Diary of a farang in Isaan

[Assurancetourix]

Owl..Where are you ?

 

This morning my wife said to me : " i'm going to the village bank "

 

In fact, every month I give her some money ( a few ) to put in a saving account belongings to the pouya ban .

Maybe I'll give her more money so we can have a little nest egg for our old days ? ...

 

And I was going to my daily MTBike balade..

A beautiful big truck in our village ;

In Europeen countries the driver will have a big ticket but we are in Thailand or anything is allowed as long as you don't get caught by the patrol 

Can you read the name of the province on the plate ?

 

 

I cycled to Pattaya III ; the level of the water is very low ..

 

 

Went to ban Han Noi where there is a huge sugar cane factory

 

 

 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

Passed at Wat Phanong Pheu which is in the middle of nowhere 

 

 

And came back home on beautiful red roads ; we are in winter, the rubber trees lost their leaves , and oil palm plantations

 

 

 

 

[GarryP]

49 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Owl..Where are you ?

 

This morning my wife said to me : " i'm going to the village bank "

 

In fact, every month I give her some money ( a few ) to put in a saving account belongings to the pouya ban .

Maybe I'll give her more money so we can have a little nest egg for our old days ? ...

 

And I was going to my daily MTBike balade..

A beautiful big truck in our village ;

In Europeen countries the driver will have a big ticket but we are in Thailand or anything is allowed as long as you don't get caught by the patrol 

Can you read the name of the province on the plate ?

 

 

I cycled to Pattaya III ; the level of the water is very low ..

 

 

Went to ban Han Noi where there is a huge sugar cane factory

 

 

 

 

 

Out of interest, did you notice if the sugarcane had been burned?

[Assurancetourix]

1 minute ago, GarryP said:

Out of interest, did you notice if the sugarcane had been burned?

 

I'll answer you 50/50;

when i use the magnifying glass on my original photos i can see very well that some trucks carry burnt cane and others non burnt cane.
But there are still too many farmers who burn their crops before cutting.

[GarryP]

6 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

 

I'll answer you 50/50;

when i use the magnifying glass on my original photos i can see very well that some trucks carry burnt cane and others non burnt cane.
But there are still too many farmers who burn their crops before cutting.

Looking forward to cycling in your part of the country when I retire in three years. The air in Bangkok is terrible now and having to wear a mask when I go to work is not very comfortable.

[Assurancetourix]

Here in Isaan , Sakon Nakhon province , beautiful blue sky and warm sun  every day ...

 

Today a nice meeting with this female kwai and her baby ; I don't have a big zoom on my Lumix G85 ;

I'm very near this big buffalo ( 45 mm eq FF )

 

 

Beautiful horns, isn't it ? ( 29 mm eq FF )

 

 

The road where I was cycling  this morning 

 

 

 

 

 

[owl sees all]

Don't give up on me guys.

 

Computer went up in smoke between the holidays. Still not got it back. Using the daughters mobile; all in Thai. It's a nightmare.

 

Been taking lots of pics. Catch up soon.

 

Good new year to everyone.

[chickenslegs]

We missed you Owl, but Assurancetourix has been keeping us entertained in your absence.

[Assurancetourix]

Right Chickenslegs , I do my best to keep this post on the first page 

[Assurancetourix]

Until Owl's computer is repaired, I will continue to feed his post with my life in Isaan ...

 

Today , saturday 11 of january 2020 a big balade on red roads - 62 km ( i'm a little bit tired )

 

Found three horses who are clearly undernourished;
I don't know which administration or charity to contact for officials to take charge.
It is really unacceptable to have animals and not take care of them properly.

 

 

 

The red roads where I like to cycle 

 

 

Many farms, I think nearly 100 % are still " red " 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

61 km on normal roads this morning ;

 

Road 22 between Sawang and Phangkhon 

 

 

The farmers never listen to what their respective governments tell them (Thailand, France, and a bunch of other countries, all very deaf);
in addition setting fire to thatch is counterproductive; it kills animals that live a few inches below the surface and it no longer protects the earth from the sun's rays.

 

 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

Behind this metal barrier there is a very large resort, a grass runway and two large hangars for storing planes;
it all worked a few years ago; I would have to find photos taken inside;
for two years it has been abandoned; may be for sale but I have never seen a sign on which it is written.
The aisle is covered with at least 5 cm of pine needles;

 

This estate belongs to a family of Sawang Daen Din who also owns the Toyota garage.
This one is not abandoned, it works very well.

 

 

[Alex2554]

Children's day (wan dek) Buriram January 11th 2020

[kokesaat]

On 1/9/2020 at 2:03 PM, GarryP said:

Can you read the name of the province on the plate ?

