How Do I Survive Living At The Farm ... Tips And Tricks Please!

puchooay · November 13, 2012

I fact, only the other day there was a small family party in the village. I was invited, and I attended. A pig had been slaughtered. We all sat together on large mats. There were a few bottles of beer, some whiskey and soda water. I sat drinking with the guys and had a chat, in their language, about what the party was for. Soon after that the food came along. We had a feast. Anything that was offered to me that didn't want to eat I politely declined. I didn't call it crap or shit. After all it is not crap or shit. It is Issan style food. Maybe not to everyone's liking but certainly not shit.

As far as I know "shit" is a waste product excreted from the anus; or in some cases the mouth.

Dancealot · November 13, 2012

Boys

You generalize and you state the obvious. Respectfully, there is no added value in your reply s, more importantly, no added value for the thread. You want to defend a facade you created.

If you don't contradict yourselves and if you do not post here anymore, this wonderful discussion will remain clean.

onionluke · November 14, 2012

David if you get fed up drinking beer and then even more sick of drinking beer with ice in it , as I do from time to time , you can make some drinkable lime , rum , soda concoctions with all the ingredients available in the village store .

hope you are having a good time

DILLIGAD · November 14, 2012

David if you get fed up drinking beer and then even more sick of drinking beer with ice in it , as I do from time to time , you can make some drinkable lime , rum , soda concoctions with all the ingredients available in the village store .

hope you are having a good time

OK, I understand now.

Beer is the answer, but what was the question?

farangme · November 14, 2012

How do you know a Thai is trying to improve his lot in life?
He owns a lock!

So just what is the obsession with locks? The MiL has locks on the gate, multiple locks on doors to home, multiple locks on bedrooms within home, multiple locks on bathrooms inside bedrooms, and locks on cabinets in bedrooms. What the f? There's really nothing to steal in the first place. Trust among Thais?

Sent from my PC36100 using Thaivisa Connect App

IsaanAussie · November 14, 2012

How do you know a Thai is trying to improve his lot in life?
He owns a lock!

So just what is the obsession with locks? The MiL has locks on the gate, multiple locks on doors to home, multiple locks on bedrooms within home, multiple locks on bathrooms inside bedrooms, and locks on cabinets in bedrooms. What the f? There's really nothing to steal in the first place. Trust among Thais?

Sent from my PC36100 using Thaivisa Connect App

What's yours is mine, and mine, mine own. It is a huge cultural gap for me, I was taught to value my toys and those of others. To ask if I could borrow something and when finished to return it. I was also taught to value relationships. I have a dislike for thieves and liars and someone who steals from family is as low as you can go. Here where people are taught to forgive but theft is a crime the rest is a blur.

cooked · November 14, 2012

I fact, only the other day there was a small family party in the village. I was invited, and I attended. A pig had been slaughtered. We all sat together on large mats. There were a few bottles of beer, some whiskey and soda water. I sat drinking with the guys and had a chat, in their language, about what the party was for. Soon after that the food came along. We had a feast. Anything that was offered to me that didn't want to eat I politely declined. I didn't call it crap or shit. After all it is not crap or shit. It is Issan style food. Maybe not to everyone's liking but certainly not shit.

As far as I know "shit" is a waste product excreted from the anus; or in some cases the mouth.

Cow shit from the lower intestine is to be bought all over the place, it is the brown stuff in a plastic bag next to the red stuff(blood) and the green stuff (bile).

IsaanAussie · November 14, 2012

I fact, only the other day there was a small family party in the village. I was invited, and I attended. A pig had been slaughtered. We all sat together on large mats. There were a few bottles of beer, some whiskey and soda water. I sat drinking with the guys and had a chat, in their language, about what the party was for. Soon after that the food came along. We had a feast. Anything that was offered to me that didn't want to eat I politely declined. I didn't call it crap or shit. After all it is not crap or shit. It is Issan style food. Maybe not to everyone's liking but certainly not shit.

As far as I know "shit" is a waste product excreted from the anus; or in some cases the mouth.

Cow shit from the lower intestine is to be bought all over the place, it is the brown stuff in a plastic bag next to the red stuff(blood) and the green stuff (bile).

