New Farang In Namsom A Year On.

[WindyGale]

New farang in Namsom a year on.

Sawasdee krub or should I say 'sabadee bo' seeing as we are in Isaan? Yes I thought I'd write a few words for all fellow Namsomians and welcomed 'outsiders' a year on from my first foray into what is now my home town of Namsom.

I've settled down with the good lady and things are very well. She still puts up with me, makes me smile constantly, an inexhaustible source of amusement (I think that goes both ways) and how do the women look so good first thing in the morning? The house being built last year, was eventually finished months later than promised. Was this why the landlord decided to increase the agreed rent? During this extended period I learned some of the respectability regulations in Thai society. Therefore I declined his new offer, house was further delayed and I kept face in the community. Plus the fact we found an abode built originally by a Norwegian, and are making this a home together now.

Additions to the family include a little motorbike. Well little in Europe but a Big Bike of 250cc in Thailand. I can confirm this as the Kawasaki dealers in Udon Thani have an official Big Bike Dealer sign up. The good lady refers to it as 'Edum', which means 'ugly black thing'. I was quite happy to have a bike named, and I've adopted this as a term of endearment for the little machine, including stickers saying 'Edum ' in Thai on the swing arm. This causes amusement at petrol stations across the land, a little embarrassment to the good lady I'm sure. 'Edum' has been spoilt with a few modifications, well documented by the good lady, but not as many as Rick's 'Edang' (ugly red CBR 250).

The other addition is our super guard dog, Cola. As a pup he was donated to us by the village head man as it's eyes are green/grey and it looks like a farang dog. Unfortunately he was hit by a motorbike and had a broken back leg. After sending pics of what needs to be done by a vet, not a local Doctor, he was taken to Udon Thani and repaired. This was a costly operation, some people thought us mad to do this, but now he's 6 months old and running around again, all are happy we took the trouble. He is a good guard dog, but is a little spoilt and does like to ride on the good lady's scooter still on short trips.

I had my first New Year in Namsom, all the family and friends were in attendance. I didn't have to cook as I only just got to Namsom on the 31st in the afternoon, phew! We have discovered that red wine isn't a natural drink for the Thai ladies, mums, aunts as they were all a little worse for wear a little too early in the evening (including the good lady). Pa was forced to switch from his odd glass of Laukhal to an 18 year old Glenfiddich. He has discovered it is a little more refined and keeps it for himself and indulges in a glass in the quiet of his own home as and when, quite right too, enjoy.

I am sad to report we didn't get to the temple at 8am the following morning. I was seriously looking forward to this as there were many monks at the temple on the lake. I blame my jet lag and having to attend to Pa's now redundant bottle of Laukhal!

As the good lady is of small proportions, she fits on the back of 'Edum' and we've ridden to Lois, Phu Rea, Nong Kai with minimal luggage. Spare T shirt, boxers & socks for me, shoes, dresses, underwear, hair dryer, kitchen sink for the good lady! I'm seeing more on the area we live in and thoroughly enjoying the cooler weather for riding currently. Roads are a bit of a challenge, coming south from Pak Chom the road is newly tarmacked, wide and encourages a bit of speed as we still had a few miles to travel that day. Over the brow of a hill, the road turned into gravel, mud and pot holes which put the bikes suspension fully to the test (good job I insist on spare boxers ). This was a constant feature of the route and massages to the hind quarters were welcomed at the end of the day for both of us. 'Edum' is holding up to the strain and is turning out to be the perfect bike for my needs, the roads and the off-roading at times. A KLX 250, I highly recommend, even without the few mods it's had.

Language is coming slowly. I've only picked up a little but it's impressed and gained respect from the Isaan people I meet. The good lady thinks I've learned too much as I interpreted her (I bluffed quite a bit too) when she called her Ma asking her to make Tom Kaa Guy for me (which the good lady had promised to make herself). Mak mak she informs me, but her English is really good now. I still have the option of speaking German when the opportunity arises.

Thai food is to my liking. After the array of unrecognizable items on offer in the market, I've found inviting all the family to a restaurant and ordering a little (mind usually large) portion of everything, I can taste as I want and make a note of what hasn't burned me or was still almost alive as I ate. Chang beer helps to make the look of some dishes more appealing. Ricks good lady Chalee makes an excellent Tom Yam Gung at his bar in town center by the bus station. Great new extension to the front so we can see the other halves coming sooner! The new Enjoy bar on the outskirts is tops for Tom Kaa Guy, if the Laos ladyboy waitress informs the cook it's for a farang so not too spicy. Well done to Joy and Dave for opening a new place for Thais and farangs to frequent. Hi to Poy there too, our favourite ladyboy waitress, always smiles and treats us well every time.

So a year on and I'm still enjoying calling Namsom 'home'. The more I see of it, the surrounding area, getting involved in the culture, it is truly an amazing place and I'm more than happy to be here. For all my fellow Namsomians, thank you for your friendship, support and encouragement. To anyone who's not seen our part of Thailand, you are welcome and will enjoy.

[MrRed]

Nice story! thanks for sharing and here's to many more years of health and happiness and beer Chang.

[JurgenG]

Thank you for sharing

They say happy people have no stories. Obviously it's not true.

[riki]

Rick's 'Edang' (ugly red CBR 250) was a friend with you ,(HA HA) you thought black was beautiful ,but not in the case of your bike,see you soon mate

[Gweiloman]

Nice story. I had to look where Namsom is, cor blimey, you're almost in Laos!

Hope you will continue to have many more happy years there.

[bergen]

Good and positive post! Refreshing compared to some others.............

[elwood]

Thanks very much for such a cheerful report; there are far too few of these on TV.

You have settled in well, so the future looks bright for you - good luck to you and yours.

[craighj]

Excellent update, thanks.

It's good to some positive stories coming from Issan. Frankly I love the place although my good lady and I have a house in Mukdahan.

Thanks

Craighj

[SantiSuk]

Putting the Edum sticker on your bike marks you out as the kind of guy who's going to enjoy Thailand a lot!

[jpduggan]

Just back from that part of the country,I love it up there but everything's a bit dry at the moment. Bought a site to build a house, paid 100,000thb maybe a bit on the expensive side? The village headman is trying to sell us a 6 Rai farm with mature rubber trees for 1 million Thb. but after being shafted on another deal because I'm a farang I'm wondering what the going rate for this farm to a Thai would be. This land is about 20 km from Pak chom on the road to Namsom.I'm wondering as well why do you pack extra socks....not having to wear socks is one of the things I love about living here.I'm living in Pattaya at the moment.

Jim.

[sharking]

good luck and thank you for your story

you cant put a price on a good time