I Love My Isaan Village

[Guest RealEstateBroker]

I stay in my village way outside of Korat usually about 10 days per month for

the last five years or so. I'm not sure is this place fits the term Isaan ??

Anyway. I love my new home that I built over the last five years. I live the rest

of every month in Bangkok/Pattaya (10 days) and the USA (10 days). I notice

when I arrive in my village my blood pressure seems to go way way down, I have to

test it often because I have really high blood pressure and I can control it with the

various drugs I have to take. Anyway.........this village of mine is a typical isaan

looking village and the only farang.

I have been living in Thailand since the end of the VN war for the most part, now

with my home in isaan I am finally so totally content with my life I can't yet believe it.

I just had to share this with everyone. Some of you will understand and some won't.

PS...just bought myself a new Honda Air Blade for my birthday. I'm 18 again.

Edited March 3, 2007 by RealEstateBroker

[khunandy]

I stay in my village way outside of Korat usually about 10 days per month for

the last five years or so. I'm not sure is this place fits the term Issan ??

Anyway. I love my new home that I built over the last five years. I live the rest

of every month in Bangkok/Pattaya (10 days) and the USA (10 days). I notice

when I arrive in my village my blood pressure seems to go way way down, I have to

test it often because I have really high blood pressure and I can control it with the

various drugs I have to take. Anyway.........this village of mine is a typical issan

looking village and the only farang.

I have been living in Thailand since the end of the VN war for the most part, now

with my home in issan I am finally so totally content with my life I can't yet believe it.

I just had to share this with everyone. Some of you will understand and some won't.

PS...just bought myself a new Honda Air Blade for my birthday. I'm 18 again.

I'm with you on this one REB. I work in China for 28 days then go to Perth in Aussie for a week or so then back to the village for 3 weeks and I can feel myself giving the big "exhale" when I turn into the moo baan. Not much beats the weight lifting of your shoulders and chilling out Issan style.

I am happy for you mate

khun Andy

[Martin]

It's in our genes, fellas.

If we knew of all our parents' greatgreatgreat...grandparents back (by my calculations, assuming 25 years per generation) for 375 years to the year 1732, which was around the time when some villages started to become towns that would become cities, we would each have 65,512 individuals who had contributed to our genetic make-up.

Of those, 32,768 would have been the villagers of 1732, most of the 16,384 of the generation twentyfive years later in 1757 would have been villagers, and so on.

It is only some of the last few who would have been town or city dwellers.

Just below the surface, village life is what is 'natural' for us.

[lazeeboy]

It's in our genes, fellas.

If we knew of all our parents' greatgreatgreat...grandparents back (by my calculations, assuming 25 years per generation) for 375 years to the year 1732, which was around the time when some villages started to become towns that would become cities, we would each have 65,512 individuals who had contributed to our genetic make-up.

Of those, 32,768 would have been the villagers of 1732, most of the 16,384 of the generation twentyfive years later in 1757 would have been villagers, and so on.

It is only some of the last few who would have been town or city dwellers.

i used to love my village ive been here 13 years coconuts blue sea sandy beaches knew all the expats locals were ok to me now most of tje western world know of my eden called koh samui coconut trees and jungle has become concrete looking for a new eden soon..

Just below the surface, village life is what is 'natural' for us.

[pazza]

Before I wax lyrical, (Hi Martin I hope you and your wife are ok and hope to see you sometime next year (I will buy the meal next time) ),

I agree with RealEstateBroker, when I enter the village near Nong Khai my blood pressure mysteriously drops to a normal, healthier and less worrying level.

I think moving over to Thailand next year will add years to my life, and that (for me) can’t be a bad thing.

I cannot wait to move to my new home (I would be there this year if not for a slight motorbike accident last December).

Take care all,

Steve.

[Cuban]

Interesting thread, I was going to post on the medical/health forum an observation I have made about Thai BP. My OH has a very low BP, there are no negative symptoms so no action required as yet, but there is something about the food (spicies??) or laid back lifestyle that does keep BP down. I was surprised the first time I took a reading as I was expecting a high BP due to salt intake. Mine is on the good side of Western normal, however this is after a few years of bad BP controlled with excerise etc.

