Diary of a farang in Isaan

thaibeachlovers · March 14, 2020

On 3/6/2020 at 4:58 PM, owl sees all said:

To start with I had Adobe Photoshop before and now I'm using paint. Just no comparison!! Mildred thinks 'Paint' is OK though.

Windows 10 has a sort of basic photoshop. I only use it for cropping and rotating, but it has other options which I haven't used. Just click on any photo and enlarge it, then click on "edit" and select the option desired.

I hate that photoshop is now only rentable.

thaibeachlovers · March 14, 2020

20 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Poster, thaibeachlovers, suggested that the Buddha pond was too shallow, He must have contacted our local monks 'cause they are depening it.

Psychic connection.

thaibeachlovers · March 14, 2020

On 3/13/2020 at 2:41 PM, owl sees all said:

Three meals, two bottles of coke; 140 Baht. Food was not as clean, and fresh, as it should have been. No tissues on the table; or any table. Water in the jug warm. No tooth pics. Toilet hadn't been cleaned for about 11 years. Mrs Owl didn't even eat her pork balls soaked in dead fish sauce. Certainly not a 'treat' of any sort. But par for the course in these parts.

Sounds like you have a business opportunity. Open a restaurant doing it properly and you'll be minting it. Might be more profitable than the farm.

Kadilo · March 15, 2020

Great stuff. Keep it going. Been back just over a week now. Spent last weekend in Udon, very quiet. Noticeably more so than usual. Made my way back up here in the NE to the other half’s village where I will stay until heading for Nakhon Phanom for a couple of days before heading back to Udon then back to UK.

Usually back most months but with all the Corona goings on, will probably let’s things settle for a bit, especially with all the self reg stuff coming out past few days.

Seems to be festival season. Every temple seems to have something going on. Some noisy music events, some just hoards of locals listening to the monks for hours. Seems to be a glorified reason for an all day p.iss up for many of the local gents.

Been down to visit the land. Be a nice view one day watching the sun go down. The old lady has sold all the plots now, mostly foreigners. Mine is the last one to have soil down so the local soil man is badgering me for business. I will probably do it soon especially as it seems many foreigners are looking for land near to the lake.
I’ve been coming here 6 years and the number of foreigners here is def on the up. The latest talk of the village is this 15 rai purchase for 15 million and what looks like a monster home going up.

The latest addition to the family home. That’s 4 dogs now. I bought them 23 chickens last month and they are now producing around 20 eggs a day. Her mother is over the moon. I think it’s just the fact she can sell something to the neighbors makes her feel Like some kind of business person.

Been for our usual one hour exercise round the lake. Nice way to watch the sun come up. Usually ends up being around a dozen who turn up at the same time. I’m hoping one day they extend the path round the lake for cycling and walking much as they do along most Mekong resorts such as Nakhon. But for now it’s pleasant enough. After that some grilled fish for me and sticky rice for brekkie.

Had a local fair and market in the village, finished 2 days ago. Plastic and rubbish still everywhere. This is only a fraction of it. This is where Thailand let’s itself down. Light years behind.

Today will probably cruising around the lake on my scooter. It’s about 40km in all and I love it. Roads are dead.

Have a good day.

owl sees all · March 15, 2020

35 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Great stuff. Keep it going. Been back just over a week now. Spent last weekend in Udon, very quiet. Noticeably more so than usual. Made my way back up here in the NE to the other half’s village where I will stay until heading for Nakhon Phanom for a couple of days before heading back to Udon then back to UK.

Usually back most months but with all the Corona goings on, will probably let’s things settle for a bit, especially with all the self reg stuff coming out past few days.

Seems to be festival season. Every temple seems to have something going on. Some noisy music events, some just hoards of locals listening to the monks for hours. Seems to be a glorified reason for an all day p.iss up for many of the local gents.

Been down to visit the land. Be a nice view one day watching the sun go down. The old lady has sold all the plots now, mostly foreigners. Mine is the last one to have soil down so the local soil man is badgering me for business. I will probably do it soon especially as it seems many foreigners are looking for land near to the lake.
I’ve been coming here 6 years and the number of foreigners here is def on the up. The latest talk of the village is this 15 rai purchase for 15 million and what looks like a monster home going up.

