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  1. #51
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    Fantastic thread El Gibbon, you've got enough here to write a book.

    I really enjoy reading it

    Udonite

  2. #52
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    I just got back from BigC and I saw some "Dog Kare" for sale in the fresh veggie section.

    They have translated it as "Humming Bird"

  3. #53
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    T T
    Thank you for the effort. A greenie

    E. G.

  4. #54
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    Why do I like "Fresh" markets?

    Well its happened again! The ms didn't like the look of the chicken at the local village market the other day. When in town at Tops supermarket she bought some chicken breasts.

    I was totally ready for her special fried chicken breast with a nice green salad last night. Wrong! Once cooked you could smell the rancid contition of the 'good' chicken. Absolutely putrid. This is the third or fourth time I've
    had bad luck buying meats from any of the places farang tend to shop. Bar none they all suck, Tesco, Big C, Carrefour, Tops, Villa, Foodland and all the rest do not have decent fresh meats.

    They just don't do enough volume to insure fast turnover of their fresh meats. Specialty and imported frozen Ok, but the supposedly fresh just isn't in many cases. Meat is NOT like cheeses where you scrap off the rot and no one knows the differnce.

    New rule: Never buy meat, fish or fowl from a supermarket. The exception is imported frozen products. New she gets it. In the ms. defense she hadn't been exposed to this as she has always shopped in the local markets, even in Bangkok.

    I love fresh markets like this one in Chantaburi, Nam Pu market is the commercial market in this region.



    This market is typical of markets I've shopped at in Phuket town,
    Patong, Hwau Kwang (one of the top markets I've used), P-look,
    and of course here.



    This market, Nam Pu, is really large and these pix really don't
    do it justice.



    By far the best market I've ever been in is the one on the way
    to Mae Sot, Market in the Mountains I think its called. Really
    a great market and worth a trip just to see it if your nearby.

    Fruits and vegetables not normallly found in other markets in
    Thailand and so clean it was amazing. Another feature were the
    cute Hmong kids running around "helping" their parents.

    We have several markets in the loca area. I'll grab some pix and
    post at some point.

    E. G.
    "If you can't stand the answer --
    Don't ask the question!"

  5. #55
    I am in Jail
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    The supermarkets in Bangkok are fine, but I hve become wary since moving to the province, too.
    The only 'fresh' food I buy at Tesco are potatoes, most others are either overpriced or not so fresh.

  6. #56
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    Hmmmm

    Seems to me that Villa and Foodland are as guilty of relabeling as any other place. I know of an occasion that Carrefour on Rachada was guilty of the same.

    E. G.

    I don't trust em, so its the fresh market for me....

  7. #57
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    Falang has beer1

    Well, the word is out now. The falang ALWAYS has beer.

    It has become an almost daily ritual that the ladies get together for beating some 'birds' back and forth. The sisters and step daughter get together most evenings for some excercise. Us men folk just sit on the front veranda and watch.

    Of course if there is more than one Thai adult soon there will be many more that gather and chew the fat. Neighbors, relatives and friends seem to congregate during these badmitton bouts.

    Of course being the gracious host I provide the liquid refreshments, as I buy beer by the boxes I usually have a decent supply.

    Now some of you are thinking what a sucker - not so.

    Invariably there is a bag of roast pork with spicey sauce, satay, BBQ chicken or some other finger food that show up with the "guests". So I provide the venue and the beer.

    I have found that I'm a magnet for those wanting to try to speak English or to brush up on skills learned long ago. The badmitton get together is just an excuse to join in some conversation.

    There is only one problem. Each and every one of them NOT a family member, have or know of a piece of property for sale... lol

    Family members know not to bother as I've made it clear. This falang ain't about to buy property for awhile. I always listen and then explain that I'm waiting for my inheritance before any large acquisitions and my family always live into their 90's.

    I've come to enjoy these sessions two or three times a week. It is a pleasant way to get to know my neighbors and new friends. It turns out one little cutie, the owner of the nearest house , owns one of the local 'sing-a-song' spots. Have to check that one out.

    E. G.

  8. #58
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    Water heater update

    Well, Stroller and Marmite offered sound advice.

    The Hitachi 3.5 Kw heater was a warmer... Considering the temperature of the local water supply that ain't all that bad. But, Mr. E. L. has to have hot water for the occasional 'cluster' headaches.

