Part 53

Tony's View

Published

3 May

2009

After a short pause of only 2 years, the saga continues

In December 2007 I concluded what was intended to be my final episode with inter alia a picture of José, so I shall start this fresh episode with news from him. I found José on 'Facebook', and was pleasantly surprised to find a picture of myself and other members of the Nongkhai glitterati in his album '10 years in Thailand'. Then I realised that he had lifted it from that final episode. I feel it necessary to return the favour by including a couple of photos of José that I have lifted from Facebook, to accompany the message I received from him. Below left he must have been about 20 years old, clearly slim, fit and handsome. Below right, some years later somewhere in Thailand, apparently ashamed of his burgeoning waistline he took to wearing a disguise by painting zebra stripes on his skin and wearing bizarre clothing.

Will you still be writing on the web site? Because you know we all love your Bias Journalistic reporting..hippie!.!LoL!..You know we love you man!!!!Maybe not the dude that tried to kill you in Udon but the rest of us love you... I'm in Chicago at the moment just catching up with the Familia...Say sabai dee to any of the rif-raf out there and let them know I'll shall return.....

So you've been warned ... he will return ... I for one am looking forward to his return, because it will be, party, party, party, dude.

Far left my 'stolen' pic with José, Brian, Jun, me, Pete, & Jon. Left, José, Brian in my front garden last year.

More than any other, one man in Nongkhai can be thanked (or otherwise) for motivating me to resume publishing. His name is Ming, and he hales from the Tonbridge area of Kent, although I took this photo of him in J-Lo bar (more of J-Lo bar later). Ming frankly amazed me by quoting some of my writing from previous episodes of the website.

With Rupert no longer writing due to his need to return to the UK with his family, I had been toying with the idea of resuming publishing. Ming gave the motivation that I needed to actually sit down and start.

Spookily I found this photo of Ming with Andy in what is now called 'Mango Bar' (opposite Thai-Laos hotel) from 4 or 5 years ago (the picture properties say it was taken in April 2005 but I may not have set the date on the camera correctly).

What I do remember is that I was in the company of José and Pete, that we were drinking tequila slammers, and that some time later the bar started spinning, and I had to be poured into a tuk-tuk to get home.

Comparing Ming 2005 and Ming 2009, I'd say the hair has receded a little, and you've put on a little weight, but you look a lot happier, perhaps it was the sight of a full glass?

J-Lo bar opens in Nongkhai

Sometimes Greg is known as little Greg when in the company of larger fellow Australians also named Greg, such as big Greg below. Not that I know him as big Greg, I have always called him Dake, or more often 'Dake the beer thief'. (full story in part 48)

Here is Dake in J-Lo bar with Mam on his left. Aree-Na (centre) and Ben who seems to make a living selling perfume. Dake has taken the eminently sensible move of coming to live in Thailand, and now shares a house in Udontani province with Rainbow (below).

In the other picture below, snapped in J-Lo bar are Paul from New Zealand  on the left and Greg (or big Greg or if you wish 'yet another big Greg') from Australia. More of this particular big Greg and his Sunset Bar later.

Below Mam, Lan and Aree-Na show why J-Lo is growing in popularity in Nongkhai, funny how all the customers are single men (or at least their regular partner is strangely absent). Below right are Jimmy (the Schmear) and Milford for once sporting a hat. More about Milford's New York Bistro later (without prejudice). Jimmy asked me to 'photoshop' his picture to make him look young and handsome, but I had to tell him that the software capable of making him look young and handsome has yet to be invented. As you can see, he found this hilarious.

Below right Mam has bought a new wooden sofa, and claimed that she was just 'trying it out'. But the photo underneath, with her asleep (passed out would be just too unkind) on the previous sofa seems to indicate that she may not be telling the whole truth. Notice the TV remote handily placed. Although I am usually behind the camera, I did pose in this photo with A. Behind the bar is Prim.

Another Big Greg's Mekong Sunset Bar

Big Greg's bar is to be found facing the river, around about half way along Rimkong Road. (This is the road that runs alongside the river eastwards from Tha Sadet to the new Stuppa). On this day, there was only one other customer. He was standing in characteristic pose with one elbow on the bar looking away from the camera, rather as he was in J-Lo bar above. If the ThaiGirlSingle.com stickers on the motorbike don't give his identity away, the picture below reveals it to be none other than little Greg.

When I first visited Another Big Greg's bar and expressed a taste for Chang light (Carlsberg under a different name), he said that he had none, but promised to stock it. He has now kept that promise, and like J-Lo bar, joins the growing number of bars stocking Carlsberg a.k.a. Chang light.

