Buadhai Builds A Pond

[sabang]

I am in search of a smaller, less expensive wife.

[Jet Gorgon]

(Ms. B is rather thrifty and did not want to fork out 980 baht for a large wheelbarrow. She is still in search of a smaller, less expensive one!)

I think it's called using the neighbour's.

[klongmaster]

Yesterday I went to a new place near home which sells and install these



while there I noticed they had just completed what appears to be a fish pond...looks a nice job...do you think it will leak with no lining?..

[buad hai]

...do you think it will leak with no lining?..

It really depends on how well they made it. If it's just mortar and bricks with no steel, then, yeah, it will eventually crack and leak.

I really like those big bas-relief wall sculptures. I think the Thais refer to them as "jigsaw". We are considering putting one on that big, blank white wall you can see in some of the pond shots.

I'm less fond of the colorful Apsaras, but I guess they have their place in certain settings.

[buad hai]

Ms. B called Premier Lining. They only sell by the roll. I need 6 meters, but would have to buy a 200 meter roll....

Bummer.

[klongmaster]

I really like those big bas-relief wall sculptures

yes that's really what I was looking for to cover a concrete block wall which is due for a repaint...they wanted over 20,000 for the top one in the pic with the elephants...which was needless to say outside of my budget for the wall!

[Marmite the Dog]

I will vouch for Mrs B - she is indeed a lovely lass. Good to see she's wearing her safety flip-flops whilst using the hoe.

[buad hai]

Good to see she's wearing her safety flip-flops whilst using the hoe.

Nothing but the best for my girl....

[WhiteLotusLane]

Yesterday I went to a new place near home which sells and install these

WOW!!! Where is that place?! I want that chick with nipples showing who's bonded at the ankles to the pole. All it needs then is a horizontal bar for that final blasphemous touch. I LOVE HER!!!

[happyhour]

Can't wait to see your finished pond.

[Sir Burr]

Might be awhile. He needs electricity for the pump to power the water-fall.

[buad hai]

It turns out to have been a mistake to excavate the pond before water and power were on site. Now it will sit for months, the walls crumbling away and eroded by the rains that will inevitably arrive. (This afternoon by the looks of it.) Prudence would have me fill the pond back in, but the soil is spread all over the yard and I really don't fancy spending any more time there than is necessary for keeping the plants alive.

Another possibility is to finish the pond and just buy a long hose to keep it full. It would be nice to have the water circulate, but I can probably keep it clean by having few fish and lots of plants.

[The_Dude]

Any chance of getting some solor panel w/ inverter to run a pump? And order a plastic tank say 500 gal and dump it at your driveway and have a tanker deliver water. Alot said but not too much out of pocket. and your plants will be saved.

[buad hai]

There's a water tap only 15 or 20 meters from my driveway, so hauling water to save the plants is pretty easy. 20 minutes a day. I just finished. And, it's good exercise.

I think you might be on to something with the solar pump for the pond, though. Of course, if I were in the US I'd do a Google search on "solar fountain pump", come up with a page like this one:

Solar Fountain Pumps

Place an order online and the thing would be on my doorstep in two days.

But, given how hard it is to find simple things in Thailand I doubt I'd ever be able to buy one here.

[buad hai]

Here we go. This would keep the water moving until power arrives:

Floating Solar Fountain

[AntRobertson]

Get cracking buad hai!

You need to finish so I can unabashedly steal all of your ideas. These delays simply won't do

[buad hai]

As soon as I get the liner and underlayment sorted I'm going to go ahead. Otherwise I'll go crazy just sitting here waiting....

[The_Dude]

Forgive my ignorance but can,t you still order material from the globe and have it sent to you. I bet that solor thingy is made in China or Thailand and then packaged in the USA. Your job is to find out what place they make it. The funny thing is it probably is made in Korat in the factory Zone near JVC and in that area.

[buad hai]

^If you click on the link with the picture of the solar thingy, you'll see that it is available in Thailand and can be ordered from Pantip Market. I will do that if I don't find a better alternative.

But, this is the irony of living in a place like Thailand. I want to line my pond with EPDM. EPDM is manufactured in Thailand. I have contacted several manufacturers. But, none of them will sell in small amounts and none of them have been able to refer me to a reseller who will sell me the 24 square meters that I need.

Same with the geotextile underylayment. Manufactured in Thailand, but try to find someone that will sell you the small amount I need. No can do.

And, sure, I can order from the US. But, the amount of EPDM liner that I need weighs about 50 kilos and would cost a fortune to ship.

This whole problem of procuring ordinary hardware and garden items is driving me crazy.

I guess I should do what everyone else seems to do. Give up trying to do things right with the right tools and right materials and just accept what's readily available.

[The_Dude]

My wifes uncle has a supply house in Sikqeaw (hope i spelled that right) do you want me to see if he can get a small amount?

[buad hai]

^That would be wonderful, yes.

I need 45 mil EPDM liner and some sort of geotextile porous underlayment. The dimensions of each would be 4 meters by 6 meters.

Thanks for the offer.

[buad hai]

This one would be just the ticket:



And, only US$65!

Oops. Minimum order: 200

[buad hai]

Amazing. I sent e-mail this morning to two Chinese companies that manufacture solar fountain kits. Both responded with nice, long, informative notes in English. One company has offered to send me a "sample" (for a fee plus shipping) since they do not currently export to Thailand.

[corvettelover]

Alibaba Manufacturer Directory - Suppliers, Manufacturers, Exporters & Importers
join for free and check out all manufacturers for every possible product made they will sell one off samples this also includes mobiles
might get a sample of the liner and underlay you are chasing there

[buad hai]

^I checked a couple of places in China. They want to charge US$45 to ship to Thailand via ocean freight....