Have you assimilated into Fara-saan?

[dinger]

Went back to the states a couple of months ago and realized that my driving skills by U S standards had gone to hell

You're obviously not from San Francisco! Thailand was good training for the mess here in SF

No I am from L A where offensive driving is a participant sport

[thaiguzzi]

Good thread. The people of Isaan are, without a doubt, the nicest people i've ever met, anywhere on the planet. Salt of the Earth.

[Thaddeus]

The neighbors unashamedly steal my bananas in broad daylight. So I unashamedly steal their jackfruit.

If anyone is caught red-handed, a smile and a sheepish nod of the head takes care of everything.

I help, and put said fruit into the plastic bag they discarded yesterday and hand it back to them with a wink.

One day, I hope the message may click.

Not sure if trying to introduce logic or a system would work anywhere here. Perhaps if you put twenty baht in each time

That's why they put a B20 note in a small plastic bag in the large tubs of paint.

The instruction on the side that said 'stir well before use' obviously wasn't working

[overherebc]

The neighbors unashamedly steal my bananas in broad daylight. So I unashamedly steal their jackfruit.

If anyone is caught red-handed, a smile and a sheepish nod of the head takes care of everything.

I help, and put said fruit into the plastic bag they discarded yesterday and hand it back to them with a wink.

One day, I hope the message may click.

Not sure if trying to introduce logic or a system would work anywhere here. Perhaps if you put twenty baht in each time

That's why they put a B20 note in a small plastic bag in the large tubs of paint.

The instruction on the side that said 'stir well before use' obviously wasn't working

LMAO

[wayned]

Dig holes to put the final drives and wheels on your newly imported farm equipment!

[Jip99]

How on earth can culture be deemed as bad manners?

It's got a name: ethnocentrism

That, of course, is the other end of the spectrum.

Thai bars selling beer around the clock, in Pattaya, to mal-adjusted Falangs is probably a good example of the Middle Way

[Jip99]

Attending temple. Cutting rice and carrying rice as part of an exercise program. Supporting the relatives and friends. Sitting on the floor while eating. Enjoying the smoke from the grill = to a full pack of smokes. Abstaining from alcohol. Doing the spirit dance with a bunch of seniors. Christening a new house with the village shaman. Being educated on the many types of edible leaves and plants. Eating horned beatles, bees, grasshoppers. Attending a number of funerary proceedings. Attending an old fashioned wedding and a modern expensive wedding. Driving a motorbike. Being in two accidents caused by offending Thais. Getting Dengue fever twice. Two hospital stays. Enjoying the excellent services of Thai doctors. getting my teeth cleaned for $10.00 . Finding out first hand about thai police and the backward system of Thai justice. ( threats from my neighbour resulted in further threats from the police).

Visited many villages and village schools. Shocked by the Thai convention of driving - I no longer stop for most stop signs as few drivers do. I even drive the wrong way occasionally. The list is endless as I have been here three years.

Give it time - the list will get longer.

I bet you don't yet hang a red T shirt outside your house to ward off the widow ghost..................

[sirchai]

- Jumping red lights on my bike: (at lesser junctions only and at night)

- Find a shady spot while waiting for the lights to change during the day,

- Sucking & picking my teeth after a meal with some self fashioned foliage type implement! (Darwin would be proud)

- Diet is now full Isaan fare, but I avoid the munchy crunchy content such as knuckles, feet, heads & chewy type spare parts. (I genuinely enjoying the taste variety)

- Shower 3 times a day

- Enjoy Archa beer

- Hate having to visit BKK for whatever reason

-Always driving slowly on the right lane

-Tell my "mates" I'd be there in an hour, but arrive four to seven hours later.

-Use a toothpick to, cover my mouth when cleaning my teeth, but pull out everything out of my nose and look at it, without covering anything.

- Got some fancy lights under my pick up truck and a 100, 000 Watt receiver, with a 35 AMP battery

- Took the toilet paper out of the bathrooms and placed them on our dining table now. Renamed it to tissue.

- Always wait two minutes when a traffic light turns green to make those "beginners" behind me angry.

- Make my own silk shirts now

-Replaced my scooters tires with cheaper-and faster bicycle rims and tires.

- Always say no, when I mean yes, and vice versa

-Thinking about having one more Mia Noi now, as I started an extra income through making translations.

-Ordered the new Mercedes Benz convertible, but can't afford to pay the monthly rates. Will "borrow" money from friends and neighbors, then give it back.

