Do You Live In A Thai Village Full Time

[billd766]

It has been a very good week over in the central region.

We had a heavy storm on Monday which caused no damage to us but did part fill the fish pond plus it rained again on Tuesday.

Yesterday the government water supply came back albeit at a slow rate so I am frantically filling my storage tanks at 2 baht a cu/m instead of the tanker at 200 baht for 4 cu/m. We have had none since early January.

The stream has come back to life a little as well.

My wife told me that maybeeeeee the government will extend the water main from the village up to the moo ban and beyond but no date was given for that.

I am sorry to on about water but it is one of the things in life that when you turn the tap on, water flows. When it doesn't you have to search for an alternative source.

Just one of the little annoying things about living out in the sticks.

95% of the time I love it but sometimes............

[Gimbo]

Thanks for shortening my time in waiting for my next trip. I am currently working somewhere in south Asia, so I pop over whenever the opportunity arises. My much better looking part is from the Phutthaisong area in the northern part of Buri Ram. We are still in early days of our relationship. So early that in about 2 weeks time I'll be making my first visit to her village. No problem for me, as I have been in Isaan on short visits before with my ex girlfriend (turned out that one was even crazier than me, so it did not work well), so pretty much know what to expect.

Anyway, have been playing with the idea of setting up base permanently somewhere in Thailand ever since my first visit a year ago. But one thing is for sure. It won't be in any of the tourist resorts. I am to young to retire, and working in Thailand is no option for me. So I will be away working for half the year, and spending the remainder of my time with my girl (I freelance as a comms expert for various NGO's in the ME, Africa and now Asia, and have been in Asia for a year now.). I make enough money to make things go round for the months I am not working back in Norway, so I imagine I can make a pretty good life for myself in Thailand. And I love doing what I do, as I don't have to slave away year round to put food on the table.

I think I have managed to find myself a good lass this time. And now is the big visit to her family coming up. She is super anxious about it though. Totally convinced that I won't survive 5 minutes without aircon and a comfy bed, and that I will not like the place. But if I could handle life in an African village for a year, I can certainly handle this. But as I said, she is not to convinced

She is the youngest in a flock of 3 brothers and 1 sister. So I am more anxious about meeting her brothers (who all are married and working). I bet they are all wondering who the hel_l this farang that their little sister is getting hooked up with is.

So it is good to see that it can be done. The plan for me now is to visit her family, have a look at the area. I skip over there for a couple of weeks every 6 weeks or so. Then in september I finish my current contract, so will give myself 3-6 months from then to find out if this is really something I can do. Meanwhile I have some visits to familiarize myself, and perhaps find a place for the two of us to stay. For now I have no plans to build a house. That would be to crazy at this stage in hour relationship. But I can see it happen if we manage to stick together.

So for now, renting it is. If it can be done. Does not have to be a fancy place as I can make do the basics. And I am willing to rent on a yearly basis. So is that feasable in the Buriram area?

The other alternative would be to shack up with her family, but think I will need some privacy. And her house is not exactly lending itself to that from what I understand. And well, I have not even met her folks yet. So that is not even an idea at this stage.

Hope you wont see my as just another dreamer...this will be reality in 6 months. So maybe one of you will have new neighbour. Just look for a bunch of thais being amused by a crazy farang with a fishing rod in some river or lake somewhere. That should be me.

So if you have any advice, please PM me :-)

[jaede]

yes, I got scared from the precious post, but 20K as far as living costs is concerced is a good estimate. A generous estimate as well, but a good one!

I get scared when people ask if 800k a year is enough

I'm so glad I don't live anywhere near Bangkok or any one of the multitude of tourist traps.

20k a month is more than adequate.

And in response to a post from several days ago which has now probably been buried under the mire, we can clean the floors too for that sum.

Hey dont knock bkk, I live in a new Farang condo that I rent, with ubc and internet included, eat 3 times a day with my gf, send money to mama in buriram, go starbucks or a nice coffee shop everyday... go to the movies regular etc.... and for a comfortable life... still get change outta 35k a mth

[TBWG]

Hi All

Decided I needed a break from village life for a few days, so paid a visit courtesy of Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur for the GP ( I notice no airport tax now payable at airport on international departures) Told by Air Asia that is now covered in ticket price, since when? probably instigated to cover up the recent talked about increase.