Luckily PC is talking about pigs, now that is something I know about. When I slaughter a pig for the restaurants in Bangkok the only bit we do not ship is the gall bladder and the contents of the digestive tract of course. Still I suppose mono-gastric or ruminant the intestines are used as casings for your sausages and are very high in protein. Rinse the empty coke bottles and fill them with drinking water, everybody does it. Did you ever think what was inside the skins before the sausages?

My point is I am not fond of offal but it is one of the richest foods you can eat. Rather than label others with my own "inhibitions" I choice to just decline as did PC.

David48 · November 14, 2012

Well gentlemen ... apologies for the longer delay in ansering but that is due to a number of things ...

Dumb David somehow forgot to load the computer bag ... seemed to have bought almost everything else ... but forgot one of the most important! Ditto Bank Passbook.

So now have a borrowed computer and a crappy (on again off again ... there is a metaphore for that action ... ) TRUE interent connection and a borrowed computer.

Experiences next.

Edited November 14, 2012 by David48

David48 · November 14, 2012

A pair of grinning girls met me at the Airport as my Lassie bought along her sister for company ... you know the score.

Trying to save the B50 fee we headed to the departures on level 2 to grab a cab and soon as they see a Farang face, it's no chance of a meter fare without a discussion. For only 2 minutes we discussed this with the driver and in that brief period he had wheel clamped the taxi drivers car and that cost him B100 to have removed ... we fixed him up for the later as it's a long drive to the Farm.

With the high water around the Farm road is impassable for a taxi so Gf's Mum was there in the long boat for the ride to the farm.

Hungry ... just open your mouth for a few seconds and you will be full with the flying delights of the night wildlife.

David48 · November 14, 2012

Well all the suggestions re the water supply now do not apply as the pump has broken in the village a few miles away and that has been the situation for almost a week, so the watre available for most things have dried up.

Had to also buy the drinking water in because the neighbour has decided to make a living out of making charcoal ... so the roof is contaminated with the ash, thus the run off is unsuitable for drinking.

As many have said ... there's always beer!

But they are a bunch of non-drinkers, so giving that a miss for a few days.

So some pepsi light if you don't mind was the instructions to the gf as she went off to pick up the kids for school on the Honda Wave.

Came back with 2 packets of chips (crisps) and some hand cream for the girls ...

Thai thinking ... don't you just love it?

David48 · November 14, 2012

First night's sleep was also interesting ... under the mosquito net with the fan on the lap dog by our feet.

Got too blowy after I cooled down but couldn't be assed to get up and switch it off.

The mozzie net did do a good job of keeping the little suckers at bay ... except for the place where I rested my hand against the net ... transfusion time there at that one little spot ... lesson learned.

David48 · November 14, 2012

Just settled into a nice rythem ... having a nice little sing-song on my back ... being woken with a slap from the gf ... saying it was a mozzie, but we know she was just getting me to roll over!

About 4am, I hear noises, men's voices.

Yes, it was harvest day and they were all in the kitchen, directly below our bedroom, not exactly whispering.

Bout 5.30, decided to great the day and see what the night workers were up to and they had set the lights and the nets and were harvesting the Prawns/Shrimps.

No-one gets a free ride on the Farm and soon helping load and ice the Prawns ... then off to the Market for a sorting, weighing and selling.

Followed by LOTUS for a walk down the shopping isle.

Yes ... a lot of what you have written about does and did happen.

The English lesson with the older school aged kids (they were keen learners and Farm Father watched on with approval) was done for the night and at 10pm it's an early night as the boys have set the nets for the next pond.

When I can download a few photos, I will post them.

BTW ... anyone got a cheap netbook/notebook for sale ... I'm shy one computer at the moment and have to share this one with the many kids at the Farm ...

shaggy1969 · November 16, 2012

How many shrimps have been thrown on the barbie already?

Dancealot · November 16, 2012

Very nice Dave, your report has a good atmosphere to it. Makes me bring back to the times i spent in the country. I love living like this. Why not shop around in Lotus for a new cheap notebook. You should be able to get one for under B9000.

