Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

13 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Hey Odysseus123 ,

You can correct all your photos with this free software :

I use it since many years ; it's the first one on the list

 

FastStone Image Viewer 7.5 

Downloaded 'FastStone. Looks very interesting. Now I've just got to suss out how to use it.

[Assurancetourix]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Downloaded 'FastStone. Looks very interesting. Now I've just got to suss out how to use it.

If I know how to use it, me who is completely bad at IT, you should get there without forcing.

 

Bad at IT ; When I read the explanations in the post: "90 days reporting by internet", I seem to read Chinese mixed with Hungarian.
in fact I don't understand anything at all.

[Odysseus123]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Downloaded 'FastStone. Looks very interesting. Now I've just got to suss out how to use it.

Gawd..you are smarter than I am.

 

Now you have got me on a hunt for eucalypts... some just down the road.

 

Hey,what else do you do in a lockdown?Australia goes to full lockdown tomorrow...

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/29/2020 at 9:50 PM, Odysseus123 said:

Yeah TBL-but can I correct old photos on Windows 7?

Windows 10 is better but i only started using that this year.

 

No. 7 does not have that facility, but you can put all the photos you want to modify on a flashdrive, put the FD into your 10 machine, edit them and then put them back on your 7 machine.

Disagree about 10 being better, but since they won't upgrade 7 anymore it's just a matter of time before they all die.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/30/2020 at 2:01 AM, Assurancetourix said:

It's his business, his money ...
While he could spend a quiet retirement, go fishing on his boat in Samui ...

Yeah, the great mystery to me why anyone would spend real money to set up a business in LOS instead of just enjoying life as is only possible in LOS.

That includes building expensive houses in an Issan village when they could be living by a beautiful beach somewhere for the same cost.

[Bredbury Blue]

12 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yeah, the great mystery to me why anyone would spend real money to set up a business in LOS instead of just enjoying life as is only possible in LOS.

That includes building expensive houses in an Issan village when they could be living by a beautiful beach somewhere for the same cost.

That's a bit condescending isn't it!

So everybody should live near the sea and not inland if we have a choice?

 

I like hilly or mountain or seaside areas and I don't think one is superior to another.

 

A lot of guys love living in Pattaya, I understand why and good for them, but I prefer Sri Racha cause it's quieter and is more Thai. 

 

There are so many beautiful places to lay your hat but it's what suits you (and your other half).

 

[Assurancetourix]

14 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

That's a bit condescending isn't it!

I don't think he wrote it in that sense.

I did not build a castle in my wife's village even if it is certainly the most beautiful house in the village (1.5 millon baht 10 years ago);
for that price, you don't buy much but certainly not a house in Samui or Phuket or even in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
It is true that we very often see very beautiful houses in Isaan but the immense majority belongs to Thai families; there is no farang in funding ...

[Bredbury Blue]

.

 

Edited March 31, 2020 by Bredbury Blue

[Denim]

On 3/30/2020 at 4:44 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

That includes building expensive houses in an Issan village when they could be living by a beautiful beach somewhere for the same cost

 

Each to his own ( or beach to his own if you like )

 

Being fair skinned I have never liked beaches and they don't like me much either.

To me they are just a building site before all the cement has arrived. A beach spoilt my dirty weekend with a company secretary once by lobstering me despite being under a shade and having a light shirt on. My night of lust turned into a night of pain and I have avoided them since. Give me a rural scene with a mountain backdrop any day. 

 

But people who like to dress casually fit in well on any beach.

 

 

Don't do much for the view though.

 

[Odysseus123]

9 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

I don't think he wrote it in that sense.

I think that you are being too kind...but that is the sort of feller that you are????

 

Is anyone (apart from me) in modified lockdown yet?

 

We can only travel to the supermarket (single person only) and then return home.

 

Essential services continue to operate.

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Is anyone (apart from me) in modified lockdown yet?

 

We can only travel to the supermarket (single person only) and then return home.

Went into Ban Dung yesterday to get the pick-up MOTed and taxed. Virtually everyone had masks on, but it seemed like business as usual in the town itself. Big Care had only one entrance working and a crew of guys and gals taking temp's with the gun on forehead and - this is a new thing - no gel at the entrance but a lady spraying a mist of alcohol (I assume) all over customer's hands; front and back. 

