Diary of a farang in Isaan

[Assurancetourix]

11 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

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

  I would love it but it would have to happen on neutral ground, not at home 

[Bredbury Blue]

9 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

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

Could you let Google maps know please.

 

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log – 22-04-2020

 

Plenty of lightening, and accompanying thunderclaps this evening. So far no rain. Went to the farm on my own tonight as Mrs Owl thought there was gonna be a storm, and she don't like 'em. Fed the fish and watered my fledgling eucas. What a disaster they are. I have some new rooting liquid and tomorrow Me and Milly will pull out the dead uns and do some fresh.

 

 

%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&

 

Earlier, we went to Ban Dung. First job; get some dosh from the ATM at Tescos. Only eight cars/pick-ups in the car park. Milly says she feels sorry for them. Then it was over to the PEA to pay our two bills. The MiL's dropped below the 90 unit thresh-hold (so free) and ours was a reasonable 1180 Baht. Less than 1200 Baht for the first time in years.

 

Into Ban Dung central to buy a couple of bits. A calculator and a compass for our home school and two fans; kitchen and bedroom. Two big sacks of fish food also. Filled up with solar; 18.79 Baht a litre. Destined to get even lower too.

 

Took the pick-up into the garage for a slow-puncture repair. While we were waiting, went for food in the open air restaurant next door. Three meals and three 375ml bottles of cola; 205 Baht. A bit expensive I thought. The repair place was quite busy, so took the pick-up away with just an air injection. Try to get it done on Friday, when we go to see our euca lady.

 

Finished up at Big C. My temperature was 36.2 at the door; so OK to enter! Cat food down to 29 Baht a can and Pringles dropped to 39 Baht a tube. Seems like everything is open inside Bic C now. But only True, the pharmacy, Kentucky and Sweeneys open of the independents. The other 17 are yet to come back. Perhaps some might not.

 

And then home.

 

%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&

 

Yesterday was hot, as was the day before. On the farm, the thermometer read 41c at four in the afternoon. Probably considerably higher during early afternoon.

 

Checked the two hammocks. No more rips; yet!

 

 

The blue one has been repaired umteem times. Any more tears and I'll get a new one.

 

 

Grey one is fine. It's not as popular as the blue one 'cause it's in the sun until about 4 when it drops behind the storage unit.

 

%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&

 

The farm at the back of us had three tractors working yesterday. Throwing up clouds, and clouds of dust. They are not cheap to hire; must have come into some dosh. Must be praying to Buddha for rain, Aren't we all!

 

 

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The VofA (Voice of America) had three helicopters land in the afternoon, Very unusual that, as they mostly come in at night or dawn. Makes me think there is something afoot from the Americans. Didn’t get a pic unfortunately. Camera was in the pick-up at the other farm.

 

%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
 

Had a lot of fun with the children while watering. Running about like nutters! When they get close to the hose they get a spraying. I have to stop them occasionally and insist that they drink some water. Not from the hose as it is pond water, but we always have drinking water at hand.

 

%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&

 

Someone has been knocking our termite mounds down. Not my favourite food but some Thais like to roast them over a flame and eat as a snack with their Lao Khao.

 

 

Just 9-00 now so I’ll go on-line and post.

 

Bye y’all.

 

Edited April 22, 2020 by owl sees all

[Assurancetourix]

11 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Three meals and three 375ml bottles of cola; 205 Baht. A bit expensive I thought.

Very expensive 

very expensive, even;
3 x 375 cl Coke is 36 baht;
so 205 - 36 = 169
169: 3 = 56.333333333333333333 for one meal

 

One more time a thai angry with arithmetics;

always ask the price for a person before ordering;

in addition the prices must be displayed; It is an obligation

[owl sees all]

17 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Very expensive 

very expensive, even;
3 x 375 cl Coke is 36 baht;
so 205 - 36 = 169
169: 3 = 56.333333333333333333 for one meal

 

One more time a thai angry with arithmetics;

always ask the price for a person before ordering;

in addition the prices must be displayed; It is an obligation

I had two fried eggs on top of my 'pap-a-pow' Milly had one. Last time (one month ago) the same meals were 195 Bhat. Inflation!