DerkMR · November 17, 2012

Sorry for the formatting, but as new user I have to work my way around built in restrictions...

Problem solved (for me anyway) ... I have no intention, zip, zero zilch of eating raw fish ... so the problem is solved ...

ditto ... chicken feet

ditto ... locust (even though I heard them once described as the shrimp of the air) ...

Well, apart of the raw fish for the mentioned health risk I would try a lot of things.

OK for the chicken feet I'm with you, there is not much on them to enjoy.

Locusts - why not? I tried crickets last time. Not bad but also nothing I have to repeat, silkworms are next on my list.

Duck tongues I tried but - I think like the chicken feet - not much on them, but my GF loves them.

Sorry totster. Not a slob. Never eat in bed. Might have something to do with the classic Thai style wood frame construction.
No insulation. Air ventilated. What s with the personal attack? Never encountered mice on the farm?
I hear the large ones are tasty with. Lao Kao.

Most probably what is referred to as mouse droppings comes from the geckos.

They are also the reason for a lot of things hanging on the walls or standing on shelf being wrapped in plastic to stay clean e.g. wall clocks, pictures etc.

Snakes I'm used to but we don't have Cobras where I live. Are they different?

There are spitting cobras which are able to throw their venom around 3 m wide and often pretty focused on your eyes. If you wear glasses no problem, if not be careful.

When l first came and rented a place there was no hot shower. Just shower off the mains.
I installed an electric shower within two days . She loved it.

I don't know why so many farang need hot showers in a hot country...

My GF also switches on the hot shower even at >35°c outside, I'm lucky if the shower can cool me down a bit so that's the least I miss in Thailand.

Teaching English in a local school (Prattom would be more fun for you than mattayom) would be an even better idea, particularly as it'd earn you a lot of respect from the local community and help you to meet new people. If you offered to maybe teach just for free while you're here for a month or so, just a couple of hours each day, I think that you'd be well received and really enjoy the experience.

To stay on the safe side I would not teach anything.

Remember that working without a work permit is forbidden and even Tsunami helpers were rejected because of the missing work permit - getting salary isn't the fact to differentiate between "work" and "help"!

If someone doesn't like you this might be the reason to get deported without possibility to do anything against it...

I can remember hole in the floor loo s in France about 40 years back.

They even have it at new build motorway service stations, at least south of Lyon.

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

I got used to shower and leave some soap in the face for some time and then directly after the shower use the shaver in a dry working mode. You have to replace the blades a little more frequent but it works well.

Bye,

Derk

cooked · November 17, 2012

Razor blades? I spent a fortune on expensive shavers until I started to shave by hand. Works with cold water also.

David48 · November 17, 2012

...I would try a lot of things. ... silkworms are next on my list.

Bye,

Derk

Hey Derk ... funny you mention the silkworms. An old gf lived in Surin and, while visiting one day in a village about 20 klms away, we dropped round her place and she was spinning the raw silk.

Amazing to watch the process. The Thais were eating them like peanuts ... and that's exactly how I would describe the texture and taste ... as a very soggy soft peanut.

Tried one ... that was enough ...

We took a large bag back to Surin and all the Thais tucked in with gusto ...

linno2 · November 17, 2012

Forget the toilet paper David, you will quickly master the art of using a bum gun, they are much cleaner than paper.

you think that a bathroom with no flush-down toilet has a bum gun?

The Farm does have both a squat and sit down toilet, but not a flush toilet

I got the reply overnight, sadly Naam, you are correct ... no bum gun ...

.

we have a couple of loos on the farm. The squat version and the pedestal version with the hand bucket flush! The comfort of a seat above ground without the complication of the button flush! Works a treat and worth the investment! The cool water showers are fine in the hot weather but a little challenging in the winter - buy an electric spontaneous hot water heater (make sure the electric system is adequate amps and cable and fuse rating) - they are from THB1500 upwards and can make life a little nore comfortable in winter. Otherwise the hot water in the camp shower can be a great substitute! The bun gun is a nice option assuming adequate water pressure.