The latest addition to the family home. That’s 4 dogs now. I bought them 23 chickens last month and they are now producing around 20 eggs a day. Her mother is over the moon. I think it’s just the fact she can sell something to the neighbors makes her feel Like some kind of business person.

Been for our usual one hour exercise round the lake. Nice way to watch the sun come up. Usually ends up being around a dozen who turn up at the same time. I’m hoping one day they extend the path round the lake for cycling and walking much as they do along most Mekong resorts such as Nakhon. But for now it’s pleasant enough. After that some grilled fish for me and sticky rice for brekkie.

Had a local fair and market in the village, finished 2 days ago. Plastic and rubbish still everywhere. This is only a fraction of it. This is where Thailand let’s itself down. Light years behind.

Today will probably cruising around the lake on my scooter. It’s about 40km in all and I love it. Roads are dead.

Have a good day.

Fantastic post. Wouldn't expect anything else from an Iron's fan though.

Where is the lake you speak of Kadilo? Is it inside the big ring road. Any fishing?

owl sees all · March 15, 2020

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sounds like you have a business opportunity. Open a restaurant doing it properly and you'll be minting it. Might be more profitable than the farm.

Restaurants seem to open and close down all the time around here. Although the better ones stick around for ever. The restaurant in the bus station in Bandung is a good one. Also the one, on the left, just past the river going out of Phen is OK. We only went to the bank one because it was handy at that time. Horrible!!

Mrs Owl does make a nice cuppa. And also this pot noodle soup stuff; not bad. She boils eggs nice too.

Most of her cooked stuff is inedible. Not sure we could 'minting it' under any stretch.

Kadilo · March 15, 2020

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Fantastic post. Wouldn't expect anything else from an Iron's fan though.

Where is the lake you speak of Kadilo? Is it inside the big ring road. Any fishing?

The village is Beung Khong Long, about 2 and half hours from Udon in the Bung Kan province. The main road runs all around the lake, around 40km.

Yes, the boats are out early fishing. I’ve seen a lot of the children fishing and pull out mainly small fry. I’ve had a go myself without any luck but something I will get into more on the future as I love a day at the lake.

Kadilo · March 15, 2020

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Restaurants seem to open and close down all the time around here. Although the better ones stick around for ever. The restaurant in the bus station in Bandung is a good one. Also the one, on the left, just past the river going out of Phen is OK. We only went to the bank one because it was handy at that time. Horrible!!

Mrs Owl does make a nice cuppa. And also this pot noodle soup stuff; not bad. She boils eggs nice too.

Most of her cooked stuff is inedible. Not sure we could 'minting it' under any stretch.

Same as a lot of the restaurants here in the village. Some have spent quite a bit of money and closed after a few weeks/months. There a few around the lake, my girlfriend has a friend who owns one, and they are raking it in but tbh few and far between I think.

There is a noodle shop I love in the next village, Seka, which is great value for money. One I had yesterday after taking the kids swimming for 30 baht.

owl sees all · March 15, 2020

35 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

The village is Beung Khong Long, about 2 and half hours from Udon in the Bung Kan province. The main road runs all around the lake, around 40km.

Yes, the boats are out early fishing. I’ve seen a lot of the children fishing and pull out mainly small fry. I’ve had a go myself without any luck but something I will get into more on the future as I love a day at the lake.

Found it on Google Earth. Just shy of 20 km2. Big indeed!

Bredbury Blue · March 15, 2020

1 hour ago, Kadilo said:

The village is Beung Khong Long, about 2 and half hours from Udon in the Bung Kan province. The main road runs all around the lake, around 40km.

Yes, the boats are out early fishing. I’ve seen a lot of the children fishing and pull out mainly small fry. I’ve had a go myself without any luck but something I will get into more on the future as I love a day at the lake.

Looks nice location; landed on your feet there. Next time I'm up at the wife's village near Sakon I'll come round with my bucket and spade.

