Another farang, living the dream in Isan!

[King Cotton]

Don't tell the boss, but @King Cotton is taking just a few more minutes off work!

It's Wednesday 25 August and, just like yesterday, my Thai wife, Tas, and her old school chums have gathered at our place, on the fringe of the village and a huge rice paddy, to talk about old times.

After a few minutes of their almost deafening banter, I am left feeling like I've somehow landed in some sort of dream.

These people, most of whom have barely a baht to spare, are so happy it actually brings tears to my eyes. Half-an-hour ago, we were joined by the village som tum specialist who brought another huge bag-full of seafood salad . . . and, boy, is that stuff delicious.

Beers going down well, as is the food, but most of all, I'm left wondering how can these people be so happy when there's so much shit going on in the so-called powers-that-be, just a couple of hundred miles from here?

These folk never talk about that . . . and maybe that's why they're so happy.

OK, back to work, sticking a few more 'Cools' on all your posts . . . what a bloody life, eh, for this dreaming farang?

[Rain]

Siwilai folk.

[DiggR]

1 hour ago, King Cotton said:

Don't tell the boss, but @King Cotton is taking just a few more minutes off work!

It's Wednesday 25 August and, just like yesterday, my Thai wife, Tas, and her old school chums have gathered at our place, on the fringe of the village and a huge rice paddy, to talk about old times.

After a few minutes of their almost deafening banter, I am left feeling like I've somehow landed in some sort of dream.

These people, most of whom have barely a baht to spare, are so happy it actually brings tears to my eyes. Half-an-hour ago, we were joined by the village som tum specialist who brought another huge bag-full of seafood salad . . . and, boy, is that stuff delicious.

Beers going down well, as is the food, but most of all, I'm left wondering how can these people be so happy when there's so much shit going on in the so-called powers-that-be, just a couple of hundred miles from here?

These folk never talk about that . . . and maybe that's why they're so happy.

OK, back to work, sticking a few more 'Cools' on all your posts . . . what a bloody life, eh, for this dreaming farang?

With 25 yrs of LOS under my belt, a few observations and conclusions.

The village life is primarily an hand-to-mouth subsistence for the majority and priorities are aligned accordingly.  Family, food and wats repeatedly take center stage and all such activities are broadcast over the bamboo telegraph.

Issues at hand, not issues from a distant city that have 0 impact on daily life are the topics of discussion. There is no need to concern yourself with things beyond your control so don't worry, be happy.

You have the privilege of experiencing the mother lode and origins of LOS.

Enjoy

 

[King Cotton]

15 minutes ago, DiggR said:

With 25 yrs of LOS under my belt, a few observations and conclusions.

The village life is primarily an hand-to-mouth subsistence for the majority and priorities are aligned accordingly.  Family, food and wats repeatedly take center stage and all such activities are broadcast over the bamboo telegraph.

Issues at hand, not issues from a distant city that have 0 impact on daily life are the topics of discussion. There is no need to concern yourself with things beyond your control so don't worry, be happy.

You have the privilege of experiencing the mother lode and origins of LOS.

Enjoy

What an amazing response to my 'real Isan people' reflection. Thank you so much for that!

And you enjoy, too!

KC

[gummy]

1 hour ago, King Cotton said:

Don't tell the boss, but @King Cotton is taking just a few more minutes off work!

It's Wednesday 25 August and, just like yesterday, my Thai wife, Tas, and her old school chums have gathered at our place, on the fringe of the village and a huge rice paddy, to talk about old times.

After a few minutes of their almost deafening banter, I am left feeling like I've somehow landed in some sort of dream.

These people, most of whom have barely a baht to spare, are so happy it actually brings tears to my eyes. Half-an-hour ago, we were joined by the village som tum specialist who brought another huge bag-full of seafood salad . . . and, boy, is that stuff delicious.

Beers going down well, as is the food, but most of all, I'm left wondering how can these people be so happy when there's so much shit going on in the so-called powers-that-be, just a couple of hundred miles from here?

These folk never talk about that . . . and maybe that's why they're so happy.

OK, back to work, sticking a few more 'Cools' on all your posts . . . what a bloody life, eh, for this dreaming farang?

I always say to people outside of Thailand that don't appreciate  what it is like living far from the madding crowds that life here is very humbling. For those of us brought up in other worlds where life is so different it is quite an experience to live amongst them . After all these years of being here it is still an experience and opens ones eyes to how people with so little in material things have so much humour and joy that they share with others.

[dj230]

This is one of the reasons I decided to come to Thailand, it's a breath of fresh air.

[DiggR]

Pegging the "happy meter"  is contagious

[Rain]

7 minutes ago, gummy said:

I always say to people outside of Thailand that don't appreciate  what it is like living far from the madding crowds that life here is very humbling. For those of us brought up in other worlds where life is so different it is quite an experience to live amongst them . After all these years of being here it is still an experience and opens ones eyes to how people with so little in material things have so much humour and joy that they share with others.

