Thailand:- Life on the Farm is kind of relaxed

[See Will]

Cheers for the Story David48atTD,


as a rural countryside boy from Germany I was living from 2005 -2011 in a small Village between Kalasin and Mahasarakham and it was for me the Point to come back after I will stop my offshore carrier in the next 2 years.
Momentary Pattaya has just the better infrastructure regarding calls from customers who wants to have you on the carpet max 24 hrs after notice.

I just hang off at home with my small backyard Aquaponics, my Wife, Nephews and two dogs in Pattaya and just getting more and more an antipathy for this growing City. No trust, no real smile, no real laughing just hunting the coin is here what's all about.

I remember these years at father's house and miss it so much. The morning speech from the monk over the loudspeakers at 5am that giving the same relaxing and laid back feeling like the Sunday morning church bells in my Parents Village.
The Birds that start singing, no screaming Motorbikes and humming traffic noise, just silence you can see hear and feel..
That morning yek yek of the passing by old woman with her Buffaloes at 5am when she goes to the feeding grounds..

Even my Tinnitus is gone when I sit with my coffee on the terrace wall and father sits opposite, has a smoke and staring along the empty road..

And when we started we started into the cane field, no clock told us that it was just us getting started.

Lucky me, the Mossies don't like me much and its only a few times I got bitten but it seems the Thai Food is the recipe behind it.

I am more than looking forward to return to me beloved countryside..

[NamPikToot]

I am more than looking forward to return to me beloved countryside..

I have a threshold of about 5 days in a city then it starts getting to me, born and raised in London but cannot stand the place now - like you i like the quieter life - i can travel to the big smoke for a fix if needs be. You are spot on on the pace of life, i wake at 5am in the UK or earlier and do the same in Thailand - usually watch the cows get walked past on their way to graze, get all the chores done before midday and then the rest of the day do whatever. The people are more genuine and not just about money.

[tomcat]

The people are more genuine and not just about money.

...unfortunate generalization...

[See Will]

...unfortunate generalization...

Sometimes like everywhere in the world, meet the wrong people and they will sit on your pocket.

In Thailand countryside you will mainly meet people who ask like: "I don't know what to eat today" and unfortunately that is Thai lifestyle. They not ask you for an arm and a leg but for a 100 Baht to sponsor they next scran.

many Farangs complain then with the words, "its all about money and yes", its true.

But only you are usually never in the situation to ask for a return as soon you are broke.
Real Thailand is a permanent taking and giving as helping within the community, one neighbor has found some money 5 neighbors eat, then the neighbor has no money anymore but somebody else has found some money and so on and on.

And because a Farang usually has always money they will ask a Farang (or Mia) more often without bad feelings.
And that's the clash of the cultures. (or real country life)

hence the expression of many Thais: "I have to find some money"

[tomcat]

hence the expression of many Thais: "I have to find some money"

...any falang in a storm...

[HuangLao]

...any falang in a storm...

A treasure trove to be found.

[David48atTD]

The annual migration to the Farm is on. First, me Lady and the Rugrats and I'll follow on later.

This part is less about 'the farming' and more about the Farm life.

So, if Family life is not your bag, not much here for you.

For me, it's essentially that the Boys don't forget their Thai Culture/Language, where their Mum came from, the Rural Lifestyle, the Freedom and constraints of living on a Thai Farm, etc, etc.

So, every journey starts with a beginning ...



The bags containing their Bears, Tablets, Headphones and snacks for the Flight (no frills airline).

[David48atTD]

Plenty of room to kick a ball about ...

[David48atTD]

An early morning Bike ride ...

[David48atTD]

Or a Sunset ride/walk/feed the fish/prawns/shrimps ...



And that sunset over the Ponds ...

[David48atTD]

The Farm doesn't have many, well, to be honest, no luxuries.

No running water, there is a drip feed which is collected in Urns buckets for the toilet/shower/washing etc.

So 'no running water' means no 'warm showers'.
If you want warm water to shower with, you either boil the kettle on the gas stove or do, what I have done in past visits, put out a bucket in the morning and by the evening, some warmish water.


It's actually my 'safe' when I'm not at the Farm.
If I leave stuff out, the Family simply use it all.
So it's a lid on, cable tied and my stuff inside.

The Thai Family don't thieve ... just 'appropriate' stuff

---

So, with no running water, it takes a bit of planning to fill the Farm Swimming Pool.


My two Boys, middle and right. The boy on the left is Eye's child, she was pregnant @ 15
None of my business, Eye is a distant relative.
Relative chain is My Partner-> her 1/2 Nephew-> his 1/2 sister (different fathers) -> Eye -> her son
Meh ... passes for Family in these parts.

---

The other way to cool off at the Farm is the local Indian Ice-Cream guy.

He cycles an extraordinary distance to service the Farm.
Not expensive and the ices are still cold.
Our personal MrWhippy!


Don't know who the small child is ... there is always different folk at the Farm.
I used to asked ... don't much anymore.
But, be sure, everyone is taken care of ... someone would have bought her an ice-cream.

[David48atTD]

The water level at the Farm is the lowest that I can remember.

Our little Klong soi is dry and the main Klong behind us which connests is just puddles.

The Boys have always been into Dinosaurs and we told them that the here, the gold and black lizard (if I remember the translation correctly) is a lizard Dinosaur.
Well, they like the story, and it's probably not to far from the truth.

