Isaan . . . where The Land of Smiles gets its name from

[King Cotton]

Quite a big post for when you may have a free five minutes

Meanwhile, as all these nasty things are happening in and around the halls of power in Bangkok, the things that I maybe spend too much time grumbling about, out here, in rural Isan, it’s like I was on a totally different planet.

Whilst we have to accept that there are things about the present powers-that-be that aren’t especially nice and whilst we know that there is far too much corruption within the government and its agencies – things that DO more than paint this pretty damning picture of what happens at Government House and in parliament – life, here, both in my small village and the nearby township of Phang Khon is so overwhelmingly happy and seemingly content that it always amazes me with its obviously happier tone than that which I read about, in ‘big, bad Bangkok’.

Here, people just get on with life and nearly always with that Thai smile on their faces and with laughter resounding everywhere. Nothing is too much trouble for the guy that runs the electrical goods store or the cooking ingredients shop or even the motor-cycle store; they will all go that extra mile to ensure that you leave their shop happier than when you entered it. The guy at the cookery shop – of similar 70’s age to me – having once seen that I’d found and bought a bag of proper bread flour, on our next visit, reached under the counter and held up a carrier-bag containing four bags of Thailand’s very best bread flour and he had such a massive smile on his face as he pointed at me as if to say ‘specially for you, sir.’

And I have to say that I am blessed with one of the finest examples of this ‘give all’ spirit, in my wonderful Thai wife, Tas, for whom absolutely nothing is too much trouble. During most days, when she knows that I’m happy at home, writing and ‘talking’ to you guys, she’ll be at the village’s community store, managed by villagers on a six-month rota basis, helping her old school chum, Ceow, to keep the village supplied with seemingly everything.

Tas, who’s good with numbers, sees to the book-keeping and going to the nearby larger village’s market for provisions and the two of them have such happy days together, nattering ten-to-the-dozen, when there’s a sales-free minute. Today, though, she has just gone that extra mile by returning home at lunchtime in order to bake some banana cakes to sell at the shop; not just the odd cake or two, but fifty of the things and they are delicious.

Like when I had my wonderful birthday party on Saturday – the 4th one since my birthday, now a fortnight ago – when Tas and her friends gave me a few hours that will take a lot of forgetting and whilst I may have a lot of downbeat stuff to say about the Bangkok bureaucracy – sorry if that’s too much at times – I do love my life, out here in the sticks.

[BlueSphinx]

HI @King Cotton > thanks for this nice - and very true - Ode to rural Isaan...
 

[King Cotton]

@BlueSphinx

Hi, BlueSphinx and good to hear you liked my Isan ode. I do wax lyrical about the place from time-to-time!

 

I see you're a Belgian, 4 years resident in Sisaket province, where I lived (Kantharalak) for a couple of years, before finding my now wife, 7 1/2 years ago, and moving further north, between Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon.

I liked Kantharalak for a good many reasons; a half-decent bicycle shop, a good Tesco and an excellent barber - an elderly chap who finished the haircut and shave job with some real Isan massage, a few karate chops to the back of my neck . . . unforgettable!

 

I'll keep an eye out for you on 'Introductions' and wherever else you may roam!

 

Cheers

KC

[JoeUpinBuriram]

King Cotton: Very inspirational post. Yes we can be blessed in Isaan with a spouse who is focused on your happiness. 

[Yinn]

Issan people the most freindly and fun in Thailand. Good music, wedding, food. 

They happy because music..

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Ve_b04sY0       

 

 

[Chaimai]

25 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Issan people the most freindly and fun in Thailand. Good music, wedding, food. 

They happy because music..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Ve_b04sY0       

 

 

Is true.

 

You miss alcohol from your list.

 

Where I live in Chonburi I go to Thai ran-a-han tonight, cook and 1 staff from Isaan......they are very friendly and are OK that I use my little bit of Thai language.

[JamesR]

On 5/26/2021 at 10:08 AM, King Cotton said:

Quite a big post for when you may have a free five minutes

Meanwhile, as all these nasty things are happening in and around the halls of power in Bangkok, the things that I maybe spend too much time grumbling about, out here, in rural Isan, it’s like I was on a totally different planet.

Whilst we have to accept that there are things about the present powers-that-be that aren’t especially nice and whilst we know that there is far too much corruption within the government and its agencies – things that DO more than paint this pretty damning picture of what happens at Government House and in parliament – life, here, both in my small village and the nearby township of Phang Khon is so overwhelmingly happy and seemingly content that it always amazes me with its obviously happier tone than that which I read about, in ‘big, bad Bangkok’.

Here, people just get on with life and nearly always with that Thai smile on their faces and with laughter resounding everywhere. Nothing is too much trouble for the guy that runs the electrical goods store or the cooking ingredients shop or even the motor-cycle store; they will all go that extra mile to ensure that you leave their shop happier than when you entered it. The guy at the cookery shop – of similar 70’s age to me – having once seen that I’d found and bought a bag of proper bread flour, on our next visit, reached under the counter and held up a carrier-bag containing four bags of Thailand’s very best bread flour and he had such a massive smile on his face as he pointed at me as if to say ‘specially for you, sir.’

And I have to say that I am blessed with one of the finest examples of this ‘give all’ spirit, in my wonderful Thai wife, Tas, for whom absolutely nothing is too much trouble. During most days, when she knows that I’m happy at home, writing and ‘talking’ to you guys, she’ll be at the village’s community store, managed by villagers on a six-month rota basis, helping her old school chum, Ceow, to keep the village supplied with seemingly everything.