    So faithful contracter came today and replaced with a Panasonic 6 Kw. Now that's OK. Actually has a digital thermometer than you can adjust the water temp by. Max temp setting is 50 deg.

    When the weather warms thereby warming the water supply I should be able to take a shower and make coffee all in one go..

    Forgot to mention that the new commode has also been installed. A real pleasure taking a crap now instead of balancing on that tiny Thai toilet.

    BTW I was watching the guy drill mounting holes for the heater with an impact drill. I know there has been discussion on how to do this without chipping or cracking. He went through tile and the wall very easily. Just marked the spot with a marker and gently, revving the drill up and down, went right through it like it was nothing. No chips etc. Course he's probalby done it a million times, the drill was a Samto.

    So, hong nam is refurbished successfully.

    E. G.

  9. #59
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    Quote Originally Posted by El Gibbon
    So faithful contracter came today and replaced with a Panasonic 6 Kw. Now that's OK. Actually has a digital thermometer than you can adjust the water temp by. Max temp setting is 50 deg.
    Damn! I'm jealous. I want one of them!

  10. #60
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    ^ I have used a couple of Stiebel-Eltron heaters, they are state of the art.
    German made, german quality.

  11. #61
    Have you got any cheese Thetyim's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lom
    I have used a couple of Stiebel-Eltron heaters, they are state of the art.
    Thats what I got.
    It works OK. Why do you rate them so highly ?

  12. #62

    R.I.P.


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    I think they are actually bath water heaters, biggest shower heaters I have seen are 4.5kw, although my 3.5kw when it is up at 3 quarters you can hear it boiling the water, for baths we normally use the Siemens, 13,000baht but last forever.

  13. #63
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thetyim
    It works OK. Why do you rate them so highly ?
    They last forever like the Siemens.
    They are manufactured by a company who is specialised in hot water heating with a wide product catalogue.
    Tank heates, instant heaters, 1-phase , 3-phase , they have it all.
    And they don't make electric shavers and TV's like Panasonic..

  14. #64
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    What shop sells these Stiebel-Eltron Heaters?

  15. #65
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Almost any major electric shop , or hardware shop specialised on bathrooms.
    HomePro have them as well.

  16. #66
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    orchid "room"

    Thought some of you might like an update on my orchid 'room'/shelter.

    Although I've not bought any this week it is getting pretty full.



    I just might have to run up the road and get DD's advice on "building" something more substantial.



    These babies are my favorites. The scent is a cross between a woman in lust, vanilla and sugar all wrapped in one. Definitely an aroma to cherish.



    Cattelya, one of the showier in the orchid family.

    E. G.

  17. #67
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    shower

    M t D

    Here is a photo for you, it is a 6 Kw Panasonic DH 6BD1 Electric Home Shower. Cost 6500 baht.

    Has all the bells and whistles: Digital Thermometer - temp. control adjustable in 1 deg. increments; Digital Clock ????; four position water pulsing system in the heater, at the bottom you will see a flow control and sand filter.



    The shower head itself has 4 modes of spray pattern and one unique feature the gals find usefull. There is a button that shuts off the spray yet maintains the heater temp, very usefull while they are soaping up the hair or doing the conditioning crap. Saves pouring heated water down the drain while they spend a couple of minutes dealing with masses of hair.

    E. G.
    Last edited by El Gibbon; 31-12-2006 at 08:23 AM. Reason: add price

  18. #68
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    ooops a ploblum

    Yesterday we headed of to Laem Sing beach for a sea food lunch and some time by the water.

    Ole E. G. needed some cash and figured I would take out all the necessary to do the E. O. M. stuff. Rent, Elect. TV. and Sat. fees. Off to the local Bangkok Bank. oooops bank is closed, not open on Saturdays. After living in Phuket and Bangers where you could find a bank open even on Sunday it was a mild surprise. No problem though, hit the cash machine and OK for the beach trip.

    Will make another trip on the 2nd.

    Laem Sing was a nice experience. The beach was deserted and we had our choice of tables on the beach to choose from. I understand that today (Sun) it will be jammed since they are have boat/canoe races.