Anyway see attached pics.

Cars? what cars?

[macb]

Hi All

Decided I needed a break from village life for a few days, so paid a visit courtesy of Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur for the GP ( I notice no airport tax now payable at airport on international departures) Told by Air Asia that is now covered in ticket price, since when? probably instigated to cover up the recent talked about increase.

Anyway see attached pics.

Cars? what cars?

And where was your good lady ahem

[mikethevigoman]

well as for myself i'am not a full time expat as yet but my day goes as follow's the wife get's up at 5am just after the cockerals have had there say and start's cleaning and working with her mother which they both weaver table cloth's and plate setting's,i then rise around 630am shower then come out side tobe given coffee and told what the plan's are for the day?around 730am are son wake's and it father son play time while the wife make's breakfast for us all after that it's off to the local market which is about 15minutes away by bike and pick up the day's shopping list,once the shopping taken care of i head to internet shop,get back home for around midday then it's up to me and the wife to have some time together as the mother inlaw look's after are son for a few hour's which could be meeting friend's or just going for some food,the afternoon is then spent with the son and the constant flow of family and friend's coming round,at around 6pm the father inlaw return's from work and like's to have a chat about what gossip he's heard all day,we all eat at around 730pm then it's everbody for themself's, me i like to help out with cleaning of the pot's and pan's and shower my son and get him to bed,by 9pm everybody's sleepy so it's off to bed and another day's passed. it take's time to ajust after being in the ratrace, but hey why stress in life.

Great, no problem with high blood pressure up there i bet too !

[TBWG]

Hi All

Decided I needed a break from village life for a few days, so paid a visit courtesy of Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur for the GP ( I notice no airport tax now payable at airport on international departures) Told by Air Asia that is now covered in ticket price, since when? probably instigated to cover up the recent talked about increase.

Anyway see attached pics.

Cars? what cars?

And where was your good lady ahem

Hi Mac

She cannot stand those noisy cars going round is circles!

Shame?

TBWG

[Thaddeus]

She cannot stand those noisy cars going round is circles!

Methinks that Buriram may not be an ideal place to live then

[johnsurin]

Can't do, won't do jungle life. Have chicken to many, have noise to much!!!!! Still fair play to everyone who enjoys it, good on ya.

[farangconnection]

Can't do, won't do jungle life. Have chicken to many, have noise to much!!!!! Still fair play to everyone who enjoys it, good on ya.

Only cause the chickens and the pigs don't listen to you.

[kratindaeng]

An excellent Thread! Nice to read about peoples daily lifes and experiences living in the countryside, unfortunately for me, reading this has made me want to get out of Bangkok even more!

KD

[macb]

An excellent Thread! Nice to read about peoples daily lifes and experiences living in the countryside, unfortunately for me, reading this has made me want to get out of Bangkok even more!

KD

I think the tunnel is still workable it was dug years ago :D

[johnsurin]

Can't do, won't do jungle life. Have chicken to many, have noise to much!!!!! Still fair play to everyone who enjoys it, good on ya.

Only cause the chickens and the pigs don't listen to you.

Well that's because they don't understand me. Hmmmm a bit like the wife really!!!

[billd766]

I got up just after 6 as usual this morning when the pickup guy who sells pork came by and started all the dogs in the village singing to him. After he has gone they stop. I put the laundry in the machine and wandered up to the small house to feed the dogs.

After that I came back down made a coffee and started on the internet by 7 am which is a good time for a GPRS connection.

I stopped for a break and went onto the patio and looked around at the hills and the clear sky, took a deep breath of fresh air and thought to myself "how can people live in the big cities"?

We had a couple of silly days of Songkran up here but both days we had dedicated drivers and nobody watered them apart from my son who is 2 1/2 washing Daddy but that is OK.

By yesterday Songkran was almost over, it has rained most days for a week and life is getting back to normal again.

