Diary of a farang in Isaan

[bluesofa]

14 hours ago, owl sees all said:

The tall tree above, in Udon city:

I asked my wife if she knew where it was. She recognised it and also told me about the tree.

Apparently it's a rubber tree, but not the type you see on rubber farms. She said the sap is a lot harder/thicker than the usual rubber tree sap.

It's also protected, making it illegal to cut it down due to the type of rubber tree it is.

Are there any rubber tree experts out there to enlighten us further?

 

Btw Owl, aren't we still waiting to hear you spill the beans as you promised, about payment for the tractor?

[owl sees all]

21 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

I know quite a few on here are anglers. 

 

I'm not by the way although my Dad and brother's are. When I was a kid, Dad took us to his club's fishing waters and tried to teach us son's fishing (my dad has sadly decided to retire from fishing this year as he is in his late 80s). I did win 6 shillings in a fishing competition when I was primary school age, but I preferred sitting there and watching the birdlife than my fishing float - I'm still a birdwatcher.

 

Anyway, I wanted to recommend a BBC series to you which now available on YouTube called 'Mortimer and Whitehouse gone fishing'. There's 3 series of 6 × 30 minute episodes and a recent 1 hour Christmas special. Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse are two famous comedians in the UK, though they usually work with other people. Both have had heart problems. The premise is that Mortimer had a triple bypass and become a bit reclusive. Whitehouse, his longtime mate, who is a keen angler, invites Mortimer to join him to travel to different parts of the UK to try to catch specific fish. They just chat and fish. It's charming, funny and sad. The star of the programme though is the UK scenery.

 

Sure you'll like it. It's a very easy relaxing watch.

 

https://youtube.com/user/tram31000

 

If the link doesn't work then Google 'Mortimer and Whitehouse gone fishing'.

 

 

(S1 Epi3 near Buxton - close to my home - is my fav, STUNNING scenery...think there's a couple of episodes near Essex and Hertfordshire for you southern lads)

 

Thanks for that Brad.

 

Watched the Xmas special and a couple of the southern area episodes.

 

I lived quite close to Kings Weir for a while about 15 years ago.

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

The tall tree above, in Udon city:

I asked my wife if she knew where it was. She recognised it and also told me about the tree.

Apparently it's a rubber tree, but not the type you see on rubber farms. She said the sap is a lot harder/thicker than the usual rubber tree sap.

It's also protected, making it illegal to cut it down due to the type of rubber tree it is.

Are there any rubber tree experts out there to enlighten us further?

 

Btw Owl, aren't we still waiting to hear you spill the beans as you promised, about payment for the tractor?

A rubber tree? That knowledge poster said a Yang. Never mind. It's well documented on YT. Estimated at over 65 metres tall.

 

Was gonna spill the beans anyway next Owl Log; but here goes. Yes! But!

Edited January 1, 2021 by owl sees all

[bluesofa]

13 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Was gonna spill the beans anyway next Owl Log; but here goes. Yes! But!

Yes, but...on his way to pay you the money he owes he was dragged into a pub by a school friend he hasn't seen for years and was persuaded to put the entire amount on a horse that was a certain winner. It ended up being a certain candidate for the knacker's yard.

His long-lost school friend was never seen again. Same for your dosh.

Am I close?

 

P.S. Regarding the tree: Yang is Thai for rubber.

 

Edited January 1, 2021 by bluesofa
Addendum

[owl sees all]

58 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Yes, but...on his way to pay you the money he owes he was dragged into a pub by a school friend he hasn't seen for years and was persuaded to put the entire amount on a horse that was a certain winner. It ended up being a certain candidate for the knacker's yard.

His long-lost school friend was never seen again. Same for your dosh.

Am I close?

 

P.S. Regarding the tree: Yang is Thai for rubber.

 

Just asked Mrs Owl about the tree. She says it is Na Yang, or Nayang.

 

Regarding the 12k. It is an interesting tale. Very  un-Thai-like. But a sting in the tail.

[Sterling]

Nice Recap Owl, keep up the good work!

It was very nice of you to include a remembrance for AT. He really stepped up to keep the thread alive while you were getting your laptop sorted out.

