Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 09-09-2020

 

Long week end over. Children back to school. Took Mildred to catch her bus yesterday morning. It's a walk of about 200 metres. Counted 19 dogs. Not all within touching distance, but within 20 metres or so.

 

At M's school they are cutting down some trees. I'll get some pics for next post.

 

Number two farm has a great head of tasty, wriggly worms. People come from all over to catch them.

 

 

It's not just a case of asking the worms to come out. No! They (the charmers) use a washing up liquid, that they squirt onto the ground. This makes life uncomfortable for the wrigglies, they poke their heads up out of the soil and get nabbed by the catchers.

 

The problem for me is twofold. I'm rather fond of worms; in fact I refuse to use them as fishing bait. But also the plastic. The Thais don't mind taking away the worms. but forget to take away the plastic soap packets.

 

 

Picked up five in one day. As well as other rubbish.

 

 

The worms are used to lure frogs, rats and snake-head fish.

 

 

The liquid soap of choice, is cheap (I'm informed it's just 8 baht), but I think they should dilute it more. It's put it in a small sprayer and squirted around some fresh worm casts.

 

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The ladies tell me they have just a couple of day's work left on the eucas. It's taking them ages. Top lady (in red and black) has racked up 17 days pay. That's 5100 baht so far. Wiped out all my spending money for this month.

 

 

Lao khao break over girls. Let's get to it.

 

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The eucas are doing well. Both farms are the biz.

 

 

Number one farm above.

 

Number four below.

 

 

Milly and Wow doing the 'Hug a Tree' ritual. They think it's funny, but it's really serious stuff.

 

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The water leak outside is getting considerably worse.

 

 

One of the less obvious results of the leak, it that dogs, snakes, chickens, and ducks come over for a drink and a paddle about.

 

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The Buddha pond is filling nicely. It will be interesting to see where they go from here. Probably just pump out the water in a couple of months. Or maybe not! Rafts!

 

 

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The Buddha man has put up another banner.

 

 

To compliment the gun one on the other side of the farm.

 

 

I can't get my head around it all. When the Buddha opened up a couple of years back, they were touting for people to come and worship. It was quite popular. On Saturdays, it was 'women only day'. Mrs Owl went a couple of times, along with another dozen. The monk got the ladies to strip down to their undies, and then poured cold ground water onto their heads. The Mrs complained that the water was too cold. But! This was what it was all about. As the water was poured over the head and body, and the shock kicked in, a vision of lucky numbers should have appeared. Lots of winners! And 10% given over to the Buddha. That practice died a death a while back. Now they don't want visitors any more. Strange!?

 

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Electricity went off in the night (Monday night) and yesterday we had the electrics checked out my Guy. He is OK. We get his mother's shopping, for her corner shop, from Ban Dung, when she can't get there.

 

When the wires outside were moved there was a crackling sound. He pushed the wires in further, and the lecky came on. Went to PEA yesterday, to pay the bill and tell them of the problem. They told the wife (she says) that Guy had done OK, and it was sorted.

 

 

Ours is top left.

 

 

Looks like moisture getting in.

 

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Superman lives!

 

 

No! I stand corrected. Mum says Spiderman. Can't get it wrong, fearsom lot, that family. It was Spiderman's dad who killed our farm dog LuLu, with his hoe. Delicately done I was informed; well he was a surgeon in an earlier life.

 

 

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It's the ninth of September, and although we (for our area) are still statistically in the monsoon season, we have not had any rain yet this month. This is gonna be a very late year for rice. Wouldn't surprise me to see rice being harvested in December.

 

There is definitely activity on the fighting chicken scene. It's an underground activity. If you don't have chickens that fight, it would pass you by. There must be a gala, or championship, coming soon. Should I try to get an invite? Chickens hurting each, for some human's thrills, other doesn't really appeal to me. Second thoughts; I'll give it a miss.

 

Sign of the times! Mrs Owl's daughter and her husband came up from Bangkok for the long week end. He was due to go back to work today (Wednesday). Got a phone call from his boss, who told him that the workforce has been cut by half; and he was one of the bye bye half. He drove big wagons for the firm, all over Thailand. Now he is looking for new employment. But, not all bad news, as he will get three months money as compensation; about 100k I'm told. That will pay for the new car, for a while.

