Diary of a farang in Isaan

[rumak]

On 4/2/2020 at 8:51 AM, 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.

 

 

thank you for not photo shopping your Village photos.    Same as with a woman,  i like to

see things without the make up

[rumak]

On 4/16/2020 at 9:46 PM, Odysseus123 said:

Indeed...

 

My congratulations on your wonderful thread of "seeing" and "being" in Thailand.

 

 

 

OD....... the girl on the left looks like you just walked in wearing your underpants !

btw:   are you back in Thailand now ?

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When I have something like that I reinforce it ( after repairing ) with duct tape across ways and around the item, both sides. Wonderful stuff, duct tape.

I'll try that.

 

In the meantime I'm going down a different route. Sorting out the criminal in this hammock case.

 

"If you rip the hammock again; I'm gonna crush you like an elephant crushes a grape!"

 

Over a game of chess! She hates me winning!

[Assurancetourix]

With me, it's very simple, if a tool disappears or is broken or anything, I do not replace;
they manage;
at the moment we are playing a lot  cards (don't repeat it! ); the card game is of excellent quality and costs 320 baht; each time they shuffle the cards their way, that is to say nag not possible, I repeat the price to them; at the first crooked card, we will no longer be able to play; if they want to continue, they will take 320 baht out of their pocket.

[Assurancetourix]

8 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I spent a week in Port Toilet ( sorry ???? ) working at British Steel ( now Tata ).

Stayed in a pub in Porthcawl ( ? ) , an old place right on the cliffs overlooking the sea. One night had a hell of a storm, shutters banging and wind howling etc, swear I thought we were gonna end up in the sea !!

I looked on Google maps where Port Toilet (Talbot) was;
I never went there even if I was not far when I went to Kingston Upon Hull to deliver apples from Plymouth
because I took the ferry at  Roscoff ;

it was in the early 80s 

when the maximum tonnage of the semi-trailer was only 32 tonnes therefore 18 tonnes of apples in the trailer

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 19-04-2020

 

No more rubbish dumped in the farm in the last two days. The sign obviously did the trick.

 

 

 

 

I've been told not to take the trash away for a few days.

 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

 

No rain! It is a big concern for a lot of the farmers around us now. Many of them ploughed with the six disc; and just a couple with the three disc, a couple of weeks back. They all thought rain was on the way. But no sign.

 

Ploughing with the six disc turns over the top 150mm and is fine if there is rain withing 3 days. Otherwise the delicate top-soil ecosystem just get destroyed in the baking sun. The six disc goes deeper but the soil is not so broken up. Still bad if no rain though.

 

I'm trying to convince Mrs Qwl not to put the tractor on the farm. I don't think that the farm needs to be ploughed for 12,000 little holes; each no bigger than large mug, and two metres apart. There are battles ahead; mind games and tantrums. About the ploughing, and also the 3 metre fire break that will run right across the farm. Have to have deaf ears, and stay strong.

 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

 

The lack of rain is a concern for everyone. Both for farmers, orchards, cattle and those with ponds.

 

I was told there is a nice herb that grows on the bottom of ponds. Mrs Owl filled a small bucket, then left it at the farm; blamed me for not putting it in the pick-up. But,,, I was busy with the camera. No excuse stupid farang. Sorry dear.

 

 

Number seven pond is just a tiny patch of mud.

 

 

And number six has lass than half a metre of water at the deep end, and is dry at the shallow end.

 

 

Six and seven are terrible, but the other six ponds all have some water, Might have to pump from one to another to save the two ponds with fish.

 

Watering must continue though.

 

 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

 

Finished stitching up the blue hammock. Too dark for a pic' of the finished job. Next time

 

 

 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

 

Phoned the euca lady up this evening. I'll give her a 10k Baht payment later this week. Just 9k to pay then. Delivery is free. Have to start thinking who will join the euca planting team. A couple of ladies/guys working with me; setting out. Two guys doing the holes. Four ladies planting. Two guys distributing the eucas around the farm. A couple of youngsters with buckets picking up all the plastic waste. About 5 decent pay days there for the villagers, Mrs Owl will feed and water them. Also beer/lao khao/coke, and snacks, at the day's end.