[Golden Triangle]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Just asked Mrs Owl about the tree. She says it is Na Yang, or Nayang.

 

Regarding the 12k. It is an interesting tale. Very  un-Thai-like. But a sting in the tail.

This I gotta read ????

[Odysseus123]

9 hours ago, bluesofa said:

10 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Yes, but...on his way to pay you the money he owes he was dragged into a pub by a school friend he hasn't seen for years and was persuaded to put the entire amount on a horse that was a certain winner.

So he bet on 'Little Kubota' in the 3rd for a win and lost the lot?

 

I've done that myself a couple of times and learned a valuable lesson-never bet on a horse that's named after a tractor...

[chickenslegs]

On 12/31/2020 at 8:39 PM, owl sees all said:

 

People lost during 2020. All, in some way had influenced my thinking and made me what I am today.

 

Des O'connor
Alan Minter
Bobby Ball
Frank Bough
Albert Uderzo
Ray Clemence
Jack Charlton
Terry Jones
Harry Gregg
Kirk Douglas
Maurice Setters
Sean Connery
Chris Barker
Kenny Rogers
Peter Bonetti
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Stirling Moss
Eddie Large
Milly Small

Little Richard
Trevor Cherry
Tony Waiters
Don Talbot
Everton Weekes
Diana Rigg
Ian Holm
Frank Windsor
Trini Lopez

JJ Williams
Papa Boube Diop
Jill Gascoine
Peter Green
Eric Hall
Helen Reddy
Gérard Houllier
Norman Hunter
Bill Withers
Honor Blackman
Barbara Windsor
Willie Thorne
Dave Prowse
Spencer Davis
Julian Bream
Diego Maradona
Nobby Styles
Wayne Fontana
AT

 

Tommy Docherty just managed to sneak himself onto the 2020 list. I don't think there are many of those "charismatic" characters left in British football. He was no saint, but (like Bill Shankly, Cloughie, even Alex Furguson, IMO) added something to the "beautiful game".

 

Of course, none of these guys could have succeeded in our current #metoo/PC world.

 

 

[Nout]

Nice thread. Simple. Well written. Unpretentious...has the makings of a radio story..

The Archers in Udon

[Will27]

7 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

So he bet on 'Little Kubota' in the 3rd for a win and lost the lot?

 

I've done that myself a couple of times and learned a valuable lesson-never bet on a horse that's named after a tractor...

I'm not into horse racing but most of the guys I played cricket with were.

 

One day my girlfriend gave me a "dead cert" from her Uncle who was a well known jockey.

I passed it onto the boys and they all had a bet.

 

I still remember us all listening to the race on the radio ( that's how long ago it was).

As they got to the home straight, the race caller said "Mummydaddy has taken a fall".

 

Turns out the horse had a heart attack.

 

From then on it was "never take a tip from Will, his horses don't even survive the race".

 

Oh well.

That was the end of my tipping days.

[bluesofa]

7 hours ago, Nout said:

Nice thread. Simple. Well written. Unpretentious...has the makings of a radio story..

The Archers in Udon

We have that already (Eddie Grundy going past on the motorbike):

[bluesofa]

18 hours ago, owl sees all said:

A rubber tree? That knowledge poster said a Yang. Never mind. It's well documented on YT. Estimated at over 65 metres tall.

 

Was gonna spill the beans anyway next Owl Log; but here goes. Yes! But!

Can you post a link to YT above? I did have a look, without any luck.

[Odysseus123]

On 1/1/2021 at 9:17 AM, Odysseus123 said:

That's a bluddy big tank!

I must say HP that that looks like a brilliant water system that you have installed-I showed your photo to a farmer friend who's comment was "Wow!"-quite an accolade coming from one of those preternaturally reticent rural types.

 

It is STILL raining here after almost a month-good Englishy rain and the earth is still soaking it up, I think about 800-1000 mils thus far..

[owl sees all]

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Can you post a link to YT above? I did have a look, without any luck.

Bluesofa! Your post got me investigating. Our tree can be seen on the internet from 1000 metres away in virtually any direction. I have the footage on this and watched this morning.

 

 

View from just outside Don Bosco School.

