why family ties are so strong and maintained in Thailand. Becomes apparent too that regarding face families can be quick to quietly pull one their own back into line. Sometimes for a minor violation of social etiquette, just a look from a matriarch is enough!!

We must take into account there is always a certain gung ho attitude associated with youth, the world would be a sad place without it, especially as it reinforces the belief the older generation have learnt their lessons in life!

 

[Lacessit]

There is something to be said for living in a condo. Difficult for criminals to reconnoitre beforehand. Problems in making a getaway. And they don't know what may be waiting for them behind the door.

[soalbundy]

14 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

There is something to be said for living in a condo. Difficult for criminals to reconnoitre beforehand. Problems in making a getaway. And they don't know what may be waiting for them behind the door.

It must be a poor sort of life to have to live in fear of criminals, I've never been robbed and my front door is open at night.

In my village when the chips are down you are never alone. A few months ago my wife got out of bed and put a coat over her night dress, it was 11o'clock, ''Where are you going''?  ''Grandma Ret is dying'' (not her real grandmother) I looked in askance, ''It's my turn to sit with her''. The old lady lived alone and had no family and was released from hospital because there was nothing more they could do for her so the women of the village organized shifts day and night to sit by her bed so that she shouldn't die alone, it went on for two weeks before she died and the whole village (about 300 people) turned up for her funeral.

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, colinneil said:

I posted about this murder to make people aware how bad the drug thing is getting here.

We need Thaksin back to sort out the village drug problems again!

[colinneil]

42 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

We need Thaksin back to sort out the village drug problems again!

Thaksin  was corrupt, helped himself to much of the countries money.

Yet he did 1or2 decent things, the 30 baht health scheme and his war on drugs.

Now many of you will start shouting about how many got killed, but it certainly got the drug pushers scared, then the military messed things up by having 1 of their regular coups.

Now drugs are everywhere, dealers no longer scared/ in hiding, but openly peddling their goods.

Because there has been no serious deterrent since Thaksin, the drug peddlers are helping destroy the country.

[neeray]

4 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Thaksin  was corrupt, helped himself to much money of the countries money.

Yet he did 1or2 decent things, the 30 baht health scheme and his war on drugs.

Now many of you will start shouting about how many got killed, but it certainly got the drug pushers scared, then the military messed things up by having 1 of their regular coups.

Now drugs are everywhere, dealers no longer scared/ in hiding, but openly peddling their goods.

Because there has been no serious deterrent since Thaksin, the drug peddlers are helping destroy the country.

If Little P really wanted a feather in his cap, he would point his big guns at the kingpins of drug distribution.

If successfully done, that may actually buy him some legitimate votes.

[OmarZaid]

Quality of life depends a lot on the village chief and how much respect he carries ... In our village, we also lock down, even barred windows and doors, lotsa dragon fruit cacti on the walls, etc.  but the chief maintains a good daily and weekly rhythm and gathering so villagers come out and get to know and support each other ... trouble is outsiders moving in = lost relatives, 3 of whom have been locked up recently for drugs ... but that's the catch -- they were dealt with.

 

One murder of an elderly couple went unsolved about 4-5 years ago --- house ransacked, nobody knows anything ???  Anyway --- drugs and arrested development are part of the spreading postmodernist nihilism that's prowling the entire globe thanks to mobs and media ... 

[shaurene]

I live in a village in Issan just outside of Khon Kaen city. Shouts and motor bikes in the early hours of the mornings. All young kids drinking, drugs ect. Quite a few of them earn money delivering Yaba pills. Never any Police around.

[zyphodb]

2 hours ago, 473geo said:

There are undercurrents we never see below the apparently calm surface.

Being 'in and out' I get to notice how perception and relationships change. Mr popular on one visit can be Mr we don't talk about on the next visit, I never need to know why, sometimes may get an inkling, but mostly will probably be some comment that has got back and upset somebody of note!