- Couldn't live without a bum gun anymore. Use the same hand to eat, I'm using to do my business.

-Need a nap now, work can wait until next year, or next life.-

Edited June 6, 2014 by sirchai

[lostmebike]

who on earth would move to Isaan??? is this for real?

Who on earth would rent an over-priced, shoe box in Bangkok to call home?

Apparently millions!

[lostmebike]

What about the 'Isaan waddle'? You know ... the feet wide open, almost at right anlges to your body when walking.

Or the fingers in the anus, having a mighty old scratch in public, one of my favourites that!

[smotherb]

Except for Archa beer, I prefer Regency, I have acclimated to the same behaviors you describe and have never been to Isaan.

[Cam Khao]

I've just spent 6 months working in Zurich, let me list a few things from Isan I missed while I was there.

When feeling a little peckish, walking around the village saying hello to everyone until somebody offers me some food (hehe).

When going for a proper night out, taking my own bottle of whiskey with me around the bars and clubs.

Organizing a BBQ where nothing more than meat and beer is expected to be served.

20 Baht noodle soup for lunch, delivered to my door.

Being offered beer at 6am out of a glass 5 people have been sharing for the last hour.

The mornings when the whole village goes to the temple and I get some peace an quiet for a few hours!

Those amazingly surprising times when a neighbor borrows one of my bikes and actually brings it back with gasoline left.

Letting my neighbor catch fish out of the lake in my garden, knowing he will bring me some of them all nicely cooked later on.

Swapping mangos for farang with my other neighbor, who every time, starts laughing and says farang eating farang.

Being visited by every kid in the village at least once a day, as they all know I keep a stock of candy for them.

I could go on. I love living in Isan, lived in a lot of places in my life, this is the one I have called home for the longest time.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Cam Khao

[Jimbolai]

Man I have never been to Isaan but after reading your post I feel that I must have been Isaanian at some point perhaps in a prior life. It just sounds so familiar.

Edited June 6, 2014 by Jimbolai

[Bernard Flint]

Good thread. The people of Isaan are, without a doubt, the nicest people i've ever met, anywhere on the planet. Salt of the Earth.

Done even mention the Bangkok residents in the same breath heheheheeheh, and i arent talking of the thais hahahahahaha

[biplanebluey]

Well,I have been in Issaan (Udon Thani) for 7yrs now.Bought a falang house and have a Thai wife.I am enjoying life immensely. We have nearly all Thai neighbors and my wife gets the shout to come over for King Khau nearly every morning.I am also made welcome,and I get on with them all and their kids.I have changed my taste buds to suit the menus and enjoy all thai food that is devoid of heavy spices. Yes I too sometimes ride a bike on the wrong side of the road instead of going the extra mile and coming back on the other side,but not with the car. I do drink Archa as I find its the same as all thai beers.That is why I have gone overboard with Sangsom and coke(Zero) with M150,what a great drink and thirst quencher,and I can drink that all night without getting drunk or bloated out !!! I have grown a pig-tail. This is because my wife wanted to see if it would cover the bits that were worrying me (bald spots) and if works and all the Thai women tell me it looks good.I am 78yrs old and would never dare do that back in the old country---NZ. All this makes me feel younger and the people in the shops are always helpful and have a laugh with me as I try to describe in English what I want,Most Issaan people are happy and helpful,and appreciate if you can just say hello and thank you. Even the Police wave me on when they realize its me ,before I have a chance to get my licence out. I rarely go round the bars now as most heve their own little band of falang regulars who are only their to have a winge as to what has been happening to them today. I have more fun when the family come to my place.Only costs me a couple of Archas and a bit of a rice meal,especially when I put the Karaoke on and get them singing. Well that's my story ,and both my wife,an ex rice farmer family girl and me are happy with our little lot------ Udon is No1------ Dougal

[Bernard Flint]

