Diary of a farang in Isaan

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, phetphet said:

Maybe so. But if you are back in the UK, single, and have a yearning for a good Phad Krapow, making it yourself is probably the only way you will get it.

 

It wasn't on the menu in any of my local Thai restaurants. In fact, I don't recall seeing it on any Thai restaurants that I visited in the UK. So when I wanted it, I made it.

 

Now I am here permanently, the girlfriend does all the cooking...except a few western dishes that I prefer to do myself. 

 

Now why don't you tell your other half to get back in the kitchen and leave the farm and the tree planting to you?  ????

 

Please let us know how that goes down. 

 

BTW. I really enjoy reading your thread about life in Isaan..

 

 

 

This is one I had at my fav Thai restaurant in Essex. Their food is as good as anything I’ve had. 

The chef is from Chiangmai and everyone there are Thais including the owner. I’ve become good friends with them all. Lovely people. 

 

Tasty Phad kapow but about 10 times the price ????

Edited May 4, 2020 by Kadilo

[owl sees all]

7 hours ago, Kadilo said:

This is one I had at my fav Thai restaurant in Essex. Their food is as good as anything I’ve had. 

The chef is from Chiangmai and everyone there are Thais including the owner. I’ve become good friends with them all. Lovely people. 

 

Tasty Phad kapow but about 10 times the price ????

That egg don't look right. And diet coke?

[Assurancetourix]

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

That egg don't look right. And diet coke?

This khrapao khai , khai daw , does not inspire confidence in me;

A shrimp and two weird pieces of chicken ...
Why can't they keep it simple like in Thailand?

 

as for the coca light it is precisely in case of diarrhea because of this bizarre chicken

[owl sees all]

8 hours ago, pineapple01 said:

I know all about the KITCHEN, i walk through every Day on my way to the GARAGE.!

I had 5 sisters and 4 daughters with my first wife. They told me in their special ways to vacate the kitchen and stop making it untidy. I would object; but what could I do?

 

The present good lady can stand up straight in the sink area of the kitchen; I can't. Best I keep away.

 

At school the lads did woodwork and metalwork. The girls did domestic science.

[Bredbury Blue]

10 hours ago, faraday said:

And electrickery.....

 

 

...similar to Thai's "electric-city" ????

Edited May 5, 2020 by Bredbury Blue

[owl sees all]

13 hours ago, sotonowl said:

 

@owl sees all A half litre of Olive Oil a day would come out at around 4000 calories. Anyone consuming that will make themselves violently sick not to mention what it would do to your toilet pan. Did the doctor who told you this have a bone through his nose by any chance?????

No!!!

 

Dr Gundry was a US heart surgeon in his younger days, with a few thousand jobs under his belt. He was appalled at the stated of his fellow countryman's general health and decided to do something about it. He quit his scalpel work and started a health programme. Wrote a couple of books too.

 

A little controversial, but he has a lot of followers on social media. Some might call him the 'David Icke' of the good eating world.

[Assurancetourix]

Just now, owl sees all said:

A little controversial, but he has a lot of followers on social media. Some might call him the 'David Icke' of the good eating world.

Never heard of this good doctor ..
On the other hand when I assiduously frequented Vietnam, years 90/96, I had heard of another "good doctor", a Japanese who advocated drinking his own <deleted> from waking up ...

All tastes are in nature 

[pineapple01]

The Good Doctor could be related to Good Thai Farmer next door. I have watched this Cucumber Plant he gave us since infancy. Yesterday it produced a Tiny Bouncing Water Mellon.!

[owl sees all]

10 hours ago, phetphet said:

Now why don't you tell your other half to get back in the kitchen and leave the farm and the tree planting to you?

A couple of reasons.

 

One is that I need her to tell the workers what I want. These workers are notoriously fickle, and like to do things as they remember them from their very young days.

 

Secondly; she would beat me; a lot! Now I'm a big strong guy and could pick up the pip-squeak with one hand and throw her to the middle of the pond. But, she is confident that I will not do that as she knows I love my kois, and wouldn't scare them. So, with that confidence she interferes in everything.

 

Thirdly; she needs to look after the grub and drink during the planting period.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I have a complaint about this thread !!

( at least I think it was mentioned on here ???? )

 

Someone stated that a “ Tookay “ only calls 4 or 5 times.

As i have a resident Tookay in an adjoining tree I regularly hear him calling but now have got into the habit of stopping what i am doing and counting the calls !! ( so far all 5’s with the occasional 4 ), i can’t stop !!

 

Where is your complaint, i hear you say ?

 

Well, yesterday, the gf and myself were in the bathroom together when the Tookay started its chorus, unfortunately the gf was in the middle of some enthralling tale about her sister or something ( not really sure what she was talking about ! ) and i made the unfortunate decision to shush her abruptly so I could count the Tookay’s calls..........