I just carry on treating people as I find them, I just don't know who I should be ignoring!! ?

Swisse touched on the importance of family, in a rural community therein lies the strength. I have probably 100 relations in a 10km radius. Do I find this comforting? perhaps a little yes. A large family can exert influence, and they do, makes for a reasonably secure environment for my immediate family. Certainly goes a way towards explaining why family ties are so strong and maintained in Thailand. Becomes apparent too that regarding face families can be quick to quietly pull one their own back into line. Sometimes for a minor violation of social etiquette, just a look from a matriarch is enough!!

We must take into account there is always a certain gung ho attitude associated with youth, the world would be a sad place without it, especially as it reinforces the belief the older generation have learnt their lessons in life!

 

It's the same in my village where I lived with the wife & family for five years, We are related to 95% of everybody within about a 10 mile radius, nothing is locked & nothing is stolen, there are the usual Lao Khow & Yabba problems, but it's all self policed by the family, which include the local Poo Yai & the local policeman, there are the occasional shootings to do with the self policing but we are looked after & insulated from it by our extended family... 

[NoshowJones]

19 hours ago, namatjira said:

Unfortunately, I can confirm the sad status of Thai village life, I stayed with my girlfriend for a few months out near Phayoa and was surprised that in the rural areas it was like a battle zone...everyone locked up tight at night, cars, motorcycles locked away and no way would anyone open the door after dark if someone was knocking.

i thought it would all be laid back and everyone knowing each other with little crime.....not to be.......it’s not what it appears to be.

That really surprises me, in the twelve years I have lived hear I do not know of any crime at all, or ever been annoyed at any neighbours.

Where I live, some would call it a large village, three 7-11s and a mini Tesco, a new 7-11 just opened recently, and some would say a small town.

Only thing that bothers me is the amount of children riding motorbikes.

[Antonymous]

We live in the country, in a traditional village outside Chiang Mai. The scenery is spectacularly beautiful. No relatives within 700kms. Knew nobody here before buying our house. Made friends with neighbours and local puyai easily and quickly because we made an effort to get to meet them, which they appreciated. Waves and smiles when passing, friendly banter when meeting in the market or out walking, but otherwise nobody interferes with our lives. That said, there is always some artisan or labourer at the door to help same day if requested.

 

Locals are all farmers or local government workers. Salt of the earth, lovely people. Puyaibaan is a gentle but firm man and he and all neighbours pointed out when we moved here that there are NO drugs and no thieves in our village. That is indeed the case.

 

Locals tend to rise before dawn and are in bed (or at home quiet) by 9.00pm. We have no noisy neighbours.

 

Life is absolutely idyllic and exactly what we were looking for when we moved out of congested and noisy Chiang Mai.

 

So this is what country living is like if you pick your area carefully. Get to know Thailand and Thai way of life very well before you make the move (that’ll probably take you many years of living here) and if you value peace and quiet and PRIVACY (as we do) my personal biggest tip is never to live with or close to your partner’s relatives. I do understand however that some people feel lost without that kind of external support …

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, soalbundy said:

That is not my experience of an isaan village, I live in one and have done so for 13 years, quiet, peaceful, friendly. The have been instances of drugs but it's not 'in your face' and certainly no violence. I get up at 3:30 have a coffee and a ciggy then I go for a 5km walk around the nearby lake and return home at 6:00 and have always felt safe.

Is that 3.30 am? If so, how do you avoid the soi dogs? I would think there are many more around at these hours than through the day.

[NoshowJones]

15 hours ago, soalbundy said:

actually I've never seen a real live druggie in my life and certainly not where I am, the police are quite active and one only hears, he has been arrested for dealing at his university (village pu yai's son) etc. you never see anything. As for drunks it's very civilised, they buy their booze at the shop and go home and drink it, never seen anyone staggering around. In fact not only do I not lock my door at night I leave it open because the dog likes to get up around midnight and wander around the garden. We did have a local thief (now in prison) but he was a likeable rogue who wouldn't harm a fly. On my morning walks around the lake I usually meet a few individual joggers around 5 AM (it's cooler then) both men and women, some in their teens so yes, it is a safe civilised village where I live, I wouldn't be there if it wasn't.