ALFREDO · November 17, 2012

My tips for survival

1. Make sure the farm is within 400km of a major city. (for when you have the urge for English speaking company)

2. Build a proper toilet and shower with hot water. (less than 10kbht)

3. Make sure you always have your own transport available. (so you can escape to 1. at the drop of a hat, 15kbht for a s/h click)

4. Make sure you have your own room (OK if only the gf shares with you, but not her kids, bed and cheap mattress 5kbht)

5. Install high speed internet. (for your entertainment needs only 7kbht for 1 year)

6. Never accept invitations anywhere, until you confirm the inviter will stick to Thai traditions (and pay for everything).

PS

Nanapong is broadly correct, but only if you allow it to happen. Live where you want, apply your standards of living, if the gf doesn't go along with it, plenty more cute gfs available who will and she knows that. Communal Thai basic living (no toilet, no shower, verything dirty, all the family sharing a dirty mattress in one room is great for a one night adventure, but weeks or months .........

Nice posting,but 400 km?

Only biggest cities allowed in your opinion? Times changed a lot.

Years ago, I had in Udon Province and in Chayaphum province 85 km to drive to reach the next Shopping Center, Udon city or Khon Kaen city.

Today, its 15 km to a small Lotus and 35, 45 km to two, three bigger ones.

I find now, lot differently to 14 years ago,, at least in Isaan's Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Chayaphum province in every Amphoe and every,

even the smallest new style Mini Lotus Falangs to contact, talk and meet if desired.

They pop up everywhere and more and more, same weed!

Edited November 17, 2012 by ALFREDO

ALFREDO · November 17, 2012

I don't know why so many farang need hot showers in a hot country...

My GF also switches on the hot shower even at >35°c outside, I'm lucky if the shower can cool me down a bit so that's the least I miss in Thailand.

Please think from End of December, to end of Februar in Isaan, and even more mountainous, Northern, North Western Thailand.

For some short weeks, day by day different I use a small electric heater in the night, on the slopes of the Phukiau hills.

Temperatures in the night-morning, can be around 15-16 Celsius and I had also nights with 12 degrees.

Loei province and around Phu Kradueng, not far from me and where one of my sons lives, sometimes even colder, under 10 degrees!

Than is a warm shower, very pleasant.

DerkMR · November 18, 2012

I don't know why so many farang need hot showers in a hot country...

My GF also switches on the hot shower even at >35°c outside, I'm lucky if the shower can cool me down a bit so that's the least I miss in Thailand.

Please think from End of December, to end of Februar in Isaan, and even more mountainous, Northern, North Western Thailand.

For some short weeks, day by day different I use a small electric heater in the night, on the slopes of the Phukiau hills.

Temperatures in the night-morning, can be around 15-16 Celsius and I had also nights with 12 degrees.

Loei province and around Phu Kradueng, not far from me and where one of my sons lives, sometimes even colder, under 10 degrees!

Than is a warm shower, very pleasant.

Agree, but I'm pretty sure not all farang buying heaters for the shower only buy them for use at 20 Celsius or below...

As mentioned my mia also likes to use hot shower at 35 Celsius.

Bye,

Derk

transam · November 18, 2012

I don't know why so many farang need hot showers in a hot country...

My GF also switches on the hot shower even at >35°c outside, I'm lucky if the shower can cool me down a bit so that's the least I miss in Thailand.

Please think from End of December, to end of Februar in Isaan, and even more mountainous, Northern, North Western Thailand.

For some short weeks, day by day different I use a small electric heater in the night, on the slopes of the Phukiau hills.

Temperatures in the night-morning, can be around 15-16 Celsius and I had also nights with 12 degrees.

Loei province and around Phu Kradueng, not far from me and where one of my sons lives, sometimes even colder, under 10 degrees!

Than is a warm shower, very pleasant.

Agree, but I'm pretty sure not all farang buying heaters for the shower only buy them for use at 20 Celsius or below...

As mentioned my mia also likes to use hot shower at 35 Celsius.

Bye,

Derk

You should try the Mickey Mouse ears, more becoming.

DerkMR · November 18, 2012

You should try the Mickey Mouse ears, more becoming.