 

Yup, it went down like a lead balloon and despite my attempts to get back in the good books there is still an atmosphere you could cut with a knife !!

 

A little bit of advice for you guys, if you mess up and want to redeem yourself using the phrase “ but Teerak the guys on TVF said “ it is not going to cut it, try flowers......or gold !!

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I have a complaint about this thread !!

( at least I think it was mentioned on here ???? )

 

Someone stated that a “ Tookay “ only calls 4 or 5 times.

As i have a resident Tookay in an adjoining tree I regularly hear him calling but now have got into the habit of stopping what i am doing and counting the calls !! ( so far all 5’s with the occasional 4 ), i can’t stop !!

 

Where is your complaint, i hear you say ?

 

Well, yesterday, the gf and myself were in the bathroom together when the Tookay started its chorus, unfortunately the gf was in the middle of some enthralling tale about her sister or something ( not really sure what she was talking about ! ) and i made the unfortunate decision to shush her abruptly so I could count the Tookay’s calls..........

 

Yup, it went down like a lead balloon and despite my attempts to get back in the good books there is still an atmosphere you could cut with a knife !!

 

A little bit of advice for you guys, if you mess up and want to redeem yourself using the phrase “ but Teerak the guys on TVF said “ it is not going to cut it, try flowers......or gold !!

 

 

I often count 7 or 8 from our resident Tookay...................... a friend's wife is convinced that only 5 calls indicate imminent death (to family or friend)

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I often count 7 or 8 from our resident Tookay...................... a friend's wife is convinced that only 5 calls indicate imminent death (to family or friend)

I hope your friends wife is not correct in this as at the moment i am probably number one on the death list !!

[pineapple01]

The name reminds Me of the awful Hungarian Sweet Wine my Grandfather bought. I cant stand either of them. Why he insisted it was sold in PUTS when i saw an old wine bottle remains a mystery. 

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

'Sanders of the River' statements

I love those books. Totally NON PC. I like them because they are ripping good yarns for boys ( including older "boys at heart" ). That they are non PC is just a bonus.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

That egg don't look right. And diet coke?

Looks like the pan was too hot. Most of the eggs I ate in restaurants in LOS looked like that.

 

If the diet Coke has aspartame in it one is not doing one's self any favours. Very bad stuff.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Above all, never buy Spanish olive oil;
because many bottles of Spanish olive oil are not. Best way to get to the hospital

All olive oil brands are not equal, and one usually gets what one pays for .

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Never heard of this good doctor ..
On the other hand when I assiduously frequented Vietnam, years 90/96, I had heard of another "good doctor", a Japanese who advocated drinking his own <deleted> from waking up ...

All tastes are in nature 

Urine doesn't make one sick, unless it's contaminated, as long as it's fresh. A litre of olive oil probably would.

As urine is mainly water, it could keep one alive if without a fresh water supply.

[pineapple01]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Looks like the pan was too hot. Most of the eggs I ate in restaurants in LOS looked like that.

 

If the diet Coke has aspartame in it one is not doing one's self any favours. Very bad stuff.

 

Mc Donald's became rich because of food like looked that.

[Kadilo]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

That egg don't look right. And diet coke?

Yeah the egg was blitzed a bit. 

I only drink Diet Coke, I will take the risk of the sweetener against the sugar. Personal choice. 

[phetphet]

8 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I had 5 sisters and 4 daughters with my first wife. They told me in their special ways to vacate the kitchen and stop making it untidy. I would object; but what could I do?

 

The present good lady can stand up straight in the sink area of the kitchen; I can't. Best I keep away.

 

At school the lads did woodwork and metalwork. The girls did domestic science.

Domestic Science?

It was called Home Economics in my school, and was in a place none of us boys ever ventured in the whole time I was there. In fact, boys and girls were separated at break time into two different playgrounds.

[phetphet]

8 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

This khrapao khai , khai daw , does not inspire confidence in me;

A shrimp and two weird pieces of chicken ...
Why can't they keep it simple like in Thailand?

 

as for the coca light it is precisely in case of diarrhea because of this bizarre chicken

+1

Every Phad Krapow Gai  that I have eaten has been made with finely chopped, or minced  chicken. Never had prawns  in  it either.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/5/2020 at 8:26 PM, phetphet said:

Domestic Science?

It was called Home Economics in my school, and was in a place none of us boys ever ventured in the whole time I was there. In fact, boys and girls were separated at break time into two different playgrounds.

I went to a boys secondary school so missed much that those in co ed had. However the urban legend had it that few girls over 14 had not had it off behind the bike sheds.