I sent my post in before I read this, I would assume that you carry a big stick on your walks.

[Antonymous]

2 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Is that 3.30 am? If so, how do you avoid the soi dogs? I would think there are many more around at these hours than through the day.

Make friends with the village soi dogs too! It is really easy. Be friendly towards them, take a few biscuits in your pocket when you go out. They'll drop their aggressive response when you drop yours!

[lvr181]

19 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

thats really sad,

not that ur paraplegic, (sorta sad but  thats just your karma)  but that u live somewhere u cant go out at night

Cut with the 'karma' crap - not everyone believes in that. It is for the individual to choose - not for someone else to give/label with.

[473geo]

13 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

I do understand however that some people feel lost without that kind of external support …

Not lost, some people find it easy to slot into the every day life of the family unit, can appreciate the benefits, while enjoying the opportunities to encourage, and improve.

[NoshowJones]

10 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

Make friends with the village soi dogs too! It is really easy. Be friendly towards them, take a few biscuits in your pocket when you go out. They'll drop their aggressive response when you drop yours!

Yes, I thought about that, then again thought about the amount of biscuits you would need to take with you on a three hour walk at that time in the morning.

[Antonymous]

2 minutes ago, 473geo said:

Not lost, some people find it easy to slot into the every day life of the family unit, can appreciate the benefits, while enjoying the opportunities to encourage, and improve.

Yes I would agree with you in that case. Sorry if my aside came across as a bit mean. It was really directed at the many 'newbies' who go straight off to the partner's village to set up a new home and life without first getting to know them and how things work. While there may be some benefits, there are usually many more drawbacks.

[473geo]

17 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

Yes I would agree with you in that case. Sorry if my aside came across as a bit mean. It was really directed at the many 'newbies' who go straight off to the partner's village to set up a new home and life without first getting to know them and how things work. While there may be some benefits, there are usually many more drawbacks.

No need for apologies thanks for the explanation, years ago I would have certainly agreed.

Maybe I am lucky, but by way of example, in our village the lao Kao drinking is now very much an older generation trait, drunken antics frowned upon by the younger element, dying out with the older family members.

In my family for instance (of the middle generation) only one aunt continues to drink to excess.

Be interesting to have others views to know if this is a more widespread improvement.

[soalbundy]

8 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Is that 3.30 am? If so, how do you avoid the soi dogs? I would think there are many more around at these hours than through the day.

If you mean stray dogs (dogs without an owner) when you say soi dogs, that is, I think, rare in villages, that's more of a town problem.There are dogs on the street at night but they aren't dangerous, the first week they would bark but I would just walk past calmly, now they know I am no danger they approach wagging their tails expecting a pat on the head. one thing I found was on the concrete roads there are quite a few sleeping hens with their chicks, it's probably warmer, they used to move away when I got close but now they just stay put.It is surprising that even around 4:30 there is still some activity, people doing stuff on their vegetable patches at the lake side or fishing, one very old man sits in an armchair outside his house and calls out to me laughing and waving watching me do my rounds on the concrete path around the lake, he thinks I'm funny, but his adult granddaughter told me he waits for my appearance every morning. For me it is the best part of the day.

[colinneil]

4 minutes ago, 473geo said:

No need for apologies thanks for the explanation, years ago I would have certainly agreed.

Maybe I am lucky, but by way of example, in our village the lao Kao drinking is now very much an older generation trait, drunken antics frowned upon by the younger element, dying out with the older family members.

In my family for instance only one aunt continues to drink to excess.

Be interesting to have others views to know if this is a more widespread improvement.

Much an older generation trait?