 

But first, a job for our usual guy getting rid of grass stems. They are real tough. Fortunately they only cover about 5% of the farm, so a couple of days work. Just one or two well placed swings with a hoe will fell them.

 

 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

 

Not seen a mask since last post. Good job too. The one I had was made out of some army cloth; couldn't breathe.

 

Buddha construction work has been put on hold. Run out of dosh!?

 

Rain; where are you?

 

That's it for today guys.

 

 

[HighPriority]

I’m getting a 275,000Lt water tank (hopefully) installed in a months time, so a big euca had to go, sorry Owl.

It fell exactly where I intended ???????? And had my tank already been installed would have completely destroyed it. I will let the stump reshoot though.

The rain here is finished for the wet, we likely will get nothing now until October so I’ll be buying water for the new tank, and very sparingly hand watering Until xmas.

On a happier note, Mrs HP started a new job today, she’s been working in a massage shop for the past 6-7 months and doing a bit of cleaning until Corona bought about the closure of the massage shop about 4-5 weeks ago.

This morning she started at a farm planting Banana tissue cultures into tubes to be later planted out, they also grow melons. 

[Assurancetourix]

10 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I've been told not to take the trash away for a few days.

In France, bad citizens do the same thing.
But in some municipalities the mayor has found a solution to return their garbage to them.
He has a careful sorting of dumped garbage and always finds a supermarket or telephone bill, something that links the garbage to the weak citizen.
Then he puts it all in a dump truck which will dump all of this in front of the door of the wrongdoer

[Assurancetourix]

The day before yesterday, I had a nice ride in the heveas forests which are all close to my village.
30 km of mountain biking on red dirt roads and sometimes in the forest without really knowing if the trail is a dead end or if it will lead to a wider road.
I like this way of mountain biking off piste

 

Three km from my village 

 

 

A huge tree  and my so little MTBike 

 

 

In the middle of nowhere

 

 

Where is the trail ?

 

 

Euca to make Owl dream

 

[owl sees all]

8 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

The day before yesterday, I had a nice ride in the heveas forests which are all close to my village.
30 km of mountain biking on red dirt roads and sometimes in the forest without really knowing if the trail is a dead end or if it will lead to a wider road.
I like this way of mountain biking off piste

 

Three km from my village 

 

 

A huge tree  and my so little MTBike 

 

 

In the middle of nowhere

 

 

Where is the trail ?

 

 

Euca to make Owl dream

 

Fantastic pic's as usual AT.

 

That is a decent euca farm. That tree the cycle is propping up must go about 3 tonne. Cut down a few of those and,,,, Baht millionaire.

 

Gonna see how our little uns are doing later this week. Only 5cm tall/high at the mo'.

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, HighPriority said:

I’m getting a 275,000Lt water tank (hopefully) installed in a months time, so a big euca had to go, sorry Owl.

It fell exactly where I intended ???????? And had my tank already been installed would have completely destroyed it. I will let the stump reshoot though.

The rain here is finished for the wet, we likely will get nothing now until October so I’ll be buying water for the new tank, and very sparingly hand watering Until xmas.

On a happier note, Mrs HP started a new job today, she’s been working in a massage shop for the past 6-7 months and doing a bit of cleaning until Corona bought about the closure of the massage shop about 4-5 weeks ago.

This morning she started at a farm planting Banana tissue cultures into tubes to be later planted out, they also grow melons. 

I'm sorry to inform you HP, that you have to relocate. Leave the poor euca alone. It's not as though there are plenty of them.

 

Mrs Owl wants to be a beauty therapist. That includes massage.

