Life in Isaan

[PeteC]

Reading this thread reminds me of the old saying I used to hear a lot growing up... "So what does that have to do with the price of rice in China?"

I think that was 'tea'? I know, we're all starting to get that way. We'll all know once the Chinese troops cross the border. Get ready! Pete

[Norseman]

This thread has drifted far away from richard's original topic so I think it's about time to give it back to him.
I know rice is one of the most important products made in Isaan (except for the females of course), but for now we say "end of discussion and over to you richard".

[richard]

Thanks Norseman but there have been some interesting posts in the digression

I'm now in HH for a couple of months so my cupboard is bare so to to speak

Refreshing though to know so many know life in Isaan and it contrasts from, would you believe, posters on forums on Isaan sites. Many farang 'I've lived here 30 years' guys who treat the Thais like sh1t and know it all (sorry Sarge but your length of service is minute)

One thing I have learnt is Thais will always talk about what they want you to know no matter how close you are to them and when they get signals that you are picking up their conversation they will switch to their local dialect

HHAD truly rules the waves in Thailand intelligence wise

[caller]

One of the better one's to farm in Surin is eucalyptus for its oil and used for paper production in this part of Isaan fruit does not really grow hence why the majority still grow rice.

Kendo.

Good post Kendo and also introducing the thorny subject of eucalyptus. Its introduction in Isaan led to many protesters getting killed over the years, for objecting to the way land ownership was claimed and of course, what was planned. There is an ongoing debate about the environmental damage it causes....?

Another story.

[kendo]

Caller that's interesting this thread is about life in Isaan, so without high jacking Richards thread I would like to now more about this.
Kendo.

[Big Boy]

I've started a new thread here http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/vi ... =8&t=15235

[sargeant]

SPITFIRE my deepest apologies i missed it
As for the price of rice Isaan as far as i know is the rice bowl of thailand and therefore the price a rice farmer recieves for it must be a major factor in the lives of people in Isaan

[johnnyk]

I wouldn't agree Isaan is Thailand's rice bowl. Much of the area has poor soil and inadequate rainfall leading to one crop a year.
I'd say the central area north of BKK around Lopburi is more the rice bowl. Its got good rainfall and rivers feeding large irrigation canals. My XGF's family gets 3 crops a year. The area is green year round whereas so much of Isaan is brown, baked dry.

[margaretcarnes]

I wouldn't agree Isaan is Thailand's rice bowl. Much of the area has poor soil and inadequate rainfall leading to one crop a year.
I'd say the central area north of BKK around Lopburi is more the rice bowl. Its got good rainfall and rivers feeding large irrigation canals. My XGF's family gets 3 crops a year. The area is green year round whereas so much of Isaan is brown, baked dry.

I know zilch about rice farming, but do remember about 9/10 years ago the Australian government sent agriculture experts to Thailand to help and advise on farming methods. One of the points raised then was the fact that cropping rice 3 times a year wasn't good for some reason - maybe the quality of the crop?
The aim of the exercise was to encourage a better managed system of farming - to try to avoid the gluts (which still occur - think pineapples.) I don't know what became of the Australian intervention, or whether it is still going on. But whether or not Isaan is Thailands rice bowl there is probably little that can be done to change their traditional ways. At least not for the foreseeable future.
It's rather like asking Thai people why they do things the way they do - 'because we do'. Centuries of habit and custom are difficult to break.

[richard]

Refreshing though to know so many know life in Isaan and it contrasts from, would you believe, posters on forums on Isaan sites. Many farang 'I've lived here 30 years' guys who treat the Thais like sh1t and know it all (sorry Sarge but your length of service is minute)

That quote was a reflection on my experience reading Isaan forums and meeting long time resident farangs living in Isaan. It is not a generalisation on all farangs the majority of which treat the Thais with the respect they deserve. I have noticed a marked difference in attitude between farangs here and farangs in Isaan

[kendo]

I would not say that Surin is the rice bowl this part of Isaan one crop a year of rice or grow sugar cane earn even less money or grow eucalyptus and piss the farmer next door off.
Once the rural foke harvest the rice there is very little to do except what Richard has already mentioned or go to the citys and find construction work.
Looking at Richards pictures is like looking at many Isaan villages stuck in a time warp and things moving at a snails pace.
In my village there are no girls of working age only a few with babys or very average looks, there are loads of kids with no parents they just survive off of good will and friendships, but the thing I find the saddest is alcoholism kids from about 12 Drinking wiskey White first thing in the morning by about 7.00am there is a lot of drunk people in our village.
Kendo.

[Big Boy]

the thing I find the saddest is alcoholism kids from about 12 Drinking wiskey White first thing in the morning by about 7.00am there is a lot of drunk people in our village.
Kendo.

I've never seen that in kids so young in my wife's village, but I must admit that I've not experienced village life since 2003.

I'd like to throw these questions to others who regularly experience village life. Is alcoholism a general problem amongst children in your villages? If so, how long ago did the trend start?

[kendo]

Most of the teenagers after cutting the rice, just get drunk all the time, an average day is up by about 5.30am they go off to find food or go for a swim by about 6.00am they are sat around chating and passing there first bottles around.

Around about mid morning they will start to play french bowls drinking gambling and having lots of fun.
In the heat of the day they seem to have a long break find some shade and have a sleep.

Late afternoon when the few that do work return back the rest of the youth seem to stur and a real social thing starts to happen sharing there few baht and there cheap whisky white and beer this is just the start this will go on all evening and they will play French bowls untill 2-3 am then crash out for a few hours and the whole cycle will start again.

Some of these kids i have never seen sober in 5 years and some have never left the village seeking work they just hang around untill they are offered to cut the rice.

Kendo.

[hhfarang]

I only visit probably yearly for a few days, and I don't sleep in the village but spend days there from morning until evening, but my wife's village doesn't seem like that at all. I never see a drunk adult or child, and have a hard time finding a place to buy a beer when I am there and there is never a cold one to be had.

They all have small farms and leave on their tractors early in the mornings and come back in the afternoons and work around the village or just enjoy family. Nobody seems to drink there except me!

[richard]

HHF

True in my village

Early risers, find work and maybe a beer except in Festival time when it seems OK to get drunk asap

BB

Village to village things are different and some work all hours and some just sit and get pissed

No way can one generalise

WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW THE THAI MIND WORKS and especially in the wilds

i just go with the flow