In England the sixth month of the year is known as Flaming June and last month the English weather did live up to that title on a few occasions. It was more flaming June for me when the second day of the month arrived and I flew from Bangkok back to England and work. Thailand enjoyed a rather quiet month on the news front with the biggest news story being the death of actor David Carridine under mysterious circumstances in a Bangkok hotel. I remember David for his excellent characterization of Grasshopper in the Kung Fu series and his sudden death was very sad news.

This month’s review has I hope some good news for you in the form of a few posts that you may have missed during the past month and one or two blogs that have escaped your past attention. All the photographs in this June 09 review are from Wonderful Wi’s village in Udon Thani Province.

Is there a better place to start this month’s review than My Thai Friend, it’s the blog that I always start my day with and one of Mike’s June posts took a look at Thai nicknames. Have you ever wondered how someone gets named Porn or Plah (fish), Thai Names has all the answers and a link that offers even more insight into the confusing Thai name game.

Peter Garwood is a name that is big on the Thai blog scene and Peter returned to Thailand last month and his Chiang Mai based script FrogBlog Thaidings will be the big winner from his mixed bag repertoire of blogging tricks. Thailand’s tourism industry has taken a massive knock in the past year and Thailand’s tarnished image abroad: Thai tourism in decline gives many of the answers and the reasons why.

Brit in Bangkok enjoys a day trip with work colleagues in Amphawa Floating Market and Wat Phra Kaew Trip. The smiles in the photographs prove what an enjoyable day was had by each and everyone of the work buddies and the post includes an absolutely stunning picture of the floating market. Plenty of foreigners arrive on Thailand’s soil with dreams of big business success and return home with their tails firmly between their legs and their dreams in tatters. Expat udon thani offers a few reasons why in common expat mistakes – udon thani – thailand.

Saraburi is the hometown of Jonny Foreigner and Get to know Saraburi, Thailand goes a long way to proving that outside of the tourist hotspots, Thailand’s towns and cities have a lot of good attractions and nightlife that is relatively unknown to most foreign visitors. Life in rural Thailand had a special day last month, MeMock and his family moved into their new town house and it was also a very special day for another reason A second birthday for Marisah part 1 has some sweet photos of Marisah and sister Ariya enjoying the birthday girl’s special present.

Talen has opened his heart and mind and started to tell his and girlfriend Pookie’s story in a series of posts. My Thai Girl and I Part 1 starts with their first ever meeting in Pattaya and the series looks at the bonding of their partnership and the cultural differences that arise when the hearts of two very different nations become one. An excellent read from Thailand, Land of Smiles.

We move from the language of love to learning the Thai language and Women Learning Thai…and some men too. Learning a language doesn’t have to be all about studious bookwork, sometimes there are fun ways of learning too. Everyone loves a crossword and Catherine’s post Webster’s Thai to English Crossword Puzzles is a novel way to learn new Thai words and make giant strides into learning the complex Thai writing system.

If you have ever thought about taking a boat ride down the famous River Kwai then Retired in Thailand and Loving It gives you a free ride in River Travels And Sightseeing. There are 14 glorious photographs accompanying the post and avid readers of Malcolm and Ciejay’s delightful blog will know that means quality pictures.

Thai TV commercials really are first class when it comes to humour and The Thai Pirate has captured a wonderfully funny one in Warning – Don’t watch if you like Jing Joks. I won’t spoil the story line but this is a must view post if you are in need of a good smile.

It’s busy times indeed for Bulgarian Slivatree – An Expatriates Eye in Bulgaria as we delve into the delights of the World Blogroll. Martin is a Brit living in Bulgaria and he has no hunger to return home. Martin’s hard work on his produce farm is now harvesting much deserved reward and Very Busy But Bulgarian Food Still Rules goes through the vegetable plot and finishes with a fish and shopska salad meal.

It’s not like Adullamite to moan is it, well not everyday. Enjoy a shot of his wit and charm in Now I am Not One to Complain, But… enjoy Adullamite doing what he does best. Bodhi Bum returns to blogging with a post about a trip to the rather arid looking land of Oman. Fujairah, East Coast, UAE & Musandam, Oman covers the road to Musandam. After missing the boat for his scuba diving trip Bodhi Bum heads up into the mountains and deeper into Oman.

Are all Hollywood stars flash and arrogant Johhny Depp: not such ‘a Public Enemy’ proves otherwise. A Malaysian Abroad records Johnny Depp’s visit to a Chicago Steakhouse.

The final two posts from my world blog scene take us to Europe and two Brits living in rural France. Jon writes with his usual whimsical charm in his story Est-Ce Que Le Big Mac En Train De Conquerir La Belle France ? The Vendee Blog has been cynically proven to produce some of the best laughter lined posts on the blog scene, left click and enjoy another marvellous entry from the man who teaches English in the panoramic countryside of France. Animal lover Frances and France and the Unknown have a mouse in the house, How The Mighty had fallen… is the tale of Mighty the mouse who is found abandoned outside, but will he survive through the night.

