Diary of a farang in Isaan

[faraday]

12 minutes ago, SniperSpider said:

No I am not touchy, just correct?  Highways with odd numbers go north and south, even numbers go east and west, the same as in many countries.  It is ok to correct someone if you are indeed correct.

Cool your beans, man. It was clearly a joke.

[Tagged]

22 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

My first time in Isaan I thought it was great, did the farang dance with land and house. I was still working so only stayed for 2 mos at a time. As time went by realized I wouldn't make this my retirement home, my reasoning was that I've worked too hard all my life to settle for this.....this being living in a rice paddie. Don't get me wrong, a lot of good hard working people. I didn't have to move to Thailand to live in the country, I grew up in the country, I have property in the country in the US. I would like to be nearer things that interest me, going to see a movie in English if I choose plus I love living near the sea.

 

Anyway, school for our daughter was becoming a topic of concern. Long story short we moved south to a little fishing village close to a nice beach, good schools, the move was for me as much as it was for our daughter. Plus, I'm a good 11 hrs by car away from THE family.

So, where about did you find this paradise? 

[SniperSpider]

2 minutes ago, faraday said:

Cool your beans, man. It was clearly a joke.

There is a lot of "joking" going around that is clearly not funny to others as well. Just another smart remark to me out of context with the OP. As stated, since it is a Public Forum, I have the right to reply as well, as I choose.  I did not like the comment and no one has to like mine.  I am sure there are plenty on the forum that are as tired of this repetitive "joking" as I am.

 

To the OP, I am sorry that this may have upset the purpose of a decent post but joking aside, please push on.

[Tagged]

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I always tell the women that choose to live with me, if they want Thai culture they should find a Thai man to live with and accept the regular beatings he will deal out.

Actually I have seen more of the opposite, but before used to believe the thai man was in total control. Now I see how abusive some thai women are, controlling, abusive verbally, and also hitting their man. No wonder a lost thai man drinks. 

 

Easy to see girls dragging their bf´s around for selfier as well. Be it hi so BKK ladies, or Village girls, same same. 

 

Quite an eye opener how much power and control thai ladies have, the longer I live here, but also true what brit man refer to, and thats the stories the ladies tells us, how they ended up searching for a falang in odd places. 

[bluesofa]

26 minutes ago, faraday said:

39 minutes ago, SniperSpider said:

No I am not touchy, just correct?  Highways with odd numbers go north and south, even numbers go east and west, the same as in many countries.  It is ok to correct someone if you are indeed correct.

Cool your beans, man. It was clearly a joke.

Joke? That joke was lost on me.

[SniperSpider]

23 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Joke? That joke was lost on me.

Thank you.  I hope now the thread can return to the topics presented by the OP.

[EVENKEEL]

42 minutes ago, Tagged said:

So, where about did you find this paradise? 

I wouldn't call Rayong area paradise, But I like it.

[Tagged]

11 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Life for the dogs outside your palace walls are a bit different.

Every dog in our village have a home, and no dogs killing chicken, or anything else, I guess that explains Owls dog. I have only seen good treatment around where I stay now, and much better than any place in south and mid Thailand. 

[Tagged]

6 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I wouldn't call Rayong area paradise, But I like it.

Yes, it is good area, except all the rain. Could have stayed Ranong, but same same, to much rain. 

[Denim]

11 hours ago, finnishmen said:

isaan have at foreign, <deleted> place live. i has living 4 year now and newer before no has eat thats same bad, all food have tottally big <deleted>, isan food not have thai food and normal. all have big <deleted> and human no can eat, only thai monkeys idiot eat eweryday <deleted> grass,<deleted> wery bad fish,all food could or raw,or half-raw, all food wery bad taste. normal thai food have 500 x better south than isan food have ewer. all peoples have idiots or little stupid, and IF borrow somethink newer not go back or go back broken. has destroy my hammer drill 2 pcs, now, hammer drill not have cheap 8000 B pcs and has borrow and destroy 2 pcs, and no tell me has broken, same many toold,ladders no newer go back to home if someone has borrow, expensives good guality ladders cost 5000 B but i no can use because have somewere at village. same many many tools and others parts, monkeys idiots no newer pay back or give me back my tools. i no borrow anythink now to monkeys idiots. womans not care husband, o matter what husband say wifes no hear husband newer, if need help somethink newer not help .

 

Are you a TEFLer by any chance ?

[bluesofa]

25 minutes ago, SniperSpider said:

Thank you.  I hope now the thread can return to the topics presented by the OP.

I wasn't defending what you said, I couldn't see where it was intended as humour?

So back to what you're trying get away from:

 

1 hour ago, SniperSpider said:

No I am not touchy, just correct?  Highways with odd numbers go north and south, even numbers go east and west, the same as in many countries.  It is ok to correct someone if you are indeed correct.

