This is www.tony-tollitt.com
TONY T's 4th THAILAND TRAVELS
PHANOM DONG RAK
Page 11
Wednesday 5th April:
Arrived in Phanom Dong Rak just before 02:00 in our Bangkok taxi. An uneventful journey but good to get home and even better to see our little son fast asleep.
We were predictably tired after all yesterday's travelling and waiting around, but there was no chance of a lie-in as Jack awoke before dawn realising that his mum & dad were back.
An important day for James, Aom's elder brother, who has reached a certain age where he must go to the local Ampur and fish out a piece of paper that dictates whether or not he is to go into one of the Thai armed forces. Conscription is still very active here in Thailand. What happens is, as said, James has to go and put his hand into a large box along with 100's of other similar aged men and draw out a card; if it's red, then he's been conscripted; if it's black the he can continue a 'normal' existence of his choice.
Well.... it was BLACK! So he's off the hook; no armed forces for James. A big relief as he wants to stay with engineering and earn enough money to start his own cattle business on our farm.
A bit of a non day but a tropical storm moved in at around 19:00 and the heavens opened up forcing the family to eat dinner indoors.
TOP: Picking Yams from a field on the farm.
BOTTOM LEFT:; A few of the cattle on the farm.
BOTTOM RIGHT:; A selection of farm produce; coconut palms, far left; sugar cane centre; casava in the foreground and rubber trees in the background.
Thursday 6th:
The storm of last night and the torrential rain brought out 100's of noisy frogs or toads (couldn't work out which). This type of amphibian only appears rarely and apparently the family like to eat them. So after the rain stopped last night Chet, James & Joe were out 'hunting' these things.
Early morning saw these things being bumped off and dissected; not for the squeamish and for sure not for me. I have to say I found it abhorrent; there's still certain rural Thai goings-on I find difficult to accept, but I've been brought-up in totally different environment on the other side of the planet. I wonder what things I like would disgust them? I know when Aom said she loved lamb-shank her Mum was disgusted. For some reason lamb, goat meat and the like are considered bad; they don't know what they're missing!
After breakfast it was off to Surin city in the pick-up. Several things to do in Surin:-
We were giving Brn, the farm's hired-hand, a lift to market, picking up James's (Aom's brother) belongings from his college room and, finally, completing the registration procedure on the car/pick-up. Until now, even after purchase, the vehicle wasn't officially mine until this was done.
Alas, typically of Thailand, there was a complication. Although the actual transfer took place, the full procedure is to obtain new number plates. The car had Buriram plates on (neighbouring province) and, for some reason that escapes me, Surin plates were needed.
But, it was the Thai equivalent of a bank holiday and the place that does reg. plates was shut. So, yet another trip to bloody Surin tomorrow to get this sorted once and for all. The bloody car can drive itself there by now.
On the way back, we stopped off for coffees and a bite to eat. Also stopped by a small garden centre to buy a couple of pots and a flowering bush for the house.
Friday 7th:
Off to Surin yet again. This time Aom's mum Somjit and baby Jack joined us. This trip was to change ownership of the car over. This entailed removing the old Buriram registered plates, surrendering them and waiting for the new plates. Had a few u-turns to take before we found the office and, as usual in any Thai 'official' office, it was packed solid with people. Ahh, we're in for a long wait I thought; but NO, I was absolutely stunned, the new plates were issued at a desk within 4 minutes; for Thailand that really is something.
On the way back, we stopped of at the same garden place and bought some bigger pots, another plant and some compost.
Evening saw us all planting out the new stuff in the new pots. Makes a big difference to the front of the house.... more of a home.
Above are scenes at Prasat market; mainly selling all manner of foods.
Next or Go To Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 - 12 13
PHANOM DONG RAK
Page 11
TOP: Picking Yams from a field on the farm. BOTTOM LEFT:; A few of the cattle on the farm. BOTTOM RIGHT:; A selection of farm produce; coconut palms, far left; sugar cane centre; casava in the foreground and rubber trees in the background.
Thursday 6th:
Friday 7th:
Above are scenes at Prasat market; mainly selling all manner of foods.
Wednesday 5th April:
Arrived in Phanom Dong Rak just before 02:00 in our Bangkok taxi. An uneventful journey but good to get home and even better to see our little son fast asleep.
We were predictably tired after all yesterday's travelling and waiting around, but there was no chance of a lie-in as Jack awoke before dawn realising that his mum & dad were back.
An important day for James, Aom's elder brother, who has reached a certain age where he must go to the local Ampur and fish out a piece of paper that dictates whether or not he is to go into one of the Thai armed forces. Conscription is still very active here in Thailand. What happens is, as said, James has to go and put his hand into a large box along with 100's of other similar aged men and draw out a card; if it's red, then he's been conscripted; if it's black the he can continue a 'normal' existence of his choice.
Well.... it was BLACK! So he's off the hook; no armed forces for James. A big relief as he wants to stay with engineering and earn enough money to start his own cattle business on our farm.
A bit of a non day but a tropical storm moved in at around 19:00 and the heavens opened up forcing the family to eat dinner indoors.
The storm of last night and the torrential rain brought out 100's of noisy frogs or toads (couldn't work out which). This type of amphibian only appears rarely and apparently the family like to eat them. So after the rain stopped last night Chet, James & Joe were out 'hunting' these things.
Early morning saw these things being bumped off and dissected; not for the squeamish and for sure not for me. I have to say I found it abhorrent; there's still certain rural Thai goings-on I find difficult to accept, but I've been brought-up in totally different environment on the other side of the planet. I wonder what things I like would disgust them? I know when Aom said she loved lamb-shank her Mum was disgusted. For some reason lamb, goat meat and the like are considered bad; they don't know what they're missing!
After breakfast it was off to Surin city in the pick-up. Several things to do in Surin:-
We were giving Brn, the farm's hired-hand, a lift to market, picking up James's (Aom's brother) belongings from his college room and, finally, completing the registration procedure on the car/pick-up. Until now, even after purchase, the vehicle wasn't officially mine until this was done.
Alas, typically of Thailand, there was a complication. Although the actual transfer took place, the full procedure is to obtain new number plates. The car had Buriram plates on (neighbouring province) and, for some reason that escapes me, Surin plates were needed.
But, it was the Thai equivalent of a bank holiday and the place that does reg. plates was shut. So, yet another trip to bloody Surin tomorrow to get this sorted once and for all. The bloody car can drive itself there by now.
On the way back, we stopped off for coffees and a bite to eat. Also stopped by a small garden centre to buy a couple of pots and a flowering bush for the house.
Off to Surin yet again. This time Aom's mum Somjit and baby Jack joined us. This trip was to change ownership of the car over. This entailed removing the old Buriram registered plates, surrendering them and waiting for the new plates. Had a few u-turns to take before we found the office and, as usual in any Thai 'official' office, it was packed solid with people. Ahh, we're in for a long wait I thought; but NO, I was absolutely stunned, the new plates were issued at a desk within 4 minutes; for Thailand that really is something.
On the way back, we stopped of at the same garden place and bought some bigger pots, another plant and some compost.
Evening saw us all planting out the new stuff in the new pots. Makes a big difference to the front of the house.... more of a home.
Next or Go To Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 - 12 13