Thread: A Scotsman living in Issan

Meet Mike, Pan and her daughter. I met Mike and Pan at a guest house in Nong Khai, he was sitting in the restaurant on his own drinking an ice cold dark Lao, I was impressed immediately and stagerred out of the restaurant 5 hours later after drinking ten, I left the rest of the carton to Mike and he killed 14 that night with no problem what so ever. In the course of our discussion Mike invited me to stay at his house down in Amphur khong. Having never heard of it and never stayed in a village I told him I could possibly rock up after exploring Nong Khai and Khon Kaen, Amphur Khong is 2 hours south of Khon Kaen by train. He told me to call him and he would meet the train as there village is approx 16 klm outside of khong. Mike has built his house with the idea of turning it into a Home Stay and it has 4 separate bedroom's complete with aircon, hot water, TV, dvd and a huge On Suite attached to each room. The idea of this thread is to introduce punters to a traditional Thai village and also give Mike some exposure for his Home Stay idea. A very friendly, genuine couple, I spent 3 days with them and there hospitality was legendary considering they did not know me except for I loved to drink dark Lao beer.
Anyway meet mike and pan, maybe some of you fellas from Pattaya might recognize this fella as he used to run a bar there for 5 years before retiring to Amphur Khong.

This is the owner, an ex monk who loves to play tennis and have a big beer before turning in.

Originally Posted by terry57

My gaff for the 4 days I spent in nong khai, I liked this little town.

Nice pics. Those your big feet shoes I see?

Enjoyed this city very much as it houses the largest University in North East Thailand and buzzes along with all the young people that inhabit it.

^^^

Size 9's mate.

Had no idea where this town was as it was not in my guide book and I had never heard of it. Turns out it was 2 hours south of Khon Kaen and 1 hour north of Khorat on the main north south rail line.

A very comfortable house with all the comforts plus sat TV. The only thing he ain't got is Internet access but is working on it. I'm sure once I tell him I've finished this thread he will have it.

Mike has this pond stocked with fresh water Red Snapper and another specie of edible fish. He has discovered that having such a large pond is a problem as it causes the fish to be very slow growing and its costing him a bomb in fish food. There are a huge amount of fish in this pond, its his hobby.

Two adults and a girl live in this house. They have 3 cars 2 motor cycles and a heap of push bikes.

^
needs a few flowers and a slide and maybe some animals.

^

There working on it , something to do for the rest of there lives.

This is the family home that Pan and her sisters where raised in. Her parents have worked this land all there lives and gave me permission to photograph the surrounding buildings as there is a huge amount of history here. They own quite a considerable amount of land and as you will see in the following images its a beautiful property surrounded by fish ponds and palm trees.