Rarely do you see one so close to the Farm House, usually we spy them crossing the Farm road.

[fishlocker]

Aww, that's sweet.

[David48atTD]

There has been a new Temple built, so an inspection was in order.

I've never seen so many little statues/bowls in a row!





Plus, we knew Royalty was also attending as they found Luigi's Scooter parked and couldn't resist a wee trial

[fishlocker]

There is this 12 inch lizard that lives on our rafters...Tell me it ain't Dill.
Just kidding, they call it a gopgey. It calls out a number of chimes each night just before sundown. The folks count along with the lizards chimes and revere them like gospel. It is kinda fun to count along with this thing. Just glad I never woke up next to it.

[David48atTD]

Lastly, for now, what I do appreciate about the simplicity of Farm Life is the social integration between family members.

Sure, there are Tablets and a TV ... but there are board games and impromptu fun.

Below everyone, well, about 1/2 the Family are playing Bingo. Good for fun but also the boys get to practice their Thai numbers.
They can count to 20 no problems, but have to think after that.
Bingo reinforces that skill.

[David48atTD]

This game, first I've seen it is a combination a Thai movement and Rock/Paper/Sissors (RPS).
If you win the RPS you get to jump as far forward as you can.

The eventual winner was heading to the MiL's Bedroom, had the other one won ... he was in the Loo.




That's it for now.

Maybe some more later when I get sent some Farm related content, or arrive there myself in about 3 weeks time.

[Neverna]

For me, it's essentially that the Boys don't forget their Thai Culture/Language, where their Mum came from, the Rural Lifestyle, the Freedom and constraints of living on a Thai Farm, etc, etc.

Quite right, Dave. Being bilingual helps a lot in that, IMO, but in another thread you posted something along the lines of your boys understand most of the Thai they hear but can't speak much Thai. I've always believed that each parent speaking their own language to their children from an early age goes a long way to ensuring the children can both speak and understand the language of each parent, as the kids have a need and desire to communicate with their parents, and comunicating in both languages is not a problem for them. How is it your boys can only speak a little Thai, Dave? Is your home an English language only environment?

[fishlocker]

Well it could be worse...That's why there are rooms downstairs for you guys.

Who is buying Snubbs ticket.

I'm bogged down at he moment but how about next year we do a go fund snubbs. I think that would be cool and as long as he is not a hottie from the Philippines it just may fly.

Like my old lap top....

Cheers. fish.

[David48atTD]

Quite right, Dave. Being bilingual helps a lot in that, IMO, but in another thread you posted something along the lines of your boys understand most of the Thai they hear but can't speak much Thai. I've always believed that each parent speaking their own language to their children from an early age goes a long way to ensuring the children can both speak and understand the language of each parent, as the kids have a need and desire to communicate with their parents, and comunicating in both languages is not a problem for them. How is it your boys can only speak a little Thai, Dave? Is your home an English language only environment?

Nev, EXACTLY what you proposed.

"I've always believed that each parent speaking their own language to their children from an early age goes a long way to ensuring the children can both speak and understand the language of each parent, as the kids have a need and desire to communicate with their parents, and comunicating in both languages is not a problem for them."

I only speak English to them and my Thai Partner speaks 99% Thai to them.
The Boys understand the Thai, but reply in English, to both of us at Home.


Before the Boys left for the Farm, we tried, as best we could to get them to reply to Mum in Thai.
Limited success.

We try, but don't force. Let it come naturally ... with some prompting.

Oh, they are also, for some unknown reason, also learning French, at School.

[fishlocker]

Good point Nev, When our son was in kindergarten the principal called us in to have a word... Seems he ( our son)would ask the teacher for the key as he went for the door.
Baffled by this they contacted me and said your child upon leaving the room wants the key.

It was then I had to explain that the kid is bilingual and he is saying he is heading for.....the crapper.

[Mendip]

This is where we went wrong... my wife spent many years in Oz and speaks near perfect English, and we speak English at home. Even at her school, Thai is taught as a foreign language and all other subjects are taught in English (apart from Chinese). Consequently my daughter's Thai is very weak.

We're trying to rectify this now with my wife speaking Thai, especially when I'm away at work, and daughter's Thai is coming on fast.

Looks like your boys are having a fantastic time, btw Dave!

[fishlocker]

Key means dookey in Laotian. Min means stinky. I once worked with a man named ....never mind but his name to me meant stinky shit.

[thaiguzzi]

Great posts and pix David, thank you.
Threads like this make a visit to a Thai centric forum a pleasant place.
Re, my 14 y/o boy - triilingual,
mum talks to him in Lao, he responds in Lao,
teachers talk to him in Thai, he responds in Thai,
i talk English to him and he speaks English back to me.
His only fault is his written English is not up to scratch compared to a similar aged Brit.
But it will get there.
His step sister is just finishing 4 years of Uni and her written and spoken English is pretty good.

[OhOh]

Good to see your growing family again, the kids look healthy, inquisitive and happy. I hope you and your girlfriend are similar.

You mentioned there is a lack of water, presumably that has affected the farming?

Some questions.

How old are the prawns when harvested?

Where do you get the new prawns from? Are the younger prawns left in the pond, eggs and juveniles or are eggs purchased from a "breeder"?

Do you have various ponds with prawns of differing ages?