Diary of a farang in Isaan

[Bundooman]

On 11/18/2019 at 5:30 PM, bermondburi said:

God forbid I ever end up like the op. 

 

Different folks for different strokes I guess. 

The guy's happy. He's made a lifestyle for himself and is sharing something that is open for all of us - making our time here in Thailand worthwhile. He probably speaks Thai too.

good luck to him.

 

God forbid that we all end up like you as well!

Cynical and dismissive - must get on really well with Thai people, eh?

Good luck with that too.

[owl sees all]

7 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

The guy's happy. He's made a lifestyle for himself and is sharing something that is open for all of us - making our time here in Thailand worthwhile. He probably speaks Thai too.

good luck to him.

 

God forbid that we all end up like you as well!

Cynical and dismissive - must get on really well with Thai people, eh?

Good luck with that too.

 

Thanks for those reflective words Bundooman.

 

Ups and downs. Twists and turns. Never a straight path here. But I'm giving it a go.

 

As for the Thai. The daughter said to me the other day; ''Bet you can't reel off 30 Thai words.''

''Easy Peasy. I could do 1000.'' I said.

'Go on then. Let's hear them.''

 

''Noon, song, sam, see, har, sook,,''

''No numbers!''

 

She got me. But I do know one most important word when I want a cuppa. ''Teerak.''

[RocketDog]

On 11/18/2019 at 10:34 AM, owl sees all said:

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.

 

 

I assume you know trees grown from avocado pits usually grow no fruit or don't breed true.

 

I also have one myself. 12 foot tall but no fruit. Still it was fun to grow and looks nice.

[owl sees all]

19 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

I assume you know trees grown from avocado pits usually grow no fruit or don't breed true.

 

I also have one myself. 12 foot tall but no fruit. Still it was fun to grow and looks nice.

I have read that a avo grown from seed takes 7/8 years to give fruit. That is a bonus if it happens. Nice looking tree.

 

I'e done well with the pineapple. Three fruits from the one head.

[phetphet]

On 7/2/2024 at 7:46 AM, owl sees all said:

 

Thanks for those reflective words Bundooman.

 

Ups and downs. Twists and turns. Never a straight path here. But I'm giving it a go.

 

As for the Thai. The daughter said to me the other day; ''Bet you can't reel off 30 Thai words.''

''Easy Peasy. I could do 1000.'' I said.

'Go on then. Let's hear them.''

 

''Noon, song, sam, see, har, sook,,''

''No numbers!''

 

She got me. But I do know one most important word when I want a cuppa. ''Teerak.''

Sook? What number is that? 😀

[owl sees all]

17 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Sook? What number is that? 😀

Number 6 in English.

[RocketDog]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I have read that a avo grown from seed takes 7/8 years to give fruit. That is a bonus if it happens. Nice looking tree.

 

I'e done well with the pineapple. Three fruits from the one head.

It's funny how one pineapple grows out at the top of another and then another grows out

[phetphet]

On 7/3/2024 at 10:37 AM, owl sees all said:

Number 6 in English.

Is that in Isaan dialect? I thought it was Hok in Thai.

[owl sees all]

On 7/4/2024 at 6:25 PM, phetphet said:

Is that in Isaan dialect? I thought it was Hok in Thai.

You are right there Phetphet.

 

Pronounced 'Hook' up here. Not 'sook'. No wonder the locals can't understand me.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 08-07-2924 - Monday morning.

 

Internet went off on Thursday. Only came back on 4 hours ago. That's what yer get for living in the boonies. Had to catch up on a couple of things first thing. How the Three Lions did, and who won the election?

 

That Euro trophy has England's name already engraved on it. And we are yet to string more than two passes together. When we do; watch out. As for the election. The second lowest turn-out in 140 years. Not so close though.

 

Been getting to grips with the new camera. Has over 100 settings. At first, I had it on the 50mpx mark, but couldn't get things right. Gradually lowered it to 18mpx. There is the ISO. Whatever that is. Then there is the subject; sport, party, beach, landscape etc. So I've had a quite a few duds but a couple of good uns.

 

Went to the number 4 market on Thursday. Bought myself a new pair of shoes for 60 baht. In the 20 baht shop - yes I know - they are only 50 baht. So a tad expensive. But they are comfortable, so I'll not complain.

 

The Mrs cut loose and bought another load of plants.

 

 

 

 

I like the red Dragon Fruits. Three kilos for 100 baht.

 

 

And find it hard to resist a pineapple. Three kilos; 80 baht.

 

 

What a bargain!

 

 

Been waiting to find out what the new church wold look like. A church?! No church! A bank!

 

 

At Kubota across the road, they have dozens, if not scores, of tractors for sale.

