Diary of a farang in Isaan

[geronimo]

Just now, Khon Kaen Jeff said:

He's not missing a single thing.

Rural life has its charms .......

[Dan123]

On 11/19/2019 at 4:34 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

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

agree, and phuket and bangkok, its rare ..... on occasion that one meets a northern or southern lady

[owl sees all]

15 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Thanks for your ongoing posting.

I'm not quite sure if your comment above "Health and safety is always considered" was tongue in cheek?

 

There was a sign hanging up that read; "Keep head, arm and foot away when working machine, progress." In Thai (translated by wife).

 

But it fell off once it started up.

 

[Halfaboy]

Also this one (in full operation) was without sign....

[Halfaboy]

Looks sometimes spectacular....

[EVENKEEL]

22 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

There was a sign hanging up that read; "Keep head, arm and foot away when working machine, progress." In Thai (translated by wife).

 

But it fell off once it started up.

 

[EVENKEEL]

Isaan medicine

 

[Odysseus123]

Isaan-As the ages roll by...

 

[Halfaboy]

[bermondburi]

2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Isaan medicine

 

You don't drink that schite do you? 

Biggest problem in Isaan. 

[Halfaboy]

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 22-11-2019

 

Early start this morning. School trip. 05-30 get up; wake up cold wash, feed Charkie, put the rubbish out, the kettle on, and it's time to get the ladies up.

 

A 30 minute journey to the school, and Mildred is nagging all the way for fear of being late. It's not until we pull up outside the school that she relaxes. Then it's find her class, and wait, and wait, and,,,.

 

 

And, just as I'm thinking that I could go sleep in the pick-up, it's action stations.

 

Hope they get on the right bus.

 

 

 

 

 

Bye Dad, sees ya later.

 

 

And they are off to UNESCO World Heritage Site Ban Chiang.

 

Went there myself 11 years ago. Very interesting, especially for the Darwinists. How much fun will it be for a bunch of 10 year olds? Can see some school homework for me to do on this soon.

 

I'm sure she will spend her 200 baht wisely in the gift shop though. Last trip to Khon Kaen zoo, I got a maget. Useful I thought.

 

More to follow!?

[Odysseus123]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log 22-11-2019

 

Early start this morning. School trip. 05-30 get up; wake up cold wash, feed Charkie, put the rubbish out, the kettle on, and it's time to get the ladies up.

 

A 30 minute journey to the school, and Mildred is nagging all the way for fear of being late. It's not until we pull up outside the school that she relaxes. Then it's find her class, and wait, and wait, and,,,.

 

 

And, just as I'm thinking that I could go sleep in the pick-up, it's action stations.

 

Hope they get on the right bus.

 

 

 

 

 

Bye Dad, sees ya later.

 

 

And they are off to UNESCO World Heritage Site Ban Chiang.

 

Went there myself 11 years ago. Very interesting, especially for the Darwinists. How much fun will it be for a bunch of 10 year olds? Can see some school homework for me to do on this soon.

 

I'm sure she will spend her 200 baht wisely in the gift shop though. Last trip to Khon Kaen zoo, I got a maget. Useful I thought.

 

More to follow!?

"More to follow?"

 

Absolutely Owl...it's a diary after all!

 

iI is so real that you can almost reach out and touch it!

 

..fisherfolk on the Mun river..

 

 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

Isaan-As the ages roll by,,,.

 

 

I think there is little doubt that my buffalo is more handsome than yours.

 

 

But that's of little importance. What we want to know is; can it pull plough? Or even better; will it taste good in a beef stew?

[bannork]

3 hours ago, Halfaboy said:

Looks sometimes spectacular....

imo they're even more spectacular at night. The year of the big flood, 2012 or was it 2010? the brother-in-law arrived on our farm at 8.00 pm. The thresher looked great with its headlights on and the hay flung through the air. The last 2 years though we're relied on the combine harvester, seems to be taking over where we are.

[Alex2554]

We use this harvester machine 

 

 

[Halfaboy]

This is s newish type of machine. Harvested rice goes in a kind of container rather than in sacks. Saves a lot of hard labour....

[GarryP]

On 11/19/2019 at 7:43 AM, geronimo said:

Great to hear of other expat's lives, especially in Isaan, where I'll be retiring in a few years.

Me too. Unless they ask me to stay on, I will be retiring in three years and heading up to Kalasin.

[owl sees all]

59 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

 

..fisherfolk on the Mun river..

 

 

Some pic's I took a few years back. I was going to enter this one into this year's pic' comp', but it's too old now.

 

 

And a different view of a bridge that many will know only too well. Thailand near; Laos far.

 

 

I think it was about where I was snapping, that Jeremy Wade got arrested by the Thai border police.

[GarryP]

On 11/19/2019 at 7:17 PM, Destiny1990 said:

With dog killing neighbors like yours there’s no need for enemies!