 

Be glad when the Big C restaurant opens.

[Assurancetourix]

40 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Yesterday was hot, as was the day before. On the farm, the thermometer read 41c at four in the afternoon. Probably considerably higher during early afternoon.

 

Yesterday , end of afternoon ( 4.46 pm ) , in the shadow, of course , nearly 46*C 

 

 

Today at 8 pm we had a nice storm with some rain , not much but enough for the garden 

[owl sees all]

13 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

 

Yesterday , end of afternoon ( 4.46 pm ) , in the shadow, of course , nearly 46*C 

 

 

Today at 8 pm we had a nice storm with some rain , not much but enough for the garden 

That is soooooo hot. My thermometer is under the floor at the farm house. When I had it tied to a concrete post the readings were always higher.

 

Kingston in Jamacia could get hot. One day I walked to Molines road from the house in Sundown Cresent and I had to keep off the tarmacked pavement. it was melting. In Lindos on the Island of Rhodes (Greece) it could get hot. Holds the Med' record; 53c I think.

Edited April 22, 2020 by owl sees all

[Kadilo]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I had two fried eggs on top of my 'pap-a-pow' Milly had one. Last time (one month ago) the same meals were 195 Bhat. Inflation!

 

Be glad when the Big C restaurant opens.

I would kill for a “pap capow kai dow” right now. 
 

I was Skyping with my partner earlier and she was saying how hot it was in the village. According to her there’s a storm on the way, but she’s been saying that for days. 

Edited April 22, 2020 by Kadilo

[faraday]

2 hours ago, Kadilo said:

I would kill for a “pap capow kai dow” right now. 
 

I was Skyping with my partner earlier and she was saying how hot it was in the village. According to her there’s a storm on the way, but she’s been saying that for days. 

Yup, the last couple of days here in Udon, have been 'orribly 'ot, but the promise of a storm hasn't materialised yet.

 

Just got up to let the dog out, & it's quite cool now at 23°C. Some rain would be great...

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, faraday said:

Yup, the last couple of days here in Udon, have been 'orribly 'ot, but the promise of a storm hasn't materialised yet.

 

Just got up to let the dog out, & it's quite cool now at 23°C. Some rain would be great...

I dream of 23 C. I've got the heater cranked up, but I need to go outside- shiver.

[Patong2]

Just caught up on the last few pages.

Like to thank Owl and all the other contributors for their interesting and entertaining posts.

 

Paints a great picture of rural life and can see why you enjoy (most of the time) it.

Thanks everybody

[Assurancetourix]

Friday , April 24 , 2020

 

Today a short 36 km balade on my MTBike;
a lot of paved road and a little bit of cement.

I arrive at the entrance of a tiny village;
there were three guys in uniform (not cops) and a young woman, maybe a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3 *;
by cons the two guys on motorcycles behind me were not arrested while, of course they wore no helmet or mask.
I just had to take this staircase to take me to heaven or hell?

 

Stairway to heaven ( or Hell , who knows ? )

 

[thaibeachlovers]

6 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

Friday , April 24 , 2020

 

Today a short 36 km balade on my MTBike;
a lot of paved road and a little bit of cement.

I arrive at the entrance of a tiny village;
there were three guys in uniform (not cops) and a young woman, maybe a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3 *;
by cons the two guys on motorcycles behind me were not arrested while, of course they wore no helmet or mask.
I just had to take this staircase to take me to heaven or hell?

 

Stairway to heaven ( or Hell , who knows ? )

 

I always have a chuckle when I see those stairways in LOS. The little platform that we see is where the supporting pillar should be located, but the vast majority either have no supporting pillar or have a pillar elsewhere under it. Exemplifies Thai construction- do stuff without understanding the reason for it. That's what happens when employing people because they'll work for peanuts.

