On 8/2/2019 at 2:01 PM, RJRS1301 said:

Keep your mind and body active, some resistance training. Good healthy diet, an that should help keep dementing illnesses at bay.

And avoid locals wherever possible!

 

Good luck

1 minute ago, Fex Bluse said:

The ONLY good reason to learn Thai is to protect ourselves from the pervasive Thai predatory environment.

 

If one can speak Thai, he can watch the predators.

Your last sentence is expressed poorly Fex. You talk of 'one' then 'he'. Are these two people?

 

What do you mean?

1 minute ago, Fex Bluse said:

And avoid locals wherever possible!

 

Good luck

Does that include all locals, or just some, which you consider to be undesirable?

 

 

Just now, faraday said:

Does that include all locals, or just some, which you consider to be undesirable?

 

 

I would suggest as many as possible to minimize risk. 

While it's ridiculous to think that all are a risk, far too many are.

I think that's fair.

Good luck

2 hours ago, faraday said:

Your last sentence is expressed poorly Fex. You talk of 'one' then 'he'. Are these two people?

 

What do you mean?

The grammar is correct. The thought is stupid, but the grammar is correct. 

3 hours ago, Puwa said:

The grammar is correct. The thought is stupid, but the grammar is correct. 

Yes, I was teasing him.

We seem to have drifted a bit off track here.  

 

I am just back from a week in Singapore where my wife got me to join her at a four day Tony Robbins event.  Several of her friends were there and we met a few other Thais through them.  They were all very upbeat and energetic, without a predator in their midst.  Since I speak Thai they did not have to dumb down their conversation to include me and everyone had a great time.

 

That said, I am so glad to be home and we hit the trails yesterday to help settle back into our local environment.  Sorry no pictures from yesterday as it was sprinkling and very grey. 

28 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

We seem to have drifted a bit off track here.  

 

I am just back from a week in Singapore where my wife got me to join her at a four day Tony Robbins event.  Several of her friends were there and we met a few other Thais through them.  They were all very upbeat and energetic, without a predator in their midst.  Since I speak Thai they did not have to dumb down their conversation to include me and everyone had a great time.

 

That said, I am so glad to be home and we hit the trails yesterday to help settle back into our local environment.  Sorry no pictures from yesterday as it was sprinkling and very grey. 

Did you enjoy the Tony Robbins thing? Not my cup of tea, but like you if my wife asked me to join her I would agree to participate. I would certainly be happy to be back in the countryside though after such an event. 

37 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Did you enjoy the Tony Robbins thing? Not my cup of tea, but like you if my wife asked me to join her I would agree to participate. I would certainly be happy to be back in the countryside though after such an event. 

I did my best to keep an open mind and participate.  I moved, I vocalized and I tried to visualize but in the end I really felt no change.  But I have to admit, many of the 8000 people in attendance seemed to get a lot out of it.  My age and personality type and life experience are probably not very conducive to being swept away by this kind of event.

 

I was very impressed by the event logistics and the stage presence of Tony compared to the other presenters.  I am glad I went because I can now base my opinions on actual experiences rather than assumptions. 

 

I have seen how impactful this kind of thing (NLP) has been for my wife and many of her friends so I wanted some firsthand experience and to provide some tangible support and understanding of their passion. 

8 hours ago, villagefarang said:

Tony Robbins event

i feel like i've been hit with a baseball bat.

17 minutes ago, Naam said:

i feel like i've been hit with a baseball bat.

From your avatar you also look like that

It has been so wonderfull looking at all of these pictures... can't wait to go to Thailand ????

I have to admit I’ve never heard of Tony Robbins , so I googled it and , well, lets just say “ not my cup of tea “.

4 days sounds like a long time to be motivated !!

On the other hand, a Baskin Robbins event !!, that’s something i could get excited about [emoji51]

Up in the mountains today checking out a soon to open trail. I have more to post after I get home. 
 

Pha Tang is opening a new trail called the 104 later this year. It extends in the opposite direction of the older 103. My wife wanted to encourage the young guides so she hired two of them to accompany us on this new trail today. The views are absolutely stunning over into Laos and back into Thailand, with the Mekong River visible far below.

 

This looks like a great place to take friends later this year.  For now the trail isn’t really open and the kids (10 and 12) said we were the first ones they have taken up there. 

 

 

 

 

 

I was not disappointed by reading these 33 pages and .......... some trolls ...
A few years ago my wife and I had the chance to meet VF, his wife and their dogs and cats ...
It was a few days that passed too fast.

 

In some posts we talk about Singha Park near Chiang Rai;
Tawan Duchanee's Black House is nearby.

 

A big thank you VF for having dared this post;
it is never easy to find out about strangers;
I think you have said a lot and shows what is not, it seems to me, your deep nature.

 

Like VF, I live far from the city in a small village in Issan, in Sakon Nakhon province.
The city is closer but also smaller than Chiang Rai.
The trail? Not for me, I was operated from both knees because of exploding meniscus, I can not walk long and much less stay up too long.
but fortunately the bike exists and I abuse it;
I tried some walks in the area where VF lives; I am used to long rides (four times the Doi Inthanon and it is severe a few passages and three times the "tour " Chiang Mai - Chiang Mai going to Pai, Soppong, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang ) with sometimes a few percentages out of the ordinary, but I was scotche by some roads that are, for me, impassable mountain biking while the coating is excellent but in some places 25 to 30% slope are common.
At 70, it's too much for me.

