Meet The Boys

Today is day nine of my holiday and myself and Wonderful Wi are now staying at our Udon Thani village home. We’ve moved on from the bright lights of Pattaya to a village where every clock, watch and mobile tell a different time, daylight and darkness mean much, much more. Two worlds apart, one spawning from a small fishing village into a sex tourist haven, born from the needs of American GI’s and the other built on toil, sweat, love and tears passed on from one generation to the next.

A new generation greeted me on my return to our village house in Ban Norn Chad, Udon Thani. The Buffalo Boys our two growing puppies and a rabbit whose name oddly rhythms with stew, gave me a nice warm welcome. Cola and Gaan have given an extra source of entertainment in the house and garden whilst Noo the rabbit has had only the occasional runaround spending most of the time in the safety of his cage.

Pattaya’s rain showers seem to have followed us to Udon, brilliant sunshine during the day with some heavy downpours at night, giving much needed water for Wilai’s garden. Young Wilai has added a flower boat to her treasured garden and I think the green fingered girl has done rather well.

I know many of my readers are keen gardeners so I have included a photo on the right of Wilai’s flower boat. Ban Norn Chad sits on the edge of the Wang Chang River and Wilai bought the wrecked fishing boat for 200 baht. Is it a novel idea or one that’s widely used in Thailand, I am interested to know your views on that one.

Away from the garden and into the kitchen as my taste for food moves on almost as quickly as the rain laden clouds. From the thick cut chips of Pattaya to Udon Thani and Tesco Lotus crinkle cut french fries, last night I enjoyed a couple of jacket potatoes. Pad Kai can now be seen on the horizon and if the village has a papaya pok pok home delivery service maybe I should bookmark the number now.

Joking aside I have enjoyed a couple of sweet and sour Thai dishes and early afternoon today myself and Wilai sat down to green curry and golden noodles at the Thai Yai restaurant in Udon Thani. With further restaurant visits planned for Udon Thani, Nongkhai and Amphor Phen there’s plenty of Thai and Laos dishes heading for my holiday plate. Wilai has now gone off on a shopping spree like a black toothed kid in a sweet shop and similar to an alcoholic having just jumped off a second class Thai train I’m heading for a few beers. All the best and with it my apologies for a rather hurried post.