A day in the life...

[Stumpy]

Another beautiful Northern Thailand kind of day. 16c in AM



Start off day heading down the stairs and Judy is waiting for me to toss the bone for fun. Headed off to do my early morning watering.





Got Warriors/Lakers game on and a pool vacuum was in order.





Took my bike ride to the river to check on the river project. Didn't understand what the the makro was doing until the crane lifted the rocks. The Crane was too small and it almost tipped over. The Makro was helping to hold it down.





Got first cage of rocks in the water but it wasn't set right but they were done. Way to dicey with the crane. The crane operator packed up camp and left. I assume a bigger one is coming.



As with every night, Sandy grabbed her toy for me to toss and waited patiently on the grass. while.....



Annie chilled out by the pool.

Time for a nice Bourbon......

[hallelujah]

What are they doing with the river? Is it something to stop flooding in the rainy season?

[Stumpy]

What are they doing with the river? Is it something to stop flooding in the rainy season?

I dunno Hal.. There has never been any flooding. That side was heavy jungle like vegetation. Never a worry. There is a road up top further back so it's not a road. The Bridge is to the left so whatever they are doing stops there and to the right is the big govt spillway. I ask around town and no one seems to know. But that's typical...

[bsnub]

So having one in a small living space means lots of walks which isn't a bad thing. I have not had a Husky so I can't really comment on their needs.

I used to raise Wolf Hybrids back in my twenties. Malamute/Grey Wolf mix. Some of the best dogs I ever had. I also had a good friend who used to race a sled dog team of Huskies in Alaska. He still owns a couple of them. Lives down in Vancouver, Washington.

It breaks my heart to see cold weather dogs in Thailand. That is criminal.

[Stumpy]

It breaks my heart to see cold weather dogs in Thailand. That is criminal.

Yeah. Its a lot of hair for 90 degrees 75% humidity weather.

[Mendip]

You have to make the best or where you are and I take the dogs for a short walk every morning around the vacant land surrounding our house. There is still a lot of undeveloped land around us, much of which is overgrown and I used to have semi-rural walks along the overgrown tracks... until all the fly-tipping blocked off one route after another.

Most of the roads haven't been made up yet and a few puddles can form here and there... usually sorted out by a tractor with a grader once every couple of years as the traffic on the side roads is very light.

I still like to get the dogs out along the few lanes available that are in use by vehicles and so haven't been blocked by piles of dumped crap, but today I was again left wondering, 'what the fuk is wrong with these people'?

Is it all over Thailand or are Isaan people special?

Someone has decided to fill a road... not with gravel or laterite which is commonly used, but with what appears to be the contents of a few skips.



I'll break up concrete to fill holes in our road but don't include plastic and any other crap I can find in the bin. I used to pick up litter on the dog walks but eventually gave up as I'd fill a black bin liner within 200 metres.

Amongst the plastic rubbish, this new road seems to comprise mainly broken tiles with broken GRP boards and roof panels, with the occasional chunk of concrete.



And of course what road is complete without layers of rubber matting debris?



Or pallet straps and pieces of black foam?



And pieces of wood of course... I'd like to think it had been de-nailed for road use but this is Isaan... so probably not.



Korat... it's like living in a rubbish tip.

[DrWilly]

Sorry to hear that...has anyone suggested if you don't like it you can always return to Perth?

[HuangLao]

You have to make the best or where you are and I take the dogs for a short walk every morning around the vacant land surrounding our house. There is still a lot of undeveloped land around us, much of which is overgrown and I used to have semi-rural walks along the overgrown tracks... until all the fly-tipping blocked off one route after another.

Most of the roads haven't been made up yet and a few puddles can form here and there... usually sorted out by a tractor with a grader once every couple of years as the traffic on the side roads is very light.

I still like to get the dogs out along the few lanes available that are in use by vehicles and so haven't been blocked by piles of dumped crap, but today I was again left wondering, 'what the fuk is wrong with these people'?

