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

Originally Posted by david44

beats me 33 before I retired here

I had to think about that.... 19 for me before and after my ex and I parted ways and I retired...2 times. Like you David, Only way I am leaving is up the temple chimney with the audience of 5 or 6 sitting in red plastic chairs, a monk chanting something from old Thai dialect followed by the proper 3 mortar explosions over the mooban and we call it a life.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

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

I've eaten it. It doesn't. Loads of bones too.

I your quest to keep things portable in your rental Simon, you may like to consider a portable hydroponic set up. They can be horizontal or vertical. You can get a recirculating solar powered pump to boot.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

I your quest to keep things portable in your rental Simon, you may like to consider a portable hydroponic set up. They can be horizontal or vertical. You can get a recirculating solar powered pump to boot.

This could be a science project for your students as well.

Do not bring students to your home.

You've got too much questionable weird shit.

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

Do not bring students to your home.

You've got too much questionable weird shit.

The only 'weird shit' is my radio gear, and my operating licence issued by the Lao government is already afixed to the wall of my house. For any tuition at my home, I invite parents to come with their kids and there are visible CCTV cameras. Teaching as a volunteer is certainly not a main part of my day - I would offer it if I have time.

I'm settling into a daily routine - up at 5.30am and a 5km fast walk up and down the village road, my lungs are feeling in good shape

I'm only 5km from Kuang Si waterfall, so rode my motorbike up there around 8am this morning. Nowadays there is a large car-park and compulsory 25,000 kip electric shuttle transfer to the park entrance where another 25,000 entrance fee is paid. At 8am, the guy who directs road traffic into the car-park wasn't yet on duty, so I rode directly up to the park entrance (as I used to do a couple of years ago). I had a chat with the park ticket guy who told me that it gets very busy with Chinese tourists in the early afternoon. The park opens at 8am and I paid my 25,000 kip, but the man also told me that if I arrived before 8am then entrance was free.

I had a nice swim in the cold turquoise-green pool of the waterfall, with not a single other visitor present. I envisage a daily (free) dip in this pool in the early morning, although during rainy season the flow of the flood waters through the pools could make swimming a little 'iffy'.

So far, I'm very happy with my retirement location, so close to the waterfalls and Mekong river

Originally Posted by cyrille

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

That made me think. You are way ahead of me, I came up with 23, not including odd weeks and months shacked up temporarily between homes.

Originally Posted by Simon43

I had a nice swim in the cold turquoise-green pool of the waterfall

That looks like a lovely spot. No crocodiles?

Originally Posted by Shutree

That looks like a lovely spot. No crocodiles?

If you're being serious, then no! The water comes directly from the Kuang Si waterfall, 50 metres further up the hill. I have yet to see a crocodile launch itself over these falls. There are plenty of small fish in the pools, and the occasional western whale......

Originally Posted by Simon43

Looks terrific!

Originally Posted by Simon43

I wonder if farming fertiliser would work - I really need to test this out..

Go to local farm and for มูลควาย BS I think the correct pronunciation is Mule Kwai

Lovely pool and old water wheel , was that for grinding stones or rice?

Originally Posted by Simon43

the park ticket guy who told me that it gets very busy with Chinese tourists in the early afternoon.

didn't have a single tourist the three times i've been, just had to plat a £1 entrance fee, do they still have the poor sun bears enclosure?

its a magical place when you have it to yourself, much better than erawan and anything Thailand has to offer imo.

Originally Posted by Simon43

I'm settling into a daily routine - up at 5.30am and a 5km fast walk up and down the village road, my lungs are feeling in good shape

I'm only 5km from Kuang Si waterfall, so rode my motorbike up there around 8am this morning. Nowadays there is a large car-park and compulsory 25,000 kip electric shuttle transfer to the park entrance where another 25,000 entrance fee is paid. At 8am, the guy who directs road traffic into the car-park wasn't yet on duty, so I rode directly up to the park entrance (as I used to do a couple of years ago). I had a chat with the park ticket guy who told me that it gets very busy with Chinese tourists in the early afternoon. The park opens at 8am and I paid my 25,000 kip, but the man also told me that if I arrived before 8am then entrance was free.

I had a nice swim in the cold turquoise-green pool of the waterfall, with not a single other visitor present. I envisage a daily (free) dip in this pool in the early morning, although during rainy season the flow of the flood waters through the pools could make swimming a little 'iffy'.

So far, I'm very happy with my retirement location, so close to the waterfalls and Mekong river

Theres another waterfall thats not as spectacular as kuang si but never the less very nice , more popular with lao locals , you can getva beer and sticky rice, bbq sticks etc

I went back to a thread i posted in 2017 called Im.banging around luang prabang , that waterfslls called tad sai. Theres a few pics of it getting to it involces a small boat

Originally Posted by Simon43

If you're being serious, then no! The water comes directly from the Kuang Si waterfall, 50 metres further up the hill. I have yet to see a crocodile launch itself over these falls.

The Siamese crocodile is critically endangered. Your chances of seeing one are beyond remote.

I didnt think Lao had crocs whatsover but a mate holidaying in Vientiane at the moment posted on his fb page a wee croc on the barbie , fuck nose where there getting them? Farmed maybe?

Originally Posted by BLD

fuck nose where there getting them? Farmed maybe?

Mamny are merely rockstar's discarded footwear stuffed with dog meat marinaded in a jus called SalsaSuckkall so a gal with a handbag called Lulu tried to explain with a mouthful by the Moat

Originally Posted by Simon43

Yes, this is something that I thought about before. I've seen small-scale set-ups constructed in large plastic storage boxes. My only concern is finding the right nutrients for the system. The website projects always emphasise buying commercial nutrient products designed for such systems, but that's a non-starter in my location. I wonder if farming fertiliser would work - I really need to test this out...

I've seen a few of these set up to a pond full of fish.
You just feed the fish, and their excrement produces ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
I don't think you need to add any additional nutrients.

Choose the right breed of fish and you also have another source of food.

Originally Posted by TizMe

I've seen a few of these set up to a pond full of fish.
You just feed the fish, and their excrement produces ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
I don't think you need to add any additional nutrients.

Choose the right breed of fish and you also have another source of food.

Ah aquaponic, not hydroponic!

Looks interesting Simon, not sure enough to tempt the bin lids though.

places lived, erm;

UK: 8 or 9
Estonia: 2
Japan: 2
Thailand: call it 15

so just shy of 30, interesting recall exercise