Tas, who’s good with numbers, sees to the book-keeping and going to the nearby larger village’s market for provisions and the two of them have such happy days together, nattering ten-to-the-dozen, when there’s a sales-free minute. Today, though, she has just gone that extra mile by returning home at lunchtime in order to bake some banana cakes to sell at the shop; not just the odd cake or two, but fifty of the things and they are delicious.

Like when I had my wonderful birthday party on Saturday – the 4th one since my birthday, now a fortnight ago – when Tas and her friends gave me a few hours that will take a lot of forgetting and whilst I may have a lot of downbeat stuff to say about the Bangkok bureaucracy – sorry if that’s too much at times – I do love my life, out here in the sticks.

It sounds typical of most places in Thailand as I have experienced including the south. 

[Convert54]

52 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Issan people the most freindly and fun in Thailand. Good music, wedding, food. 

They happy because music..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_Ve_b04sY0       

Often so !

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, JamesR said:

It sounds typical of most places in Thailand as I have experienced including the south. 

“Typical” 

Issan,= friendly, fun, like to lie, primitive

North=  friendly, lazy, beautiful skin the most

Central = Educated, selfish, fatty.

South = ruthless, dark skin

 

[Fluke]

20 minutes ago, Yinn said:

“Typical” 

Issan,= friendly, fun, like to lie, primitive

North=  friendly, lazy, beautiful skin the most

Central = Educated, selfish, fatty.

South = ruthless, dark skin

If this is a multiple choice question , I would go with . 

1 North 

2 Central

3 Issan 

4 South .

[Fluke]

32 minutes ago, Fluke said:

If this is a multiple choice question , I would go with . 

1 North 

2 Central

3 Issan 

4 South .

I have changed my mind .

1 South 

2  North 

3 Central 

4 Issan .

Final answer  

 

[gummy]

6 hours ago, Fluke said:

I have changed my mind .

1 South 

2  North 

3 Central 

4 Issan .

Final answer  

Phone a friend ? 

[Yinn]

8 hours ago, Fluke said:

I have changed my mind .

1 South 

2  North 

3 Central 

4 Issan .

Final answer  

Every place advantage and disadvantages. 
No winner. 
 
But I not want live at North, Issan or Central full time. Because air pollution. Burning, factory, car, diesel etc. 

The genius from Ranong.

[Fluke]

2 hours ago, gummy said:

Phone a friend ? 

No, I looked on a map and looked where Ranong is located 

[Faraday]

2 minutes ago, Fluke said:

No, I looked on a map and looked where Ranong is located 

Perhaps go & visit....solve the mystery....

[Yinn]

19 minutes ago, Faraday said:

Perhaps go & visit....solve the mystery....

Everybody welcome Ranong. 
But I recommended that not come this months is rainy season. Ranong is the most rain in Thailand province. 4.5 rain meter every year.
60% is forest. 

And lowest population province in Thailand. Most Ranong people know my family. Have Buddhist, Muslim and Burma, everybody friend each other. Helping together.
 

Lowest covid. 

Also cleanest province in Thailand. Numnpber 1. Sure.
 

 

[gazmo16]

Nicely written King Cotton, I know exactly what you mean. I'm almost your neighbour from a little village near khoh Sila

[Convert54]

10 hours ago, Yinn said:

“Typical” 

Issan,= friendly, fun, like to lie, primitive

North=  friendly, lazy, beautiful skin the most

Central = Educated, selfish, fatty.

South = ruthless, dark skin

Issan people do not lie! They just prefer to avoid the truth. Nor do they steal. They just borrow without asking.

[Lowseasonlover]

A mate of mine used to live in some village, he was the only farang in town, anyway he used to go away to work and come back after one month he went down to the local M&P shop and the woman gave him a bill all his extended family had been going in there getting beer, "Farang Pay" 

[Convert54]

3 minutes ago, Lowseasonlover said:

A mate of mine used to live in some village, he was the only farang in town, anyway he used to go away to work and come back after one month he went down to the local M&P shop and the woman gave him a bill all his extended family had been going in there getting beer, "Farang Pay" 

If it happened more than once then more fool him !

[Yinn]

3 minutes ago, Convert54 said:

If it happened more than once then more fool him !

If he pay he the fool. 

[Lowseasonlover]

5 minutes ago, Convert54 said:

If it happened more than once then more fool him !

No it didnt, if they got away with it once the next time would be worse

[Transam]

1 minute ago, Yinn said:

If he pay he the fool. 

Depends on how much money the guy earns in farangland, for some there is no problem paying out peanuts to make folk happy.

I even sing to them to make them happy........

[Fluke]

2 minutes ago, Transam said:

Depends on how much money the guy earns in farangland, for some there is no problem paying out peanuts to make folk happy.

I even sing to them to make them happy........

Its the principle, rather than the amount of money .

[Fluke]

23 minutes ago, Lowseasonlover said:

A mate of mine used to live in some village, he was the only farang in town, anyway he used to go away to work and come back after one month he went down to the local M&P shop and the woman gave him a bill all his extended family had been going in there getting beer, "Farang Pay" 

Something similar happened to me in a village Mom & Pop shop .

I walked into the shop and some young guy walked in and picked up a large Chang and he was infront of me in the queue to pay , I had picked up two large Chang , the young guy said something to the cashier quietly and hurried out the shop .

   I went to pay for my two Chang and she charged me for three Changs . "Your two Changs and your friends Chang" the cashier said to me . 

   I paid for the three Changs , quickly went out the shop , just to see my "friend" speeding off on his motorbike .