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Thread: Life in Issan

  1. #1
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    Life in Issan

    We don't smoke gancha in Issan
    We don't take trips on PAD
    We don't burn tires in our parliament
    We like livin' right, and bein' free

    We're proud to be kon Issan from Udon
    A place where even chao na's can have a maulam
    We still wave thong trairong at the amphur
    And lao khao's still the biggest thrill of all

    We don't make a party out of hating
    We like holding hands and making koo
    We don't let our lips flip and flap
    Like the Padies in Bangkok do

    And we're proud to be kon Issan from Udon
    A place where even chao na's can have a maulam
    We still wave thong trairong at the amphur
    And lao khao's still the biggest thrill of all

    Rong tao tae are still in style for manly footwear
    Jat-dtu-kam-ra-ma-tep won't be seen
    Foot-baun's still the roughest thing in the mooban
    And the kids still wai the kru

    We still wave thong trairong at the thetsaban
    Nai Udonthani, Issan, Prathet Thai.

    Sung to Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee.

  2. #2
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    I presume wages for menial jobs must be much higher in Bangkok. Why on earth would Isaan people move there otherwise.

  3. #3
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    Well you don,t get many taxi or tuk-tuk drivers from Bangkok. I am beginning to think the safest place in Thailand is in the North East of the country. Probably nicer people too, I will have to go and have a look. Its getting kinda boring in Bangkok with all the yellow shirted thugs running around like headless chickens trying to replace a democratically elected government.
    Now if I lived in Issan and someone said that I was too stupid to vote then I think whoever said it would have one serious f*cking problem!!!!!
    "Don,t f*ck with the baldies*

  4. #4
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    Shhhh...that's a secret.

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
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    No, you'll hate it here, honest.

  6. #6
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    Been here nearly 3 yrs now and grow to like it more every day, at first the rather bucolic attitude of the locals would annoy me, got used to it now and rather enjoy the laid back atmosphere, clean air and smiling faces.

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    issan is a great place i love it to bits you can keep the beach in pats we have are own with lao on the other side ok its only for a few month.s a year but who cares

  8. #8
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    Like what I've seen of Isaan, very much. If I move to LoS, that's probably where I'll reside. Thought the people were very friendly. Had no problems whatsoever.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by mackayae View Post
    We don't smoke gancha in Issan
    .
    You are kidding right?

  10. #10
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    Thumbs up The wonders of Isaan

    Back in the days when Pontius was still a pilot, about april or may 1963 I was moved to a village locality in Yasothon province, new people , new language new customs,which was to become my home for over 3 years, an experience which changed my life, over the the last 40 odd years we have been back many times, to enjoy the hospitality and friendship kindled all those years ago

  11. #11
    anonymous ant
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    Quote Originally Posted by mackayae View Post
    We don't smoke gancha in Issan
    We don't take trips on PAD
    We don't burn tires in our parliament
    We like livin' right, and bein' free

    We're proud to be kon Issan from Udon
    A place where even chao na's can have a maulam
    We still wave thong trairong at the amphur
    And lao khao's still the biggest thrill of all

    We don't make a party out of hating
    We like holding hands and making koo
    We don't let our lips flip and flap
    Like the Padies in Bangkok do

    And we're proud to be kon Issan from Udon
    A place where even chao na's can have a maulam
    We still wave thong trairong at the amphur
    And lao khao's still the biggest thrill of all

    Rong tao tae are still in style for manly footwear
    Jat-dtu-kam-ra-ma-tep won't be seen
    Foot-baun's still the roughest thing in the mooban
    And the kids still wai the kru

    We still wave thong trairong at the thetsaban
    Nai Udonthani, Issan, Prathet Thai.

    Sung to Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee.
    added a verse or two of my own here:

    we all drink lauw-kauw in issaan
    we litter, spit: don"t give a shit!
    we live like pigs in our moo-baan
    and once a year we work a bit!

    we sold our daughter to farang
    the sinsod paid for our beer chang
    he loves us all and pays and pays
    he doesn't know we're all jai-kang!
    but sends us money when she says.

    we drive like monkeys on the road
    and feast on snake and dog and toad,
    wai monks and cops and suck much dick
    and think we're clever , but we're THICK!

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
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    Thick?

    Define thick.

    Dumb and lazy sums it up.