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, Assurancetourix said:

Friday , April 24 , 2020

 

Today a short 36 km balade on my MTBike;
a lot of paved road and a little bit of cement.

I arrive at the entrance of a tiny village;
there were three guys in uniform (not cops) and a young woman, maybe a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3 *;
by cons the two guys on motorcycles behind me were not arrested while, of course they wore no helmet or mask.
I just had to take this staircase to take me to heaven or hell?

 

Stairway to heaven ( or Hell , who knows ? )

{snipped}

How come you're just so cool dude?

 

When I've been cycling I keep expecting to be told I have Covid, as those skin thermometers measuring someone in the sun and cycling don't give a body temperature reading.

 

What was the outcome - are you in isolation? Do you need any Red Cross food parcels?

Or did you just scare them off?

 

[AndyAndyAndy]

2 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Friday , April 24 , 2020

 

Today a short 36 km balade on my MTBike;
a lot of paved road and a little bit of cement.

I arrive at the entrance of a tiny village;
there were three guys in uniform (not cops) and a young woman, maybe a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3 *;
by cons the two guys on motorcycles behind me were not arrested while, of course they wore no helmet or mask.
I just had to take this staircase to take me to heaven or hell?

 

Stairway to heaven ( or Hell , who knows ? )

 

 

You were lucky. Two days ago they also took my temperature. But my reading was 40°C! So they repeated it and again 39.9°C! I already saw myself being taken to some hospital isolation. Then they pointed it on one of the nurses and her reading was 39.7°C!

 

So they pulled out regular arm pit meter and suddenly my body temperature was 36.2°C and I was free to go.

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

 

You were lucky. Two days ago they also took my temperature. But my reading was 40°C! So they repeated it and again 39.9°C! I already saw myself being taken to some hospital isolation. Then they pointed it on one of the nurses and her reading was 39.7°C!

 

So they pulled out regular arm pit meter and suddenly my body temperature was 36.2°C and I was free to go.

They have a backup in case of battery failure? Wow!

 

[Assurancetourix]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

How come you're just so cool dude?

 

When I've been cycling I keep expecting to be told I have Covid, as those skin thermometers measuring someone in the sun and cycling don't give a body temperature reading.

 

What was the outcome - are you in isolation? Do you need any Red Cross food parcels?

Or did you just scare them off?

 

how to tell you ....
I have been the only farang in my village for 14 years.
So cool?
This is my way of living since I live in Thailand.

Never take the lead for anything and with anyone.
And then my wife does not speak a word of French or English; it allows me to live in peace while understanding better and better when someone speaks to me in Thai;

but i keep ignoring it, it's the best way to never be bothered by anyone.

 

About the Covid?
I think I got through; I must also say that I only go out of my house to go and take small strolls alone in the forests of heveas around my house; I only meet dogs there and very rarely humans who work there and therefore are far from the road in red soil.

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

how to tell you ....
I have been the only farang in my village for 14 years.
So cool?
This is my way of living since I live in Thailand.

Never take the lead for anything and with anyone.
And then my wife does not speak a word of French or English; it allows me to live in peace while understanding better and better when someone speaks to me in Thai;

but i keep ignoring it, it's the best way to never be bothered by anyone.

 

About the Covid?
I think I got through; I must also say that I only go out of my house to go and take small strolls alone in the forests of heveas around my house; I only meet dogs there and very rarely humans who work there and therefore are far from the road in red soil.

Perhaps my English is too obscure:

 

You said: "a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3"

 

So I wrote: "How come you're just so cool dude?"

(cool - 33.3C, not 36.5C)

 

[Assurancetourix]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

Perhaps my English is too obscure:

 

You said: "a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3"

 

So I wrote: "How come you're just so cool dude?"