There are a few that get it.

Cheers!!

[Faraday]

3 minutes ago, dj230 said:

This is one of the reasons I decided to come to Thailand, it's a breath of fresh air.

Wait until the rice straw burning starts...

 

 

[DiggR]

5 minutes ago, Faraday said:

Wait until the rice straw burning starts...

Along with the banned sugar cane burning

[Rain]

3 minutes ago, DiggR said:

Along with the banned sugar cane burning

Where..?

[Bluesofa]

22 minutes ago, DiggR said:

28 minutes ago, Faraday said:

Wait until the rice straw burning starts...

Along with the banned sugar cane burning

It's only banned if you get caught.

[Faraday]

1 hour ago, Bluesofa said:

It's only banned if you get caught.

As my mate said about dating:

"If she hasn't called the Police, you're still in with a chance"

He's currently doing a 10 stretch in the Scrubs...

 

[Bluesofa]

9 minutes ago, Faraday said:

As my mate said about dating:

"If she hasn't called the Police, you're still in with a chance"

He's currently doing a 10 stretch in the Scrubs...

In the Scubs, or with a scrubber?

[Faraday]

4 minutes ago, Bluesofa said:

In the Scubs, or with a scrubber?

 

[King Cotton]

1 hour ago, Faraday said:

Wait until the rice straw burning starts...

Never a problem here, where the straw is either collected for winter cattle & buffalo fodder or ploughed back into the soil to help fertilise the winter tomato crops. Nothing wasted and very little smoke!

[Poolie]

Hay. Straw is used as bedding. They only eat it when they have an upset stomach.

Yours, a townie.

[Faraday]

15 minutes ago, King Cotton said:

Never a problem here, where the straw is either collected for winter cattle & buffalo fodder or ploughed back into the soil to help fertilise the winter tomato crops. Nothing wasted and very little smoke!

Do you grow Tomatoes?

[Bluesofa]

11 minutes ago, King Cotton said:

Never a problem here, where the straw is either collected for winter cattle & buffalo fodder or ploughed back into the soil to help fertilise the winter tomato crops. Nothing wasted and very little smoke!

That sounds good.
IIRC isn't the problem no one wants to collect the straw and especially the sugar cane as it's seen as too costly to collect and difficult, so burning is the easier option. Was it nationwide? I'm not sure.

At one time weren't the government trying to blame Indonesia saying they caused the smoke/haze/smog? Or am I confusing that with something else?

I'm sure someone will correct me.

[King Cotton]

28 minutes ago, Faraday said:

Do you grow Tomatoes?

Yes, stacks of the blighters. Let me know how many tonnes you want and we can come to toms!

Edited August 25, 2021 by King Cotton

[King Cotton]

13 minutes ago, Bluesofa said:

That sounds good.
IIRC isn't the problem no one wants to collect the straw and especially the sugar cane as it's seen as too costly to collect and difficult, so burning is the easier option. Was it nationwide? I'm not sure.

At one time weren't the government trying to blame Indonesia saying they caused the smoke/haze/smog? Or am I confusing that with something else?

I'm sure someone will correct me.

Not sure about the sugar cane burning, since there's not a trace of cane-farming around our place, e.g. none of those crazily laden trucks that I often tried to overtake on H24 when I lived down Kantharalak way for a spell . . . they were a pain!

And I do recall the alleged Indonesian smog a couple of years ago but, as with everything else, this shower are quick to find someone or something to blame, even if it's just a bit of fart-smell in the cabinet meetings. Do you think, for one minute, that Prayuth would admit to having let one out?

[Bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, King Cotton said:

Not sure about the sugar cane burning, since there's not a trace of cane-farming around our place, e.g. none of those crazily laden trucks that I often tried to overtake on H24 when I lived down Kantharalak way for a spell . . . they were a pain!

And I do recall the alleged Indonesian smog a couple of years ago but, as with everything else, this shower are quick to find someone or something to blame, even if it's just a bit of fart-smell in the cabinet meetings. Do you think, for one minute, that Prayuth would admit to having let one out?

Someone should ignite it, see whence it came. Red faces all round, plus one red arse.

[NCC1701A]

I have lived in Hua Hin for seven years.

One day I hope to move to Thailand. 

[MikeW]

2 hours ago, Bluesofa said:

It's only banned if you get caught.

And the local authorities turn a blind eye. I saw the median strip on a main road being burned the other day 

[King Cotton]

8 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I have lived in Hua Hin for seven years.

One day I hope to move to Thailand. 

Ha-ha! . . . 5 days/nights in HH was enough to tell me that it was on a different planet to Isan. A great swimming beach, though, immediately south of that hilly headland with a Wat on top . . . forget the name, now!

Edited August 25, 2021 by King Cotton