 

My daughter Julie, in England, works a district nurse, in a rural area. She tells me that some of her patients have not been able to get appointments to the local hospitals for months. This covid has disrupted many lives in the UK.

 

Footy this weekend. Gonna be some surprise results. This new exciting England team has got me excited. Definitely excited; honest.

 

What about that tennis player that whacked the ball into a ladies neck? Dear me! Don't they realise how fortunate they are to be just playing, and earning very decent dosh?

 

Stay safe.

 

Bye y'all.

 

  

Edited September 9, 2020 by owl sees all

[Andrew Dwyer]

Looks like you need a “ no littering “ sign on farm number 2 !, put a gun on the sign for added effect !!

 

It is always a toss up whether to pay a daily rate or a set price for work done, a daily rate brings out the “ heel draggers “, a set price brings out the “ corner cutters “.

I’ve been lucky in that the guy who has done stuff for me is the supervisor for the building firm who built the Moobahn and knows where to buy stuff and who to bring with him, I’m probably paying more than the locals but he always does a decent job.

 

Have seen the strip down buddha shower a few times, my gf and family have a go to monk in Sa Keao that they have been to a few times even though it is a 3 hr drive from here and a 5 hour drive for the rest of the family !!
Gf’s brother was a monk for 10 years, finished last year, and occasionally he will do the cold water shower thingy for others also driving long distances, seems like it has to be a specific person who does it ?
 

Footy is gonna be good this season I think, eagerly awaiting Liverpool v Leeds on Saturday !!

[owl sees all]

10 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Looks like you need a “ no littering “ sign on farm number 2 !, put a gun on the sign for added effect !!

 

It is always a toss up whether to pay a daily rate or a set price for work done, a daily rate brings out the “ heel draggers “, a set price brings out the “ corner cutters “.

I’ve been lucky in that the guy who has done stuff for me is the supervisor for the building firm who built the Moobahn and knows where to buy stuff and who to bring with him, I’m probably paying more than the locals but he always does a decent job.

 

Have seen the strip down buddha shower a few times, my gf and family have a go to monk in Sa Keao that they have been to a few times even though it is a 3 hr drive from here and a 5 hour drive for the rest of the family !!
Gf’s brother was a monk for 10 years, finished last year, and occasionally he will do the cold water shower thingy for others also driving long distances, seems like it has to be a specific person who does it ?
 

Footy is gonna be good this season I think, eagerly awaiting Liverpool v Leeds on Saturday !!

I think it's a good thing to pick litter up, and be seen to do so, especially if it catches on, and a Thai or two realises that having a clean farm is a good thing. Clean farm; no rats; no snakes.

 

I'm not complaining about the two farm ladies. The 300 baht a day is helpful to them. And the one in the pic is the 'big mango' lady; got to keep her on side.

 

I'm all for a good looking lady giving me a cold shower. Be thinking of something other than lottery numbers though; which by the way are are now a basic 100 baht, rising to 120 baht for the really lucky ones.

 

Liverpool 1 Leeds 3.

[FarFlungFalang]

8 hours ago, owl sees all said:

It's the ninth of September, and although we (for our area) are still statistically in the monsoon season, we have not had any rain yet this month. This is gonna be a very late year for rice. Wouldn't surprise me to see rice being harvested in December.

We've had a very good rainy season this year with an excellent spread of showers throughout the season unlike last when it all came down in about 4 weeks causing the worst flooding in at least fifty years.The cassava is looking the best I've seen in about 5 years as well as the rice and sugar.Haven't checked the actual figures.Mrs FFF harvested some cassava from the tree farm and I think she might have made a profit for the first time since the coup.

[owl sees all]

3 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

We've had a very good rainy season this year with an excellent spread of showers throughout the season unlike last when it all came down in about 4 weeks causing the worst flooding in at least fifty years.The cassava is looking the best I've seen in about 5 years as well as the rice and sugar.Haven't checked the actual figures.Mrs FFF harvested some cassava from the tree farm and I think she might have made a profit for the first time since the coup.

Yasothon generally does well with rain. Far better than north of Udon.

 

We only really got proper rain in August, and even then it tailed off at the end of the month. Nothing since. Only ever seen flooding in our area in 12 years; and then very mild.