(cool - 33.3C, not 36.5C)

 

I always forget that this word has several meanings; sorry BlueSofa 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Assurancetourix said:

I always forget that this word has several meanings; sorry BlueSofa 

No problem. At least you have a sense of humour!

Some English people don't understand it because they don't have a sense of humour, not because of the language.

[Bredbury Blue]

2 hours ago, AndyAndyAndy said:

 

You were lucky. Two days ago they also took my temperature. But my reading was 40°C! So they repeated it and again 39.9°C! I already saw myself being taken to some hospital isolation. Then they pointed it on one of the nurses and her reading was 39.7°C!

 

So they pulled out regular arm pit meter and suddenly my body temperature was 36.2°C and I was free to go.

Lucky for you that the thermometer they had wasn't a rectal thermometer...yikes!

[faraday]

Finally some rain - bit of thunder & lightening, which stopped, but now it's here!

 

[HighPriority]

7 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Friday , April 24 , 2020

 

Today a short 36 km balade on my MTBike;
a lot of paved road and a little bit of cement.

I arrive at the entrance of a tiny village;
there were three guys in uniform (not cops) and a young woman, maybe a nurse who absolutely wanted to take my temperature with her electronic thing;
result, I am dead; temperature: 33.3 *;
by cons the two guys on motorcycles behind me were not arrested while, of course they wore no helmet or mask.
I just had to take this staircase to take me to heaven or hell?

 

Stairway to heaven ( or Hell , who knows ? )

 

One of my favorite things of Thailand... stairways to nowhere ! ????

[sotonowl]

Citriodiol is an ingredient of a product called Mosi-Guard. This ingredient I believe to come from Eucalyptus trees. The British Army have started issuing this insect repellant to troops as they believe it to be helpful in fending off the corona virus.

@owl sees all you best get watering those saplings, the price is about to go through the roof.????????

[Assurancetourix]

14 hours ago, HighPriority said:

One of my favorite things of Thailand... stairways to nowhere ! ????

Or bridge to nowhere ( in Sai Yok National Park - Kanchanaburi province )

 

[Odysseus123]

1 minute ago, Assurancetourix said:

Or bridge to nowhere ( in Sai Yok National Park - Kanchanaburi province )

 

Ssssh..don't tell Alec Guinness or William Holden about that bridge...

 

The last thing we need is a remake or a sequel!

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Ssssh..don't tell Alec Guinness or William Holden about that bridge...

 

The last thing we need is a remake or a sequel!

Yeah. Could be a bridge too far.

[Assurancetourix]

Wednesday , April 22 , 2020

 

It was a few days ago, a nice balade on my Orbea ( the name of the frame of my MTBike ) once again in large forests of heveas;
I went back to see this Wat lost in the bottom of nowhere;
they have electricity with 3 solar panels placed on a pole in the yard, which is to say that it can not work much.
A curious big Buddha in an iron cage and a very beautiful octagonal tower

 

 

 

 

33 km on red roads and asphalt road ( n* 22 )

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

11 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

I went back to see this Wat lost in the bottom of nowhere;

The wats in unexpected places are the best to visit.

There are some nice ones on the far side of Phayao lake from the town.

 

My favourite is the one south of Lamphun which featured in Rambo 3. Far as I know the stick fight scene was filmed in Bkk, so It's a stretch to show him going to the temple on a long tail.

[sotonowl]

7 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Wednesday , April 22 , 2020

 

It was a few days ago, a nice balade on my Orbea ( the name of the frame of my MTBike ) once again in large forests of heveas;
I went back to see this Wat lost in the bottom of nowhere;
they have electricity with 3 solar panels placed on a pole in the yard, which is to say that it can not work much.
A curious big Buddha in an iron cage and a very beautiful octagonal tower

 

 

 

 

33 km on red roads and asphalt road ( n* 22 )

 

 

 

 

Why do you always take pics of your treader, is it to convince some saddos that you were actually there? Do said saddos judge everyone by their own standards? Asking for a friend.