 

 

Good job I don't want another one. Last one cost me 300k.

 

 

Saw a lovely dog in the market. 

 

 

I think it's Colorado Terrier. Cute little thing.

 

 

It was a bit muddy in places.

 

 

Called into Big C for a little shopping after the market. Would the camera perform well under florescent lighting?

 

Seemed to do OK. 

 

Just a few random snaps.

 

 

 

 

 

On the same road as Big C, but 400 metres further out of town, there is a new wholesale fish business that's opened up.

 

 

 

 

Mekongs! Bought 10 for 500 baht.

 

 

All told;

10 mekong - 500 baht

300 red nin - 900 baht

400 pla duk - 400 baht

200 pla duk (bigger) - 400 baht

200 sawai - 400 baht

 

So that was 2,600 baht spent.

 

 

We were fully loaded. What with the shopping, the plants and the fishes.

 

Called into Ban Dung to get some cat food, and some pineapple biscuits. Went round to see the big new building.

 

 

Still unoccupied.

 

Then it was off to the farm to release the fish and stack the trees away until Mrs Owl decides where to plant them.

 

 

 

Red nin. Paid 3 baht each for them.

 

 

On Saturday me and Milly spent a couple of hours at the farm pottering about and feeding the fish.

 

 

 

Put ten of the nin into the round pot.

 

 

 

The new fish were beginning to 'shoal' up after just two days. Usually takes two weeks for them to gain confidence to show themselves.

 

 

Back at the village the house build close to us had its ups and downs.

 

 

Had a drop of rain yesterday.

 

 

Some seeps away. It's all made-up ground.

 

 

 

What does a drop of rain water matter? Just get the concrete in there.

 

 

 

Wouldn't be a village without cows, piggies and buffs.

 

 

Here they come.

 

 

 

Now the Mrs told me that cows and buffs are not allowed to do poopoo on tarmac roads. Evidently it eats into the surface. Concrete OK though.

 

 

And they were across the road and gone. No poopoo on the road. Well trained buffaloes them.

 

 

The Mango Lady's crickets are getting big. In just a week they have gone from specks to a jumping monsters.

 

 

20k a month. in yer bin Easy money!

 

 

Twins are looking good. And they understand English. Every time I pass they shout out 'falang buy hice cleam'.

 

 

And the best pic so far. Getting there.

 

 

+++++

So England, as expected, put the Swiss pretenders to the sword. Don't know who we will get next. Don't matter really. Our name is on the cup. Hamilton wins at home in the F1. Our star girl is out of Wimbledon. 

+++++

England has picked a nine year-old to represent the country in chess. Played hundreds of games with Mildred. Trying to get her interested. Quite good when she was 11/12. Probably had a rating of about 800/1000. But! The telephone has taken over since then.

+++++

Two mavericks both lost their seats. Andrew Bridgen and George Galloway. What next for these two? Nigel Farage storms into Westminster after trying, and failing, lots of times before. Those Essex people know their stuff.

+++++

That UK voting system is skew-whiff. Reform got 14% of the  votes for 5 eats. Lib-dems 12% million for 70+ seats. Good that I'm in a country that can do it proper.

+++++

Still trying to get to grips with the new camera.

+++++

Some decent drops of rain lately. Still down on the seasonal average, but a wet July could even it up.

+++++

Rice 80% completed now. The Mrs has still not kick-started our two rai.

+++++

Been having inquiries about cutting both the eucs and palm nuts. I'd rather wait til next year with the eucas. Some of the spindly ones now, might be worth something then. The nuts are coming, but not in enough quantity to make cutting worthwhile, IMO.

+++++

Over 100 pics to chose from this week. Whittled it down to 40, or so. Gone pic crazy with the new tool.

+++++

 

Only one thing left to say; bye ya'll.

 

Number one pond full.

 

Edited July 8 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

 

Owl Log - 14-07-2024

Sunday afternoon.

 

The building next door is coming along nicely.

 

 

Above ground now.

 

 

Concrete quickly going off. Soon be time to strip the form-work.

 

And there is is. Ready for the next job.

 

 

Acrows out.

 

 

Plenty of ompartments.

 

 

And there we have it.  Still a bit of R-Bar showing. So not quite finished.

 

 

The doggies very interested in something.

 

 

A bit messy. It will all get sorted later this year.

 

 

 

Happy, is always happy to see us. 

 

 

My job to take the cow poopoo around the farm. Bloody heavy. Well over 30kg.

 

 

A bit wet down the track.

 

 

 

Went to the market in Ban Dung yesterday. Had a walk around.

 

Plenty of bugs on offer.

 

 

Nothing too much different really.

 

 

Sellers getting younger.

 

 

Music! And a little dancing.