Love reading this thread. Some of the places like Sawang I've stayed. And as an office-wallah still in Thailand, I love reading the exploits of you all. A wee bit jealous.

Keep it going boys.

Odysseus123 · March 15, 2020

Yes-it is an excellent thread and brings back many happy memories of life in Isaan.

But it looks deadly dry.

Here is what my little patch of the world looks like after it came out of 3 deadly years of drought..so I hope that it rains for you soon.(please pardon the intrusion)

Bredbury Blue · March 15, 2020

24 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

so I hope that it rains for you soon.

You've got the magic touch...first rain for us right now since who knows when!

bannork · March 15, 2020

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Found it on Google Earth. Just shy of 20 km2. Big indeed!

Just north-east of Ban Dung there is a large lake, Huay Chiam or Jiam, ฮวย เจียม. We were offered 50 rai for 2 million baht, good land, just high enough to avoid flooding, its status was Nor Sor Sam, could be upgraded to chanote status in 3 years, the owner claimed. There was no electricity within 2 km but we thought we'd be okay with solar power.

The thing that turned us against it was its isolation. The missus said she would pop home (15km away), every 3 days or so, but the family reckoned at night it could be downright dangerous. We planned to have approx 20 buffaloes, which coupled with farm and solar power machinery might be tempting for serious robbers.

The land is 2 km from the nearest house and next to a bumpy dirt road which ends at the lake.

Still, 50 rai of nice land for 2 million baht. So tempting!

owl sees all · March 15, 2020

59 minutes ago, bannork said:

Just north-east of Ban Dung there is a large lake, Huay Chiam or Jiam, ฮวย เจียม. We were offered 50 rai for 2 million baht, good land, just high enough to avoid flooding, its status was Nor Sor Sam, could be upgraded to chanote status in 3 years, the owner claimed. There was no electricity within 2 km but we thought we'd be okay with solar power.

The thing that turned us against it was its isolation. The missus said she would pop home (15km away), every 3 days or so, but the family reckoned at night it could be downright dangerous. We planned to have approx 20 buffaloes, which coupled with farm and solar power machinery might be tempting for serious robbers.

The land is 2 km from the nearest house and next to a bumpy dirt road which ends at the lake.

Still, 50 rai of nice land for 2 million baht. So tempting!

Have to be careful in that area, as the site could be linked to the salt fields.

Send me a PM with the geo' ref' and I'll check it out. I know that area quite well.

Was going to buy some land near Ban Dung 12 years ago. We had a good look at it and made an offer of 7 million Baht (they wanted 10). The land owners said 'yes' in principle but wanted to check with family.

I went back to England, and while I was there the wife let it slip that she was married to a farang. The price suddenly jumped up to 20 million. It also had a nice pond. Seven million was about right, 20 million a joke. Land still for sale this year.

GarryP · March 15, 2020

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Have to be careful in that area, as the site could be linked to the salt fields.

Send me a PM with the geo' ref' and I'll check it out. I know that area quite well.

Was going to buy some land near Ban Dung 12 years ago. We had a good look at it and made an offer of 7 million Baht (they wanted 10). The land owners said 'yes' in principle but wanted to check with family.

I went back to England, and while I was there the wife let it slip that she was married to a farang. The price suddenly jumped up to 20 million. It also had a nice pond. Seven million was about right, 20 million a joke. Land still for sale this year.

Last Monday my wife and I bought a very small piece of land in Kalasin on which to build a house. I deliberately stayed out of the picture until an agreement was signed. My wife paid off the mortgage on the land for the land owner and then held the title deed up until arrival at the Land Department. I was picked up at her sister's home and traveled to the Land Department so the land could be transferred to us. It wasn't until we all arrived there that the seller found out that a westerner was involved, by which time it was too late to demand more for the land. I must admit that it is quite possible that had he known about my involvement from the beginning, he may not have increased the price (he was looking for a quick sale), but we thought it better to play safe.

