Lucky we live in Chiang Rai!

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, Hank Gunn said:

 

Totally off topic but two other things I enjoyed. On the drive into CM from CR, going past the hot springs, we bought some outstanding avocados at the side of the road. Pretty close to as good as I used to get when I lived in N. Calif. (We get them here in Buriram but the local grown is not too good and the imports from NZ are limited to their seasonality.) I also discovered the local sausage, Sai oowa (?) served with garlic, peanuts and chilis. Wow, delicious. I'm a fan of the Isaan sausages, sai krauw but really liked those sai oowa. Some of those with a cold beer or two in the evening, with a nice dinner. Nice!

You're close. It's sai ua. There's a shop near the gold clock tower in Chiang Rai which specializes in it, Thais drive up from Bangkok to load up with 5 - 10 kilos. Keeps very well, no bacteria can live in it. I usually have it with salad, sweet chili sauce, and a beer.

[ratcatcher]

59 minutes ago, TheAceFace said:

This VillageFarang is the epitomy of the mind set today, hope his life is dandy while most are not....what a Tw&t

That's a bit harsh mate. Village Farang's life may be dandy but is it fine like the particulate in the air? It does come across as a bit self congratulatory but the air is OK where I live, but I don't feel the need to compare my situation with anyone else's. We all live where we choose and some areas are better or worse than others for many reasons. Some like the quiet of the sticks others the "hustle and bustle" of a city and nightlife that has gone to sleep for a while.  Each to their own.

[villagefarang]

27 minutes ago, bangkokequity said:

True Story:  Just the other day I told a friend, "If they offered me free rent ... I would not live In Chiang Rai / Chiang Mai.  You need to check the air quality In Bangkok .. especially near the river.  Better than most larger cities around the world, and lot of small ones too!  You enjoy being prisoner to some of the worst air on the planet.  By the way, did you know we go for walks here in Bangkok too?  Difference being, there are so many places to go!  LOVE BKK

That's cool, I lived in Bangkok for 30 years and still enjoy brief visits.  

 

We actually do a great deal of walking when we are there, getting to train stations and walking around shopping malls but there is a shortage of mountains and natural landscapes, free of people.  Our Bangkok friends do seem to be struggling with the present situation more than we are here in the North.  Our friends back in Hawaii seem to be living on another planet.  

 

I don't love the air quality this time of year but it does fluctuate during the day so if you pick your times you can still enjoy a bit of nature.????

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, villagefarang said:

Thank you.  I am not worried and understand some people are just happier being unhappy and criticizing those who are happy.????

 

They're not criticizing you because they are "happier being unhappy" and you are "happy".

 

They're criticizing you because they (not me of course) perceive you to be, supremely, "up yourself".

 

Which is something else entirely.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2020 by Enoon

[villagefarang]

I understand that destitute, miserable, mistreated and misunderstood sells better on TVF but I am speaking to the silent majority who actually live good lives here in Thailand.????

[sungod]

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

I heard good things about Chiang Rai, but there's no hoarding going on in the city of Chiang Mai either, I saw a single empty shelf at Big C. Everything else fully stocked. 

 

 

Same at Central Food Hall.

 

Not sure about Bangkok or Pattaya, but maybe the north has cooler customers.

Got some great Aussie Sirloin yesterday, 640 a kilo from Big C Pattaya, actually munching on it now.

 

All good in Patts, cheers for the concern.

[steven100]

Just now, sungod said:

Got some great Aussie Sirloin yesterday, 640 a kilo from Big C Pattaya, actually munching on it now.

 

All good in Patts, cheers for the concern.

yes .... i just polished off 2 Canadian rock lobsters that we get in every month. 

all good in BKK 

[Guest]

38 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

That's cool, I lived in Bangkok for 30 years and still enjoy brief visits.  

 

We actually do a great deal of walking when we are there, getting to train stations and walking around shopping malls but there is a shortage of mountains and natural landscapes, free of people.  Our Bangkok friends do seem to be struggling with the present situation more than we are here in the North.  Our friends back in Hawaii seem to be living on another planet.  

 

I don't love the air quality this time of year but it does fluctuate during the day so if you pick your times you can still enjoy a bit of nature.????

The air up there is worse than the worst sections of China Manufacturing centers! 

In a moment of irony, I am going for a walk right now!  Are you?

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, villagefarang said:

"We" as in all of us who live here, not just "Me".  I was hoping others would have their own anecdotal stories to share, of life in Chiang Rai during these troubling times.????