I beg to differ, the man who got murdered and his murderer were drinking lao kao.

The killer is only late 20s.

[473geo]

3 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Much an older generation trait?

I beg to differ, the man who got murdered and his murderer were drinking lao kao.

The killer is only late 20s.

Well there will always be pockets of insanity Colin, they even appear here on TV on occasion ?

[malagateddy]

Well there will always be pockets of insanity Colin, they even appear here on TV on occasion [emoji16]

Look lads..Colinneil and his Wife have had a bad experience..but look at my home country the UK..how many murders/serious assaults daily..PLENTY.
London..the stabbing/acid throwing capital of the world.
No go areas in many cities/towns in europe for local people.
So far in my village, and I live near Nongbuodaeng in the Chaiyaphum province there's been very little incidents in the 4 years I've been here.
Suppose it helps that the police station is 100 metres along the road from the house.

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[NoshowJones]

33 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

If you mean stray dogs (dogs without an owner) when you say soi dogs, that is, I think, rare in villages, that's more of a town problem.There are dogs on the street at night but they aren't dangerous, the first week they would bark but I would just walk past calmly, now they know I am no danger they approach wagging their tails expecting a pat on the head. one thing I found was on the concrete roads there are quite a few sleeping hens with their chicks, it's probably warmer, they used to move away when I got close but now they just stay put.It is surprising that even around 4:30 there is still some activity, people doing stuff on their vegetable patches at the lake side or fishing, one very old man sits in an armchair outside his house and calls out to me laughing and waving watching me do my rounds on the concrete path around the lake, he thinks I'm funny, but his adult granddaughter told me he waits for my appearance every morning. For me it is the best part of the day.

I do cycling, but over the same distance, I believe that walking burns up more calories, so I am thinking of exchanging cycling for walking on alternate days.

[Lucky mike]

Not just Isaan, when we were staying in village near Trang heard a few single gunshots about 50 meters from our digs then in the last week of our stay automatic gunfire, bit like war zone .... still a bit like the Wild West still.....

[billd766]

17 hours ago, soalbundy said:

actually I've never seen a real live druggie in my life and certainly not where I am, the police are quite active and one only hears, he has been arrested for dealing at his university (village pu yai's son) etc. you never see anything. As for drunks it's very civilised, they buy their booze at the shop and go home and drink it, never seen anyone staggering around. In fact not only do I not lock my door at night I leave it open because the dog likes to get up around midnight and wander around the garden. We did have a local thief (now in prison) but he was a likeable rogue who wouldn't harm a fly. On my morning walks around the lake I usually meet a few individual joggers around 5 AM (it's cooler then) both men and women, some in their teens so yes, it is a safe civilised village where I live, I wouldn't be there if it wasn't.

 

The moo ban where I live is a bit like yours but in rural Khampaeng Phet. We do lock the main house at night though.

16 hours ago, Wang Lalker said:

lowcals you cant trust 'em
one of the reasons i keep moving, dont stay in one place longer than 3 months and you escape the lowcals wrath, you can always return months in the future and you will find any wrath that may have been developing has left town or dissipated, start again a fresh
so perhaps have a seaside residence or cheap hotels in a number of different places for frequent month long holidays elsewhere.
that said i very rarely stay in hotels that i havent stayed in before these days as i have a huge cache of pretested places in the region

people are mostly please to see you on return and treat you even better than before cumulatively.

 

I have never had any problems like that and I have lived in the same house for 14 years.

 

Perhaps it is you.

[ThaiFelix]

15 hours ago, jenny2017 said:

The rape of minors is incredible, while villagers seem to be afraid to treat HIV/AIDS victims. I've seen uncles and grandfathers I wouldn't trust one minute. 

 

I know a woman who never washed her HIV/Aids infected daughter because she thought that she'd get infected. The poor girl died in circumstances I don't want to talk about.