 

When I lived in Nigeria, a lady would come to our compound and give all the farang a massage. Not a small lady - 70kg or so - and she would stand on our backs and massage with her toes.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

In France, bad citizens do the same thing.
But in some municipalities the mayor has found a solution to return their garbage to them.
He has a careful sorting of dumped garbage and always finds a supermarket or telephone bill, something that links the garbage to the weak citizen.
Then he puts it all in a dump truck which will dump all of this in front of the door of the wrongdoer

Although I never dump rubbish where it should not go I've had a policy for 20 years of separating out anything that can identify me before putting in rubbish tin. You can call me paranoid if you like. I just loooooove conspiracy theories.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I'm sorry to inform you HP, that you have to relocate. Leave the poor euca alone. It's not as though there are plenty of them.

 

Mrs Owl wants to be a beauty therapist. That includes massage.

 

When I lived in Nigeria, a lady would come to our compound and give all the farang a massage. Not a small lady - 70kg or so - and she would stand on our backs and massage with her toes.

 

 

When in LOS, I always had the GF walk on my spine ( not a massage ) very quietly- no jumping up and down. It's great for relocating misaligned vertebrae. Millie looks about the right weight, but if Mrs Owl does it probably a good idea to have one leg not on your back. My ex started off at the correct weight, but eventually I had to insist on a one leg approach.

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

When in LOS, I always had the GF walk on my spine ( not a massage ) very quietly- no jumping up and down. It's great for relocating misaligned vertebrae. Millie looks about the right weight, but if Mrs Owl does it probably a good idea to have one leg not on your back. My ex started off at the correct weight, but eventually I had to insist on a one leg approach.

Me and massages do not get on. I'll give that a miss for both females. Milly wouldn't do it unless she could be playing games on her telephone at the same time. And Mrs Owl; don't trust her. "Oh Owl, was that your nuts I just trod on? Sorry. Try to keep your legs together."

 

A lot of g/f and wives put on a bit a of weight as they get older. Why? Is it too much good food? Not enough exercise? Both?

 

I've noticed that the farang wives do not do the 8 hour farm shifts in the sun.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

A lot of g/f and wives put on a bit a of weight as they get older. Why? Is it too much good food? Not enough exercise? Both?

My wife ate a lot and exercised not much at all. She didn't believe in walking either. Surprisingly she didn't put on much weight.

However she ate real Thai food and not western junk food.

[HighPriority]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

My wife ate a lot and exercised not much at all. She didn't believe in walking either. Surprisingly she didn't put on much weight.

However she ate real Thai food and not western junk food.

My wife has no concept of portions or timing.

Sunday morning I asked her if she wanted farang omelette for breakfast, “yes” she replied.

So as I’m beating the eggs with some milk, salt and pepper she walks up to the fridge gets out a plate with 3 slices of leftover pizza and puts them in the microwave...

”What’s that ?” I asked, “I’m hungry” was the reply... ????

 

And I’ve never been a massage type, as a youngster I was too ticklish and though better now I find it anything but relaxing and my wife has “power” 

Im a runner with dodgy calves and she has me in agony without trying ????????

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, HighPriority said:

 

And I’ve never been a massage type, as a youngster I was too ticklish and though better now I find it anything but relaxing and my wife has “power” 

Im a runner with dodgy calves and she has me in agony without trying ????????

I used to get Thai massage only to get someone to walk on my spine, but I never understood why people think being in agony for half an hour is enjoyable. I certainly never felt better after. That includes massages at the school in Wat Po.

Worst Thai massage I ever had was on Lamai beach with a sadistic masseuse that had very strong hands.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, HighPriority said:

no concept of portions or timing.

One thing that has always boggled me in LOS is how restaurants make one wait ages for the food, then bring out the main and the dessert at the same time as the starter.

 

Most laughable meal ( in hindsight ) was ordering an egg salad and getting a plate full of boiled egg slices with nothing else.

[Bredbury Blue]

Always annoys me when ordering multiple dishes that the rice always comes out last.

 

Laughable meal. Twenty years ago opposite the bus station in Sakon N I ordered pepper steak. When it came it was pepper-less...when i queried why, they explained by "mai mee pepper kha".

