Thread: Living off the land in rural Laos - a new project

^^It looks like a big property. If you're renting it at that price (less than $200?), that's a bargain, IMO. I'm not an expert planter/ gardener (my mom is), but I can see that most of the soil is hard and needs to be tilled/ loosened, esp if you'll grow vegetables. If you won't DIY then you'll have to hire people for that.

For vegs, I don't know which ones will grow in that soil or climate. You mentioned "chinese cabbage" - is that the one that the Koreans use to make kimchi? If yes, then it doesn't grow in my area/ province since it needs cooler climate/ higher elevation. To my knowledge, the supply here in my area - we get them from Baguio city/ the northern highlands, which has ~1,000 m elevation. My mom is able to grow pechay (a relative of bokchoy) and mustard = those are relatives of the chinese cabbage. They're water-intensive and if it's summer season, need watering 3x a day so as not to wilt. (I water them during midday when I'm at my mom's and it's scorching hot.) The Romaine/ curly leaf lettuce are also able to grow in my area & surrounds. Iceberg lettuce are only grown (here in PH) in the northern highlands - cooler temp is needed for formation of the "head" (accdg to my mom, who's an agriculturist).

Re: banana plants, they grow fast and you may be able to harvest fruits in 3 to 5 years(?). Don't plant them too near the wall/ fence since the roots may destroy the wall. I don't know for other banana varieties, but for the plantain bananas (which we have at my parents' house), they're very prolific.

Maybe make a separate gardening thread? I think there are several avid gardeners - Buckaroo, Shutree, etc and they may be able to give better advice.

Originally Posted by Simon43

Advice is welcome from all!

set something up as shown on peciacake's thread, post 445 on

Aussie Style House Build

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

^ is that a bamboo cage to put folks you kidnap? It needs some work, but there's a tread/revenue stream right there: Day 12, For the most part she has stopped screaming, but she still cries non-stop. I gave have half a cup of water and a small mango that fell from a tree. I'm pretty sure she'll break soon, and the Darktube revenue from the livestreaming is really building up.

Nice pics, I'm starting to feel more positive about Simon's chances in this one because he knows the place, has lived their before, the place itself while being utter shite - has potential to be turned around quickly and cheaply. I lived the elephant (but who will take the pics when the bull elephant tramples Simon???). Everyone says LP is a great place (even my wife loves it, and she's miserable as sin - having bin with me for 20 years, of course she would be - just beating Cyril to the line...).

More pics, please.

You completely lost me with that Day 12 quote!

I'm settling in OK. The only issue has been trying to buy things in shops owned by Chinese people who are shite at understanding either Lao or English. My Lao language skills are fine, just speak Thai and throw in a few local Lao words (the technical words all seem to be the same as Thai), and everything thinks I'm a native

try google translate, could be hoot

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

This could be the major negative to LP nowadays - the Chinese.

Doing this 20-30 years ago would have been perfect.

Any nasty snakes where you live? How close is teh nearest hospital after a Kind Cobra bites you?

There are probably plenty of cobra snakes in my garden, just the same as my previous house in Laos and previous rural houses/gardens that I rented in Thailand.

In Phuket I used to watch the cobras slither rapidly away from me as I walked 'heavily' on the land. They will not come to bite me unless I accidentally tread on one or attack it.

It's sensible to wear wellie boots and walk slowly and heavily, to allow the snakes to move out of the way.

take a stick if walking through longer vegetation

Originally Posted by malmomike77

take a stick if walking through longer vegetation

or have a nong walk 3 paces ahead, it'll improve the view, safety and who knows "perk you up"

In fact an agri-Candy could fill all your niches

You could have local Lao script signon your gate post Green fingered Lady for odd Jobs ?

Spitting cobras, especially when the females are breeding in some bamboo or woodpile can be very aggressive - hence why we all get bangkeows and the such. Any chance you can get yourself a feral cat and a couple of dogs if you plan to be there a while, Simon?

Wellies, yep.

Maybe glasses too if there's any spitting cobras.

&, how far away is the local snake venom option?

^^^
Not interested in having pet - they crap everywhere and need feeding. I'm well aware of how cobras like to lurk in woodpiles, been there done that!

The nearest antivenom is at the local hospital in Luang Prabang, some 20Km distant.

You can't live in 'paradise' without accepting some of the risks. For me, it's cobra snakes. For the Pattaya lads, it's STDs...

Fair enough - good luck.

Originally Posted by Simon43

STD

Ah Subscriber Trunk Dialling replaced many operators

Chickens for eggs?

At least they might bring the snakes into view!

Simon have you ever totted up how many homes you've had?

(I've totted it up and I've had 10 and that seems a lot).

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

(I've totted it up and I've had 10 and that seems a lot).

You got me thinking.

16 for me including my current home of 6 years.

oh boy. I wouldn't have imagined they would make good eating.

^^I may well have been to that same market.

I saw several bear's paws.

I also counted up the number of places I've lived in - 35.

Originally Posted by Simon43

You can't live in 'paradise' without accepting some of the risks. For me, it's cobra snakes. For the Pattaya lads, it's STDs...

One is more easily avoidable though, especially with Candy 'on hand'.

Originally Posted by Simon43

You can't live in 'paradise' without accepting some of the risks. For me, it's cobra snakes. For the Pattaya lads, it's STDs...

^ True that Simon.

Nice place IMHO. Renting is always a crap shoot in these parts of the world. Obviously as much as you tend to move, live it basic. As long as the yard isn't hard wall fenced in snakes will have easy access out. Most folks get in trouble when the snake can't exit without being seen then they feel trapped and become aggressive. I have a few small slotted openings in places along our walls where snakes can exit. I did help myself but getting rid of places they like to hold up. Like covered mulch pits, Left over bricks against walls and no wood or debris piles. Fortunately I have only had one Cobra in our yard last year. It was underneath the tarp covering a mulch pile. Probably getting ready to set up a nest. I have mostly harmless snakes cruising around and my Dogs find them and just bark until I come look and say...OK...Leave it alone and they follow me back.

Good luck on this next adventure. BTW, That remote, you and your doll can have some outright crazy nights....