This is not correct is it. Highway 1 goes north. Highway 2 goes north-east.

Highway 211 starts about 10km south of Nong Khai, goes west, then turns north.

[Sandy Freckle]

Thanks for your entertaining and informative posts. On my next trip to the LOS, I'd like to venture up that way..., probably by bus and rail. I've been to Chiang Mai many times and also down to the south east but never up into the belly of Isaan proper..., so I'll continue to read and learn.
Thank you.  

[Andycoops]

On 11/18/2019 at 11:08 AM, 4MyEgo said:

My wife doesn't give them "Jack", and naturally I asked come one day, "honey" why don't you give them something....huh, they have hands and feet and can work, instead of always asking for money on the village people for this or that, um....ok "honey" that sounds logical......love you ???? 

My wife doesn't give alms as they pass the house but does occasionally when she visits at the temple.

It's all a matter of choice.

[Sandy Freckle]

12 hours ago, finnishmen said:

isaan have at foreign, <deleted> place live. i has living 4 year now and newer before no has eat thats same bad, all food have tottally big <deleted>, isan food not have thai food and normal. all have big <deleted> and human no can eat, only thai monkeys idiot eat eweryday <deleted> grass,<deleted> wery bad fish,all food could or raw,or half-raw, all food wery bad taste. normal thai food have 500 x better south than isan food have ewer. all peoples have idiots or little stupid, and IF borrow somethink newer not go back or go back broken. has destroy my hammer drill 2 pcs, now, hammer drill not have cheap 8000 B pcs and has borrow and destroy 2 pcs, and no tell me has broken, same many toold,ladders no newer go back to home if someone has borrow, expensives good guality ladders cost 5000 B but i no can use because have somewere at village. same many many tools and others parts, monkeys idiots no newer pay back or give me back my tools. i no borrow anythink now to monkeys idiots. womans not care husband, o matter what husband say wifes no hear husband newer, if need help somethink newer not help .

Can someone please translate ?

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, Sandy Freckle said:

Can someone please translate ?

Isaan food sucks and people destroy his tools there...….I think.

[faraday]

Ok,ok....I really do think it is a good idea, that unless is blatantly clear a joke has been made, a suitable emoji is attached. ????

 

Anyway, this is a great thread. ????

[faraday]

First picture is a Thai Avocado, bought from Tesco's.

 

Second, a Swiss one bought from Makro.

 

Both planted at the same time.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 20-11-2019

 

Everything back to normal in the household this morning. No dramas.

 

Went outside to open the gate at 5-45 this morning. looking right I can count 9 dogs in about 60 metres or so. Now which one, I thought, ripped open the rubbish bags and messed up the environment! Not to worry. I was more concerned with the water leak right outside the gate.

 

It was only sorted out a few days ago. Some sorting that!

 

 

Brousing through my pics, I found a couple of nice ones of Nong Khai.

 

Laos in the background, across the mighty Mekong river.

 

 

And four young ladies outside the aquarium.

 

 

Mrs Owl has just told me she needs a rest, and has retired back to the  bedroom, giving me that 'not tonight Josephene' look as she passed. I have important work anyway; mixing up my blended wine. I've strained the reishi, and have one and a half litres of Lao khow at the ready. I might not use it all as, I don't like to make it too strong; about 20% alchol content is about right for me.

 

I really have to go to the farm today. No excuses.

 

 

 

[bannork]

3 hours ago, SniperSpider said:

No I am not touchy, just correct?  Highways with odd numbers go north and south, even numbers go east and west, the same as in many countries.  It is ok to correct someone if you are indeed correct.

We don't farm but live a great life in a Mekong village 20-30 minutes north of Nong Khai. 

That's what you wrote and it ain't correct! You're north-east or north-west of Nong Khai. Never mind, let sleeping dogs lie, especially in Thailand, they might bite.

I love the road west of Nong Khai after Sri Chiang Mai when it starts to climb and winds along beside the Mekong. Years ago we stopped at a restaurant near Sangkhom and I noticed a papaya tree which must have been 12 metres high. I'd never seen one so high.

The owner saw me admiring it and gave me one of its fruit. The missus planted a seed from it and we had our own very high papaya tree until a hyperactive neighbour, definitely not all there, chopped it down because she was frustrated she didn't have a pole long enough to dislodge one of its fruit!  Oh man!
 

[bannork]

20 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log 20-11-2019

 

Everything back to normal in the household this morning. No dramas.

 

Went outside to open the gate at 5-45 this morning. looking right I can count 9 dogs in about 60 metres or so. Now which one, I thought, ripped open the rubbish bags and messed up the environment! Not to worry. I was more concerned with the water leak right outside the gate.

 

It was only sorted out a few days ago. Some sorting that!

 

 

Brousing through my pics, I found a couple of nice ones of Nong Khai.

