Part 38

The View from Nongkhai

Published

31 August

2006

In the last episode I included a picture of 'the pig', currently resident at the Outback, (who has now been named 'Bobo', which must be a reprieve). That story prompted Udo to send me this photo, with the comment 'attached you'll find a real big Aussie bush-pig. that could feed hundreds of guests in the outback-pub.'

I've not yet met Udo, (which is why I appreciated both his comments, and the fact that he had taken the time and made the effort to send them), but I am well acquainted with Udo's brother Fred, seen below with lovely wife Tic.

Tic has taken over premises at the corner of the road opposite the

Pantawee hotel, where she has her establishment called "Happy Net & village house marketing."

Clearly a very talented woman, Tic can offer you an amazing choice of services. (According to the poster shown below anyway).

What I wonder will an internet wedcam service do for one?

Right, Tic was showing a customer how to use a computer.

The Royal Thai Police

Way back in part 4 (now more than two years ago) I wrote about Kim and I receiving speeding tickets at the same spot within a day or two of each other, and included pictures of the official receipts. In June of this year returning from Bangkok, I collected another. I keep the receipts, because they are actually quite rare. It is an observation not a criticism that you are more likely to pay a 'fine' but not receive an official receipt. Thus as I was driving to Bangkok this month before dawn, on a more or less deserted road, some 20 kms before Khon Kaen, I was waved down by guys with torches who turned out to be policemen. I knew that I had not been speeding, so why was I stopped? On a 3 lane carriageway I was driving in the centre lane, which was allegedly an offence, so my license was confiscated, and would be returned to me when I paid the 500 baht fine at Khon Kaen police station. I explained that I did not know where the police station was in Khon Kaen, so the officer said that I could pay 300 baht 'on-the-spot fine' and have my license returned there and then. This was clearly cheaper and more convenient for me, but of course there was no official receipt, as the money simply goes into the officer's pocket to supplement his wages.

To readers in the West, all this probably sounds terrible, but I actually have a lot of admiration for the officers of the Royal Thai Police, because they have an enviable 'clear-up rate' when it comes to more serious crimes.

Last month Oy (left) was robbed of 7000 baht by a thief who came to her restaurant posing as a customer. Oy was distraught as this is a big sum of money to lose, especially when you are struggling to support two children with no help from their father. Within a week the Royal Thai Police had apprehended the thief who had carried out a number of similar thefts at restaurants in Nongkhai. I went with Oy to the police station to identify the thief, and I saw the other restaurant owners there too, some of whom had difficulty controlling their anger. One woman actually stuck the thief, and had to be restrained by her friends.

It will be no surprise that there was no money, so although the thief was caught, everyone had still lost. This is where I find the Thai justice system superior in many ways. The mother of the thief did not want her son to go prison. So it has been arranged that she will repay the money stolen from Oy and the other victims, who will then not press charges. In this way, her son, the thief will avoid a prison sentence. This is a far better outcome for Oy, who gets her money returned, with no expense to the courts and the prison service (which reflects in the amount of tax we all pay). But don't think that the thief is 'getting away with it'. The thief has already spent some time behind bars, has been publicly humiliated, has been filmed re-enacting their crime, (for the most serious crimes these films are often shown on the evening news) and has an indelible police record.

Regular readers with long memories will recall that last year I was mindlessly attacked in a bar on the outskirts of Udonthani by a Dutchman. I too accepted financial compensation for my injuries from his family in exchange for not pressing charges. I still consider that I did the right thing, although I did lose some friends, and now rarely go to Udonthani.

What have we here?

On the left just a Buddha statue? Well, yes, but look closely and spot the two tiny figures of people at it's base, one in yellow and one in orange. That is one enormous statue!

On the right, I have no idea what this is. It can be found near the harbour at Rayong, and stands about 10 feet high. I found it strangely reminiscent of a prototype Dalek. What do you say Mr. Sherwin?

'The Lost Day' - but not lost by me

When I took these photos of Giulio, Glen and Geff, on the day we learnt of Alex's death, they had consumed large quantities of alcohol.

In Giulio's case, consumption was sufficient that he did not remember my presence, or being photographed.

He and Geff reached that same state of alcohol induced forgetfulness that I had reached on my 'lost day', and over which they had teased me at some length.