Most days I am grateful that I married a sensible woman who took me off to live in the countryside, which is a bit odd really as she was born and lived most of her life in Bang Na, Bangkok.

The family sound as though they are stirring so I suppose it is Gin Kao Chao time.

Life in the countryside.

:D :D

[macb]

Well First I want to put this link here as it is relevant to village and what we did on the 12th April for Sonkhran;

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=116011

But now it is that time of year the tractors are starting to prepare the fields ready for sowing rice:

Recently we have had a substantial amount or rain which makes the fill better for working:

Lase night I did some strimming in the garden its surprising how quickly the greenery comes through after a good storm.

My days are still 6 am coffee walk around the garden sa hi to my GSD: but now that the daughter is here its slightly different with Nappies etc. And of course we need to have our little conversations.

What a wonderful life really, sometimes there is the odd gripe but thats life it still beats 2 jobs in the UK and mortgage tax this rate and that rate.

[Martin]

'macb' said: "What a wonderful life really, sometimes there is the odd gripe but thats life it still beats 2 jobs in the UK and mortgage tax this rate and that rate."

Yes. I was recently talking to my son who is in SE England.

He reckoned that, to move to England and have the same standard of basic living, I would need a million pounds. That would be half-a-million to purchase the equivalent house and garden, and half-a-million to put in the bank to give me an income stream that would pay all the outgoings. And, even then, I would have to put up with all people around me being a lot more stressed, and put up with a much worse climate.

At one time, I thought that our Isaan luck might soon run out (like it did for people who went to Spain when it was so much cheaper than Blighty, but soon found prices pushed up by a lot more crowding in).

But it seems that people retired to Spain because they knew about it from having gone there on holiday.

On that basis, only the seaside resorts of Thailand, and Chiang Mai, are likely to see ingress of farangs.

So I guess our typical days are going to stay typically the same. And that is good for the blood pressure---provided we have enough to do that we don't get bored, each day being pretty much the same as its yesterday and its tomorrow is a recipe for minimum stress.

[Thaddeus]

To the last three or four posts and relevant posters.

Amen

It's just hel11 out here isn't it, not.

No stress, no worries, happy kids.... who could ask for anything more.

( a sharp pair of nail clippers and a real steak knife would be nice though )

[Martin]

I know what you mean, Thaddeus. But good stuff is available to be searched out.

I explain my needs to my wife and suggest who she should chat up to get the inside story.

For sharp knives, I suggest asking your provincial city's best butchers where they get theirs from. They may give you a 'lead' to a specialist importer in Bangkok.

For nail clippers (and I have to do regular self-surgery operations on my ingrowers) we consulted the 'fashion-plate' cosmetics salesgirls at Robinson's in Udon. They headed us to one of their number who had a few for sale and a catalogue of what she could get sent up from Bangkok on "sale or return".

My wife went through her stock trying them out and we got a pair that has its blades on the side, which work very well.

If we had drawn a blank at Robinson's, I would have asked my heart surgeon at the regional (teaching) hospital for an introduction to his chief technician. If s/he didn't know, s/he would know the chiropody chief technician who would be sure to know (and likely have a catalogue, or regular visits from a medical-equipment salesperson).

One of the great things about being a doddering old pensioner is having the time to engage in little "sussing out" projects!

And I find that "sussing out" gets us to meet some really bright, competent Thais. I am convinced that there are as many bright Thais as there are bright Brits. Maybe they sparkle in a slightly different way, because of different upbringing and schooling, but bright they can be.

[billd766]

I am not sure what it is like over in Issan but yesterday being the last day of Songkran we all went to the temple "do". 4 adults and 6 kids in the pickup (2 adults already on neat Hong Thong whiskey at 10:30) and a few more on the 3 wheel motorcycle/truck.

Parking is hard but my wife eventually found a shady place to park.

We wandered around the grounds finding food and somewhere to sit, I took the kids out into the middle where the fire service water tanker was playing his version of Songkran (now there is an idea for next year) and we all cooled off.

The worst thing was the viscous aural assault that went on all day.