 

I did attend a co ed primary school and while we were not segregated, no boy would have associated with girls. We played bull rush and the girls formed a group and sang Tom Dooley.

Edited May 7, 2020 by thaibeachlovers

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I went to a boys secondary school so missed much that those in co ed had. However the urban legend had it that few girls over 14 had not had it off behind the bike sheds.

 

I did attend a co ed primary school and while we were not segregated, no boy would have associated with girls. We played bull rush and the girls formed a group and sang Tom Dooley.

Our favourite game in the playground was 'hi-jimmy-knacker'. Girls could not play. Boys only.

 

The girls would play 'ring-a-ring-a-roses' and hopscotch.

Edited May 7, 2020 by owl sees all

[terry Meltham]

What the hell is Hi-jimmy-nacker?

 

[owl sees all]

33 minutes ago, terry Meltham said:

What the hell is Hi-jimmy-nacker?

 

A game where two teams of up to about 10 lads, would take it in turns to jump, or rather leap-frog, on the other team's backs. There would be other boys used as cushions too; although they might not be on either team.

 

Could be a bit 'hairy' at times. Some kids hurt their backs. A lot of chanting as well.

 

The earliest recall of the game I've found was 1740, played in the London's East End.

 

Can't imagine that it's played now. Thai lads would like it.

 

I think the name came for the leap-froggers who could often hurt their testes.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 08-05-2020

 

Been a frustrating week. Everything seemed to be breaking. First the pick-up was giving prob's. Turned out to be a seized air con compressor motor. A local man hes opened a shop and reports have been good. Let him have it for three days. Got it back today. 10,500 Baht. While the jalopy was in the shop one of our house fans stopped. Fixed that (yea). Then the wife's TV-watching chair collapsed. Wired the rear cross-member, back in place. That'll do! Seemed to please her. I'll do the front-member; if I can find it. 

 

Tried to fix the portable a/c. Took it apart. Plenty of wires to see. Thought I'd by-pass everything and when it was plugged in just the fan would work. On the scrap heap now, waiting for the junk man. But, not to be defeated, I tried to get the mozzie-exterminator going. Should get something

decent when Chai Steptoe arrives in the village.

 

 

 

One of the little lads (Neil) brought me his bike to fix. Dear me!I Only put new tyres and pedals on it a couple of weeks back. Now the brakes are hanging off and the handlebars are well loose. I'll have a look tomorrow.

 

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

No rain, so I decided to wait no longer and pump some water from number 4 to number 5. I'll do a couple more inches at the w/e.

 

 

^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

The children were out in force at the farm on Wednesday. TBH I wasn't happy with them in pond 5. They made it very muddy and I'm sure the fishes were not best pleased,

 

 

 

 

Your time will come Poom. Be patient!

 

 

And what's better when you get out than a hose down with,,,,, well, pond water.

 

 

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

Some of the children find the pink catfish fascinating.

 

 

Action man just wants action!

 

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

At the farm this evening we moved to pond 4 for the frivolities. I banned them from pond 5.

 

 

 

They spotted me taking a snap or two.

 

 

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

The village super highway is still moving ahead. I'm not impressed with the way they leave it for days.

 

 

Just downright dangerous for the children. I've told the 'cross-road gang' to be careful. The 'end of the road crew' don't listen though. Those spikes could rip open a kid's leg.

 

 

%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%

 

Had some hot days recently. Inadvertently locked Charkie in the house this afternoon. Found her in the corner of the bathroom when we returned from the farm. She must have been cursing me.

 

A dry storm again last night. According to all the charts; this month (May) should see 15-17 wet days, with 300mm of rain falling. So far we have had zero days rain. It's getting serious!

 

Mrs Owl made me a nice cuppa earlier. Is she beginning to see the error in her ways? I wonder. Might find out tonight.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/9/2020 at 3:21 AM, owl sees all said:

And what's better when you get out than a hose down with,,,,, well, pond water.

If water situation is so serious, shouldn't they be saving the used water for the plants. Stand in one of those bath things they use for making concrete.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/9/2020 at 3:21 AM, owl sees all said:

No rain, so I decided to wait no longer and pump some water from number 4 to number 5. I'll do a couple more inches at the w/e.

Are you able to siphon the water from one pond to the other? Save on electricity. I used to do that to fill the fish pond by the house from the swamp, when things were very dry.

[pineapple01]

After the Nice Farmer gave us Cucumber plants and we now have lovely Water Mellon's im wondering if his 120 Cows are actually Sheep..Issan never fails to surprise.

[chickenslegs]

On 5/8/2020 at 10:21 PM, owl sees all said:

Mrs Owl made me a nice cuppa earlier. Is she beginning to see the error in her ways? I wonder. Might find out tonight.

If ever there was a post that requires an update - it's this one.

Spill the beans Owl.