 

Went to Yasathon a couple of years back to visit a huge mango farm. Very interesting! They grew four varieties. Their main line went straight to China. Wonder how they did this year?

 

 

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

We've had a very good rainy season this year with an excellent spread of showers throughout the season unlike last when it all came down in about 4 weeks causing the worst flooding in at least fifty years.The cassava is looking the best I've seen in about 5 years as well as the rice and sugar.Haven't checked the actual figures.Mrs FFF harvested some cassava from the tree farm and I think she might have made a profit for the first time since the coup.

The dams are still way down and lower than the same time last year. Hopefully, the next couple of months will improve the situation.

https://www.thaiwater.net//DATA/REPORT/php/rid_bigcm.html 

 

 

[FarFlungFalang]

Just now, GarryP said:

The dams are still way down and lower than the same time last year. Hopefully, the next couple of months will improve the situation.

https://www.thaiwater.net//DATA/REPORT/php/rid_bigcm.html 

 

 

Yes our dam is only half full and typically the rains start to ease up from about now.

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Yasothon generally does well with rain. Far better than north of Udon.

 

We only really got proper rain in August, and even then it tailed off at the end of the month. Nothing since. Only ever seen flooding in our area in 12 years; and then very mild.

 

Went to Yasathon a couple of years back to visit a huge mango farm. Very interesting! They grew four varieties. Their main line went straight to China. Wonder how they did this year?

 

 

From what I tasted they did pretty good this year.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 11-09-2020 Friday

 

A small shower freshened things up this morning. First this month. Just about enough for the eucas and rice. Not enough to help the ponds.

 

Mildred's school is cutting down some trees. It is a nice school and they keep it pretty clean and tidy, so by next week all the debris will be gone.

 

 

They have a large 'Botanical Garden' which is good for educating the children about trees and plants.

 

 

 

 

###########################################################

 

A taxi overturned on the way to Ban Dung on Wednesday afternoon. The driver was not hurt fortunately. Intended to take a pic on the way back, but only the roof was to be seen. Still there last night.

 

T

 

 

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Had to fix a broken light on the gate post.

 

The bottom part of the stand had give up the ghost.

 

 

Improvisation was needed. A plastic container that held ear swabs came in handy. Cleaned the area on top of the post. Mastic is handy for these quick fixes.

 

 

 

Up and running. Might get a black felt tip and cover the white over; to stop Mrs Owl moaning. "People will see that they are not the same colour." "Sorry teerak. Soon sort it out."

 

Should look like this on on the other post.

 

 

###########################################################

 

Removed the water drums from the water tower in number two farm this morning. Just two of us to start with. Som joined us after half were down.

 

 

 

Then it was time to cart them away.

 

 

 

Stored at the farm now.

 

 

 

Soon sell them off at half price.

 

###########################################################

 

Ladies finished at the farm. Fifty three working days all told. Have to find 16k baht today. 

 

Milly had her English oral exam yesterday. She had to speak for a minute to 400 children from the stage. Her key word was 'study'. Bit of cake, she told me! Didn't do so well in her Science though. Seventeen correct out of thirty questions. In her Maths she scored twenty four from twenty five. So, a bit up and down.

 

Seen new faces this month. Mrs Owl said they had no work to go back to after the long week end, so stayed in the village. Must be the same all over. Can they cut rice? Work soon.

 

That's it for now.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2020 by owl sees all

[bannork]

Didn't you have a storm the night before last Owl? We had thunder and lightning for hours plus a reasonable amount of rain. The usual power cut too.

My banana trees are coming on well, glad to see they're very expensive and hard to find in the market at present. Can't think why.

Grandchildren and neighbour's kids off to eat some noodles.

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, bannork said:

Didn't you have a storm the night before last Owl? We had thunder and lightning for hours plus a reasonable amount of rain. The usual power cut too.

My banana trees are coming on well, glad to see they're very expensive and hard to find in the market at present. Can't think why.

Grandchildren and neighbour's kids off to eat some noodles.

There was a storm of sorts. No rain though. Hardly disturbed my sleep.

 

Went to the Ban Dung Thursday market yesterday evening. The ground was a little muddy, so there was rain there. We are about 15 klm south east of the town. Rain missed us again. Luck of the draw!