 

It just seems to me there are much worse places to ride out this world hysteria.  Yes it was hot today but there was a good breeze which made it bearable. 

Good evening VF.

This thread confuse some member. Because is positive! 

 

They can not have conversations positive. 

 

You are lucky!

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, Psimbo said:

No panic buying in Phuket so far so why the superior attitude?

Because VF is superior. You not know that?

amazing house, beautiful wife, euro car, fitness, success, smart etc

 

Yinn also superior person. 

 

Happy same VF

 

 

[villagefarang]

31 minutes ago, bangkokequity said:

In a moment of irony, I am going for a walk right now!  Are you?

No, I already did more than 10 km in the hills near our house today and don't really need another walk, but thanks for asking.????

[rumak]

4 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Because VF is superior. You not know that?

amazing house, beautiful wife, euro car, fitness, success, smart etc

 

Yinn also superior person. 

 

Happy same VF

 

 

Yep,  two of a kind.    No bout adoubt it 

[villagefarang]

8 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Because VF is superior. You not know that?

amazing house, beautiful wife, euro car, fitness, success, smart etc

 

Yinn also superior person. 

 

Happy same VF

 

 

I really don't know how to respond to that.????

 

(Don't tell anyone but I sold the euro car and bought a CX-8.  SUVs are better suited to the mountain roads I love to drive and our lifestyle.)

[HuskerDo]

1 hour ago, villagefarang said:

I understand that destitute, miserable, mistreated and misunderstood sells better on TVF but I am speaking to the silent majority who actually live good lives here in Thailand.????

With all due respect VF not everyone that doesn't agree with you here are destitute, miserable, mistreated or misunderstood. It's great that you have a life you enjoy. More power to you. I think it's great. It's just that going for hikes and going to the gym aren't all that interesting to many. Especially at an older age. If life is so full then why not go out and enjoy it rather than wasting precious time in life to post and hear all the negative thoughts. 

 

I'm curious why, if life is so exciting and grand for you (or anyone) in Thailand that you bother to post what a great life you have instead of simply enjoying it. I get the feeling that life is boring to many farang in Thailand thus they resort to message boards. If your life is great then just live it and not put yourself in a situation where you spend time dealing with people that don't agree with you or want to try to "irk" you. 

[SkyFax]

7 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

I'm curious why, if life is so exciting and grand for you (or anyone) in Thailand that you bother to post what a great life you have instead of simply enjoying it.

Because he gets a lot more reads on here than on his website.

Edited March 18, 2020 by SkyFax

[villagefarang]

I find posting on TVF takes very little time and can be done from almost anywhere.  Most of the people I know have completely given up on TVF, surrendering to the irksome negative voices.  I feel an obligation to represent the happy people who are often drowned out by the more vocal unhappy people.  I have voluntarily stepped away from the forum in the past, for up to a year, but found life really didn't change all that much.  

 

I don't see why it should be OK to post negative comments but verboten to post anything positive.  This forum is a very small piece of my life and in a way keeps me grounded by exposing me to a different demographic than I encounter in my daily life.  I have no difficulty enjoying my life and posting here does not limit my enjoyment one bit, but thanks for the concern for my wellbeing.????

[frodo77]

I live in Mae Lao and love it. Please keep posting VF. My only concern right now is I have to visit BKK in April to get my proof of income letter from my Embassy. With this virus panic, I hope that can still be done. Otherwise I would stay here. I look into Thaivisa to keep up with the latest visa news etc, but really dislike the over abundance of ads. Its become a commercial site now.

 

[Peter Denis]

3 minutes ago, frodo77 said:

...

My only concern right now is I have to visit BKK in April to get my proof of income letter from my Embassy. With this virus panic, I hope that can still be done. Otherwise I would stay here.

...

Is it required in the present circumstances to travel to BKK to get your embassy-issued proof of income letter.  Most probably in these times, your embassy would be quite willing to send it to your by mail instead of you going over there.

[villagefarang]

6 minutes ago, frodo77 said:

I live in Mae Lao and love it. Please keep posting VF. My only concern right now is I have to visit BKK in April to get my proof of income letter from my Embassy. With this virus panic, I hope that can still be done. Otherwise I would stay here. I look into Thaivisa to keep up with the latest visa news etc, but really dislike the over abundance of ads. Its become a commercial site now.

 

Thanks for the vote of support.  I don't see any adds but the site does jump up and down which makes it difficult to read at times and sometimes leads to clicking a wrong button.