In one corner we had the Thai shuffle dancing on the dance floor raised up about 1 metre where you can sponsor the musicians for a while and the money goes to the temple. They were blasting out hard enough to damage the ear drums.

In the other corner was the traditional Thai dancing with young girls and boys followed by some older girls ( some were really older) in traditional revealing costumes more suited to the bar areas blasting out a little louder than the first group.

Then there was a kwai lek truck doing its own thing but not so loud.

We eventually took the kids home and only waited 20 minutes to get the car out as 2 more were parked behind us.

I now have a year to get my hearing back ready for next year, meanwhile it is back to normal again.

Rural Thailand.

I love it.

:D

[Martin]

I think it is great that these village fun days have no admission charge. So nobody is excluded because they are skint.

The Bangkokians talk about "rural poverty". But, if someone has food available, shelter available, and fun available, "poor" does not seem the right word.

I'll have a hunt and see if I can find what Prince Damrong wrote about the villages of Isaan a century ago.

[Martin]

Here it is, written in 1906:

Since entering monthon Udon, I have visited many villages along the way. Some places have large villages established for a long time over many generations. I went down to ask about the social customs of these villagers. From the villagers’ replies, I found one surprising fact. Each village household has a house with enough space for living and a granary to store enough rice for one year. In the yard of the house they plant chili, eggplant, galangal, and lemongrass for making curry. Outside the house they have a garden for fruits such as banana, sugarcane, betel and coconut. And between the garden and the paddy field, there is a place to plant mulberry for raising silkworms. Each household has enough paddy fields and cattle to grow enough rice for the whole household. In the rice-growing season, everyone helps—man and woman, child and adult. After the season, men travel to find things to sell. Women stay at home, raise silk and weave cloth. Leftover food is used to raise chicken and pigs for sale. Villagers around here make all their own food and scarcely have to buy a single thing. The things they have to buy are metal articles like hoes, spades and knives; and crockery. Sometimes they buy yarn for weaving, or cloth and other attractive things brought by traders. They have just enough cash for these purchases because their cattle have surplus young, and they raise extra pigs and chickens with surplus food from each meal. These animals can be sold for cash to buy what they want.

Each family is independent. Nobody is slave and nobody master.

Family members are under the guardianship of the head of their family, and in addition there is a phuyaiban (village headman) and kamnan (sub-district head) to oversee. They administer themselves easily. But in the whole tambon (sub-district) it is impossible to find one rich man with 200 baht or more stored away. Yet you cannot find a single person who is poor to the point of being another’s servant. They must have been like this for a hundred years. Because the villagers can farm to feed themselves without resorting to cash, the feeling that they need cash is not strong. Money does not have the same power as in the city which is called “civilized”. So nobody accumulates but you cannot call them poor because they feed themselves happily and contentedly.

That quotation is taken from:

Chattip Nartsupha “The Thai Village Economy In The Past” ( Translation (with added Afterword) by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongphaichit of original {in Thai, 1984}). Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 1999

[macb]

Here it is, written in 1906:

Since entering monthon Udon, I have visited many villages along the way. Some places have large villages established for a long time over many generations. I went down to ask about the social customs of these villagers. From the villagers’ replies, I found one surprising fact. Each village household has a house with enough space for living and a granary to store enough rice for one year. In the yard of the house they plant chili, eggplant, galangal, and lemongrass for making curry. Outside the house they have a garden for fruits such as banana, sugarcane, betel and coconut. And between the garden and the paddy field, there is a place to plant mulberry for raising silkworms. Each household has enough paddy fields and cattle to grow enough rice for the whole household. In the rice-growing season, everyone helps—man and woman, child and adult. After the season, men travel to find things to sell. Women stay at home, raise silk and weave cloth. Leftover food is used to raise chicken and pigs for sale. Villagers around here make all their own food and scarcely have to buy a single thing. The things they have to buy are metal articles like hoes, spades and knives; and crockery. Sometimes they buy yarn for weaving, or cloth and other attractive things brought by traders. They have just enough cash for these purchases because their cattle have surplus young, and they raise extra pigs and chickens with surplus food from each meal. These animals can be sold for cash to buy what they want.