 

 

Mildred and Mrs Owl wandering around.

 

 

The toads looked so inviting. But!! If I bought some, and let them go at the farm, they might just jump away? Decided not to get any.

 

 

But!

Couldn't resist the terrapin. Only had the one. Mildred says pond 7 should be its new home.

 

 

Even more bugs.

 

 

The eucas in farm 4, are in water. the drainage in that corner is not good.

 

 

The pigeon house has solved the pigeon on the roof problem.

 

Scared off by the monster. The 'pigeoncrow'.

 

 

Where have all the pigeons gone? I'll be looking out for them on my travels.

 

But a couple of days later.

 

 

Mildred ready for the school bus. Bye boys. Seez you this afternoon.

 

 

+++++

 

England play the 'tippy tappy' lads later today. I've got me shorts on an England victory. In the World Cup of Darts, Smith and Humphries power to a win against the Austrians; 10-6. Hamilton wins the British GP. Actually been to the the Hamilton family home in Tewin. Next door is a Lama farm. Wimbledon final the repeat of last year.

+++++

Was Trump lucky? Or was that sharp-shooter just trying to scare him?

+++++

Looks like Chompoo is having kittens. Proper ones, not the ones she gets when Oscar wants to fight her.

+++++

Ban Dung is making the news internationally. A group of youngsters are going round all the gold shops after darn, ringing their bells and banging on the shutters. Three gold shops just in the bus station alone. 9 or 10 all told.

+++++

Gonna let the terrapin go at the farm, when we go at 14-00. Found a tree by number 8 pond that still has mangoes. Get those for sure.

+++++

For the second week running the True internet was off. Only for 2 days this time.

+++++

Found a setting on the new camera that I didn't know about. It's called EVA. 7 settings. Pics should improve now.

+++++

Mildred has her mid-term exams for the next two weeks. Started to revise.

+++++

Kier Starmer does no more than jet of the the US. Don't like him, or trust him, at all. Swept Saville prosecutions under the carpet. And played a big part in keeping Assange locked away for so long.

+++++

The Mrs is talking about planting the rice this week. And there is talk of cutting some, if not all, the eucas.

+++++

 

Only one thing left to say; bye ya'll.

 

+++++

 

Nice sky over rice fields.

 

 

Happy tucking in.

 

 

Lovely snails out and about.

 

Edited July 14 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

Owl mini log. Pics of Laos

 

 

Have the French been here?

 

 

 

Under the arc.

 

 

 

Exercise areas; just like Thailand.

 

 

 

Hi! Good to meet you.

 

 

Thailand just across the Mekong River.

 

 

Been to Laos over 20 times. Only 3 times with the family though.

 

Bye ya'll.

 

Edited July 15 by owl sees all

[HighPriority]

Were those pics from the same trip owl ?

when was it ?

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

Were those pics from the same trip owl ?

when was it ?

Yes. All the same trip.

 

I think it was 2017. Have others from earlier trips.

[champers]

22 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Yes. All the same trip.

 

I think it was 2017. Have others from earlier trips.

I was in Vientiane for a visa run in Jan 17, don't recall seeing you. Were you in the pub watching Everton beat Man City 4-0?

[JimTripper]

On 7/16/2024 at 8:05 PM, champers said:

I was in Vientiane for a visa run in Jan 17, don't recall seeing you. Were you in the pub watching Everton beat Man City 4-0?

No, I was in the USA at that time. Sorry.

[rattlesnake]

Folks, Owl has migrated to Thaiger Talk and will now be posting here:

https://talk.thethaiger.com/topic/35763-life-in-the-isaan-boonies

[sotonowl]

3 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Folks, Owl has migrated to Thaiger Talk and will now be posting here:

https://talk.thethaiger.com/topic/35763-life-in-the-isaan-boonies

Thanks for that RS, he had emailed me saying he was getting beaten up for little reason. I did ask him to let me know if he'd be moving over but he hadn't replied. Such a shame as his thread was the best i've personally come across on any SM and the only reason I visited the site. This will be a big loss to AN, power however small does go to some peoples heads unfortunately, all over to Thaiger then.

[Mutt Daeng]

4 hours ago, sotonowl said:

8 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Folks, Owl has migrated to Thaiger Talk and will now be posting here:

https://talk.thethaiger.com/topic/35763-life-in-the-isaan-boonies

Thanks for that RS, he had emailed me saying he was getting beaten up for little reason. I did ask him to let me know if he'd be moving over but he hadn't replied. Such a shame as his thread was the best i've personally come across on any SM and the only reason I visited the site. This will be a big loss to AN, power however small does go to some peoples heads unfortunately, all over to Thaiger then.