 

 

[FarFlungFalang]

Sorry to hear about missing out on the rain draw again,and as luck would have it we've had some nice little showers over the last couple of days.Some lightening around tonight so we might get some more,I'll ask Huey the weather god to send some your way as he used to send us some nice swells back in my surfing days.

Edited September 11, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Sorry to hear about missing out on the rain draw again,and as luck would have it we've had some nice little showers over the last couple of days.Some lightening around tonight so we might get some more,I'll ask Huey the weather god to send some your way as he used to send us some nice swells back in my surfing days.

So it's Huey then. Well I never. I thought it was TT's Tinky Winky.

 

No looking back now FFF. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

I have been informed that our area is one of the flattest in Thailand. That's why the VofA was located here. This is probably why we are so low on rain.

[samsensam]

On 9/2/2020 at 9:44 AM, owl sees all said:

Professor Pigeon says that if ants were as big as humans, they would take over as the dominant species. They are that intelegent.

 

They are that intelegent. brilliant! ????

[FarFlungFalang]

43 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

So it's Huey then. Well I never. I thought it was TT's Tinky Winky.

 

No looking back now FFF. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

I have been informed that our area is one of the flattest in Thailand. That's why the VofA was located here. This is probably why we are so low on rain.

Being a busted ar$ed survey assistant I used to do a lot of rain dances that seemed to work well because you can't get the instrument wet.I told that to a young surveyor who ignored my advice and guess what?You guessed it I got the rest of the day and most of the next day off with pay because the instrument died.They were electronic by that time. 

Edited September 11, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[samsensam]

On 9/9/2020 at 1:53 AM, owl sees all said:

Job done HP.

 

Looking good.

 

 

bit of pointing wouldn't do any harm, not quite so easy to fix the non alignment... your handy work or a 'tradesman'?!

[bannork]

37 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

So it's Huey then. Well I never. I thought it was TT's Tinky Winky.

 

No looking back now FFF. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

I have been informed that our area is one of the flattest in Thailand. That's why the VofA was located here. This is probably why we are so low on rain.

Our home is just 4 km from the VOA with its runway of 4 lanes. There are hills to our north-east and heading west from VOA towards Phen, if you turn left after approx 4 km, the road skirts a broad valley. We visited a farm there, the cowshed had views for miles, beautiful!

South of Ban Dung heading towards Thung Fon, the fields of rain, are you near there Owl?

Personally I go along with your theory of decreasing annual rain in Issan. Now the heavy rain is sporadic, it used to be guaranteed, at least around Ban Dung.

[owl sees all]

20 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

bit of pointing wouldn't do any harm, not quite so easy to fix the non alignment... your handy work or a 'tradesman'?!

That is the pointing samsensam. Alignment! That's for people with nothing better to do.

 

42 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

They are that intelegent. brilliant! ????

We humans are lucky. We have no natural predators or rivals. And although an elephant could defeat a human in hand-to-hand combat, ore serious foes seem to be tiny; mosquitoes and viruses.

 

Could a chicken ride a motor cycle? Could a Kangaroo pilot an aircraft? Obviously not. But given that ants have attributes that we humans can only dream about; running at 5km per hour, and being able to carry 59 times their own body weight, we are just plain fortunate that they are so small.

 

There is also the cultural aspect to an ant's life. They are obedient and will willingly give up their life for a fellow ant

 

They are formidable and if they were 25000% bigger, we would be in big trouble.

 

 

Edited September 11, 2020 by owl sees all

[FarFlungFalang]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Could a Kangaroo pilot an aircraft?

Doesn't Oz have a flying Kangaroo?It's called QUAINTAR$E or something.

Edited September 11, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[FarFlungFalang]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

There is also the cultural aspect to an ant's life. They are obedient and will willingly give up their life for a fellow ant

Have you watched more than one trying to carry something?Pulling this way and that way struggling along and seemingly endless debate about what way is better,it's eerily human like. 

[AlfHuy]

On 9/4/2020 at 2:36 PM, owl sees all said:

Owl Log 04-09-2020 Friday afternoon.

 

Expecting the DinL, and her hubby, to arrive today from Bangkok. They have four days off from their work. Drove overnight I'm told. Nothing yet.

 

Very quiet in the village, and although the kids are off; just no-one around.