Each family is independent. Nobody is slave and nobody master.

Family members are under the guardianship of the head of their family, and in addition there is a phuyaiban (village headman) and kamnan (sub-district head) to oversee. They administer themselves easily. But in the whole tambon (sub-district) it is impossible to find one rich man with 200 baht or more stored away. Yet you cannot find a single person who is poor to the point of being another’s servant. They must have been like this for a hundred years. Because the villagers can farm to feed themselves without resorting to cash, the feeling that they need cash is not strong. Money does not have the same power as in the city which is called “civilized”. So nobody accumulates but you cannot call them poor because they feed themselves happily and contentedly.

That quotation is taken from:

Chattip Nartsupha “The Thai Village Economy In The Past” ( Translation (with added Afterword) by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongphaichit of original {in Thai, 1984}). Silkworm Books, Chiang Mai 1999

THats a very interesting and in my opinion 80% correct :

Since it was written I think in some circumstances in come etc has improved as the infastructure has improved, most villages now have road links to the big towns and motor ways, and all families have motorcyles and in my village there are a few families with pick-ups and businesses (businesses that if had better management would profit much better)

[bob6023]

On the "Who wears the trousers" subject.

The missus and family know that all the money I have put into The Relationship is expendable.

I can, and have, got up and walked out. With just a carrier bag of stuff.

When the sister (with her pet farang husband) tried to call the shots, last year...

I got a neighbour to give me a lift to the nearest main town and caught a bus to BKK.

The look of utter shock on a crowd of people watching the car pull away said it all.

We finally met up 300 miles away on the coast.

No mobile telephone link was available.

I had found, and got to, the tiny bit of coast, where we had stayed the year before. I had booked up and paid for two bungalows. As cheap and infinitely better than the sister had found the year before.

Don't think that Thais can get you a better deal than you can find yourself.

Keep your independance and consciously interact with where ever you are.

The f*** ups are half of the crack!

Let the people get used to the idea...I got up, off my ass, and got here.

It's no great deal to go right on back!

Thai existance is a bit Poker Faced.

Whatever the expressions facing you. Don't rely on your intuition.

Rely on your own dynamics. You need a raft of insular talents to stay content.

Like Gary A, with his workshop. You want to stand alone apart from just flinging money about.

People will respect you for your resourcefulness.

...And there is always TV to be your Virtual drinking partner!

Pip pip!

[selftaopath]

Hello Mac, I am an American and my name is Keoki (long story). I have been living/working in Bangkok since Jan 01, 2006. I recently made a verbal contract to purchase land in Khon Kaen –Isaan. I know practically nothing a/b Isaan (visited a few times) except that my girlfriend is from there. If you or any other “farang” can give me some information I’d be greatly appreciative. I plan on building a house, and a pool. I also hope to find a labor source i.e. contractor who can speak English. I hope to that this contractor can help me with some questions I have e.g.

I’m not sure if I must add fill dirt for the house/pool or if this is merely a “custom.” I will certainly want, water, electric and internet in my house. I plan on doing this gradually i.e. slowly and hope to understand much more before I begin.

I live on The Big Island of Hawaii, USA for 8+ years and know a/b rural living. I am currently on a Non- Immigration B visa and can/will eventually apply for a retirement visa. My life in BKK has allow me to experience much confusion a/b the Thai way, which seems very different to my known American upbringing. I expect more confusion and many lessons about life in Thailand. I also realize many – maybe only some- farangs have been cheated, and lied to extensively. I have faith and confidence in my girlfriend’s Way. (I sense hearing some laughter) But she is a very special and honest woman (to me) who has been working in a hospital here in BKK for several years, with long hours and very little pay. I feel she is defiantly living a Buddhist lifestyle….

Thanks in advance,

Keoki

First thanks to you guys so far for your very interesting input I want to praise you for intrigrating with the family:

Now having started the Topic I will tell you about my village life. I purposely waited for some input before adding mine.

Here goes then.

