Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

I've been in Isaan for 12 years and I find it fascinating. Virtually every week there is something that I find of interest or something that surprises me, dismays me and sometimes shocks me.

 

My wife runs four biggish farms and they too have had their ups and downs recently. This year there has been very little rain and the rice harvest was abysmal. Also, I couldn't fill the ponds up enough to risk putting in fish. I have still got 80% water in two ponds, but I've sacrificed three others to get this.

 

A neighbor recently killed our farm dog (because it killed one of his chickens) and someone borrowed 10 litres of diesel from the farm house store without telling us. We found out who it was. Of course, he just forgot to tell us; but he would have eventually!

 

The wife was on the loo and couldn't give rice to the monk the other day. She asked me to give it. No problem! But I didn't get on my knees; just called him over and tipped it into his pot. I got the 'thank you' verse all the same. Later, when the wife found out that I'd not even bowed my head she was not best amused. "You must not be higher than monk," said she.

 

But, there are lovely things aplenty in the village. Dancing and laughter and Lao Khao drinking. Somone had had a bit of good fortune on the lottery.

 

I'll try to update the thread a couple of times a week. Shortly I'm off to Nong Khai to get some grow bags for my avocado trees that I've grown from seed and will soon need potting. I'll put in some pics as I go.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by CharlieH
Title mispelled/corrected

[colinneil]

Fully agree mate, amazing Issan, never stops amazing me.

Yet there will be no leg over for you, not bowing to the monks, tut, tut, that is a serious offence, you naughty farang you.

I think you mean diary of a farang though, not dairy.

Edited November 18, 2019 by colinneil

[JustAnotherFarang]

1 minute ago, colinneil said:

Fully agree mate, amazing Issan, never stops amazing me.

Yet there will be no leg over for you, not bowing to the monks, tut, tut, that is a serious offence, you naughty farang you.

I think you mean diary of a farang though, not dairy.

He might mean what he said.........just wants to get things of his tits

[bluesofa]

8 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

11 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Fully agree mate, amazing Issan, never stops amazing me.

Yet there will be no leg over for you, not bowing to the monks, tut, tut, that is a serious offence, you naughty farang you.

I think you mean diary of a farang though, not dairy.

He might mean what he said.........just wants to get things of his tits

Or he's milking it for what he can.

[JustAnotherFarang]

12 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Or he's milking it for what he can.

I did enjoy his post, I hope he has got "udder" things to tell us about

[4MyEgo]

32 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Later, when the wife found out that I'd not even bowed my head she was not best amused. "You must not be higher than monk," said she.

My wife doesn't give them "Jack", and naturally I asked come one day, "honey" why don't you give them something....huh, they have hands and feet and can work, instead of always asking for money on the village people for this or that, um....ok "honey" that sounds logical......love you ???? 

[gunderhill]

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

My wife doesn't give them "Jack", and naturally I asked come one day, "honey" why don't you give them something....huh, they have hands and feet and can work, instead of always asking for money on the village people for this or that, um....ok "honey" that sounds logical......love you ???? 

I Like the sound of your Wife.

[sunnyboy2018]

35 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Fully agree mate, amazing Issan, never stops amazing me.

Yet there will be no leg over for you, not bowing to the monks, tut, tut, that is a serious offence, you naughty farang you.

I think you mean diary of a farang though, not dairy.

Diary of a Foreigner.

[owl sees all]

Just came in from paying respects to a deceased lady; just 4 huts away. She died yesterday aged 97. The household was very generous with the food and drink as per usual. Served all sorts of dishes. I was happy with the pla nin. Although one of the larger ones looked familiar.  Didn't participate with the alcohol as I've got to drive to Nong Khai later. Wife is still there though; scurrying about.

 

I've been considering giving some of my Mekong catfish to the local temple. They have grown well; in fact very well. The biggest two are over 1.4 metres long and all over one metre. I have 19, and they dominate the other fish at feeding time. If I could get some muscle on the job, for the catching, I reckon I could donate 9. 

 

I did have some feeding posts, that just needed old fruit and veg' to get maggots for free. I'm thinking of putting in a few to cut down on the cost of feed. When I do eventually stock with fingerlings, I'll put the automated feeding stations in all ponds.

 

The big mekongs are in pond #5 (from the left).

 

 

The lady next to us didn't plant rice this year. She planted rosella. I knew it as sorrel in the Caribbean. Very nice drink. She is harvesting at the moment and is getting 100 baht a kilo for dry. Interesting!

Edited November 18, 2019 by owl sees all

[JustAnotherFarang]

There is a touch of the old Bernard Trink to your posts, its fun to read between the lines

 

[bermondburi]

God forbid I ever end up like the op. 

 

Different folks for different strokes I guess. 

Edited November 18, 2019 by bermondburi

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

There is a touch of the old Bernard Trink to your posts, its fun to read between the lines

 

Is that perhaps because he might be the night owl (who) sees all?

[DannyCarlton]

6 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Diary of a Foreigner.

Diary of a baxi da.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by DannyCarlton

[owl sees all]

Back from Nong Khai.