 

Went into a computer shop to try to get them to transfer all the data on a FD onto another. As I went in the lady behind the counter shouted out "mask". I stopped and put mine on property. They couldn't help, so I went to the next one along, where neither of the two guys had masks on. Still no good. The Flash Drive loads but then disappears. I'm at a loss what to do. It has hours of drawings for our (myself and Mildred) new cartoon project and simply hundreds of pages of text. I'm thinking I'll have to send it away. It is a Kingston, but an early FD.

 

Fixed the hole in the roof this morning. Found a big chunk of floor tile up there. That's got me thinking.

 

The people in the house opposite (seven of them) have moved to their farm for the duration of the virus. They have a solar cell system at the farm. I'll try to get a pic or two.

 

Still no rain. Some is forecast for next Monday. Getting desperate up here. But some farmer near us is optimistic as he is ploughing and scarifying, readying for rice. I'm thinking that the world's weather patterns are rapidly changing. Just can't tell what's in store.

[faraday]

I wouldn't send away a valuable Flash Drive, given the mistakes that are often made here.

 

Have you asked on computer subforum here?

 

Btw, I love this thread, it's very interesting.

 

Where exactly did you buy the Eucalyptus seedlings?

 

 

[owl sees all]

7 minutes ago, faraday said:

I wouldn't send away a valuable Flash Drive, given the mistakes that are often made here.

 

Have you asked on computer subforum here?

 

Btw, I love this thread, it's very interesting.

 

Where exactly did you buy the Eucalyptus seedlings?

 

 

Thanks for that advice. I will ask on the TVForum computer section.

 

Ban Dung has just four main roads leading in and out. The two southern ones and two northern ones. To the north take the main road out; leading to Fao Rai or Kham Chanod. Before the end of the salt fields (about 2k) there is a display of trees on the left. These trees are in excellent shape and at 2 Bart each are as cheap as what you could get.

 

Further along, again on the left, and about 12k from Ban Dung there is a large euca whole seller. He has 1000s of trees on display. Cost four, five or six Bhat. In my opinion; these are not such good value, but they are up to half metre in height, and success rate , in planting should be 100%.

[HighPriority]

15 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

I think that you are being too kind...but that is the sort of feller that you are????

 

Is anyone (apart from me) in modified lockdown yet?

 

We can only travel to the supermarket (single person only) and then return home.

 

Essential services continue to operate.

It’s reasonably tight here in Darwin, big advantage for us is that all of our cases have stepped off planes, we have had no community spread, so far...

We’ve got a government stimulus starting next week so most tradies (I’m a tiler) are busy quoting. No shaking hands, keep your distance etc, try to get in and out quickly.

Ive got a mate and his gf who were in Myanmar who get out of 14 day self quarantine on Friday morning, be good to catch up.

How are you guys finding the villages ? Still relaxed ?

 

Owl, as a tiler, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how floor tiles are getting on your roof, dislocated elbows normally stop it !
Just need to find the deserving elbow...

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/1/2020 at 1:41 AM, Bredbury Blue said:

That's a bit condescending isn't it!

So everybody should live near the sea and not inland if we have a choice?

 

I like hilly or mountain or seaside areas and I don't think one is superior to another.

 

A lot of guys love living in Pattaya, I understand why and good for them, but I prefer Sri Racha cause it's quieter and is more Thai. 

 

There are so many beautiful places to lay your hat but it's what suits you (and your other half).

 

Jai yen, jai yen. It's just a forum, not the word of God.

I used a beach as an example, as I like beaches but feel free to ignore the point I was making. Live where you want.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/1/2020 at 2:37 AM, Denim said:

Each to his own ( or beach to his own if you like )

Good grief, it was only a comment. Why is everyone taking things so seriously? Do I really have to clarify everything I write. I thought people would understand that it was a beach OR the hills, OR the plains, OR the forest, OR a cave in the back of beyond, OR ( insert place of choice ).

 

The world is going mad and people are pickin' about a casual comment as though it's life or death.

[Solinvictus]

Nice yeah. I will bow and lower my head but I won't get on my knees. Durian season is coming! I bought some today. Seems to be a bit hard but will wait a few days.

 

Celebrating some drinks over a good lottery buy - Fun. Good times. Hell ya!

[bannork]

17 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Went into Ban Dung yesterday to get the pick-up MOTed and taxed. Virtually everyone had masks on, but it seemed like business as usual in the town itself. Big Care had only one entrance working and a crew of guys and gals taking temp's with the gun on forehead and - this is a new thing - no gel at the entrance but a lady spraying a mist of alcohol (I assume) all over customer's hands; front and back. 