First here is a pic of me with the wife

Well moved into the village full time February 2005 when our house was completed. Then a lot of time was spent adding more fill and preparing for planting etc, To-date about 60 trees have been planted different varieties of Mango, coconuts, Tamarind. papaya and fruits I cant remember them all. THen we built a Gazebo, and a seperate car-port, and had the drive laid.

So now its general pottering around. Morning starts at about 5-30 am we both get up, Bee gets the rice on for Buddha and sometimes cooks a dish for the monks and takes some to here mum and dads , there house is about 200 metres away, yes they shout to each other.

I have my coffee first and wonder round the garden with my dog (German Shepherd). Any bits I want to do in the garden before it gets hot I get on with it, the house stands in just over 1 Rai walled in. I have turfed around the house then let the rest grow green naturally around the garden area, so I bought a 4 stroke strimmer and at the moment in the wet season the whole area needs strimming and I like to do this myself, I may do it over 2 days. Here is a pic of some of the area to strim

I also go to the farm and strim the grass that the cows cannot eat because it is course with irritating sharp bits on the top. In the morning after Bee has cooked and eaten she will clean the house. If I have nothing to do much we work together I clean the bathrooms or put the laundry on.

After all these choral things she will sleep I hit the 2nd Coffee then check emails etc. Sometimes the wife will be off seeing other cousins in the village for a chit chat, then I chill on here.

We go to the night market in Burriram whenever we need stuff and get supplies for us and her parents (At her parents house there is mum & dad grandad and two nieces) We also buy there meat for them and I pay there electric each month. My wife has a big family So i tel the wife that they must help as well financially and they do.

This year we aquired 13 Rai at the rear of our house so there has been that to sort this year.

I dont have many Farang friends, ( not by choice I might add) I have an american guy who has married into the family so we reckon somewhere along the line we might be distant cousins however many times removed lol.

Twikits a Supermkt in Burriram is very good for Farang bits and pieces and I am quite happy getting stuff there, again we go when we feel the need. Sometimes I dont go out the gate there is always something to do.

The other night we went to the Night Mkt then took her dad and a niece for BBQ very nice love it washed down with a bottle or two of leo.

Surin is only 25 clicks from our village and takes me about 30 mins, there we have Big 'C' Makro and Tesco Lotus, next Monday we are going and I will make my first visit to the Farang Connection.

Evenings well I might eat Thai food or Farang food, I have a Euroapean style kitchen so Shepherds pie or Roast dinner or Spagbol. What more could one want.

In the afternoon I might come on here then look some TV. In the evening I let Bee look Thai TV and I come back on here it keeps me in contact with the outside world.

Bedtime is normally about 9-30 pm thereabouts my wife wont go to bed untill I do bless her, she normally falls asleep on the settee.

Well I have not planned this write or scenario just typed things as I think of them.

To-Date This morning up normal time I cleaned the pick up in and out, Bee's dad came to borrow the m/c we ran into Huairat for bits and bobs then Bee got me Grapo moo Kai dow, aroi then I cam on here.

macb

..........................................................

Mac Broadbridge

55 Moo 6

Banthago Sub-District

Huairat

Burriram

Thailand

31000

[macb]

Selftoapath:

Only to pleased to help as will a lot of other members here: There are Topics on building houses and poole on the Forum:

But can give you what advise or experiences I have learnt as well, use the Search Feature as well to find Topics realting to your Furture ADVENTURE.

Khap

[pgs]

I tend to find I am more at home in LoS than Oz. Could be that I've had so much to do with Asians for so many years - who knows.

The differences are great, the stress levels when there are w-a-a-a-y down. The big decisions for the day being what to eat when & which beer to open next (obviously a cold one - although sometimes I don't mind a 'London Pride' or 6).

Family life there is a major difference. Western families tend not to see each other much & only contact when they want something. I am closer to my family in Europe than most of the family in Oz. The Thai family are different again. They want the time with us, wether we are there extended or short. The family friends are also quite close (not distance type close) & I generally see more of them in a short visit there than I see the ones here in a year or 2.