No way, there is only one fighting christmas rabbit!

Bye,

Derk

David48 · November 19, 2012

How do you know when you have staying at the Farm toooooooooooooooo long?

When you sleep on a proper mattress and you get a sore back from something so soft ...

Stayed in the big smoke last night because I left my Bank Passbook at home and had to report it lost at the police station, get their report and will go to the original issues branch today to get a replacement.

Have to say ... the cop shop was good, the police polite and the cost only 20 baht ... same as the locals ...

.

Dancealot · November 19, 2012

The mattress, very important issue when staying at the farm for a long time. After a week staying my back hurt so much i went to tesco and bought new pillows and a new thin mattress for meself. Not for her! I have to respect this because she slept all her life like this. Her back hurts when she sleeps to soft. Anyways they where all very cheap. Nevertheless resulting in an uneven design of the bed. We dont care about the way the bed looks, functionality is more important.

My better half prefers to sleep hard with only 1 small pillow. Funny it's the other way around with me. So have to adapt

How do you handle the mosquito attacks? how often are they? I dont live near a lake or river but still have to kill a few bugs after i forgot about "the special go to bed ritual " to carefully slide the net around my body when entering and leaving the bed. 1 or 2 dam_n critters always seem to be be waiting for this moment... Since you live near water and i do not in theory ou should get more attacks? - I am curious..

Nice report on the police incident. Maybe this will happen to me also in 3 months when i will be returning to the countryside as well. Now i am rest assured.

billd766 · November 20, 2012

I live on the other side of Thailand to Issan 65 km southwest of Khampaeng Phet and backing on to the Mae Wong national park.

We have a 4 bedroom mhouse and 14 rai of land and a/c in 2 bedrooms only and the rest have fans.

Downstairs the windows are shutters and upstairs glass and all the windows and doors have mossie screens. I enforce shutting the doors and that now is nornal 99% of the timeand even the kids tell everybody to shut the doors.

I only use anti mossie spray on my arms and legs and wear shorts 99% of the time and a shirt only in the evenings around the outside. Fortunately we get few mossies but at certain times of the year we get a lot of flying ants which the ching choks love to eat. Strangely enough they have mostly gone by about 8.30 pm.

We haven't used a mossie net since our son was a baby and he is now 8.

We now sleep in different beds as my wife goes to bed earlier than me and gets up later.

She likes the tv on and I don't. I read and she doesn't and we are both bed hogs always wanttttting most of the bed during the night and as I am bigger and heavier she always lost.

I have been living up here now 8 years with 5 of them FIFO and the last 3 retired.

I now have a reasonable internet connection and some mates I go to see now and again and she has the TV and her friends so we are sort of in the best of both worlds.

My hobby is making western food so I do my own breakfast and lunch and she cooks dinner.

I can ALWAYS find things to do and sometimes it is hard to find the time to do them.

Good luck to all of you guys who live out on the farm or in the villages, i's great. You would have to pay me a ot of money to live in a city now and as for a farang ghetto, NO way.

TommoPhysicist · November 20, 2012

Mozzies don't bite me any more. I have no idea why.

Used to bite me lots, but the past couple of years, hardly ever.

The only protection I have is a fan blowing over the bed at night.

transam · November 20, 2012

Mozzies don't bite me any more. I have no idea why.

Used to bite me lots, but the past couple of years, hardly ever.

The only protection I have is a fan blowing over the bed at night.

Think it's the blood alcohol levels, word gets around in mozzy circles.

Thailand2012 · November 20, 2012

Without the internet isolation will set in...

Luckily, internet, unless there is a storm, won't be a problem ... so that's one saving grace ...

We arn't married, but I'll use the term Mother-In-Law (MIL)

The MIL and I get on fine ... but how did you cope with the food served when you first went there?

In the past, my lady always made sure there were some Thai Fish Cakes around.

So some spicy is OK ... a lot of spice is a problem ...

I do wish to look like I fit in ... but also want to some palatable food.

just dont ask for the ingredients and you will be fine i unkowingly ate noo rat once tasted ok till my girl told what we just had for dinner her family found it very amusing watching me bring up dinner,

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