 

Went into a computer shop to try to get them to transfer all the data on a FD onto another. As I went in the lady behind the counter shouted out "mask". I stopped and put mine on property. They couldn't help, so I went to the next one along, where neither of the two guys had masks on. Still no good. The Flash Drive loads but then disappears. I'm at a loss what to do. It has hours of drawings for our (myself and Mildred) new cartoon project and simply hundreds of pages of text. I'm thinking I'll have to send it away. It is a Kingston, but an early FD.

 

Fixed the hole in the roof this morning. Found a big chunk of floor tile up there. That's got me thinking.

 

The people in the house opposite (seven of them) have moved to their farm for the duration of the virus. They have a solar cell system at the farm. I'll try to get a pic or two.

 

Still no rain. Some is forecast for next Monday. Getting desperate up here. But some farmer near us is optimistic as he is ploughing and scarifying, readying for rice. I'm thinking that the world's weather patterns are rapidly changing. Just can't tell what's in store.

Have you tried the 'clinic' just past the hospital ( coming into Ban Dung on the Udon road)? 

 

[Assurancetourix]

11 hours ago, Solinvictus said:

Nice yeah. I will bow and lower my head but I won't get on my knees. Durian season is coming! I bought some today. Seems to be a bit hard but will wait a few days.

 

Celebrating some drinks over a good lottery buy - Fun. Good times. Hell ya!

And the prices are soaring ..
150 baht per kg at the exit of Sawang Daen Din going towards Udon Thani
Last year it was 100 baht and sometimes even 80 baht.

 

Photo shot last tuesday March 31, 2020

 

[Denim]

On 4/1/2020 at 7:15 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

I thought people would understand that it was a beach OR the hills, OR the plains, OR the forest, OR a cave in the back of beyond, OR ( insert place of choice ).

 

 

We do, and the place of choice is where we are , in a rural village.

 

 

The view from our rear patio. Not spectacular I agree but it is very quiet and peaceful. Right on the edge of the village with no loud cocks going off at all hours. Big C 3k down the road for all the food we need. Perfect.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2020 by Denim

[Assurancetourix]

Have you noticed the false information published in national and even international newspapers.
In Thailand, even if confinement is not yet compulsory, all the stores are closed, the streets are empty.
How much are they paid to tell so much bullsh*t?

 

I was in Sakon Nakhon  last Tuesday for my 90-day postponement;
I enter, I say hello, one of the officers present extends his arm so that I give him my passport when he already had a " client "; a minute later he returns it to me with 90 more days, I greet everyone again and I go out.
Barely two minutes have passed.
Sakon is not Jomtien!
and on the road, ALL the stores are open and even some markets are also ....

 

as my health is much better, yesterday a little balade on my MTBike 
62 km at very moderate speed (16 km / h on average);
White sky, pollution and excessive heat, not great for taking photos.
Almost nobody on the secondary roads taken;
on the other hand heavy traffic on route 22 in both directions;
it must be said that the road is being widened 12 km before arriving at Sawang and the 30 km which separate Sawang from Phangkhon therefore sometimes single track, especially during bridge construction;
constructions they do as 50 years ago in Europe; it seems that here they do not know the construction in factory then the routing of the pieces on the spot and assembly like a mechanic; it takes a few days instead of several weeks.

 

I will not tell you where it is but this market is open every day

 

 

 

I sent this photo to my French friends; when we know the price of mangoes in Europe ..
here, they are sometimes free ....

 

 

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, Assurancetourix said:

Have you noticed the false information published in national and even international newspapers.
In Thailand, even if confinement is not yet compulsory, all the stores are closed, the streets are empty.
How much are they paid to tell so much bullsh*t?

No...not particularly..one is happening in one province might not be happening in another as yet.Very similar to the Immigration dept.Therefore I advised no-one on TV what to do unless it pertained to where I lived.

 

I thought that the main response has been on a regional basis-very unlike Australia.

 

Anyhow-I am glad to see that you are well and up and about again.

 

By the way I met a young Frenchman cycling about our mountains a few months ago.We had a great chat about the valley of the Moselle-he said the countryside hereabouts reminded him of the Vosges mountains.Nice chap.

Edited April 2, 2020 by Odysseus123

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

 

We do, and the place of choice is where we are , in a rural village.

 

 

The view from our rear patio. Not spectacular I agree but it is very quiet and peaceful. Right on the edge of the village with no loud cocks going off at all hours. Big C 3k down the road for all the food we need. Perfect.

 

 

Perhaps you already have one, but a platform at some height would give you a spectacular view.