Geff and Giulio's 'lost day' however had one feature which mine lacked, and that is a permanent, everlasting, indelible reminder. We know that Giulio likes fishing, and is particularly fond of carp, so when he awoke the next day, he found this picture of a carp had 'miraculously' appeared on his forearm. Geff had an identical manifestation on his arm, (albeit upper arm, and usually out of sight). Apparently both Geff and Giulio had visited a tattooist where they had had these additions made to their bodies. Geff had gone one step further and had had his ear pierced too, complete with diamond (or diamond-like?) stud.

 Self Image

What matters most is

how you see yourself.

Thanks to Barry for the picture and caption. The caption is of course from the last episode, but it is equally valid here. Freedom Fighter or Terrorist? Depends on where you stand and who wins. Remember, it is the victor who gets to write the history books!

How others see us in Thailand

My aunt cut this item from her English daily newspaper and sent it to me. Apparently she was a bit worried that I would be offended, but I find it somewhat amusing and highly educational.

It is the common story of a Westerner coming to Thailand and meeting a bar girl who completely fools him and manages to separate him from a large chunk of his money.

What makes this one a little different is that he ends up being murdered, dismembered, and as the headline says, barbecued.

We can count it as another success for the Royal Thai Police who 'encouraged' two of the men who had carried out the murder to confess and lead them to Mr. Charnaud's remains. The ex-wife admits helping to dispose of the body, but denies premeditated murder. "I was at the market and returned home to find my ex-husband's body." Three men admitted murder with provocation, claiming that Mr. Charnaud had interrupted them while they were drinking whisky. That's provocation??

Motorcycling in Thailand

On a recent trip to Rayong I spotted this motorcycle (below left) rather lost under a canopy of beach items for sale. Although they can't be common, it was not the only one that I saw plying for trade up and down the beachfront. More common is the sight of four or even sometimes five people on a motorcycle out taking the evening air, so for those of us lucky enough to live here, the picture below right is nothing new. The bike is being controlled by the second rider.

Again the second rider is controlling the bike, but the first rider now has the duty of controlling the umbrella.

Perhaps the strangest of all these motor bike pictures is this one on the right, where the first rider is controlling the bike, but the second rider now has the duty of keeping their feet on the ground and maintaining the motorbike upright!

PADS in Nongkhai

I mentioned last episode that Ian is now on a Thai food diet. This week Ian claims to be 84 kg, which is only 3 kg more than he claimed to be in part 9. Now while I am careful what I eat, I am not on a diet, so it came as a surprise to me that PADS has afflicted Glen. This became evident when I was in the Outback and he said to me  "Now, Tony I know you are on a diet.......etc., etc." Where will PADS strike next?

It was back in April, in part 32 that I first sampled San Miguel and threw down the challenge to the bar owners of Nongkhai, 'if you will stock it, I will come and drink it.' Leigh took up the challenge immediately, stocking it in April at the Friendship Guesthouse. Geff and Giulio were a little slower and started stocking it in July at the Meeting Place. Now it's great that in August Glen is stocking it at the Outback bar too. I was so pleased that I drank his stock dry, and had to go home thirsty. (No other beer is good enough after tasting San Miguel! )

Everyday life in Nongkhai

These photos were taken in Nongkhai Post Office on a public holiday (Her Majesty the Queen's birthday). It will surprise many to learn that the post office is open for service each and every day. However it is only a skeleton service at weekends and on public holidays. I asked for and was granted permission to take these photos of the two staff on duty that day.

The chap in red on the left was busy sticking stamps on a letter from me to my parents.

P. S. Help Wanted

Do you remember Zuzana and Jarda in the last episode? They need some advice about where to stay etc in England. Can you help? If so write to me at mail@nongkhai.co.uk and I will forward to them.

And Finally

Left my son Chris with gorgeous girlfriend Gemma. It's not hard to see where Johnny Depp found inspiration for his character in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Right my daughter Jacq with my granddaughter Anisa and grandson Ché. As I write this they are on a plane flying from UK to Indonesia. I wish them a safe journey.

OK that's enough for this episode.  I have no idea what I will write about in the next episode, but I'll try to find something that I think might amuse or interest you.

If you want copies of any of the photos, or want to write, but you don't know my personal email addresses, you can send email to :         mail@nongkhai.co.uk 

Best Wishes to you all Tony