 

Laos in the background, across the mighty Mekong river.

 

 

And four young ladies outside the aquarium.

 

 

Mrs Owl has just told me she needs a rest, and has retired back to the  bedroom, giving me that 'not tonight Josephene' look as she passed. I have important work anyway; mixing up my blended wine. I've strained the reishi, and have one and a half litres of Lao khow at the ready. I might not use it all as, I don't like to make it too strong; about 20% alchol content is about right for me.

 

I really have to go to the farm today. No excuses.

 

 

 

Owl, don't you have one of those blue rubbish bins with lids outside your house?  They usually keep the dogs out but they're not very big.

[zyphodb]

21 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

'cause more girls from Issan are hooking in Pattaya than any other province?

Probably more to do with the majority of the population of Thailand live in Isaan...

[bannork]

3 hours ago, Tagged said:

So, where about did you find this paradise? 

For me nowhere can beat Issan but if someone wanted to live in unspoilt areas by the sea I would recommend some places in Ban Chang district Rayong province and Prajuap Khiri Khan. The latter is a lovely town with Ao Manao nearby.

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, bannork said:

Owl, don't you have one of those blue rubbish bins with lids outside your house?  They usually keep the dogs out but they're not very big.

The bins we have just outside Udon city are those water barrels about a metre tall. They're supplied by the tessaban and have a hinged lid on top, instead of the lid in the pic below.

[Assurancetourix]

On 11/19/2019 at 8:05 AM, sunnyboy2018 said:

People seem to think of Issan as village life. I have been to Issan many times but never been to a village. Just the towns and cities.

I'm living in a little village in Issan since nearly 14 years ;

I'm the only farang in it ; 

The nearest other farang is a Norwegian friend ( I'm french ) who lives 3 km away in another village a bit more important since there is a market .

The nearest 7/11 is 10 km away in a PTT petrol station on Highway 22 that connects Udon Thani to Nakon Phanom.

I like to read the diary of our friend " la chouette qui voit tout " owl sees all 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Great thread Owl keep posting.

 

I only spent a week near Ubon with the parents of some friends on their farm, I can see the attraction to rural living though !!

 

 

Also, eagerly awaiting the 2nd chapter of @bannork and Dee and the kids !!

[Assurancetourix]

15 hours ago, jimn said:

Each to his own life I suppose. But living in Issan like the OP sounds like a living version of hell. I take my wife up to the village twice a year and only spend 1 night there in a hotel. I cant wait to get away from the village. If she wants to see her family more I encourage her to go alone on the bus.

Each family can be very different.
In the village where I live, there are my parents-in-law or rather my  mother in law because my  father in law passed away a year ago at the age of 84 years.
There are also two  sisters and a  brother in law; the other  brother in law is an engineer in a big German company in Rayong.
If I want to see my  mother in law, I have to go to her house at 500 meters.
For my  brother in law who lives at 50 meters, it's almost the same, either he is in his plantation of heveas or in his rice fields ...

And then we have four small dogs and four cats;
dogs can enter the house but not cats that live in the garden and often in those of neighbors, especially the two males!

[Assurancetourix]

15 hours ago, owl sees all said:

He told Mrs Owl that it was put down humanely. 

One way to say he finished it with a machete as they do to kill a calf. 

[Assurancetourix]

15 hours ago, finnishmen said:

and IF borrow somethink newer not go back or go back broken. has destroy my hammer drill 2 pcs, now, hammer drill not have cheap 8000 B pcs and has borrow and destroy 2 pcs, and no tell me has broken, same many toold,ladders no newer go back to home if someone has borrow,

 

That's the big problem here;
if you do not put your tools under lock, they disappear and you never see them again.
When someone in the family or a neighbor comes to ask me for a tool or scale, I ask him to leave me a thousand baht;
if he refuses, no tools or scale ...
If the tool comes back damaged or broken, I keep of course the 1000 baht which will not be enough to replace it but the guy understood that the next time he will have to go elsewhere ...
.

[Tagged]

49 minutes ago, bannork said:

For me nowhere can beat Issan but if someone wanted to live in unspoilt areas by the sea I would recommend some places in Ban Chang district Rayong province and Prajuap Khiri Khan. The latter is a lovely town with Ao Manao nearby.

Prachuap is a lovely city I pass on my way to and from south quite often, but never stayed in the area. First stop is always Chumpon or Ranong. 

 

However I have been thinking, when I stop working, it could be a town to settle, but things would have changed quite a bit before thats going to happen. 

 

I would never settle 100% in Isan, but 30% of my time maybe? 

[Assurancetourix]

11 hours ago, SniperSpider said:

We don't farm but live a great life in a Mekong village 20-30 minutes north of Nong Khai.

North of Nong Khai, the Mekong and ....

So you are living in Laos ?