Is it all over Thailand or are Isaan people special?

Someone has decided to fill a road... not with gravel or laterite which is commonly used, but with what appears to be the contents of a few skips.



I'll break up concrete to fill holes in our road but don't include plastic and any other crap I can find in the bin. I used to pick up litter on the dog walks but eventually gave up as I'd fill a black bin liner within 200 metres.

Amongst the plastic rubbish, this new road seems to comprise mainly broken tiles with broken GRP boards and roof panels, with the occasional chunk of concrete.



And of course what road is complete without layers of rubber matting debris?



Or pallet straps and pieces of black foam?



And pieces of wood of course... I'd like to think it had been de-nailed for road use but this is Isaan... so probably not.



Korat... it's like living in a rubbish tip.

Unkempt savages.
Why can't they be like us?

[DrWilly]

Unkempt savages.
Why can't they be like us?

Please tell us about the ancient traditional processes that meant dumping industrial rubbish along a road way?

[Mendip]

^ I don't believe the majority of Thais enjoy seeing litter, flytipping and roads made out if the contents of a skip? Maybe I'm wrong and they do? I for one find it sad that what could be beautiful countryside is turned into a plastic strewn dump. We will have plastic crap blowing off that 'road' for years to come.

Sorry to hear that...has anyone suggested if you don't like it you can always return to Perth?

I couldn't... but even if I could that's hardly the point is it... so you're not allowed to be critical of having your immediate environment ruined by a road made out of garbage and the only answer is to go back from where you came?

[Stumpy]

Mendy,
I witnessed that alot when I rode my moto around the Korat area. Seemed like any place a dump truck could dump debris from house tear downs and clean ups they will. It is a pathetic disregard for their surroundings. I asked a few people that worked for me why. They said because they do not have big refuge sites to take it. So any open road is good enough.

I do not see it much in Lampang area but I know they must do it. They probably just hide it better.

[Mendip]

^ Stumps, I'm used to the endless flytipping and that no longer provokes a reaction in me, but this is the first time I've seen rubbish sanctioned for road building use... the landowner was supervising the construction. I guess maybe we should be grateful that plastic rubbish is being put to good use... maybe this is the way forward?

They extended it yesterday and maybe the plan is to make up all the roads in the area with garbage.



There's food waste mixed in as well... it stinks and is crawling with ants... but maybe this is the Isaan the locals love so I'll say no more after this post. Maybe it really is just 'aliens' that find this offensive?



Oh, and of course the wood isn't de-nailed, by the way. But if the tradition is to use pieces of wood with nails sticking up to build roads, then who am I to argue?



A few years ago I would have turned that piece of wood over... but now I've become more Thai and don't interfere. A few years before that I would have gone out and actually tried to clear up the plastic rubbish... but bollocks to that these days. This is obviously the local way.

[naptownmike]

That is a sad sight indeed. Seems to be a problem in bigger Thai cities all over.

You can find a nice clean quiet spot in the country side somewhere.

plenty of space for your dogs and fish.

[Stumpy]

That is a sad sight indeed

Yeah it always bothers me anytime I see it anywhere. My wife hates it too and always comments about it to me like I can do anything about it.

I hate the cement mixed with raw garbage. I could see using tore up roof and cement as road material then have the govt load a dump or 2 to cover it then with driving it will level out and push down. But having someone dump like what Mendy pictured is tough to see

[malmomike77]

Is it all over Thailand or are Isaan people special?

no its all over. unfortunately they don't seem to get taught that throwing their shit everywhere just makes it someone else problem and the sight of plastic and rubbish strewn about doesn't seem to phase them.

I hate the cement mixed with raw garbage

nice new asbestos roadway, you hope its just cement

[Stumpy]

Yeah the asbestos concern is quite concerning. As it pulverizes and rains that can reach a water table.