Guest spot for this month goes back to Thailand and a well written blog named Behind the Noodle Curtain. Needing to escape the intensity of Bangkok if only for a short while Rick explores Isaan country and Images: bars and other features in Surin, Thailand, Part 1, takes a look around a town deep in the heart of one of the poorest regions of Thailand.

That’s it from the June 09 Blog Review written from a very bright and sunny England. Enjoy.

Imagine you are surrounded by natives and down to your last cigarette. You hear the desperate sound of plop as someone opens your last bottle of Beer Leo. Surely they must all leave soon. You glance at your hand crafted, lacquer finished, precision quartz mantel clock, its gone.

You’re then gently ushered to one side as three of your girlfriends uncle’s carry the Contemporary Boston Range Leather Bourbon three seat sofa out of the front door, it’s then that you notice a lone cigarette burn still smouldering on its armrest as Uncle Som swigs from your Jack Daniel bottle as he guides them and the sofa to a waiting pick up truck.

Khun Som belches then tosses the empty bottle into the fishing pond and gently lifts a small young child holding a bunch of brightly coloured balloons into the back and the vehicle noisily pulls away…. Thailand Country Life – A Survival Guide.

All the above is a complete fabrication but was written to over emphasize the problems that you can face in Thai villages. For those visiting a country village for the first time the amenities and way of life can be a welcome change for some but leave many others heading for the exit door never to return. Thai people as a whole are fun loving, kind and generous to a fault but when it comes to money their lack of it means you will be expected to foot the bill.

InThai culture the elder or socially higher ranked person is expected to settle the restaurant bill and Thai’s knowledge that the well stocked falang money trees are the world’s best hope in the fight against C02 and the greenhouse effect mean that irrespective of your age or homeland status quo, the bill will be yours. Beyond The Mango Juice roots amongst the chicken feathers and gecko droppings to offer a few tips and hints to help the first time country life visitor’s village stay a little more comfortable and a whole lot longer.

Food
If you love the spices and herbs that make Thai food such a delight then for many people village food will not be a problem although don’t expect too many of the gourmet meals that the city’s restaurants offer. Tom Yum soup will be about as sophisticated as it gets so expect a diet of minced beef (lap neua), Thai fried noodles (pad thai), fried rice (khao pad), pork and vegetable soup (gaang joot) and a healthy portion of sticky rice with most things. Fish and an omelette will be the nearest you’ll probably get to a taste of mama’s cooking back home. Bottled water is a must.

Survival Tips
Before heading to the village ask if where you will be staying has a refrigerator and if so head for the nearest town or big city supermarket. Superstores like Big C and Tesco Lotus are well stocked with foreign foods though they are a little more pricey. Steaks, soups, cheese, bread, potatoes and many other items are readily available and in a village if Thai food is not to your liking then these purchases can make your stay much more easier.

Beer, Cigarettes and Parties
Expect a party on the first night as family and friends will want to see the face that fronts the newest addition to the family circle. This is probably going to be the biggest expense of your village stay, but the few thousand baht outlay will be worthwhile in the long run and also raise your girlfriend’s standing amongst her family members.

Survival Tips
Please don’t be mean with the flow of food, alcohol and cigarettes, your girl’s reputation is at stake and your own social ranking is being assessed. Thai’s are not big beer consumers and Thai whisky, home grown lao khao and a reasonably priced brand whisky will compliment an ample amount of beer. Buy some Thai cigarettes for the party goers to smoke but don’t leave all of them out at once. Filter tip cigarettes are a luxury to your average village man and you may find that they miraculously disappear in double quick time. Expect loud music, karaoke and do try at least a little Thai food.

The Village House
If you’re lucky then the house will be brick built and full of the best mod cons the world can offer, that is however very unlikely. The house will probably be the wood stilt, corrugated roof style and occupied by the girl’s parents and younger brothers and sisters. A cooling fan will be the best heat repellent on offer and the afternoon temperatures can make the house stifling hot and unbearable so spend your time downstairs under the house.

The bathroom facilities will almost certainly be the squat style toilet and showering will involve pouring cold icy water from a large plastic or ceramic drum over yourself, good luck. The cooking and cleaning amenities will be basic at best but quickly adopting a “if it’s good enough for you then it’s fine by me” attitude should see you safely get by on most days.

Survival Tips
Look lovingly at your steak and chips and accept that sex is strictly off the menu, respect the family home. If your budget stretches to a rented car then make the most of it with day trips to the local attractions and big city air cooled shopping malls. Evening time there will be plenty of local restaurants within easy motoring reach so take the family and enjoy the delights that a family meal and an open air restaurant can offer.

Snakes, Insects and Bites
Coming into contact with a cobra is not liable to happen to you but be aware that it could. Snakes will avoid you at all times but unless you are an expert in such matters back away at all times. No matter its colour or size, treat every snake as a potentially poisonous one. Insects and mosquitoes are in an abundance in rural area’s so be prepared to find them in your drinks and on your food. Dogs can look mangy and fearsome but are generally weary of the human form but again treat each one as a potential threat until they prove otherwise. Expect to see lizards, frogs, bees and insects of varying size.