 

Did the broken tiles in the sink. Decided to do the simple thing and fill the void up with tile cement.

 

 

Seems to be OK. Early days yet, but if Mrs Owl has learnt her lesson, we should't have more broken ones.

 

 

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

Passing through Ban Dung yesterday, I noticed that the Merc' had left the roadside.

 

 

Probably getting a re-spray.

 

 

 

999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

Mildred and I have decided to change our methods of fishing. For years we used the 'lay flat' method, but went and bought a couple of expensive floats in the fishing shop, and our catches have definitely declined since.

 

I've been collecting some decent drinking straws to covert into floats.

 

 

I'll report on catches.

 

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

While not at the farm, or fixing tiles in the sink, I've been looking at many of the vid's on BrandNewTube. Some of the stuff, especially on the US, health agencies, have got me thinking.

 

Milly and Mrs Owl are not best friends; for two days now. The wife wanted M to wash her hair on Wednesday evening and M didn't want to. The Mrs won, of course, but I thought that these times will get more frequent. As M gets older, she will be able to make her own decisions about mundane things like hair washing. Interesting years ahead. Mrs Owl's abrasive manner might upset two of us on a regular basis.

 

Can't wait for the footy to start. Some interesting signings; rather than headline makers. Best deal so far; Doherty to Spurs for a give away price.

 

Does anyone even care about F1? What a boring load of nonsense.

 

I notice that happenings in LOS are making the front page on the BBC website. Wonder why?

 

Visited a friend in Udon recently, and the Mrs has decided that the way to a fortune is to do the same as my mate's wife. Sell fish at the market. We have gone from selling fish, to selling dragon fruit, to selling perfume, to selling rosella, to selling oil palm nuts, to,,,,, and now to fish; again. "Just take it easy teerak." "There is enough dosh coming in for an easy life. Stop being greedy." "I not greedy. Just want more."

 

Gonna relax and enjoy the next couple of days. Have plenty of reishi wine stocked, and there is lots of research to be getting on with on BNT.

 

Enjoy the hol's people.

 

Bye y'all.

 

Merc probably repossessed. Was on a 95 year finance.

[owl sees all]

21 minutes ago, bannork said:

Our home is just 4 km from the VOA with its runway of 4 lanes. There are hills to our north-east and heading west from VOA towards Phen, if you turn left after approx 4 km, the road skirts a broad valley. We visited a farm there, the cowshed had views for miles, beautiful!

South of Ban Dung heading towards Thung Fon, the fields of rain, are you near there Owl?

Personally I go along with your theory of decreasing annual rain in Issan. Now the heavy rain is sporadic, it used to be guaranteed, at least around Ban Dung.

Yes! We are in that area.

 

At the farm we are close enough to see the choppers coming in at night. Some, more than curious individuals, think that the VoA is a giant listening station for SE Asia.

 

We have a deep well at the farm. It would probably see us through an attack, if the foe's struck at the giant transmission towers.

[owl sees all]

6 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Doesn't Oz have a flying Kangaroo?It's called QUAINTAR$E or something.

Bang on the money FFF. Of course, I could have said camels piloting and aircraft. I was pointing out that certain species cannot do certain things.

 

Studying ants is fascinating, and a worthwhile pursuit.

[faraday]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Studying ants is fascinating, and a worthwhile pursuit.

Ants are awesome creatures. 

 

So very long ago when I was 7, I think, we'd go on holiday to the south of France.

 

My sister & I would be loaded into my Dad's Austin Cambridge, & the four of us would drive down the N10 to Bordeaux. We'd often stop off on the way for lunch near a vineyard; bread & cheese for lunch & a glass of Red for M&D.

Dad would show me how the ants would carry a piece of bread away, that was easily twice their weight. I can still see it all in my mind, feel the heat, & breathe in the wonderful smells. 

I thought, as I said earlier, that they were awesome. 

 

Even now, many years later, it all comes back to me.

I well up.

 

I think of the quote:

 

"The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there"

 

Did you know that ants sleep? 