    Food was excellent and cheap. 1 large Coke, a water, 6 big Heinekens, spicey squid salad, four huge prawns, reg. fried rice, spicey prawn squid fried rice, large fried fish with mango salad and two cold coconuts came to 1090 baht. Fed 5 with plenty for all.

    Sadly no pix as the batteries went dead on the camera and stupid me left the others in the charger at the house. dumb ass.

    E. G.

  19. #69
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    EG,

    Thanks for posting the Orchid pics.
    We have a Orchid farm here in Udon Thani, the Orchid is called Udon Sunshine, lovley colour, Bright Yellow and Red. The farm sells Orchids and a perfume from the flowers, in the farm shop. They have this tea plant there that reacts to sound, sing or play music and the plant dances.

  20. #70
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    Quote Originally Posted by El Gibbon
    Food was excellent and cheap. 1 large Coke, a water, 6 big Heinekens, spicey squid salad, four huge prawns, reg. fried rice, spicey prawn squid fried rice, large fried fish with mango salad and two cold coconuts came to 1090 baht. Fed 5 with plenty for all.
    you're a good man EG...6 lg Heinies...now that makes for an enjoyable lunch...

    Happy New Year to you and thanks again for this thread...

  21. #71
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    6 large

    klongmaster

    When we finally got home it was time for 6 or was it 8 large Leo while the missus was grilling up some real spare ribs.

    Add a touch of potato salad and it was a great day!

    Course when the feathered alarm clock went off at 5 AM I really wasn't in the mood.

    E. G.

  22. #72
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    2007 in the village

    After New Year 2005, downer due to tsunami, New Year 2006, stomach flu and the 'revenge', this year was almost a pleasure.

    A gathering of family and friends at my BiL's shack. Lots of food, beer and whiskey. Great conversation and a bucket full of laughs. (The ladies of the family are totally uninhibited when you get a few Leo's in them , nothing physical just some really endearing verbal essays on the behavior of the spouses - me included.)

    There was another expat there with his TW and about half of the family speak a "little" English so a good time was had by all. That is until the expat's phone went on SMS. News of the bombngs in Bangers kinda put a lid on the hilarity.

    By that time I was pretty well rat-assed, as we had started rather early, supposedly we were "cooking" but the only thing I remember getting hot was the bottle opener.

    With the air out of the balloon I put putted off the house and some sleep.

    New Year's day, we got a call from BiL requesting some help. So about 4PM we headed to his house. Wallahal, his son had arrived (TV3 cameraman and was busy on the Eve filming in Bangers.) Out came a couple of bottles of whiskey another couple of cases of big Leo's and more food. Whew here we go again.

    Had to have been one of the longest drinking bouts I've had in years. After several cups of java and half a pack of butts I'm still having trouble getting fingers to the right spot on the keyboard.

    I was good though, I passed on a trip to the local sing-a-song joint.

    All in all a very nice New Year in the village.

    E. G.

  23. #73
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    Local gendarmes

    After a day of 'dryness', decided it was time to have a couple of small Leos. Called my buddy and we met up at the local shop where we normally sit in the late afternoons and watch the world go by.

    Upon arriving I noted the typical white triangle with red light off to the side of the parking lot. This shop is the normal spot for the traffic checkpoint at this end of the village. Makes it handy for getting a shot of M 150 or whatever I guess.

    Not long after our arrival a couple of chaps show up, in brown trousers and white T shirts. No boots just black shoes but still reminded me of coper uniforms. Soon after several more show up, oops I'm having beers in the middle of the local DUI sheriffs. My bike is just a couple of steps away.

    One of the guys comes over to the table and I'm introduced by my buddy to Mr. XXX, a nice guy, mid 40s, very gregarious and speaks excellent English. Mr. XXX is the only one that is in shorts and flip flops, yet you can tell by the actions of the others this fella was IN- CHARGE.

    A few minutes of casual banter follow. I ask the guy what he drinks. Sangsom is the reply. OK I order a bottel of the stuff and ice and mixers. Out of the shop comes another table (a fold up type) and some plastic chairs along with a big bottle of Sangsom, 1/2 case of soda and one large Coke.

    The table gets set up and chairs arranged and about 8 glasses are placed with the set up. Hmmmm, what the hell, I'm OK with it.

    All the while Ms. E is not saying a word, just sitting there with a huge grin.