Awake hours remain the same. Up anywhere from 3.30 to 5am, bed between 11pm & 1am. No, I'm not a sleeper. This does tend to stop me staying at other people's places overnight unless way too far past driving. In either place the cooking is shared, although I do more in LoS as Mrs gains experience in Western cooking here. She is getting better & has now progressed to making cakes without a packet mix. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best of all, she does a great pizza. Now for Yorkie pud...

When in LoS, I dont really miss much from here, but I sure miss the Thai family life when here. In the village it's a pretty basic existance, but about 80% of what I need is easily available with a further 15% gained in Chaiyaphum. The balance may require a run to BKK or a call to Oz. Realistically, if you don't need anything awkward it's pretty easy to live here.

Make sure you have someone of your language accessable for the 'needed' discussions & odd bit of support. If you take the Mrs/Mr to your homeland, she may well need the same. I've always encouraged mine to find some Thai friends here. I don't care if I don't get on with the partner, as long as she has someone to talk to in Thai sometimes.

[ThailandTony]

Hi All, back in Bahrain after another fun and adventure packed couple of weeks in my adopted country, Thailand. I think I was the only falang actually flying IN to Thailand for Songkran....lots of stories and photo's to follow.....just wanted to share one of the funnier days at home.

I have a katom (same same Sala) at the end of Mama's garden next to a big fish pond, about 20m x 10m x 3m where I have a hammock slung for those lazy afternoons. The location is perfect for a snooze, great view across the paddy's and surrounded on all sides by 15ft high bamboo. On the day in question a beautiful nap with afternoon breeze was interupted by the unwelcome drone of a generator starting up. Now Mama doesn't own a genny so this drew me out of my slumber only to see that Papa had attached what looked like a little genny to the end of a 4m long 6" pipe. I'd seen these before as they are used to irrigate the fields but normally with a lod Thai (tractor engine with handlebars) attached. Roused I wondered what was going on and got the gist that Papa was now pumping all of the water out of the pond. We have a klong (stream) bed at the end of the garden which of course is mostly dry at this time of year so was thirsty for our 400-500 m3 of water.

So what were they doing? It takes some time to shift that much water and my normally secluded end of the garden gradually became more and more populated by our kids, the village kids, family and friends. For what?

FISHING!!!!!

Anyone who thinks Thai people are daft need to spend some time in my village. Not a single rod! No nets! Not even a nylon line with a bent nail on the end! They emptied the pond, everyone climbed in and they lifted the fish out of the mud like they were going out of fashion haha! Big and small they were all extracted and then the real work started!

Anybody who ever wondered why the Thai's, especially the Isaarns, like Pa La (stinky fish paste) too mud, it takes a hel_l of a lot of effort to make it. The fish are obviously all gutted and scaled then everything is chopped up to a medium coarse paste then malleted with the pestle and mortar (pock pock pock) until everything is ground down to a fine paste and then bottled. A hel_l of a lot of effort but many hands make light work.

In these situations I often sit watching with a chilled bottle of Leo just wondering what anybody who knew me from home or from work would make of it in the absolute knowledge that they would never associate me with this scene. It is completely alien to most Westerners and complete heaven to me.

The reason for the Pa La fiesta? My wife and kids came back with me to Bahrain this time to stay here full time and we needed a shed load of Pa La to make the transition smoother. When we went to Dubai I could smell our bags 10 minutes before we saw them and so could everyone else....haha! We pretended not to recognise it as we lifted our damp and extremely smelly bag onto the trolley and sniffed our way through customs, all the time looking over our shoulders as if we were as disgusted by the smell as everyone else....haha.

My wife had the answer to my question before I asked it as we packed our bags last week. "5 BAG" she laughed holding up the big jar of Pa La bagged 5 times just in case...haha.

Now in Bahrain a week it has certainly helped having a big jar of Pa La. Word went around the Thai community and all the Isaarn ladies started making house calls and within a week my wife has met more people here than I have!