Thanks for my Sunday crossword puzzle......The only letters visible on the plate are พช......so I'm guessing เพชรบุรี Phetchaburi

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, kokesaat said:

Thanks for my Sunday crossword puzzle......The only letters visible on the plate are พช......so I'm guessing เพชรบุรี Phetchaburi

I can only think of Phetchabun or Phetchaburi.

(Initially I thought the two digits 66 might be the ISO code for the province, but that appears to be the code for Phichit)

 

[bannork]

48 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I can only think of Phetchabun or Phetchaburi.

(Initially I thought the two digits 66 might be the ISO code for the province, but that appears to be the code for Phichit)

 

It is Petchabun, Phetburi is พบ   Pijitt is พจ

https://www.thaiorc.com/postcode/abbreviation.php

[bluesofa]

13 minutes ago, bannork said:

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

I can only think of Phetchabun or Phetchaburi.

(Initially I thought the two digits 66 might be the ISO code for the province, but that appears to be the code for Phichit)

 

It is Petchabun, Phetburi is พบ   Pijitt is พจ

https://www.thaiorc.com/postcode/abbreviation.php

We're not talking about abbreviations, the poster said, "The only letters visible on the plate are พช".

The complete name of the province is obscured by the headlights.

So it could be either Phetchabun เพชรบูรณ์ or Phetchaburi เพชรบุรี

 

AFAIK the two letter abbreviations were only ever used on motorcycle plates (in the past, not now).

[kokesaat]

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

We're not talking about abbreviations, the poster said, "The only letters visible on the plate are พช".

The complete name of the province is obscured by the headlights.

So it could be either Phetchabun เพชรบูรณ์ or Phetchaburi เพชรบุรี

 

AFAIK the two letter abbreviations were only ever used on motorcycle plates (in the past, not now).

Looks to be Phetchabun....at least according to https://writer.dek-d.com/ball-sudoku/story/view.php?id=1130495

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, kokesaat said:

Looks to be Phetchabun....at least according to https://writer.dek-d.com/ball-sudoku/story/view.php?id=1130495

How does that list of properties make it seem like Phetchabun, but not Phetchaburi ?

[bwpage3]

Lots of nice photos.

 

Just like being there!

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/12/2020 at 8:30 PM, Alex2554 said:

Children's day (wan dek) Buriram January 11th 2020

Farangs gave Thailand sugar, and it's the Thais that will suffer the effects.

Every mom and pop shop in the village is full of sugary drinks, and salty processed saturated fat food.

Most of the kids in that photo are overweight, and will get fatter, with all the associated problems- rotten teeth, heart disease, diabetes etc.

Sorry for the dismal post, but it's a problem for the future and no one is trying to prevent it while they could.

[Assurancetourix]

On 1/14/2020 at 8:12 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Farangs gave Thailand sugar, and it's the Thais that will suffer the effects.

Every mom and pop shop in the village is full of sugary drinks, and salty processed saturated fat food.

I don't really understand this statement;
Thailand is one of the biggest producers of sugar in the world.
this country did not wait for the farangs to come to consume it;
there are, too many, in all preparations whether at home or in street food.
And then the education of children must be done at home by the parents;
if these do not, do not blame the farang.
and then what is this annoying habit of washing your teeth before eating and never after?
(it's the same in Vietnam for that matter!)

[bluesofa]

48 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

On 1/14/2020 at 8:12 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Farangs gave Thailand sugar, and it's the Thais that will suffer the effects.

Every mom and pop shop in the village is full of sugary drinks, and salty processed saturated fat food.

I don't really understand this statement;
Thailand is one of the biggest producers of sugar in the world.
this country did not wait for the farangs to come to consume it;
there are, too many, in all preparations whether at home or in street food.
And then the education of children must be done at home by the parents;
if these do not, do not blame the farang.
and then what is this annoying habit of washing your teeth before eating and never after?
(it's the same in Vietnam for that matter!)

These are the only two references I can find regarding the introduction of sugar to Thailand:

"Cane sugar was likely brought to Southeast Asia by Teochew immigrants from southern China around 1600."

source: https://isaanrecord.com/2019/09/10/sweetness-and-power-part-4/

 

"Fios de ovos is called Foi Thong in Thailand. The name of the dessert comes from the observation that it has fine, long stripes and is shiny like silk. It is considered a fine dessert. The word Thong (gold) has an auspicious connotation to Thai people. The long stripe is also seen as symbolizing a long life and undying love. Fios de ovos was introduced from Portugal to Thailand by Maria Guyomar de Pinha,"

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fios_de_ovos#Thailand

 

[Assurancetourix]

19 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Fios de ovos was introduced from Portugal to Thailand by Maria Guyomar de Pinha,"

 

I knew that it was the Portuguese who introduced the chili pepper to Thailand;
previously they spiced their dishes with pepper.