Well,I have been in Issaan (Udon Thani) for 7yrs now.Bought a falang house and have a Thai wife.I am enjoying life immensely. We have nearly all Thai neighbors and my wife gets the shout to come over for King Khau nearly every morning.I am also made welcome,and I get on with them all and their kids.I have changed my taste buds to suit the menus and enjoy all thai food that is devoid of heavy spices. Yes I too sometimes ride a bike on the wrong side of the road instead of going the extra mile and coming back on the other side,but not with the car. I do drink Archa as I find its the same as all thai beers.That is why I have gone overboard with Sangsom and coke(Zero) with M150,what a great drink and thirst quencher,and I can drink that all night without getting drunk or bloated out !!! I have grown a pig-tail. This is because my wife wanted to see if it would cover the bits that were worrying me (bald spots) and if works and all the Thai women tell me it looks good.I am 78yrs old and would never dare do that back in the old country---NZ. All this makes me feel younger and the people in the shops are always helpful and have a laugh with me as I try to describe in English what I want,Most Issaan people are happy and helpful,and appreciate if you can just say hello and thank you. Even the Police wave me on when they realize its me ,before I have a chance to get my licence out. I rarely go round the bars now as most heve their own little band of falang regulars who are only their to have a winge as to what has been happening to them today. I have more fun when the family come to my place.Only costs me a couple of Archas and a bit of a rice meal,especially when I put the Karaoke on and get them singing. Well that's my story ,and both my wife,an ex rice farmer family girl and me are happy with our little lot------ Udon is No1------ Dougal

Nice one mate

Wish all these silly farangs would stop moaning and groaning about everthing thai, it gets so tedious

[Anon999]

In a word, NO.

[Jip99]

Well,I have been in Issaan (Udon Thani) for 7yrs now.Bought a falang house and have a Thai wife.I am enjoying life immensely. We have nearly all Thai neighbors and my wife gets the shout to come over for King Khau nearly every morning.I am also made welcome,and I get on with them all and their kids.I have changed my taste buds to suit the menus and enjoy all thai food that is devoid of heavy spices. Yes I too sometimes ride a bike on the wrong side of the road instead of going the extra mile and coming back on the other side,but not with the car. I do drink Archa as I find its the same as all thai beers.That is why I have gone overboard with Sangsom and coke(Zero) with M150,what a great drink and thirst quencher,and I can drink that all night without getting drunk or bloated out !!! I have grown a pig-tail. This is because my wife wanted to see if it would cover the bits that were worrying me (bald spots) and if works and all the Thai women tell me it looks good.I am 78yrs old and would never dare do that back in the old country---NZ. All this makes me feel younger and the people in the shops are always helpful and have a laugh with me as I try to describe in English what I want,Most Issaan people are happy and helpful,and appreciate if you can just say hello and thank you. Even the Police wave me on when they realize its me ,before I have a chance to get my licence out. I rarely go round the bars now as most heve their own little band of falang regulars who are only their to have a winge as to what has been happening to them today. I have more fun when the family come to my place.Only costs me a couple of Archas and a bit of a rice meal,especially when I put the Karaoke on and get them singing. Well that's my story ,and both my wife,an ex rice farmer family girl and me are happy with our little lot------ Udon is No1------ Dougal

Sounds like God's waiting room - but it is working for you, good luck Bluey.

[dinger]

Well,I have been in Issaan (Udon Thani) for 7yrs now.Bought a falang house and have a Thai wife.I am enjoying life immensely. We have nearly all Thai neighbors and my wife gets the shout to come over for King Khau nearly every morning.I am also made welcome,and I get on with them all and their kids.I have changed my taste buds to suit the menus and enjoy all thai food that is devoid of heavy spices. Yes I too sometimes ride a bike on the wrong side of the road instead of going the extra mile and coming back on the other side,but not with the car. I do drink Archa as I find its the same as all thai beers.That is why I have gone overboard with Sangsom and coke(Zero) with M150,what a great drink and thirst quencher,and I can drink that all night without getting drunk or bloated out !!! I have grown a pig-tail. This is because my wife wanted to see if it would cover the bits that were worrying me (bald spots) and if works and all the Thai women tell me it looks good.I am 78yrs old and would never dare do that back in the old country---NZ. All this makes me feel younger and the people in the shops are always helpful and have a laugh with me as I try to describe in English what I want,Most Issaan people are happy and helpful,and appreciate if you can just say hello and thank you. Even the Police wave me on when they realize its me ,before I have a chance to get my licence out. I rarely go round the bars now as most heve their own little band of falang regulars who are only their to have a winge as to what has been happening to them today. I have more fun when the family come to my place.Only costs me a couple of Archas and a bit of a rice meal,especially when I put the Karaoke on and get them singing. Well that's my story ,and both my wife,an ex rice farmer family girl and me are happy with our little lot------ Udon is No1------ Dougal

Sounds like God's waiting room - but it is working for you, good luck Bluey.