Beautiful pictures with sometimes can be a little too much saturation;

I will come back one day to visit and caress the beautiful dog who kept licking me.
it never annoys me, we have four dogs and four cats at home.

I am far from speaking and understand Thai as VF, it is not too serious, he can understand my English with an unpleasant French accent.

@Assurancetourix Has it really been that long ago?  Time goes by so quickly as one gets older.  Thanks for reading and commenting.????

May 2016 , 3 years and a half ago ;

I wasn't 70 at that time ...

I remember as it was yesterday ; yes time goes by so quickly ...

 

 

They write 8 % but it's so much more ...

 

 

It's the road ( a sort of by pass ) to go to Phu Chi Fa 

 

1 hour ago, Assurancetourix said:

May 2016 , 3 years and a half ago ;

I wasn't 70 at that time ...

I remember as it was yesterday ; yes time goes by so quickly ...

 

 

They write 8 % but it's so much more ...

 

 

It's the road ( a sort of by pass ) to go to Phu Chi Fa 

 

We drove over that road yesterday.  It is so lush and green these days.

 

Pha Tang is opening a new trail called the 104 later this year. It extends in the opposite direction of the older 103. My wife wanted to encourage the young guides so she hired two of them to accompany us on this new trail today. The views are absolutely stunning over into Laos and back into Thailand, with the Mekong River visible far below.
 
This looks like a great place to take friends later this year.  For now the trail isn’t really open and the kids (10 and 12) said we were the first ones they have taken up there. 
 

 

 

 

 

Nice, although I am not impressed to see the young kids, seemingly encouraged to scratch names/messages in the stone at the top.


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27 minutes ago, SpokaneAl said:

 

Nice, although I am not impressed to see the young kids, seemingly encouraged to scratch names/messages in the stone at the top.


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Not only that, but the poster thought it was cute and fun apparently and takes and posts pics of them putting up graffitti and making a natural site ugly.

"The kids with us are creating graffiti - great photo op!"

 

Unreal.

The young guides, ten and twelve, were discouraged by us from what they were doing but there wasn't much we could actually do, other than explain to them it was not a good idea and why.  That stone marker was erected by villagers like them and was not a naturally occurring structure.  They were using small rocks and the marks were light chalky scratches which will no doubt disappear with the next rain.  I am sure something more permanent will be erected to mark the location of peak 104, like they have done at 102 and 103.

 

Paths have been cut into the mountain, brush has been cleared, rocks moved and there were signs of some burning as well.  So this is not exactly pristine nature and I am sure worse things will happen when the mobs start to come to this area during the peak cold season.  All things considered, we were impressed with these young kids and tried to contribute to their understanding of the visitors who come to their mountain and how to optimize their experience.  How much of an impact we had, is anyone's guess.

 

I am just not as cynical and critical as some, I suppose.  They are doing the best they can to help their families and their community so we chose to engage, encourage and explain, rather than find fault or punish. They were good kids and they took good care of us on the trail.????

The sun came out yesterday and told the sea to behave!... after weeks of howling seas and winds and continuous raining!

Please excuse spelling mistakes/Grammar and Misunderstandings!
Best
Hash

A couple more shots from the other day.

 

 

Finishing up a long day of driving in the mountains with a sunset dinner at Singha Park, here in Chiangrai. 
 

Thanks Villagefarang.

 

I've just finished all reading and or looking at the 34 pages of this tread this morning, fantastic.  Also some great contributions from other members.  Very please to read positive posts with some very realistic views.  I lived in Bangkok for 12 years before moving up country at the beginning of this year, takes a little getting used to but all pretty good so far.

 

Thanks again for your posts!

 

Craighj

Just now, craighj said:

Thanks Villagefarang.

 

I've just finished all reading and or looking at the 34 pages of this tread this morning, fantastic.  Also some great contributions from other members.  Very please to read positive posts with some very realistic views.  I lived in Bangkok for 12 years before moving up country at the beginning of this year, takes a little getting used to but all pretty good so far.

 

Thanks again for your posts!

 

Craighj

Where did you move to? I will be moving to Kalasin when I retire in 3 years, which will be after 41 years, or thereabouts, of living in Bangkok. So I know I am in for a shock and it is going to take some getting used to. My biggest fear is boredom. 

1 hour ago, GarryP said:

Where did you move to? I will be moving to Kalasin when I retire in 3 years, which will be after 41 years, or thereabouts, of living in Bangkok. So I know I am in for a shock and it is going to take some getting used to. My biggest fear is boredom. 

It looks like @craighj has moved to Mukdahan but hopefully he will come back with a more complete answer to your question.

Hi GarryP

 

I’m in Mukdahan, not too far from Kalasin.

 

Boredom has not been an issue for me yet, way to much to do around my house and property.  Though I’m still adjusting to up country life, being retired and not living or being in a big city.

 

The only issue I have is not having any farang friends up here to chew the fat with occasionally.  Plenty of family though.

 

craighj

The hiking season is upon us so we were up in the mountains again today at Phu Chi Dao in Chiangrai. I even donated blood on the trail to a few local leeches.