More to follow.....Special Hi to MacB, Bee and Jasmin ("did we settle on Jasmin?...or Gloria...lol")

[macb]

Hi All, back in Bahrain after another fun and adventure packed couple of weeks in my adopted country, Thailand. I think I was the only falang actually flying IN to Thailand for Songkran....lots of stories and photo's to follow.....just wanted to share one of the funnier days at home.

I have a katom (same same Sala) at the end of Mama's garden next to a big fish pond, about 20m x 10m x 3m where I have a hammock slung for those lazy afternoons. The location is perfect for a snooze, great view across the paddy's and surrounded on all sides by 15ft high bamboo. On the day in question a beautiful nap with afternoon breeze was interupted by the unwelcome drone of a generator starting up. Now Mama doesn't own a genny so this drew me out of my slumber only to see that Papa had attached what looked like a little genny to the end of a 4m long 6" pipe. I'd seen these before as they are used to irrigate the fields but normally with a lod Thai (tractor engine with handlebars) attached. Roused I wondered what was going on and got the gist that Papa was now pumping all of the water out of the pond. We have a klong (stream) bed at the end of the garden which of course is mostly dry at this time of year so was thirsty for our 400-500 m3 of water.

So what were they doing? It takes some time to shift that much water and my normally secluded end of the garden gradually became more and more populated by our kids, the village kids, family and friends. For what?

FISHING!!!!!

Anyone who thinks Thai people are daft need to spend some time in my village. Not a single rod! No nets! Not even a nylon line with a bent nail on the end! They emptied the pond, everyone climbed in and they lifted the fish out of the mud like they were going out of fashion haha! Big and small they were all extracted and then the real work started!

Anybody who ever wondered why the Thai's, especially the Isaarns, like Pa La (stinky fish paste) too mud, it takes a hel_l of a lot of effort to make it. The fish are obviously all gutted and scaled then everything is chopped up to a medium coarse paste then malleted with the pestle and mortar (pock pock pock) until everything is ground down to a fine paste and then bottled. A hel_l of a lot of effort but many hands make light work.

In these situations I often sit watching with a chilled bottle of Leo just wondering what anybody who knew me from home or from work would make of it in the absolute knowledge that they would never associate me with this scene. It is completely alien to most Westerners and complete heaven to me.

The reason for the Pa La fiesta? My wife and kids came back with me to Bahrain this time to stay here full time and we needed a shed load of Pa La to make the transition smoother. When we went to Dubai I could smell our bags 10 minutes before we saw them and so could everyone else....haha! We pretended not to recognise it as we lifted our damp and extremely smelly bag onto the trolley and sniffed our way through customs, all the time looking over our shoulders as if we were as disgusted by the smell as everyone else....haha.

My wife had the answer to my question before I asked it as we packed our bags last week. "5 BAG" she laughed holding up the big jar of Pa La bagged 5 times just in case...haha.

Now in Bahrain a week it has certainly helped having a big jar of Pa La. Word went around the Thai community and all the Isaarn ladies started making house calls and within a week my wife has met more people here than I have!

More to follow.....Special Hi to MacB, Bee and Jasmin ("did we settle on Jasmin?...or Gloria...lol")

Hi there great input mate:

On the Family front we settled on Gloria Jasmin: Wife is okay but tired from constant breast feeding and we dont have any help: Plus GLoria wont take the bottle. So we cope on our own

We gettting lot of rain early this year, people are sowing rice already and others getting ready

Pa La wife calls it Blara (maybe this is Khmer) Yes it is stinky I think napiies are much more pleasant hahaha

Edited May 5, 2007 by macb

[ThailandTony]

Same same on the rice front Mac, been having alot of night storms the last few weeks, some have already sown and our 30 Rai are being sown now. Had alot of flooding at the end of the season last year so nobody wants to lose their yield this year.

[macb]

Same thing happened here last year TT (If I am permitted to shorten your handle) some planted to early as soon as we got rain then it was very dry and they lost the crop and had to start again.

But I think maybe this year will be good 'Tongue in Cheek' will eraly harvest. with mama and papa land we got 35 Rai so far, so fingers crossed:

Take care in Bahrain

Edited May 5, 2007 by macb