 

The problem is that once a dog has done this, it is very difficult to get them to stop without chaining them up all the time. Hence, the action taken. 

[GarryP]

On 11/20/2019 at 12:30 AM, bannork said:

No need to be so touchy, you're in a public forum, anyone has the right to reply.

Think you'll try to avoid him if your paths cross. ????

[Caledonia Boy]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Some pic's I took a few years back. I was going to enter this one into this year's pic' comp', but it's too old now.

 

 

And a different view of a bridge that many will know only too well. Thailand near; Laos far.

 

 

I think it was about where I was snapping, that Jeremy Wade got arrested by the Thai border police.

Thoroughly enjoying your diary!! Although not the rural type myself, it's clear you are enjoying your life with your wonderful family. Keep posting!!!!

[Destiny1990]

2 hours ago, GarryP said:

The problem is that once a dog has done this, it is very difficult to get them to stop without chaining them up all the time. Hence, the action taken. 

 

What would happen if the farang shoots the dog of his neighbor?

Anyway enjoy your selves there I won’t be visiting that village not even for 30 minutes!

[EVENKEEL]

5 hours ago, bermondburi said:

You don't drink that schite do you? 

Biggest problem in Isaan. 

A few times, the above batch is mixed with special leaves with medicinal secrets. I drank with my lady's step dad once for my first time. Man, it doesn't take much to make me hit the bed.

[bannork]

4 hours ago, Halfaboy said:

This is s newish type of machine. Harvested rice goes in a kind of container rather than in sacks. Saves a lot of hard labour....

Can fit into the back of a pick-up too to take home and dry.

As you say Halfaboy, all that time and money saved. If it was cut by hired hands you'd have to pay a minimum of 300 baht a head a day, probably 400, plus lao khao and lunch. If the rice had been flattened by the wind it would take folks longer to cut it, increasing expenses further.

Along comes the machine, the rice harvester, 10 rai done in 2 hours and no need to thresh the rice too, rice and hay already separated.

[geronimo]

Met this fellow outside a temple ....

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 23-11-2019

 

Mildred back from her trip to the historic Ban Chiang, and also a Buddhah museum close to it.

 

I was thinking she would not have a fun day but she did (she told me), and anyway, it's better to get out and about and see for yourself, than sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher go on about maths or plant biology. And judging by the pics (148) and vids (11) they had a good time.

 

Ban Chiang itself hadn't changed much from when I visited 12 years ago.

But I got a couple of surprises. The pond holds a crocodile (kid you not see vid'). Pur your ears on.

 

 

And the Buddha museum was one that I visited during my early days, 12 years ago; but what a contrast!! Hope my donation at the time helped.

 

 

 

 

 

I also discovered that the Ban Chiang gift shop also sells magnets. Another two for my collection. Just can't have enough now-a-days.

 

++++++++

 

We got up this morning to some bad news. The police had raided a house, first thing, on the outskirts of the village, and arrested 5 ladies for playing cards. OH dear! One was the wife's sister-in-law. Good to see the lads getting to grips with the rural problems though. I reckon the ladies must have been bubbled by some frustrated or hungry hubby. Such is life.

 

Don't know what's happened to the S-in-L; now 12-40). Keeping my head down on that one, in case it costs me some do dosh.

 

Off to the farm this afternoon.

 

To be continued!!!

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/22/2019 at 1:19 PM, zyphodb said:

Have you not heard of ebook readers? I've been reading my kindle everywhere for the last nine years with no problems, it's about the size of a thin paperback, the screen looks the same as print on paper only you can light it in low light situations and you only need an internet connection when you load books on it which I did 3000 at a time...

I'm trying to reduce my electronic media not increase it. Call me old fashioned but I like reading books. 

I wish I had the will power to get rid of every digital thing I own, but the thing I learned very long ago is that they are addictive. They certainly don't make us happier.

 

BTW, how can you possibly read 3,000 books?

 

Can you get Danny and the Rattlesnakes on your machine? I've been trying to find that book for years with no luck. The internet is no help on it either.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 hours ago, bannork said:

Can fit into the back of a pick-up too to take home and dry.

As you say Halfaboy, all that time and money saved. If it was cut by hired hands you'd have to pay a minimum of 300 baht a head a day, probably 400, plus lao khao and lunch. If the rice had been flattened by the wind it would take folks longer to cut it, increasing expenses further.

Along comes the machine, the rice harvester, 10 rai done in 2 hours and no need to thresh the rice too, rice and hay already separated.

So, what happens to the displaced workers? When everything is done by a machine will human race survive?

[Halfaboy]

The 'displaced' workers went to places as Bangkok because they could make more money. yhere Now many of them are coming back jobless but cannot get their old job in the rice fields back because of the mechanisation.