No that would be Florida

[DILLIGAD]

Well,I have been in Issaan (Udon Thani) for 7yrs now.Bought a falang house and have a Thai wife.I am enjoying life immensely. We have nearly all Thai neighbors and my wife gets the shout to come over for King Khau nearly every morning.I am also made welcome,and I get on with them all and their kids.I have changed my taste buds to suit the menus and enjoy all thai food that is devoid of heavy spices. Yes I too sometimes ride a bike on the wrong side of the road instead of going the extra mile and coming back on the other side,but not with the car. I do drink Archa as I find its the same as all thai beers.That is why I have gone overboard with Sangsom and coke(Zero) with M150,what a great drink and thirst quencher,and I can drink that all night without getting drunk or bloated out !!! I have grown a pig-tail. This is because my wife wanted to see if it would cover the bits that were worrying me (bald spots) and if works and all the Thai women tell me it looks good.I am 78yrs old and would never dare do that back in the old country---NZ. All this makes me feel younger and the people in the shops are always helpful and have a laugh with me as I try to describe in English what I want,Most Issaan people are happy and helpful,and appreciate if you can just say hello and thank you. Even the Police wave me on when they realize its me ,before I have a chance to get my licence out. I rarely go round the bars now as most heve their own little band of falang regulars who are only their to have a winge as to what has been happening to them today. I have more fun when the family come to my place.Only costs me a couple of Archas and a bit of a rice meal,especially when I put the Karaoke on and get them singing. Well that's my story ,and both my wife,an ex rice farmer family girl and me are happy with our little lot------ Udon is No1------ Dougal

Sounds like God's waiting room - but it is working for you, good luck Bluey.

Eastbourne?

Gateway to the incontinent?

[sirchai]

who on earth would move to Isaan??? is this for real?

Who on earth would rent an over-priced, shoe box in Bangkok to call home?

Apparently millions!

and QUITE A FEW MORE HAPPIER PEOPLE LIVING IN ISAAN,. WHICH WE CALL 'HOME.'-

[Jip99]

who on earth would move to Isaan??? is this for real?

Who on earth would rent an over-priced, shoe box in Bangkok to call home?

Apparently millions!

and QUITE A FEW MORE HAPPIER PEOPLE LIVING IN ISAAN,. WHICH WE CALL 'HOME.'-

Are these views:-

1. From a Bangkok apartment

2. From the balcony of my house in Isaan.

Answers on a postcard....................

[KawDang]

My mother in law ignores me completely and now I ignore her. I was uncomfortable with this at first - now I feel like I really fit in

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Oscar2]

sounds like some of you people live among hicks and country bumpkins, eating animal guts on the floor. who would come all the way to an exotic place and live in the dust bowl of Thailand when you could be living by the beach or in the mountains?

[Oscar2]

who on earth would move to Isaan??? is this for real?

Who on earth would rent an over-priced, shoe box in Bangkok to call home?

Apparently millions!

and QUITE A FEW MORE HAPPIER PEOPLE LIVING IN ISAAN,. WHICH WE CALL 'HOME.'-

you couldn't pay me to live in Bangkok but living in some place like Isaan would be hell.

[stickylies]

using baby powder after the 3-4-5 showers a day, beer with ice (leo), eating bplaraa as breakfast, ...

and i'm not even living in isaan!

[Oishii]

I live in the mountains, in Isaan. I have wonderful views from my home.

I eat from a table in my home, but often sit on the floor to eat when visiting friends.

I eat fresh vegetables, picked from the farm, or sometimes from the side of the road where it's growing wild. I've eaten ants ant their eggs, frogs, adult and just past tadpole stage. I eat larvae and crickets. I don't eat chicken feet or bits of any things stomach, unless it's a sausage skin.

Isaan is my home and I love it. I like to visit Bangkok, sometimes, but after living in London for 62 years, I never want to live in a big city ever again.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[HannahD]

I don't know if this is an Isaan thing or Thaiwide but I find it strange when they put a few scoops of ice cream into a hot dog roll to eat.

Saw it in Bangkok in 1966.

[watso63]

who on earth would move to Isaan??? is this for real?

Me. Got a problem?

Just kidding, but don't knock it until you try it.

Edited June 6, 2014 by watso63

[GinBoy2]

I don't know if this is an Isaan thing or Thaiwide but I find it strange when they put a few scoops of ice cream into a hot dog roll to eat.

Think yourself lucky. In Singapore they just throw the ice cream between two slices of wonderbread. Hot Dog roll, thats classy!