The Effects of Laos

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Make the scene at cousin Jacks, leave him to put the bottles back, mends the glasses that are cracked. Well that's one up to me.

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We had some Laotian friends from the states drop by for the party. They were more than happy to sleep on the deck as both bedrooms downstairs were full as well as the extra queen we have upstairs. We just dropped the rain tarps down and they were cool with that. An upstairs bathroom is just off the deck so no worries.

We were not too late with the DJ because we knew they were heading to Wat Phu the next day.

I kinda strayed from the travel aspect but I just thought you might enjoy seeing the mess we made after our spanferkel. The best part is I didn't have to do a thing other than buy the beer and pig. I don't know where they came up with the tables and all the silver wear ect.

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We bought the pig from these ladies down on river road. 43ish usd was the agreed price. It was after some poking prodding and pulling on some limbs that the price was haggled to. No silly they poked the pig not the lady.

Hogtied takes on a surreal meaning here as he was placed on the back of the sidecar.

Now I've rode with pigs before but that was on a train, in a plane or on a boat, as for this pig that's all she wrote.

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Coal-burnin' stove no natural gas if that ain't country I'll kiss your ass. If that ain't country it'll hairlip the pope. If that ain't country it's a damn good joke.

David Allan Coe.

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The cleanup crew arrives. Kudos to the kids, always happy to help out. Gotta love 'em.

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I took some flack for posting a few pics of BILs house that he recently built with the help of his neighbor, my sparky friend, among other locals in the neighborhood.

He told me the total cost including the fence was 40k. It is two bedroom one bath. No tub but a shower. I forgot to take pics of the bathroom but will say I used the shower a half dozen times out of convenience. I would be happy in a place like this when I no longer care to run up stairs.

PS the steps are plumb.

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That's him in the white shirt. I like the high ceiling and canned led lights.

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Not too shabby. Could use a sofa but that's not how they roll. Who am I to judge. They just spread out the pad and plop down. Worked for me for what little time I spent watching the boob tube with them. "Thais got talent?"

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The guest bedroom is the door on the right. He has an A/C unit in there and offered us the option to stay with them but the gf said mil would be sad if we didn't stay with her at the farm. That's where all the action is anyway as it's dinner and beers by the river daily. Yea, it's rough......on my liver!!

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The master bedroom was cool as it had several windows set in a circular style wall.

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Nice window treatments with a view of the fish pond across the road. Mount phallic in the background.

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Depending where they build the road through the farm I may just have them build me one like this yet along the river.

Spirit house is out front. Gotta have one of those you know.

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Bil getting ready to haul the sound system to the farm for the party.

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I like it. But then again I once lived on 19th and state in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Everywhere is better than that, ain't it?

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view of the fish pond across the road

Let's have a look at your abode, fish.

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He told me the total cost including the fence was 40k.

Kip or Bat?

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I think he did alright for himself. I don't believe he has a mortgage. He and his wife lived at the farm house in one of the downstairs bedrooms for many years while he traveled to Thailand to work as a Chef at some tourist spot during the peak season. He can cook but now I think he works for the beer Lao people so no more Thailand.

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The cost of the Lot the house the fence the chandeliers,potted plants ect ect ect, 40,000 usd. Or 328,311,212 kip, 1,402,241.36 THB.

Does that sound reasonable for 2016. I don't doubt him.

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The fish's crib. Not to bad but it feels like a barn as the upstairs is one big open dance hall. We have not partitioned off any rooms so it has an open feel and I kinda like that. Now if we were to stay any length of time I would be there to get it done the way I want it. For now it works, I have some Ideas I've been toying with. It ain't going anywhere so no worries.

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I'm a crap photographer but this is his kitchen from the doorway of the bath.

I honestly could live in this place. Well if I had to. You don't really want to see my crib. Do you?

[Norton]

Does that sound reasonable for 2016

All in with house, wall etc he got a good deal.

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I guess it's normal to have a wash machine in the bathroom. I'm not sold on that and I would have a concrete ventilated lockable pill box outside for the propane tank. But that's just me.

I have seen worse in Asia so yea, I think he's doing okay for himself and his family.

Lets put it this way I don't think he is ashamed of the way that they live. They earn their lot.

Damn this pic sucks but it's all I found so far.

Now back to the travel thread portion sorry for the detour.

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So I had to try out the new bike. Yes I like to buy "stuff" sometimes I don't even need the "stuff" but buy it anyway. Like chewing gum I guess. Do I really need it? No. So down the road I go.

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The bike worked well so I strapped a rod on the back and went to look for a fishing hole.

Well I did find a pond but fishing was slow so down the road I go.

Low and behold I past a school so I thought perfect. Time to practice my Laotian with the school kids.

Reminded me of the time when a friend of mine that worked at an insane asylum said he used to play guitar for the inmates. Didn't matter if he was good or bad he had a captive audience. Perfect.

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For the doubters out there that thought you can't learn from the fish I have proven you wrong. Believe it or not I had a captive audience I taught a thing one or thing two.

I simply explained where the fish is from and what the fish do. No shock as I used simple drawings and had help from the teacher in translating the concepts.

And in the end there were those I saw had that bulb called a brain light up in their head. For without the light there is but darkness. What was the fish to do? Well what would you do If a school kid asked you.

No I'm not a preacher. Not a bad guess though.