 

I called into the Nong Khai aquatic centre on the way back. Their fish food is too expensive for me. But I like to wander around and look at the koi carp. A Japanese jumbo koi, is - wait for it - 25K baht. They are beautiful fish but,,,.... They don't care too much for buddha at the centre. Must pay respect to the mighty koi!

 

 

While I was visiting Nong Khai i sought out a fishing place in the east of the town for a member on another thread who want's cheap and then more cheap, when he visits.

 

The party, for the old lady, is still going on. I wasn't familiar with the lady who passed away (at 97), as she had been bed-ridden for a good while and didn't get out and about so much. I saved her daughter from a nasty accident, and maybe death, about 2 months ago; so she owes me one.

 

Didn't go to the farm today. Just too busy all round. I'm bothered about a durian tree. Don't think it's gonna make it.

Edited November 18, 2019 by owl sees all

[sunnyboy2018]

4 hours ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

There is a touch of the old Bernard Trink to your posts, its fun to read between the lines

 

There is no resemblance between the writings of the OP and Bernard Trink.

[mngmn]

9 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

There is no resemblance between the writings of the OP and Bernard Trink.

That is of course true but I don't give a hoot...

[sirineou]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Back from Nong Khai.

 

I called into the Nong Khai aquatic centre on the way back. Their fish food is too expensive for me. But I like to wander around and look at the koi carp. A Japanese jumbo koi, is - wait for it - 25K baht. They are beautiful fish but,,,.... They don't care too much for buddha at the centre. Must pay respect to the mighty koi!

 

 

While I was visiting Nong Khai i sought out a fishing place in the east of the town for a member on another thread who want's cheap and then more cheap, when he visits.

 

The party, for the old lady, is still going on. I wasn't familiar with the lady who passed away (at 97), as she had been bed-ridden for a good while and didn't get out and about so much. I saved her daughter from a nasty accident, and maybe death, about 2 months ago; so she owes me one.

 

Didn't go to the farm today. Just too busy all round. I'm bothered about a durian tree. Don't think it's gonna make it.

Thank you for taking the time to post, I am enjoying it very much.

 Someone posted "I only wish I dont end up like the OP" many of as wish we could.

Back in Florida with the wife now, will be here until spring, 

Raising  my winter crop in my backyard garden, Tomatoes were great reaching their end now as days are getting shorter,but still have some. string beans, celery, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, ets are doing great.

Nothing better than the pride of growing your own.

Can't wait to come back to Khon Kaen  miss it very much. Though the wife seems to enjoy Florida more. I told her that if she does not come with me by april, I am going without her.  

Love your thread.

[neeray]

11 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I've been considering giving some of my Mekong catfish to the local temple. They have grown well; in fact very well. The biggest two are over 1.4 metres long and all over one metre. I have 19, and they dominate the other fish at feeding time. If I could get some muscle on the job, for the catching, I reckon I could donate 9. 

The catfish would be good for the monks; no scaling, just pull the skin back and you got your meat.

I remember doing this as a teenager.

 

(catching catfish and cooking on a camp stove).

[geronimo]

Great to hear of other expat's lives, especially in Isaan, where I'll be retiring in a few years.

[geronimo]

Have you considered running for POTY? It can be arranged ......

[BritManToo]

20 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Diary of a Foreigner.

I'm thinking of writing a book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Baan lung Somchai"

Edited November 19, 2019 by BritManToo

[geronimo]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I'm thinking of writing a book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

or "Baan lung Somchai"

I'm a publisher, send it over when finished .....

[PatOngo]

14 hours ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

There is a touch of the old Bernard Trink to your posts, its fun to read between the lines

 

Well I don't give a hoot either!

Edited November 19, 2019 by PatOngo

[geronimo]

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

Well I don't give a hoot!

I fear that one was was done a few posts before ........

[geronimo]

I can see it now ..... Owl (POTY) sees all .......

[sunnyboy2018]

10 hours ago, mngmn said:

That is of course true but I don't give a hoot...

I miss those days.

[geronimo]

1 minute ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

I miss those days.

I heard Bernard was put out to pasture in Nakon Nowhere, where he grazes in an open field with his trusted notebook and pen .........

[sunnyboy2018]

20 minutes ago, geronimo said:

Great to hear of other expat's lives, especially in Isaan, where I'll be retiring in a few years.

People seem to think of Issan as village life. I have been to Issan many times but never been to a village. Just the towns and cities.

[EVENKEEL]

My first time in Isaan I thought it was great, did the farang dance with land and house. I was still working so only stayed for 2 mos at a time. As time went by realized I wouldn't make this my retirement home, my reasoning was that I've worked too hard all my life to settle for this.....this being living in a rice paddie. Don't get me wrong, a lot of good hard working people. I didn't have to move to Thailand to live in the country, I grew up in the country, I have property in the country in the US. I would like to be nearer things that interest me, going to see a movie in English if I choose plus I love living near the sea.

 

Anyway, school for our daughter was becoming a topic of concern. Long story short we moved south to a little fishing village close to a nice beach, good schools, the move was for me as much as it was for our daughter. Plus, I'm a good 11 hrs by car away from THE family.

[geronimo]

Just now, sunnyboy2018 said:

People seem to think of Issan as village life. I have been to Issan many times but never been to a village. Just the towns and cities.

then you don't know what you're missing Sir!