 

In my wife's village the monks started on loudspeakers before dawn, and the talking petrol pump next door always mandated an early wake up. Didn't matter as there was nothing to stay up late for. I quite liked the life, but when my ratbag nephew started practicing his electric bass guitar at midnight it drove me mad. My wife refused to do anything about it so we had to leave, or at least I would have left with or without her, and she chose to go with me.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

 

 

 

I will not tell you where it is but this market is open every day

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't only select the market photo, unfortunately.

I think it looks like every roadside market I ever saw in LOS.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 02-04-2020

 

Been having terrible problems with my new computer. Yesterday the 'acer aspire 3' didn't want to open ANY USB (flash drive {FD}). I reckoned it was Windows 10 security fouling things up, so I tried to delete 'Norton virus protection' last night at seven. Wouldn't do it at all. After an hour I decided to abort the deletion. The computer stopped and would not restart. Kept returning a 'cannot access boot file'. I then completely rebooted and reinstalled 'Windows 10'. At ten thirty all was done.

 

This morning (with finger crossed) I tried each FD in turn. All seven worked except the original malfunctioning one; although the data is still on that FD. Back to square one.

 

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 

The roof hole has been fixed. Fortunately I could reach the hole with my long arms so no prob's; although it was a bit of a stretch. A bit dissapointed to find a chunk of ceramic floor tile up there. Mrs Owl knows who threw the nasty. Me too. And all because I changed the password to the wifi.

 

 

I used the ultra sticky silver tape for the repair. It has done a good job and much quicker and cheaper than replacing a whole section.

 

 

What a <deleted> pic that is. Too much light reflection.

 

 

Here's the tape. Ten baht a metre. No more buckets. No rain anyway. But I'm sure we will get some sometime this year.

 

 

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 

 

Don't yer just love eating snails? Sorry AT, but I'd rather put them into my pond. I did the last time the Misses splashed out on this delicasy; caused mayhem in the household. Anyway, the family feasted last night. I had snail on toast; with cheese. No vegemite though; finished ages ago! Ody',,, if you are coming over any time soon,,,.

 

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 

In an earlier post I mentioned that the family that live opposite us in the village had gone to live on their farm. Two young children and an oldie. Scared because the villagers, that have returned from BKK, Patts and Phuket, are just wandering around as if the virus is a joke. No masks either. What is the village boss doing??

 

They have a solar set up. But just one battery for storage. I wouldn't say they were 'roughing it', as half of Thailand lives like this, but no fridge running at night? Warm beer!? They keep ice packs in the freezer and move them to the fridge at night. In the daytime they have no worries.

 

 

 

 

 

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 

Milly was thrilled to have two flowers open up in her cat-fish pool. And another bud on the way.

 

 

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

 

I am beginning to hate windows 10. Does computing have to be so difficult? I can go back to the early days when I was writing software and games for the 'Sharp MZ80k'. Just remembered; 'snake' and 'marathon man' were both my creation. Where's my royalties?

 

That's it for now.

 

Bye y'all.

[Denim]

14 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Perhaps you already have one, but a platform at some height would give you a spectacular view.

 

In my wife's village the monks started on loudspeakers before dawn, and the talking petrol pump next door always mandated an early wake up. Didn't matter as there was nothing to stay up late for. I quite liked the life, but when my ratbag nephew started practicing his electric bass guitar at midnight it drove me mad. My wife refused to do anything about it so we had to leave, or at least I would have left with or without her, and she chose to go with me.

 

It's an elevated bungalow so can't get any higher. During construction I was up in what is now the attic and even 8 extra feet improved the view as you say.

 

Right now it is absolutely blisteringly hot outside. Never known it this bad. The thermometer on the front balcony ( always in shade ) showed 40 C yesterday  The one on the wall in the sun hit 47.  Forgetting the virus issue , can't really go out anyway , expect before 9.00 am or after 6.00 pm to water the garden. When I first came to Thailand 34 C was considered a real scortcher and the cool season was actually cool.

 

As for noise ,..... yep, my first wifes house was in the middle of a village , opposite a temple. Sometimes at 4.00 am the village loudspeaker would come on and we were all treated to the elderly resident monk expectorating for 5 minutes  before he launched into his sermon for the day.  Thankfully , by popular consent they got rid of him and the replacement womanizer was an improvement ....until he got caught hiding the sausage. Next they had a paedophile who got kicked out of the order for enticing kids to his abode with offers of sweets. At the fourth try they hit pay dirt with a relatively well balanced individual.