[thaibeachlovers]

11 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Always annoys me when ordering multiple dishes that the rice always comes out last.

 

Laughable meal. Twenty years ago opposite the bus station in Sakon N I ordered pepper steak. When it came it was pepper-less...when i queried why, they explained by "mai mee pepper kha".

Speaking of peppers, I don't tolerate peppers ie capsicum, so in a restaurant with the current GF I asked her to let them know not to give me "peppers". Of course when the meal came it had loads of capsicum because she thought I meant actual pepper.

Those were early days and I learned to be more exact with words.

[EVENKEEL]

11 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Always annoys me when ordering multiple dishes that the rice always comes out last.

 

Laughable meal. Twenty years ago opposite the bus station in Sakon N I ordered pepper steak. When it came it was pepper-less...when i queried why, they explained by "mai mee pepper kha".

Green Corner by any chance.

[Assurancetourix]

On 4/20/2020 at 4:22 PM, owl sees all said:

Me and massages do not get on. I'll give that a miss for both females.

I like massages .................  oil massage especially when they are done at home by a pretty masseuse.

200 baht/hour and 150/hour for a thai massage .
which was the case 2 days ago.
There, she is doing a normal one, a Thai massage, to my wife.

 

 

 

[Bredbury Blue]

4 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Green Corner by any chance.

That's the one; huge cake shop bakery restaurant opp bus station.

[EVENKEEL]

16 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

That's the one; huge cake shop bakery restaurant opp bus station.

20 yrs ago, come on let it go ahahahaa The bus station moved a few years back.

[Odysseus123]

On 4/18/2020 at 1:48 PM, rumak said:

 

OD....... the girl on the left looks like you just walked in wearing your underpants !

btw:   are you back in Thailand now ?

Ha..ha..ha-a very candid photo which was why I posted it.

 

I doubt that I will ever see Thailand again as I am not 'Fit To Fly' and that is that..unfortunately.

 

This thread is a walk down memory lane for me and I like and respect many of the posters who contribute to it.

[rumak]

1 minute ago, Odysseus123 said:

This thread is a walk down memory lane for me and I like and respect many of the posters who contribute to it.

yeah,   you used to like me till I started giving my opinions on C19  restrictions  

 

well,  i think you did     5555555

 

stay well 

[rumak]

55 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

I like massages .................  oil massage especially when they are done at home by a pretty masseuse.

200 baht/hour and 150/hour for a thai massage .
which was the case 2 days ago.
There, she is doing a normal one, a Thai massage, to my wife.

 

 

 

 

hmmmmm.    not bad    ????           You sure you do not get the "abnormal" one sometimes ?

[Odysseus123]

4 minutes ago, rumak said:

yeah,   you used to like me till I started giving my opinions on C19  restrictions  

 

well,  i think you did     5555555

 

stay well 

Who sez I don't like you cousin Beauregard?????

 

Back to the thread-I just like the way that OWL (and others) document their day and activities amongst normal folks-of being in the moment-as I have said before.

The "seeing" component comes in their descriptions and photos.

[Odysseus123]

13 minutes ago, rumak said:

yeah,   you used to like me till I started giving my opinions on C19  restrictions  

 

well,  i think you did     5555555

 

stay well 

double post

[Assurancetourix]

9 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Ha..ha..ha-a very candid photo which was why I posted it.

 

I doubt that I will ever see Thailand again as I am not 'Fit To Fly' and that is that..unfortunately.

 

This thread is a walk down memory lane for me and I like and respect many of the posters who contribute to it.

Thank you very much OD ;

We will do our best to make this post live for a long time

 

Two days ago I went for a little MTBike balade

 

The pleasure of cycling on deserted roads

 

 

School and portal closed due to Covid-19

 

 

A tired butterfly who wanted to kill himself in the middle of the road

 

 

In the middle of nowhere

 

 

 

50 kilometers under a a really too hot sun;
returns exhausted;
I have to calm down, I'm no longer 18 but 71