 

  Another woman, who's married to a Japanese guy was brought back to the village to die. I always visited her and tried to give her the feeling that she's not alone, but Thais don't seem to understand that. 

 

   But all villages have the same rules, not talking about something where anybody could lose face. A girl losing her virginity through her uncle, dad, granddad, etc.. is mostly unreported and they give birth to a child that shouldn't be there first place. 

 

I'm not kidding now. 

Not disputing your post(every village is different Im sure, just like people) but we have two women with AIDS in our village and they are both treated normally.  In fact one was a neighbour of ours who has an unaffected husband and not long had a baby.  She has even quite openly and in company on the street mentioned how she was on her way to pick up her AIDS drugs.  I feel sometimes they are a bit too relaxed about it...especially when this ladies mother tries to encourage the youngest sister to go work bar for more money!

 

No ours is a reasonably quiet village but we do have a resident thief/burglar who the police catch periodically.   Everyone knows who it is and they just keep an eye on his movements and each others properties.  No-one dares to call the police because there is no money in it (the thief and his family are broke).  So if the police are involved they need money to pay for their time, so they turn on you and next thing they are wanting tea money because your number plate is obscured, tail light blown, or you are painting your own house without a work permit etc (hasnt happened here yet but I have read about it before).

 

Only violence I have seen here has been from the jealous lashing tongue of some other farangs Thai wife lol!

[soalbundy]

15 minutes ago, grkt said:

 

There is no drug in Thailand ! Can't you see how good is the police and close to win the war against drugs ?

After clearing Thailand Thai idiots will go to US and EU to also save them from the drug problem !

How lucky is the world to have Thailand to help with these problems that the whole world has failed to fix !

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think where I am they are well on top of it. Six months to year ago I went to the village shop with the wife and noticed an unkempt young man sitting on the steps, who's that I asked the wife, never seen him before, army, she muttered. apparently they got wind of a couple of teens from outside stashing drugs in the village somewhere and selling them 50 kms away in Surin, he was looking for strangers. Later that night I went to the front gate, it was dark but I had the gate lights on, a voice came from behind the wall ''Can you please turn the lights off, we are waiting to make an arrest'', seems the neighbours 15 yr old son had rented out a small disused rice barn to two outsiders to stash their pills, sure enough a motorbike came down the road and the trap closed. The first and last time I had seen anything like that.

[stropper]

16 hours ago, soalbundy said:

A lot of what happens depends on the puu yai, we have a good one, before internet cables were brought to the village officially he had us connected with the school which had internet outside the village, semi-legal. He organizes village clean ups regularly, proper rubbish disposal, regular village meetings once a month so we have a real community spirit and people are proud of their village.

you are so spot on , the women in our village rule  the head man, my wife being one of them, i feel if the village is going well financially life is sweet, the womens commitee are great, even if trouble arouses here, it is quickly discussed and trouble makers moved on, shit  happens.  no drunks no drugs , and most defininately no women bashing in our village, and the kids are great, disiplin is still relavent here, 

[Tambs2020]

Wow..Thats sad to hear.

 

I agree with some on here that village life certainly is not for everyone.

Where I am (about 40mins from Udon Thani) its pretty good.

 

The Puu Yai is a good bloke & has improved(concreted or bitumen) nearly all the roads around the village, made the water supply perfectly clear with no issues.

I havent seen any drug issues at all, A few village whisky drunks but they are harmless enough.

 

I dont pretend to like everyone but again, that doesnt really create any issues as I suppose it doesnt matter where you are there will always be folks that dont like all the neighbours.

 

I do remember about 10/11 years ago some local blokes went around to a house where an Aussie bloke was staying with his Fiance' and tried to create an issue with him.

 

He came out and so did the PuuYai...Puu yai had a rifle and promptly told them to go...The next day he had their motorbike repair shop bulldozed to the ground & they never came back.Again A good bloke.

 

Saying all that, most I know in AUS wouldnt be able to adjust to the life here.