 

So....once bitten twice shy. Would never have agreed to build our modest place here had I not satisfied myself that it would be peaceful ....and it is. Nothing to the front and back and only mother in law one side and sister in law other. On a dead end soi too so no passing traffic except a few tractors now and then.

 

We both like Cha am and I would probably be as content there as here but for sure would have cost at least three times as much for the same thing we have now plus I wouldn't fancy having the mother in law living under the same roof.

The line between altruism and masochism is pretty well defined in that respect.

 

Oh...and as for the bass , I just bought myself a nice Telecaster copy for 2790 baht. So far , I don't play it that much but I do worship it whenever I unbox it.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2020 by Denim

[Kadilo]

Great photos. I’ve been following while “enjoying” a 3 day “rest” from TV ????

 

Great view Denim. Waking up to that each morning must be a dream. 

Owl, Wearing sandals at the top of the ladder while working with no 3 points of contact........sacked ????

 

Life back here in the UK is as about as miserable as it gets. Having to stay indoors most of the time. Venturing out for food for myself and the parents  as and when. Queues getting bigger as the restrictions are becoming more stringent, but tbh food shopping is almost the highlight of the day. 

CV is beginning to kick in here with over 500 deaths yesterday. They are already seeing a spike in the number of cars on the road. Personally I’ve seen a far greater number of people out on the streets “exercising” as that’s all we should be out for.  I’ve also noticed more groups of kids out on bikes or just hanging around. Clearly bored already and prob their parents have had enough of them at home. Can’t see this will carry on on the coming weeks/months. 
 

I strolled down towards the local park yesterday. It’s massive and easy to avoid people, but saw police cars moving other cars on in the car park. Was waiting for them to have a word with me as I was walking along the road but they left me alone, probably because I was alone. 
 

I see a post re living at the beach vs living elsewhere. I bought a condo in Jomtien off plan a 2/3years ago which was gonna be my retirement home. I love walking and waking up to a view of the sea and the thought of being able to walk every morning along the front ticked the boxes. Around 18 months ago the Chinese decided to buy everything in the area and to cut a long story short,  a lady turned up with a carrier bag of cash and bought if off me for a small profit. The decision was a difficult one but when i look at it now I realise I was hasty and my feelings have changed somewhat since I have been spending more time in the village. The more I go there the more I love the quieter life and more remoteness. I am told there are still many empty units in the building so from a financial perspective it was probably a good decision as well. 
 

My partner has spent the past week watching soil trucks come and go on her (our) land 525 in all and now complete. She is talking about planting some trees around the edge to make her mark. She says the local weekly market is now shut and there is some kind of evidence of social distancing but I would swap places in a heartbeat. 
 

 

[sotonowl]

22 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Good grief, it was only a comment. Why is everyone taking things so seriously? Do I really have to clarify everything I write. I thought people would understand that it was a beach OR the hills, OR the plains, OR the forest, OR a cave in the back of beyond, OR ( insert place of choice ).

 

The world is going mad and people are pickin' about a casual comment as though it's life or death.

Best not to pour scorn on where people have decided to settle and not then come looking for sympathy when your faux feelings are hurt, maybe better sticking to a coastal forum if all you want to do is ridicule inlanders.

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Owl, Wearing sandals at the top of the ladder while working with no 3 points of contact........sacked

Wot!? Sacked!!!

 

 

Show me the rules. Never heard anything like it. Wot is this three points all about? Lick 'em and stick 'em then. Never did like this job; or you. Where's my bonus?

 

I'm off to the pub. 

[Kadilo]

23 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Wot!? Sacked!!!

 

 

Show me the rules. Never heard anything like it. Wot is this three points all about? Lick 'em and stick 'em then. Never did like this job; or you. Where's my bonus?

 

I'm off to the pub. 

I took a photo, almost identical the other day of my father on the top rung of the ladder lancing  the top of his caravan not holding onto anything apart from the lance, spraying it with water. Mum at the bottom holding the ladder like it was gonna stop him falling. 

About a year ago he fell off a wooden set ladders doing pretty much the same thing. Laid up for weeks. How he didn’t die or break his back  god only know knows. What has he learnt? <deleted> all.......but now he does it on some Aluminium ones cos obviously it was the wood that did it! 
 

I went for a walk and tried to pretend it wasn't happening. Any advice would of been scoffed at. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks and all that. 
 

On a serious note you would be surprised how many accidents I’ve seen offshore with people working off ladders etc. Granted our rules are stricter than most.