 

My cousin Michael - an American guy living close by -  knows all about the tree. He is due for a visit. I'll get all the info from him and post back. I believe he told me that DB school (students) have done research into it. A great project by the sound of it. Species! Size! History! Origins!

 

 

The tree's height intrigues me. The heights of yang trees in Chiang Mai - which are supposed to be some of the tallest in Thailand - don't look nearly as high as our Isaan ones; especially the Udon giant.

 

On the www.thailandee.com site there is a pic of a very big tree. Quote:

 

"Not far from Wat Pho and its friendly little herbal sauna, is the Yang Na Yai Tree, a huge tree that is known as the largest of its kind in Thailand. For those interested in botany, the scientific name of the Yang Na Yai tree is Diptcrocarpus alatus. The one you will find here is 53 meters high and 4 centuries old."

 

 

A bold claim; "largest of its kind in Thailand". This tree is huge, but not IMO, as 'tall" as our Udon beauty.

 

Investigations are on-going.

 

----------------------------------

 

And! My research into big Isaan solar farms has borne juicy fruit.

 

 

This is the ginormous farm in Bannork's area. Measures up at 80,000 m2.

Edited January 2, 2021 by owl sees all
Inserted a ';'.

[HighPriority]

3 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

I must say HP that that looks like a brilliant water system that you have installed-I showed your photo to a farmer friend who's comment was "Wow!"-quite an accolade coming from one of those preternaturally reticent rural types.

Well I’m almost speechless Ody, if he’d added how hansum I was I think it would be the greatest compliment of my life to date...

Thank you both. 

[Odysseus123]

8 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

Well I’m almost speechless Ody, if he’d added how hansum I was I think it would be the greatest compliment of my life to date...

Thank you both. 

Now...don't get frisky with me and me mate..china..

 

Leave that sort of stuff to the dark side????

[chickenslegs]

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Can you post a link to YT above? I did have a look, without any luck.

My searches just come up with the Ko Phangan tree - claimed as Thailand's tallest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCluq95VDug

 

Regarding your wife's comments - it doesn't seem to be a "rubber tree", but does have a resin that can be collected and used in various applications:

Dipterocarpus alatus... also known colloquially as the resin tree ... In Cambodia, the wood is much valued in construction and cabinetwork, when not exploited for its oily resin. Generally, resin is collected for the following uses: wood lacquering, draught-proofing of boats and traditional medicine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipterocarpus_alatus

 

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

My searches just come up with the Ko Phangan tree - claimed as Thailand's tallest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCluq95VDug

 

Regarding your wife's comments - it doesn't seem to be a "rubber tree", but does have a resin that can be collected and used in various applications:

Dipterocarpus alatus... also known colloquially as the resin tree ... In Cambodia, the wood is much valued in construction and cabinetwork, when not exploited for its oily resin. Generally, resin is collected for the following uses: wood lacquering, draught-proofing of boats and traditional medicine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipterocarpus_alatus

 

I think you're right on that, regarding it not being used in the traditional sense of a rubber tree. (My wife did say it wasn't the type used on rubber farms.)

Even looking up ยางนา (yang na) from the wiki entry, google still translates it as rubber, (same as ยาง).

I looked in my larger Thai>Engrish dictionary but couldn't find ยางนา.

[owl sees all]

47 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

My searches just come up with the Ko Phangan tree - claimed as Thailand's tallest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCluq95VDug

 

Regarding your wife's comments - it doesn't seem to be a "rubber tree", but does have a resin that can be collected and used in various applications:

Dipterocarpus alatus... also known colloquially as the resin tree ... In Cambodia, the wood is much valued in construction and cabinetwork, when not exploited for its oily resin. Generally, resin is collected for the following uses: wood lacquering, draught-proofing of boats and traditional medicine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipterocarpus_alatus

 

I questioned the wife further. At first she couldn't be bothered to answer. But, then she saw the top of a 20 baht note sticking out of my shirt pocket. That seemed to loosen her tougue.

 

I an gonna precis her answer:

 

When I was a child there were lots of these big tree all over. They were cut down to build houses in the villages. Now; cannot.

 

That echoes CL's post. There are a few really big uns over the nearby salt fields. The pic below shows these trees; that are some 2000 metres away.