    After all the 'boys' have a drink, not strong mind you, the triangle is moved to the center of the highway, red cones come out of the back of the shop and flourescent lights show up. Yup, these are the guys manning the checkpoint. Brown shirts and baseball caps show up from somewhere along with those orange vests and suddenly I'm in the middle of the local cops having a mini-do.

    Mr. XXX is having a grand time, strongly recommending I get another 'wife' as is the custom in Thailand. Sure with the missus sitting right there, lol.

    Seems he is known as THE butterfly of the region, he is currenlty dealilng with wife #1 and wife #3, wife #2 didn't cut it.

    As the sun is setting and I don't like driving the bike at night on the main road it is getting time for me to leave. By this time traffic stops/checks have begun, all very quaintly as they seem to only stop cars they know, and then its to chit chat, inquire about the holiday etc. Really surreal.

    As I'm paying the bin I'm curious as to Mr. XXX's job/position as he absolutely reeks power. So I ask. "I'm the big man" he replies, "Obotor (or something like that) and the police chief." Great, now I've met the local boss ( the guy that just spent over 1MM baht on his son's wedding) and half of the local constabulary.

    Nice guy I have to admit, absolutley the perfect politician type. Apparently does a good job too, although having drinks with the guys checking for drunk drivers is a little touchy in my book. Takes one to know one I guess.

    E. G.

  24. #74
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    Aaaragh Postal address

    Understand that I have lived here in Thailand full time since late '99. I have never had the problems with an address as I've had with this move.

    I have never had trouble with the Thai Mail service in terms of delivery etc. when the have the right address to work with.

    It all started with the owner of the house giving us the WRONG address, go figure. So when we did the pre-arrangements for TV and Sat. we used the address supplied.

    So, its the beginning of the new month and I don't have a single bill, duh something wrong here.

    To make matters worse, since I couldn't really get an English translation for the real address of the house, I rented a mail box in Mahkam. Mahkam is the center for this postal region so figured I would reduce the address by a number of lines and or symbols... lol

    Finally I corner the mailman, who happens to realize I'm the ONLY falang living in this part of the village and he has mail with a 'funny' name to deliver. Smart guy this one, really. So I ask him to indicate what part of the address was incorrect. Figure if the guy delivering can figure it out I've got it nailed. Wrong... another address... FLOCK ME!

    So its a trip to Chantaburi town to change all the addresses on the bills, electric,(actually not problem there as they come to the house to collect as do the water folks), UBC and TOT for the ipStar.

    Now they are all directed to the mail box. Cool. But I still don't have an address that I'm comfy with. It would be nice to order books etc. from Bangkok and have them delivered within a year or so. (Kinokuniya delivers throughout Thailand for very reasonable rates.)

    Oh well when in Bangers this weekend I'll mail a letter to each of the "known" addresses and see which one shows up the fastest...


    TIT

    E. G.

  25. #75
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    Slough fishing????

    For the last few days we have heard what sounds like fish jumping in the slough beside the property.

    The local Thais had cleared all the grass off the top recently and spent two weekends netting anything bigger than 2 inches out of there. They actually gat a couple of decent size cats and one or two what looked to be Gaurami. The rest was basically fodder for curry or som tom.

    I knew they had pretty well cleaned the place so this wasn't likely a fish. Minnows and fry don't usually jump unless being chased by something bigger and if they do they sound more like a mosquito fart.

    This morning while checking the garden and the orchids I had my camera with me. PLOP there it was. I caught a glimpse of a bluish flash out of the corner of my eye and that was it.

    OK I says to me, lets get this sucker . I spent quite awhile trying to find this devil and then suddenly he landed just a few feet away.



    Maneuver as I might I couldn't arrange a photo without dead foliage in the way. Even this doesn't degrade the brilliant plummage of this Kingfisher. What a spectacular little creature.

    I watched it quite awhile trying to get a better shot but each time he dove he was off to somewhere else.



    Finally I found him, backside to but there he was about 40 meters away. You wouldn't think with the coloring they would be that hard to spot but this is a telephoto 4meg shot cropped so you can imagine.

    Here's another view front on that shows it quite well, wish I could have gotten closer to take this one.



    Again telephoto cropped and magnified.

    Morning at Rancho El Gibbon

    E. G.

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