 

https://medium.com/a-dose-of-curiosity/do-ants-sleep-c9c2fd001d96

 

Anyway, it's raining now - which I didn't expect. Been so hot these last few days, & last Sunday the trucks a/c started playing up. Ford was closed on Monday for "Songkran" ???? so I went to a local garage here in Nongbualamphu, who after 2 hours of fiddling around (with the car!) said they didn't' 'have the parts' & it would cost around 5000 baht to fix. Didn't trust him.

Took it to Ford next day, 1000 baht.

[FarFlungFalang]

Hey Mr Owl are you getting this rain?

 

 

There's a knife thread running so I though I'd post some "A sharp" photos.

 

 

When they borrow your stuff if it comes back it usually like this below.

 

 

 So now time to break in a new stone.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Hey Mr Owl are you getting this rain?

 

 

There's a knife thread running so I though I'd post some "A sharp" photos.

 

 

When they borrow your stuff if it comes back it usually like this below.

 

 

 So now time to break in a new stone.

The Thais use the stone as a water stone. The west know it as an oil stone.

 

I had one on the go for at least five years. All of a sudden it lost its regular shape and was wet. No one came forward to explain.

 

Great pics FFF. And Yes! A little rain.

[FarFlungFalang]

35 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

The Thais use the stone as a water stone. The west know it as an oil stone.

 

I had one on the go for at least five years. All of a sudden it lost its regular shape and was wet. No one came forward to explain.

 

Great pics FFF. And Yes! A little rain.

Good to hear you at least some rain I'll try and send some more.I use detergent on these stones as I learnt that detergent holds the (I know there's a word for it) stuff,sludge,slurry in suspension.I use the  Japanese wet stones for woodworking tools and Razor.Funnily enough the one I use the most is the cheap ones I get at hardware shop in Yaso the others I imported.The Yaso stone is by far the quickest at removing material fast. 

[bannork]

Ants deserve a thread of their own.

For me, the most annoying ants are the tiny black ones that hurt for a second or two and then itch for what seems like an eternity. Does anyone know the ants I mean? They get into our sacks of lam or ram, rice bran, if you're not careful they're all over your hands and arms in seconds. 

Cutting Napier grass today, I was stung a few times by red ants, annoying but I think more bearable as often you can feel them crawling up your skin without stinging so removal is painless. 

I remember reading that the Japanese sometimes tortured POWs by tieing them to the ground, covering them in sugar and letting red ants do the rest.

Jesus 

[owl sees all]

18 minutes ago, bannork said:

Ants deserve a thread of their own.

For me, the most annoying ants are the tiny black ones that hurt for a second or two and then itch for what seems like an eternity. Does anyone know the ants I mean? They get into our sacks of lam or ram, rice bran, if you're not careful they're all over your hands and arms in seconds. 

Cutting Napier grass today, I was stung a few times by red ants, annoying but I think more bearable as often you can feel them crawling up your skin without stinging so removal is painless. 

I remember reading that the Japanese sometimes tortured POWs by tieing them to the ground, covering them in sugar and letting red ants do the rest.

Jesus 

There are a few nasties among the ant world. Mrs Owl will eat the big red ones. Calls them lemon ants.

 

There is a little black one that is so, so fast. The speed scaled up would be the equivalent of a human running 400 metres in less than two seconds.

 

Using rats and insects has indeed been a torture for 1000s of years in some cultures.

 

There is an ant in South America whose biting equipment is so big and strong, they have been used to clamp up cuts on the human body.

 

Fascinating.

 

 

[FarFlungFalang]

30 minutes ago, bannork said:

Ants deserve a thread of their own.

For me, the most annoying ants are the tiny black ones that hurt for a second or two and then itch for what seems like an eternity. Does anyone know the ants I mean? They get into our sacks of lam or ram, rice bran, if you're not careful they're all over your hands and arms in seconds. 

Cutting Napier grass today, I was stung a few times by red ants, annoying but I think more bearable as often you can feel them crawling up your skin without stinging so removal is painless. 

I remember reading that the Japanese sometimes tortured POWs by tieing them to the ground, covering them in sugar and letting red ants do the rest.

Jesus 

We have several varieties mostly of the Daeng mot (the locals call them mot daeng) the red ones but they range from tiny to the larger tree inhabiting ones that the local eat the eggs from.I think I've come across the black ones you mentioned although when I look closely they seem to be a very dark red.We also have numerous scorpions including the large shiny black nasty looking ones.