Just tried to register on TT and when I submitted my application, a screen came saying that I was banned!

Every time I go to TT now, I get the same screen. Not even going to try to sort the problem out.

 

Edited July 26 by Mutt Daeng

[sotonowl]

16 minutes ago, Mutt Daeng said:

Just tried to register on TT and when I submitted my application, a screen came saying that I was banned!

Every time I go to TT now, I get the same screen. Not even going to try to sort the problem out.

 

Oh dear. Sounds like you've upset them previously and they have you tracked and can trace you.

You've seen your backside and won't give way to them, but there are ways around it but you can't be arxed so it's good night from me, and it's goodnight from him.

I have a feeling you'll miss Owl. Could be wrong of course.

Edited July 26 by sotonowl

[Mutt Daeng]

28 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Oh dear. Sounds like you've upset them previously and they have you tracked and can trace you.

You've seen your backside and won't give way to them, but there are ways around it but you can't be arxed so it's good night from me, and it's goodnight from him.

I have a feeling you'll miss Owl. Could be wrong of course.

I will miss OWL's (and all you regulars) posts and banter. I also liked this thread because it attracted normal decent people (IMHO) and not the ever increasing numbers of "walter mitties", trolls, <deleted>-wits and downright nasty members who are currently destroying AN. 

[Will27]

6 hours ago, London Lowf said:

This thread is was the only one that I follow on here - I have just visited TT, so thanks for the heads-up rattlesnake.

 

I have also fallen foul of the mods on here and received warnings for next to nothing. When I look at some of the confrontational clickbait on here (we all know who they are) that gets away with blatant breaking of forum rules I reckon I'll be happy with my inevitable next warning or ban.

 

This place has really gone down the pan - you can't even research simple visa advice on here without encountering petty bickering and nastiness.

 

 

Yep

There's around half a dozen posters who continually turn every thread into a <deleted> show.

 

I guess they're tolerated because they generate more traffic.

 

There's only a couple of forums I like to view now.

This unfortunately was one of them.

[Korat Kiwi]

12 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

Folks, Owl has migrated to Thaiger Talk and will now be posting here:

https://talk.thethaiger.com/topic/35763-life-in-the-isaan-boonies

Cheers for that.... I'm contemplating the move too. 

[Jethro Tull]

I assume Owl was hounded for his posts on other threads as this one was one of the few threads on here that didn’t really need moderating.

A great shame to have lost this thread, and Owl + family of course, will be missed by many.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Hi Owl Can't you get your french friend to take over for a while until things sort themselves out? In the past that worked well. 

[rattlesnake]

8 hours ago, Mutt Daeng said:

Just tried to register on TT and when I submitted my application, a screen came saying that I was banned!

Every time I go to TT now, I get the same screen. Not even going to try to sort the problem out.

 

 

It is my understanding that several people had this issue, a remnant of the previous moderation on TT, which, from what I am told, was terrible. They have now changed the moderating team, which is friendly and fair, I can confirm that. So you could drop a line to the admin team and it should be quickly resolved in theory.

[sotonowl]

6 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Hi Owl Can't you get your french friend to take over for a while until things sort themselves out? In the past that worked well. 

I have a feeling that Owl has pulled the stumps and decided to move on himself. 

[Mutt Daeng]

5 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

 

It is my understanding that several people had this issue, a remnant of the previous moderation on TT, which, from what I am told, was terrible. They have now changed the moderating team, which is friendly and fair, I can confirm that. So you could drop a line to the admin team and it should be quickly resolved in theory.

Thanks @rattlesnake. I've now relented and managed to solve the issue myself and have successfully registered.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

It will be sad if you don't post here. It was one of the best things on this site if not the best. 

Many seem to back your decision but I would note that if someone has controversial opinions  -  e.g. if children should take a particular vaccine or whether vaccines work at all  - I think it is reasonable that such claims be backed up with evidence as they are potentially dangerous - even if the status quo opinion could be wrong - or the audience is relatively small and made up of older expats that are not likely to act on the advice. Other controversial topics you may cover, such as the reality of the moon landing, could have less control because it has no real world implications. 

You could be the family guy on this site and the searcher of the truth on more appropriate sites. Since both sites are owned by the same parties the outcome of your protest may have little real effect but to result in a smaller audience for your entertaining posts. 

Edited July 28 by Fat is a type of crazy

[London Lowf]

10 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Since both sites are owned by the same parties the outcome of your protest may have little real effect but to result in a smaller audience for your entertaining posts. 

 

Maybe Owl is more concerned with doing the right thing in his own eyes than gaining a wider audience, a.k.a. clicks - I applaud him for that.

 

Having said that, I believe that he will hold on to the vast majority of his followers, despite the migration.