The Land Office official was surprised when we said that the land was to be in joint ownership of my wife and I; shaking her head at the audacity of this foreigner. This is despite me having already shown my ID card. She said it was not possible and then went to consult with someone more senior, who set her straight. It was probably one of the first cases of new Thai citizens buying land at that Land Office.

Next steps are having the land surveyed and new land limit posts put in by the Land Office, filling the land and fencing off. Will start building the house on it in about 3 years, when I retire.

owl sees all · March 15, 2020

Owl log - 15-03-2020 - Sunday 21.00

Thank you everyone for visiting the topic, and for all the encouraging comments.

+=+=+=+

A long post today. Kick off with the Buddha pond; all done and dug. About one and a half metres deeper. Hope it's deep enough. Just wants filling now.

The big bikers were at the farm today.

The bikers found some eggs in the hay-stack.

Exciting times at the farm. The big tree is no more, and the branches are waiting for the torch. But on the upside, there is a new place to play.

After I fed the fish I had walk around number one farm. It's the biggest farm at 30 rai. Wanted to have a look at the palm stubs, which have to go before the eucaliptus trees go in. The tractor has to push them to the side, by the road. They are really stuborn and do not go quietly. They have been uprooted, shoved about by the tractor and set fire to twice. One even decided to start growing again.

Found a pig-feeder from about 8 years ago. We had pigs back then. They were lovely. I think we had 10 altogether. But to be honest, I was never at home with the big male. He was a real handful. His name was Tookey, and he was forever going walk-a-bout. Once he found his way back to the village, where he was born, 3 kl away. We also had a couple of buffaloes; another saga that. Bringing tears to my eyes just thinking of them. Have to get the feeder back to the farm house. Not today though.

The farm across the road from us was doing farmwork and there seemed to be a lot of activity, so I went and had a butchers.

Nice to see the worm casts showing. Worms are of real benefit to farms, but when the stubble gets burnt, the worms can't always get away and many perish. It ruins their habitat, and takes away their food supply, so they don't repopulate easily. Same with the poisons used to kill everything; paraquat, glyphosphate (round-up) and forurdan. Worms can be sensitive,

On the way back I got a shock. No problem; didn't go right through my foot. Just half way.

This grass is incredibly strong and tough and will have to be ploughed in when the tractor work starts. Great for making fishing floats though.

Mrs Owl was still watering when I got back.

Mangoes for breakfast, dinner, tea and snacking; starting next month.

You over there! Watch my palm trees.

Cows are so easily satisfied. Just like us farang in Isaan.

Bye y'all.

thaibeachlovers · March 15, 2020

21 hours ago, Kadilo said:

The old lady has sold all the plots now, mostly foreigners. Mine is the last one to have soil down so the local soil man is badgering me for business. I will probably do it soon especially as it seems many foreigners are looking for land near to the lake.

I assume you forgot to include "Thai wives" in relation to buying land. Far as I know, foreigners can't buy land in LOS. Very good thing too, IMO.

Kadilo · March 16, 2020

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I assume you forgot to include "Thai wives" in relation to buying land. Far as I know, foreigners can't buy land in LOS. Very good thing too, IMO.

Yeah that’s a given.

bluesofa · March 16, 2020

2 hours ago, pdtokyo said:

Goodonya owl

i only discovered your thread today ... keep it up (especially the pix) ... very useful for people like me who are following in your steps.

Hope you get many more genuinely interested TV people following your thread.

Judging by over five hundred posts to this thread in four months, our owl is becoming more popular by the day (or should that be night?) and well deserved too.

I'd go as far as to say he seems to being put on some sort of pedestal.

owl sees all · March 16, 2020

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Judging by over five hundred posts to this thread in four months, our owl is becoming more popular by the day (or should that be night?) and well deserved too.

I'd go as far as to say he seems to being put on some sort of pedestal.

Is that owl made of bronze or chocolate?

owl sees all · March 17, 2020

Owl Log - 17-03-2020

Chatting about pigs got me thinking that a pic would be good.

Are they cute; or what?!

Tookey was a beast (or just a big pig). I could never handle him. Every time I grabbed him I'd finish up on the deck. He just didn't like farang.