 

 

I'm going to have a butchers next week and repot back.

 

Edited January 2, 2021 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 2-1-2021 - Saturday afternoon

 

First Owl Log of the year.

 

A couple of village parties; one still going. A marriage, that gave everyone who donated a nice prezzie.

 

Boyz shows off the goody bag (prezzie), and the invite. Very useful, the bag, since the big stores stopped automatically issuing plastic bags. Not that we will use it. Just keep it as a reminder of the joyous occasion. Do hope the music stops before bed time.

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Quite distressing pics these. Went along the 'dodgy' road and????

 

 

What's occurred? Was it a party? Jealous neighbors? The Peelers? Buffaloes? Thailand Rural Highways Agency? I prefer to remember it like this. Have to check this out.

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Sugar is on the move. 

 

 

Nowhere near as much as last year. I haven't seen a wagon overturned yet. Usually do but not this year.

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Yesterday Mildred and myself had a close look at the biggest euca. It is getting special treatment. I couldn't find a robust garden fork anywhere last year. Not in DoHome, Global house or any garden center. So had to get one made.

 

 

And I put it to work.

 

 

 

I'll give this tree water a couple of times a week during the dry season. See how big we can get it. Maybe some Urea too.

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Fritz came round to show off his reconditioned Harley.

 

 

 

What a beauty!

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

The quietest New Year ever. That suited me as I've stopped drinking. One of my five NY resolutions.

 

Chai's brother paid me in full for the Kabota. It was a bit strange how it all worked out. His brother Chai wired me 20k baht. Mrs Owl went to Ban Dung, and got the dosh from my card in the Bus station. Did a bit of shopping while she was there; didn't mind. We have to eat after all. The deal was that I was to pay the brother 8k baht out of the 20k. He was going off to Kamprampret to work the big sugar fields the following day.  They met up in the bus station.

 

Mrs got home and gave me the dosh. "But teerak! There is only 7k here?" "Chai brother not have enough money, for go work. So borrow him 5 thousand. He will give back. He good man. He good work."

 

So, I've got a nice 5k coming to me in a short while. "Nice handbag teerak. Not seen that one before?!" "I have long time silly farang. You never see."

 

The Irons stuck the knife into the high-flying toffees last night. Let's see what this evening brings. And Van Gerwin getting smashed 5-0.

 

Drinking my reishi wine as I type. Lovely!! Off to farm later.

 

Prosperous New Year everyone.

 

Bye y'all

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2021 by owl sees all

[bluesofa]

40 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log 2-1-2021 - Saturday afternoon

 

First Owl Log of the year.

 

A couple of village parties; one still going. A marriage, that gave everyone who donated a nice prezzie.

 

Boyz shows off the goody bag (prezzie), and the invite. Very useful, the bag, since the big stores stopped automatically issuing plastic bags. Not that we will use it. Just keep it as a reminder of the joyous occasion. Do hope the music stops before bed time.

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Quite distressing pics these. Went along the 'dodgy' road and????

 

 

What's occurred? Was it a party? Jealous neighbors? The Peelers? Buffaloes? Thailand Rural Highways Agency? I prefer to remember it like this. Have to check this out.

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Sugar is on the move. 

 

 

Nowhere near as much as last year. I haven't seen a wagon overturned yet. Usually do but not this year.

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Yesterday Mildred and myself had a close look at the biggest euca. It is getting special treatment. I couldn't find a robust garden fork anywhere last year. Not in DoHome, Global house or any garden center. So had to get one made.

 

 

And I put it to work.

 

 

 

I'll give this tree water a couple of times a week during the dry season. See how big we can get it. Maybe some Urea too.

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

Fritz came round to show off his reconditioned Harley.

 

 

 

What a beauty!

 

 

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

 

The quietest New Year ever. That suited me as I've stopped drinking. One of my five NY resolutions.

 

Chai's brother paid me in full for the Kabota. It was a bit strange how it all worked out. His brother Chai wired me 20k baht. Mrs Owl went to Ban Dung, and got the dosh from my card in the Bus station. Did a bit of shopping while she was there; didn't mind. We have to eat after all. The deal was that I was to pay the brother 8k baht out of the 20k. He was going off to Kamprampret to work the big sugar fields the following day.  They met up in the bus station.