I remember one time driving by the big lake heading back to Korat while they were building the motorway, I saw them dumping loads of cement hunks on to the side of the lake probably thinking it will stop erosion. Of course it was heading into the water and likely loaded with asbestos.

Thailand has a long way to go to understand environmental impacts. This goes for burning and triple plastic bagging foods at restaurants.

[malmomike77]

As it pulverizes

not to mention when its dry and cars churn up the fine dust. Asbestos has been banned for years but who knows how old those sheets are. Its just bloody irresponsible, i'd be having a word with the local authorities and telling them i want is cleared as a health hazard.

[malmomike77]

Of course it was heading into the water and likely loaded with asbestos.

Over where the mrs has one of her "knocking shops" there is the Lam Takong Reservoir, its bordered by farmland which the authorities frequently have to stop farmers accessing to stop them spraying as the run off makes its way into the water, not because of health issues you understand but to ensure the fish stocks are not affected.

Also up hill from the reservoir basin is the Pak Chong and surrounds rubbish tip and as well as all manner of poisons and God knows what being dumped there, its obvious that run off will find its way into the water table and so into the reservoir. I have no doubt the no survey was undertaken prior t siting the dump to ensure the water table is secure so there is an environmental disaster waiting in the wings..5, 10 or 15 years down the line.

I suspect this is prevalent all over Thailand. It'll come home to roost and as usual those responsible will get away with it. Its depressing really.

[Stumpy]

not because of health issues you understand but to ensure the fish stocks are not affected.

Of course. That makes money.

I suspect this is prevalent all over Thailand. It'll come home to roost and as usual those responsible will get away with it. Its depressing really.

So the other day I changed the oil in my Toyota. When I was done I asked my wife where can I safely dispose of the oil. She said " Oh we can put it out with the regular garbage pick up with a note on it and they will dispose of it" I said "Dispose of it right or dispose of it?" I got this cross-eyed look. So I drove it to the local B quik and asked them if I could pour it in their oil salvage drum. They said no problem. I have to believe or shall I say Hope that oil waste from major businesses is property managed.

[Edmond]

Is it all over Thailand or are Isaan people special?

Ohh, no.

It looks exactly like the beach last time I went to Rayong.

[Stumpy]

Little update on the Wang river project. Still haven't figured out fully what the plan is. Thai Bev owns the land. What ever they are doing is not a quick river clean up. They have added tons of dirt and rock, now beating in different length cement beams, Crane lowering in big wired rock sets.











Nice place to sit and watch with an iced cappuccino after about half of the 8k bike ride I do in the AM.

Today will hit 37c. Winter is gone. Inferno season time.

[Stumpy]

Apparently some neighbors have caught and tested positive for Covid a few days back. The Grand Poobah spoke of the village PA system. Market closed for 2 days but back open today. People delivering food and supplies to the ones in quarantine. However there is an old guy who lives at the end of our soi. His daughter and son have Covid. The old guy has been caught leaving his property numerous times and boy howdy have the natives gotten restless (my wife included). The Grand Poobah and the local militia surrounded his house and told him quarantine means EVERYONE. It was a heated exchange. Clearly the old guy doesn't get it. He never wears a mask, has not been vaccinated and has a cough where is sounds like he gonna toss a lung out. But that is because the old guy smokes like a chimney and I think has Emphysema.

Just a day in the village life.... Thank GOD I stocked up on that BeerLao.

[Stumpy]

With the weather warming up I am seeing more and more snakes out and about. Had another little Kukri snake in the yard. My Golden Retriever spotted it as I was watering. She basically stands about 2 feet away and barks at it until I come and scoop it up and take it away. This is the 2nd one in about the same time frame. They are about the same size but not the same one as I took the first one down by the river.

[Shutree]

Today will hit 37c. Winter is gone. Inferno season time.

It looks that way. The forecast here is for an extra 1 or 2 degrees on the High number every day, going to 37C on Sunday.

Just had the aircons cleaned.

[malmomike77]

^ How is Tezza?