As you can see the small stories of Isaan have been happening for around two and a half years now, starting just before we moved here to live permanently in November 2014. I thought that I would quickly run out of observations to write about and although there are some seasonal repeats such as the cycles of growing produce at the farm, I keep finding some unique things to photograph and share.
If you read through these Issues you will get a pretty good idea of the options available for a farang (a westerner) who chooses (or whose partner chooses) to live in a small rural environment in the north east of Thailand, a region called Isaan/Isan.
I have published so many that I thought it would be useful to have an index so that readers can located specific topics that may be of interest. The headings are pretty vague but do give some clue as to the subject matter. You will find the link for each post at the bottom of the list. Enjoy.
Issue 1 – Published 2 Aug 2014
My House Design
Moving to the family home
Peng’s motorbike
Yuan and ghosts
Fishing on the farm
Farm produce
Local markets
Friday street markets
Link HERE
Issue 2 – Published 5 Dec 2014
Isaan compared with Chiang Mai
Mountain bikes
The Primary school
The soccer match
The turtle float
Some local photos
Condom day
The farm in December
Delivering produce to the markets
Family BBQ feast
Fish basket weaving
Street vendors
Link HERE
Issue 3 – Published 5 Jan 2015
Bribing the ghosts
Short time resorts
Self Sufficiency
The sugar industry
Banana producer
Father’s Day
Snakes
Lanna architecture
The world’s most boring car fleet
Link HERE
Issue 4 – Published 23 Jan 2015
Another school visit
Uncomplicated living
Small things
Dogs
Isaan tuk tuks
Thai reality
Photo moments
Even smaller stories
Link HERE
Issue 5 – Published 4 June 2015
Rats
Other farang
Even smaller things
What do you get for 8 million?
Thai colour schemes
Escargot anyone?
Prison craft
Isaan wine
A reality check
Them critters
Link HERE
Issue 6 – Published 27 Aug 2015
Colouring the days of the week
Fields – naming airports
The Lottery
A Monkey surprise
Mushrooms
Cowboys
Bugs
The Garden Aug 2015
Farang (Westerners)
House Extensions
Link HERE
Issue 7 – Published 28 Sep 2015
The Drought
The Farm Sept 2015
Fish
Papaya
Bamboo and Rubbish
Furnishing the Garden
Flags
Ice Cream
Free Flying Food
Wats, Wats Everywhere
You Have Mail
The Garden Sala
Link HERE
Issue 8 – Published Oct 31 2015
An Afternoon on the Road
Latte Art
Lunch in the Moo Ban
Papaya – why is it so widely used?
Ice Cream on the Move
Free Food
Walking on Water
A Dinner Party in Isaan
Little Photos
Baby Flowers
The Drought Part 2
Wat Pa Silawa
Party Time
Teacher Retirement
A Local Noodle House
Link HERE
Issue 9 – Published 22 Nov 2015
Party Time Again
Our Village Songkran Festival
Visitors
A Royal Visit
Nong Bua Lamphu – King Naresuan Shrine
Mobile Clothes Repair
A Few Photos with Stories
Link HERE
Issue 10 – Published 14 Jan 2016
Marriage Anniversary Party
Christmas and Birthdays 2016