[jocsum]

I usually don't post much, but I just have to say, that it's great living in the village. Been living at the village around 14 yers now. Can't get much better for relaxing. 66 Kms west of KKC.

[khunandy]

I usually don't post much, but I just have to say, that it's great living in the village. Been living at the village around 14 yers now. Can't get much better for relaxing. 66 Kms west of KKC.

Hi Jocsum,

Where is that mate? I would drive through there I would think on my way from KK to Phu Pha Man which is 20 odd kms after Chum Phae.

14 years eh? Thats a good chunk of time.

regards

Andy

[mrbojangles]

I usually don't post much, but I just have to say, that it's great living in the village. Been living at the village around 14 yers now. Can't get much better for relaxing. 66 Kms west of KKC.

14 years eh? Thats a good chunk of time.

It certainly is.

And happy anniversary jocsum. 3 years today you joined ThaiVisa

[Martin]

I have a gut feeling (but haven't looked for 'scientific' evidence) that BP is related to stress, and particularly the stress produced by anger and feelings of being threatened..

Urban dwelling produces a lot more anger and feelings of being threatened than village dwelling. (All those unknown people 'invading' our personal space---whereas in the village we know everybody.)

I have noticed that I rarely get angry or feel threatened in the village or on the country roads. But driving on the Highway induces significant surges in my BP (often accompanied by mutterings of '######' and 'Idiot'). And then comes the city........

[pazza]

I have a gut feeling (but haven't looked for 'scientific' evidence) that BP is related to stress, and particularly the stress produced by anger and feelings of being threatened..

Urban dwelling produces a lot more anger and feelings of being threatened than village dwelling. (All those unknown people 'invading' our personal space---whereas in the village we know everybody.)

I have noticed that I rarely get angry or feel threatened in the village or on the country roads. But driving on the Highway induces significant surges in my BP (often accompanied by mutterings of '######' and 'Idiot'). And then comes the city........

I must say I am shocked and amazed, I didn't know you knew such language Martin.

But seriously, I think you are spot on, I would bet (not my money of course) high BP and similar stress related problems were not as prevalent in 1732 as they are today, due , in some respect to the, village, lifestyle.

I have only had the village experience on a monthly holiday basis and I can’t wait to take it on full time. That and a good Thai massage from my girlfriend (well its good when she stops).

Steve

Edited March 5, 2007 by pazza

[Gary A]

I think stress and tension are the big killer. Since I have moved out in the boonies, I think I could discontinue my hypertension drug. I just checked, I have a Lumiscope tester, and my blood pressure was 112/71 with a pulse of 78. Losing weight by avoiding farang food more than likely helped too. When I moved to Thailand I weighed 203 pounds. I am now under 175 pounds. I eat whatever I want and I like my food with salt, or fish sauce since I am up here. I follow no diet at all and have never restricted my salt intake. I even salt my watermelon. Now if I could quit smoking, hmmmm.

Edited March 6, 2007 by Gary A

[Thaddeus]

I think stress and tension are the big killer.

I quite agree.

And a belated Happy Birthday Gary

[jocsum]

I usually don't post much, but I just have to say, that it's great living in the village. Been living at the village around 14 yers now. Can't get much better for relaxing. 66 Kms west of KKC.

Hi Jocsum,

Where is that mate? I would drive through there I would think on my way from KK to Phu Pha Man which is 20 odd kms after Chum Phae.

14 years eh? Thats a good chunk of time.

regards

Andy

Hey Andy, the largest town near where I live is Phuwiang. As your going toward Chumpai from KKC, just past Nong Rua, turn right at the big dinosaur. You can't miss Phuwiang. My wife and myself used to have a small internet shop there across from the high school. Helped the school kids out, but not making enough to keep it open. Now they come to the house for any internet stuff they need for school. They help me with my Thai and I help them with English. Fair trade.

My wife and I speak english for our 9 year old daughter, my thai is okay, but the kids like to "teach" me. Anyway, no problem with BP.

And thanks Mrbojangles.