Survival Tips
In the case of snakes then don’t go trampling around in overgrown area’s and long grass and if seen then back off at all times. Wear a mosquito repellent for evening times and a pair of trousers, jeans or training bottoms are ideal for nighttime use. Also take some basic medical supplies with you such as plasters, antiseptic cream and after-sun lotion. Any innoculations needed for your trip should have been administered before leaving your homeland.

The above tips and advice have all been gained from my own experience of staying in three different Thai villages and each individuals opinion will be different. Please add any of your own advice and tips in the comments box, your views are most welcome.

Credit

Photograph Snake by VMOS

I wonder how much of our life we spend daydreaming, I know on a timescale mine would be very high. My work days and much of my spare time are spent thinking about Thailand, perhaps thinking is not a strong enough word. My day dreams take me to Suvarnabhumi Airport and the joy of having just landed, to Pattaya and its many bars, the beautiful beaches of Koh Chang and Hua Hin, but mostly my thoughts fix firmly on a small village in northeast Thailand, Ban Norn Chad. Beyond The Mango Juice has various posts listed under Village Life in the Category widget in my sidebar and today I am going to give a little background to those stories with a post about the one place in the world I really do like to be.

Wonderful Wi’s village is in Udon Thani Province, deep inside Isaan country in the north east of Thailand. The first inhabitants of Ban Norn Chad settled here about 100 years ago, many of them came from Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) and Surin. The Wang Chang River flows along the front edge of the village which is entered by crossing a narrow bridge onto a beautiful tree lined road ( above photo ) which divides the river in two.

The river is a source of fun for the kids ( top photo ) and provides families with one half of their staple fish and sticky rice food diet. The paddy fields are the major supplier of work and cattle is another for those lucky enough to be able to watch their investment graze its days away. Money is hard to come by in this poor rural part of Thailand and many families rely on their offspring working in Bangkok to send some of their salary back home.

The river is as I said a valuable food source and at the right time of year 20 to 30 of the villagers can be seen fishing down by the bridge with many of the small kids swimming nearby. Their catch is shared by their families and if their haul has been plentiful the remainder can be sold for small change that can make a big difference to their day on day budget.

Thailand’s Central Wage Committee recently raised Udon Thani’s minimum daily wage by 7 baht to 151 baht per day, approximately 4 US dollars, the going rate for a hard days graft in the village rice fields is a little short of that. It’s underhand cash but you never bite the hand that feeds you.

Vegetables are grown around the village but the small plots are mainly for the families own usage. Fish, rice and vegetables, living off the land and earth’s natural resources are the means of survival.

At the top of the tree lined road our rented car blasts its horn three times as we swing right past the Buddhist shrine and turn left to pass the village school. Another right turn takes us past the village Wat (temple) and next to it is the shell of the new temple that is under staged construction. Wilai seems to think that a lack of money amongst the community will mean that it will take years before the temple is completed. Money is sparse in these parts and my strong belief is that nowadays the middle aged and younger Buddhist Thai’s place enhancing their life above their elders ethic of bettering lives, who am I to argue.

Toyota, Tesco Lotus, McDonald’s, KFC, nowadays commercialism bites deep in Thailand. Toyota is rife in village life but fortunately not the others. Ronald McDonald the burger chain mascot, on guard outside and looking resplendent in his bright yellow colours basking in the sunshine, inside the red shirted workers toil away no doubt on minimum wage, a perfect parody of Thailand itself……KFC….. you pull the wishbone but I’ll eat the meat. The temple will have to wait.

A left turn takes us into Soi Buffalo and over the crossroad, the picture on the left is one that to me typifies the daily life of a Thai villager, someone going about their business in no hurry and seemingly without a care in the world. Look at the crossroad photo and you could place any given year on it, perhaps only the wooden carts tyres represent time and the wheels of progress that is very slowly being made in rural Thailand.

The villagers sit outside the small open front shops and by mid afternoon hammocks are swinging away under wood stilt houses. The finish to the school day brings a rush of exuberance and freshness to the village air and the seemingly never ending food vendors in trucks and on motorcycles constantly whip up red dust from the newly laid road. There’s no yellow brick road in Ban Norn Chad.

Our house is the last in the village and it’s the one location in this goddamn world that I really like to be. It was built just over four years ago, myself and Wilai have been together nearly six and I know she’s real proud of the house but that pride doesn’t come anywhere near my feelings for her.

The villagers have all got used to me over those years, the red faced farang who smokes and drinks too much, but nowadays I do feel part of their community, they’ve always made me feel welcome.

I can hardly leave this post without mention of the Buffalo Boys, they’re our two dogs Cola and Gaan plus our rabbit Noo. They were great fun to be around on my last holiday and I look forward to years of fun with them.

To finish the post I think it best if I once again steal a few song lyrics, right click and paste…..Maybe I didn’t hold you , all those lonely, lonely times. ..And I guess I never told you…I’m so happy that you’re mine. Always on my mind.

Credits

Song lyrics Always On My Mind by Brenda Lee

Udon Thani Province 1987
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