Ban Chiang World Heritage Site Udon Thani
Udon Thani Chinese Festival
New Year on the Farm
A Si Bun Ruang Concert
Snake
Leaf Litter
The Local Noodle Shop
Pancakes
Mama and the Ghosts
An Aussie Icon
Gardening Advice
Funeral Stories
Sugar Season
Si Bun Ruang Sports Day
Wat Pa Ban Dit
Link HERE
Issue 11 – Published 30 May 2016
Amazon Fish
Songkran at the Farm
A Wreck in Motion
Manaw (Limes)
Thai Mojito Recipe
Almost Upright
Hard Work on the Farm
Hot Gardening
Cloud 47 Bangkok
Welcome Home
The Hot, Hot Season
Elephants and More
Mobile Mending
Another Wedding
Drought in Thailand
Electrics Thai-style
Farm Fresh
Local Livestock
Fresh Coconut Milk
Home Cooking Farang-style
Sugar and More Sugar
Monkey Temple and more
Link HERE
Issue 12 – Published 31 May 2016
Photo Stories
Happy Birthday Gaun
A Traditional Isaan Village House
Time with the Monks
An Awesome Burger in Isaan
Wat Tham Sang Tham
Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)
Aussie Muscle Car
Photos from the Farm
Moo Ban Exam
Happy Thais
Recycling
Charcoal
Road works to the Wat
Link HERE
Issue 13 – Published 8 Jun 2016
Third Time Lucky
Farm Extensions
The Village Exam – Early Days
Relaxing Thai-style
Geckos
Sunshine in Isaan – early May 2016
A Mini-monk
The Final Drink
More Turtles
New Clothes
A Late lake Lunch – Nong Bua Lamphu
Udon Wholesale Food markets
Gaun’s Scooter
One More Monk
Link HERE
Issue 14 – Published 3 Aug 2016
For Some reasons this edition seems to be a repeat of Issue 12.
Issue 15 – Published 3 Aug 2016
There were some repeats in this one too, which I have now removed so it’s a shorter version than normal.
Sang Som – Thai Rum
The Blue Wat
Si Bun Ruang Clothes and Burgers
Back on the Farm
Around the Farm
Gaun’s Mission
Mama’s Mats
Link HERE
Issue 16 – Published 16 Aug 2016
The Front Pergola
Bags, Bags and More Bags
Various Observations Made on a Day Out in Si Bun Ruang
Wat Pha Sorn Kaew
A Mix of Small Happenings
A Little Nipper
Bun Bang Fai 2016
Back on the Farm
Bun Bang Fai Parade
Three Stories in Photos
- Repossession
- Farm Extensions
- Wat Pha Ban Dit
My Third Anniversary in Thailand
Rockets
More Farm Concreting
Nong Khai Skywalk
Yuan’s Birthday
Link HERE
Issue 17 – Published 9 Sep 2016
Essential Dinnerware
Happy Snaps
A Holiday in Bali
Back in Thailand
Snakes Alive
The Garden – Before and After update
Friends in Isaan
On the Road with Friends
- Wat Bunyanusorn
- The Silk Village
- Nong Khai
- Mekong Markets
- Sala Keoku
- Wat Noen Panao Wanaram
- Central Plaza Udon Thani
- Samuay & Son Thai Restaurant Udon Thani
Back in the Village
A Trip Advisor Warning
Free Beer
Link HERE
Issue 18 – Published 9 Sep 2016
A Day in the Isaan Countryside
- Wat Tham Pha Nam Thiang (Monkey Wat)
- Wat Tham Saeng Tham
- Suanam Resort
Isaan Broadband
Cheap Housing
The Canals of Si Bun Ruang
Gaun and the Tourists
Buddhist Lent
A New Camera Lens
A Farm Update July 2016
Shopping at Macro Supermarket
What Does A$240 a Month Rent Get You?
A Homework Story
Another rental Opportunity – be quick
Back on the Farm Again!