Big Greg makes a point of discovering his customers musical tastes, and the selects music to suit. Rather a nice touch I thought. I challenged him to find anything by the British group 'Family'. I'm sure he will rise to the challenge soon, (because he hasn't yet).

Milford's New York Bistro (Without Prejudice)

Another place stocking Chang light is Milford's New York Bistro, but the difference there is that Milford initially stocked it because he too likes to drink it. Milford's Bistro is also in Rimkong Road, but much further east, not very far from the Stuppa. One big difference with Milford's is that food is available, where at Mam and big Greg's it is not. Not only that, but the food is absolutely delicious. The menu choice is limited, but what you get is excellent. I have yet to meet someone to gainsay me on this.

My favourite dish is the spaghetti al fordo, so when I'm in a spaghetti mood, I head to New York ha ha. I suppose that if I was faced with a life-or-death decision between Milford's spaghetti al fordo and José's spaghetti carbonara, I would have to go with the memory of José's carbonara, but it is a close call.

Above Milford and George chew the fat, while right Milford poses with the staff. Apparently Milford was a lawyer, so I have to be careful in my writing if I don't want him to 'sue my donkey'.

Dan (left) sent me a whole bunch of jokes of which this was my favourite.

 If you want to read them all click here

Udo & Fred

I hope that I have not given the impression that my life revolves around different bars, bistros and restaurants, because it doesn't. They are however the main social meeting point for many westerners in Nongkhai, so bars bistros and restaurants will feature a lot in this episode. For example this photo of Udo, Fred and me was taken in Brendan's  ( Chang light in stock).

Fred and I share a similar taste in shirts while Fred's brother Udo has yet to acquire the taste for the exotic.

Beer Belly Billy's

Another bar/restaurant on Rimkong Road, roughly midway between Mekong Sunset and New York Bistro is Beer Belly Billy's, run by Pete and Da. In this photo taken outside, Gwen and Per were enjoying a coffee with Kim and Ou after a meal together elsewhere. (I was enjoying a coffee too, but someone had to take the photo). Per and Gwen have now headed back to Denmark, but before they left they invited Kim, Ou, Oy, Manao, Kao Farng and me far a meal at a restaurant near their house outside Nongkhai. I don't know the name of the restaurant, and it doesn't stock Chang light, but the food was excellent. I recommend the duck.

As most people know, the Thai New Year is celebrated in April, and is known as Song Kran. Traditionally this is the time when statues are taken out of temples and ceremonially washed with scented water. It is a 4 day public holiday when many people working away from home return to their families.

The Buddha statue and display on the right looks like it belongs in a temple but I have included it here because it was to be found at the entrance to Tesco-Lotus during the Song Kran festival. The promotion in the window behind the display might be a bit of a giveaway.

Birthday Celebrations in Nong's bar

Nong's daughter Yu-Yi (above with Nong) and Som (about to blow out the candles on the cake) have birthdays very close to one another, so there was a joint party in Nong's bar. If I remember rightly Yu-Yi was celebrating her 15th birthday. It wouldn't be polite to mention Som's age, and I'm always polite. (if you really want to know it is on the cake).

Left Som shares a beer with Brendan's wife Noy, while right is yet another Noy. You could be forgiven for finding this Noy attractive, but if you want to date Noy, you should be prepared for a surprise.

I have to thank Gary (holding the cake above) for the invitation to attend the party.  Gary is now back in the UK, but I did notice that while he was here he was often in the company of Sang, with whom he is pictured right. Now her face looks familiar, I just can't think where I've seen her before? Ah yes she was (or still is) married to Giulio (part 20) and they had a daughter Bianca-Maria together (part 40).

However, Gary has told me he will not be hurrying back to spend more time with "thaigirlsingle.Sang" as only 2 days after he returned to the UK she was seen hanging around town with another farang.

In Conclusion

This was my Mum in a critical care unit after her heart stopped during a hip replacement operation last November. She has no memory of the photo being taken, nor being in the unit, but she is now fully recovered and enjoying her new mobility. In the past I have printed a copy of this page and posted it to Mum and Dad, but I no longer have to do that as she has added computer skills to her raft of abilities. She is now able to do as you are doing, and read it online. Not only that but she does her shopping at Asda on line too. I worry that one day she will start a rival blog of her own.

Well done Mum I am proud of your achievements. 

As ever, best wishes to you all

 Tony

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