  13. #13
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    I sometimes wonder just what is it about life in rural Thailand that attracts so many farung... It causes them to abandon a western live style to move out into the sticks, amidst rice paddies, rubber trees, kwai and uneducated, provincial natives for lack of a better term... I understand the sweet piper's song sung by the elusive Thai lady, but that alone would not be enough to keep me on the farm so to speak...
    Give a man a match, and he'll be warm for a minute, but set him on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
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    economics...

    How much does a farang require to live in Isaan?

    50% of Bangkok?

    60%

    20% of Los Angeles?

  15. #15
    anonymous ant
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    Quote Originally Posted by Muadib View Post
    I sometimes wonder just what is it about life in rural Thailand that attracts so many farung... It causes them to abandon a western live style to move out into the sticks, amidst rice paddies, rubber trees, kwai and uneducated, provincial natives for lack of a better term... I understand the sweet piper's song sung by the elusive Thai lady, but that alone would not be enough to keep me on the farm so to speak...
    in my case it was a way of getting the hell out of south africa, which i saw as, and still see as: a place with no future.
    visited isaan for the first time, and vowed never to return.
    second time: got over a bit of the culture-shock, and started to bullshit myself that it was really not so bad...
    third time visit: learned to ignore the filth, ignorance and stupidity and focus only on what i really liked about the place, i.e: the total fukkin freedom, the hot weather and the loose,friendly women.
    fourth time: sold up, shipped out, bought land and started building a house and got fucked over- couldn't find my kids and spent the rest of my money getting them back.
    spent another four years in the moo-baan and learned how to make a living and how to deal with the shit i didn't like about the place (thai males,and the thai attitude, mostly)
    eventually had to leave after they nailed the visa run thing shut.
    never did get used to the litter; the noise; the stench; the stubbornness (thainess); the cruelty to animals; the stupidity and the lack of consideration for others, but can't wait to get back there, and i don't really know why!!

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat Texpat's Avatar
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    divorce yourself from their petty existence.
    Ain't so bad.

    Harvest your lil garden, water your trees.

    Fuck the imbeciles around you. And keep them at length.

  17. #17
    anonymous ant
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texpat View Post
    divorce yourself from their petty existence.
    Ain't so bad.

    Harvest your lil garden, water your trees.

    Fuck the imbeciles around you. And keep them at length.
    the only way to survive.
    good advice.
    actually, i kinda admire those who can continue to believe their own bullshit- those who ignore all the shit around them and walk around waiing the locals , eating the putrid food and somehow believing they "fit in" in spite of all evidence to the contrary.
    these are the dummies who have managed to adopt (or were they infected by?) the issaan way of life: ignoring the obvious and walking around with the grin of ignorance on their faces, happilly accepting being fucked over by their thai extended families who "love them toooo mutt!
    Last edited by tsicar; 12-02-2009 at 03:44 AM.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texpat
    Define thick.
    Thick means stupid in English.

  19. #19
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    It seems to me an important factor that contributes or detracts from your quality of life in Isaan is the nature of the family you married into. If they are money grubbing types with their hands constantly out for money, I imagine life there could be a real grind. I'm fortunate this is not the case, at all.

    Actually I'm looking forward to trying out life in Ubon, and we'll see how it goes from there. I love visiting our rural retreat, but living there for a while will be the acid test.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texpat View Post
    economics...

    How much does a farang require to live in Isaan?

    50% of Bangkok?

    60%

    20% of Los Angeles?
    I guess this would depend on how one cares to live. Can't caste broad standards for such a study. Every situation is different.

  21. #21
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    One adapts to Issarn, initially the slow pace and lack of Bangkoks amenities takes some getting used to. But once adapted there are few places I would rather live in.

    I took the Photo of the kids having a Korean BBQ last night, in the living room.
    It made me think about the stories that got told on the early days of the large Polynesian influx of immigrants into NZ.
    "They aren't civilized they actually cook around a fire inside their house".


  22. #22
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    Girls, huh Peter? Sweet pics.

  23. #23
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    I've lasted a week so far in Isaan and I'm enjoying the peace and quiet (well, when the mutts are sleeping) and the weather is very clement too.

    I've met a few decent folks here too and enjoy watching the midget go about her chores wearing a summer dress and no knickers. I could get used to this.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by tsicar View Post

    the grin of ignorance
    or "perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer".

  25. #25
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    but maybe there is different outlook on life to be gained in Issan village life, we have no extended thai family with sick buffalo to support, when we return to our favourite village in yasothon province for us its a return to a peaceful retreat away from the bustle of our tourist plagued home town in australia,this will be my 43 year of going back and my 3rd wifes 20th year , hope there are plenty more in the future

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