 

Mrs got home and gave me the dosh. "But teerak! There is only 7k here?" "Chai brother not have enough money, for go work. So borrow him 5 thousand. He will give back. He good man. He good work."

 

So, I've got a nice 5k coming to me in a short while. "Nice handbag teerak. Not seen that one before?!" "I have long time silly farang. You never see."

 

The Irons stuck the knife into the high-flying toffees last night. Let's see what this evening brings. And Van Gerwin getting smashed 5-0.

 

Drinking my reishi wine as I type. Lovely!! Off to farm later.

 

Prosperous New Year everyone.

 

Bye y'all

It's nice to see you're in charge of your life Owl.

[Kadilo]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

 

Sugar is on the move. 

 

 

....... and topically Harry Kane scored again. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, Kadilo said:

....... and topically Harry Kane scored again. 

I’m saying nothing ☹️

[sotonowl]

16 hours ago, owl sees all said:

And Van Gerwin getting smashed 5-0.

Missed that one.

[sotonowl]

All these little quips about football that you all keep dropping in, are they just designed to keep that TBL's away?????

[FarFlungFalang]

On 1/1/2021 at 11:30 AM, bluesofa said:

The tall tree above, in Udon city:

I asked my wife if she knew where it was. She recognised it and also told me about the tree.

Apparently it's a rubber tree, but not the type you see on rubber farms. She said the sap is a lot harder/thicker than the usual rubber tree sap.

It's also protected, making it illegal to cut it down due to the type of rubber tree it is.

Are there any rubber tree experts out there to enlighten us further?

 

Btw Owl, aren't we still waiting to hear you spill the beans as you promised, about payment for the tractor?

I'm no rubberneck but I would say that you've done a pretty good job on the Mai Yang tree's description.They have just removed about 100 of them for our new road widening but to counter that we have about 800 Mai Yang and a couple of hundred rubber trees so maybe I am a bit of a rubberneck after all.The big Mai Yang likes wet feet apparently and Teak doesn't yet on our farm we managed to get them ar$e about.Sugars all cut for us thanks to the missus' back braking effort to which I contributed little but like Mr Owl I've had to pay the price.

[Lacessit]

11 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I'm no rubberneck but I would say that you've done a pretty good job on the Mai Yang tree's description.They have just removed about 100 of them for our new road widening but to counter that we have about 800 Mai Yang and a couple of hundred rubber trees so maybe I am a bit of a rubberneck after all.The big Mai Yang likes wet feet apparently and Teak doesn't yet on our farm we managed to get them ar$e about.Sugars all cut for us thanks to the missus' back braking effort to which I contributed little but like Mr Owl I've had to pay the price.

On Lamphun Road at the condo where I used to live in Chiang Mai, it is lined with those kind of trees. Getting in the glass -fronted elevator facing the road, I didn't reach the top of the trees until I got to the tenth or eleventh floor.

They must be fairly hardy beasts, they've had decades of traffic fumes trying to kill them. About 2 metres diameter at the base.

[FarFlungFalang]

31 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

On Lamphun Road at the condo where I used to live in Chiang Mai, it is lined with those kind of trees. Getting in the glass -fronted elevator facing the road, I didn't reach the top of the trees until I got to the tenth or eleventh floor.

They must be fairly hardy beasts, they've had decades of traffic fumes trying to kill them. About 2 metres diameter at the base.

I think the big ones are 200 years old at least.

[owl sees all]

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

On Lamphun Road at the condo where I used to live in Chiang Mai, it is lined with those kind of trees. Getting in the glass -fronted elevator facing the road, I didn't reach the top of the trees until I got to the tenth or eleventh floor.

They must be fairly hardy beasts, they've had decades of traffic fumes trying to kill them. About 2 metres diameter at the base.

 

Thanks for that Lacessit. Absolutely fantastic area for big trees. I sent the drone over when you posted.

 

 

I counted over 100. Think they must be numbered too.

 

 

These ones pictured are at the other end of the road to your condo. I'm gonna recharge the drone and venture north.

Edited January 3, 2021 by owl sees all