The main producer of sugar cane is Brazil (where we speak Portuguese) followed by India where we do not speak Portuguese  but whose languages are the origin of Thai.
Thailand produces only 4 to 5% of world production.
(cf WiKipedia)

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/17/2020 at 7:50 PM, Assurancetourix said:

I don't really understand this statement;
Thailand is one of the biggest producers of sugar in the world.
this country did not wait for the farangs to come to consume it;
there are, too many, in all preparations whether at home or in street food.
And then the education of children must be done at home by the parents;
if these do not, do not blame the farang.
and then what is this annoying habit of washing your teeth before eating and never after?
(it's the same in Vietnam for that matter!)

OK, westerners brought REFINED sugar to Thailand. Before westerners sugar cane was a treat eaten straight from the cane, like I used to have it as a child. Had to chew the stalk.

Did pre Euro Thais have refined sugar that EVERYONE could afford; was their processed food full of it- oh, that's right, they didn't have processed food, along with big factories to turn sugar cane into sugar as we know it today.

Before westerners introduced refined sugar into Saudi, the only sugar they had was honey, and it was regarded as something only for rich people. When sugar came, they used lots of it- 6 or 8 spoons in coffee etc. Then their children's teeth rotted and they got diabetes and fat.

[Assurancetourix]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

OK, westerners brought REFINED sugar to Thailand.

I don't know if that's true ;
but if it is it will prove once again that the Thai people are incapable of discovering for themselves how to create or transform certain things;

In France, sugar comes mainly from sugar beet which is cultivated in the north of the country;
but also sugar cane which comes from overseas departments. ( 971 to 974 ) ;

Coming back to what I'm doing in Isaan and waiting for Owl to buy a new computer ,

 

A  38 km MTBike little balade this morning 

 

 

It's winter for the rubber trees 

 

 

A red road which doesn't exist on my raod map ..

 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

In our province 4 main crops; rice, sugar cane, cassava and hevea;
in this photo there are 3 ; rice is missing ..

 

 

We are in issan , and it shows;
you don't have these beautiful road signs in Thailand 

 

 

There is no drought for everyone!
Maize drinks even more water than rice.

 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

Hello tout le monde ! ( Hi ! everybody  ,in Shakespeare language )

 

Yesterday The tribulations of an Isaan farmer in the big city..

in this case Khon Kaen 

 

Every 2 or 3 months we go to the huge Public Hospital in Khon kaen because our last daughter as an Auto-Immune desease ; so  she must do all kinds of exams and then see the doctor who follows her so that she (it is a woman) can  prescribes the medication that she must take each day.
Heavy pathology ..
" C'est la vie " !

 

Between the end of the exams and the consultation there are quite a few hours to do nothing.
So I take the opportunity each time to go for a walk on the other side of the very wide highway that crosses Khon Kaen ..

 

A tiny part of Sirikit Hospital at 5 . 30 am - Two freehand photos, not quite clear ...

 

 

 

 7 . 50 am

 

 

And as usual ( Safety First , right ? ), an accident between a car and a motorbike ; the red car in the middle of the photo where there are many people .

I don't have a big zoom ( only 84 mm ) ; I saw the driver of the motorbike lying on the ground without a helmet ( as usual  )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Assurancetourix]

The sidewalks of Thailand ...
We could make it into a thick photo album;
I already know what Colin thinks about 

 

 

That takes the biscuit here  ;

The thinking heads of the municipality decided to install an elevator for people in wheelchairs;
excellent idea !!!! ;
These people should already manage to get to the door and it is far from being won.
I've been coming for several years, I've never seen this elevator work and able-bodied people, where do they go?

Good question .. Thanks for asking

Have a look ..

 

 

About 200 meters lower .. wheelchair or not, impossible to walk or roll on the sidewalk;

But what are the police doing ?
Nothing as usual 

 

Edited January 22, 2020 by Assurancetourix

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

About 200 meters lower .. wheelchair or not, impossible to walk or roll on the sidewalk;

But what are the police doing ?
Nothing as usual 

You make the classic farang mistake of thinking that pavements are for people to walk on. BF ( before farang ) there were no pavements and people walked in the road with the buffalo carts. Just because the buffalo carts are replaced by cars don't think that mentality has ended.

Pavements in LOS are for food carts, restaurants to expand onto, sellers of almost anything that can be put on a hand cart, tables for outdoor beer bars, signs advertising shops etc etc etc. In short anything but walking on.