[sceadugenga]

I'm determined to keep my life as normal as possible during this health crisis, a lot of the small businesses I visit on a weekly basis will probably struggle as more customers stay home and those that close their doors may not reopen.

So if my few baht helps them survive I'll keep driving the 20kms into town.

[Assurancetourix]

 

14 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Surin is pretty good too. Don't have the urge to start a thread about it though.

Perhaps that's a side effect of living in one place for forty years without being able to broaden ones horizons.

40 years in Thailand does not mean 40 years in the same place.
Reread VF's interventions and you will know more.
The post he makes is in fact a general post;
He talks about the province of Chiang Rai because he lives there, but not in the prefecture.
You are perfectly right to write that Surin is good too;
and I can add that Sakon Nakhon is not bad either.
Like VF, I do not live in the main city of the province;
even more cut off from the "world" than him because I live in a tiny village ....

[Assurancetourix]

14 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Chiang Rai is a much better launch point for the sights than Chiang Mai, which really has only 3 or 4 tourist attractions

I do not quite agree with you unless you talk about world famous attractions, wat Rong Khun, Black House etc ...
Particularly liking the northern provinces where I do not live, I circulate there mainly on my MTBike  and I can tell you that the province of Chiang Mai conceals innumerable beauties; as much as that of Chiang Rai.
When you ride an MTBike you take your time and you discover a lot of places that hurried motorists do not even see.

[Assurancetourix]

14 hours ago, Lacessit said:

You're close. It's sai ua. There's a shop near the gold clock tower in Chiang Rai which specializes in it, Thais drive up from Bangkok to load up with 5 - 10 kilos. Keeps very well, no bacteria can live in it. I usually have it with salad, sweet chili sauce, and a beer.

Are these the same sausages we can buy at the start of the four-lane road (n * 11) just after Den Chai on the way to Uttaradit.
There is a very large market where there is a lot of wooden furniture and also sausage sellers from Chiang Mai.
I love them and every time we come back home we stop there to buy a few kg

[URMySunshine]

On 3/18/2020 at 11:16 AM, thequietman said:

Yes, and if you happen to be residing in an actual retirement home, then you are posting in a home, which you call your home, posting about being at home, when you are in fact, in a residential home and not your actual, real home. ????

Home is where your heart's at. 

[URMySunshine]

On 3/18/2020 at 2:31 PM, Yinn said:

Because VF is superior. You not know that?

amazing house, beautiful wife, euro car, fitness, success, smart etc

 

Yinn also superior person. 

 

Happy same VF

 

 

As trolls go you are Olympic standard - that said it is a low bar here !

 

You are like the Ravens at the Tower of London - if you go TVF falls. We are in the end times. Don't go !

[VocalNeal]

On 3/18/2020 at 6:32 PM, Nyezhov said:

Wile his lungs solidify with PM 25...O yes Muffy, the pollution rahlly wasnt bahd today, I could see out the window 2 meters....

I think we have the same window cleaner.

[villagefarang]

So how is everybody settling into their new reality?  I can see this being a good thing if it doesn't last too long.  I am struggling with exercising at home and miss the gym but I am starting to find some moves I like. My wife has started doing home exercise videos.  She has always liked floor exercises more than the gym and has more discipline than I do, so hasn't missed a beat. 

 

Hope you are all staying healthy and happy.????

[sceadugenga]

I still walk the dog every night, I need the exercise more than him anyway.

We're well stocked on necessities and I may even get to those mysterious packs stuck in the back of the freezer.

Plenty of fruit and veg locally, it's not going to stop growing and people have to sell it.

 

I have my scheduled tests at the Overbrook next month, not sure how that is going to work out.

 

[villagefarang]

1 hour ago, sceadugenga said:

I have my scheduled tests at the Overbrook next month, not sure how that is going to work out.

I would guess you will need to postpone your tests for another month or two.  We pushed the MIL's test date and I have a dental appointment I won't be making next week.  Anything short of an emergency we are putting off to a later date.

 

Our golden retriever is getting old and has some health issues so our walks are pretty much restricted to the front yard, when we used to do more than 4 km per day.  I would love a moderately unhealthy day so we could hike to the dam again.  These hazardous days are too much, even for me.  It has been more than a week since we have been on a long hike.

[sceadugenga]

I've decided to ring the hospital a few days before the appointment and be guided by them.

The actual tests are quick but there's a couple of hours wait for results and consultation during which we normally go for lunch but I suppose we'll need to take sandwiches this time.