A New Driveway at the Farm
A Buddhist Holy Day
An Unusual Isaan Wedding
A Present for the Birds
The New Patio
Link HERE
Issue 19 – Published 1 Nov 2016
Fiber Optic and More
Marching Kids
Celebrating 250 Posts on the Blog
An Isaan Toast
School Dance Competition
Colourful Butterflies
Roadwork
Flowers for Mother’s Day
Gaun’s Farm Garden
A Dog with Attitude
Mother’s Day
Link HERE
Issue 20 – Published 28 Nov 2016
A Farm Blessing
Being Lazy – Automatic Gate Opener
Mushrooms and More
Pak/Bok Choy
Parent Teacher Day
Back to the Farm – Aug 2016
Return from Nan
Silk Worms
An Addition to the Family – a farang oven
Breakfast at the Farm
An Addition to the Village – Phum
A Village Festival for Deceased Relatives
Silkworms Stage 2
An Isaan Housewarming
Link HERE
Issue 21 – Published 29 Nov 2016
Self Driving – maybe not
Nong Bua Lamphu
A Few Photos with Stories
Outside Influences
Getting out of the Way
Real Birds
Wolf’s Den – Restaurant in Udon Thani
More Ghosts
Friday Street Market Day
Passiondelivery.com
Thai Time
Thai Immigration Hijacked
Thunderstorm
More Names – know your vegetables
Teacher Retirement
Link HERE
Issue 22 – Published 30 Nov 2016
A Secret Cave Temple – Wat Pha Thum Praphukao
A Local Drive
Express Growth
Ban Mai Khao Restaurant
A School Holiday Feast
Farang Food
A Day in Udon Thani
Usufruct
Gutters
Upgrading the Driveway
Chiang Khan
Problems with Google Maps
From Chiang Khan to Nong Khai
Tropical Colours
A Morning Photo Session
Link HERE
Issue 23 – Published 30 Nov 2016
The Driveway Upgrade Continues
Fire in the Village
Farang Pricing
A Mixed Bag of Stories
A Police Visit
An Udon House Blessing
Driveway Completed
A Day in the Life of a Retired Farang
A Few Happy Snaps
A Crepe Worth Trying
Everyday Stuff
Another Place to Enjoy Doing Nothing
Farang Limitations
Link HERE
Issue 24 – Published 1 Dec 2016
A Timber House
Living With a Thai Woman
Bedside Reading – a hospital in Khon Kaen
A Thai Medical Check
Flooding in the Village
Feeding the Monks
The Rice Harvest Starts
Loi Kranthong
Glorious November in Isaan
Link HERE
Issue 25 – Published 31 Jan 2017
A Mix of Stories:
- Rice Harvest
- Wooden House
- Cheap Eats
More Rice – yay
Wat Pa Kittiyanusorn
Threshing the Rice
Electric Razor Blades
Four Even Smaller Stories
- Wooden House
- Drying Rice
- Nuch’s Apple Guest House
- Foraging
The Ice Cream man
Another Farm and Ducks Galore
Link HERE
Issue 26 – Published 7 Feb 2017
That Time of Year – papaya
A Kitchen Update
A Mixture of Stories
Pottering Around
Back to the Farm – Nov 2016
Home Repairs and Monks at Work
Catch-up Stories:
- Feeding the farm fish
- Papaya
- Once a Month Markets in Si Bun Ruang
- Haircut
- Fishing
- Finishing the Pergola at Home
Link HERE
Issue 27 – Published 7 Feb 2017
Guttering Thai-style and a lot more:
- Guttering
- A Local House
- Harvesting at the farm
- Papaya – male and female
- Homework
- Produce to the local market
Dessert up a Tree
The Garden Before and After Dec 2016
Christmas is not forgotten
Christmas
More Building in the village
More Christmas
My Birthday
Link HERE
Issue 28 – Published 25 Feb 2017
Happy New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
- An Isaan wedding
- Isaan blessings
- Lud’s birthday
Local Markets
A Day out with Visitors:
- Red Lotus Sea
- Ban Dung
- Wat Kham Chanot
A Smoker’s Paradise
Wat Pha Phutthabat Phu Kao
Link HERE
Issue 29 – Published 26 Feb 2017
Aussie Garlic
Landscaping our Boat Dock
Garden Update Jan 2017
The Final Isaan Grace Landscaping Entry
A Mix of Stories:
An Emergency Trip to the Hospital
Wat Pa Thum Praphukao
One More Floating Sala Story
Photo Editing
Snakes Alive
The Sugar Crop
Burning Sugar Cane
Link HERE
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