Three Students Murdered by Border Patrol Policeman Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Back on the 20th of February I wrote a post called, When Will the Students Killing and Fighting Stop.

It was about the imbecile vocational students and their feud that continues to kill some of them, and this I could not care about. But it is the innocent people caught in the crossfire that saddens me and angers me that the Thai government and police are just not doing enough to stop these tools.

Anyway, a reader commented and asked me this.

“Did you hear about the shootings in Ubon last week outside the university? Three dead I believe and a machine gun involved.”

I had heard about the shooting and The Nation Newspaper reported on it.

Police said yesterday they had arrested an Ubon Ratchathani University student, aged 24, who helped a Ranger friend shoot an M16 rifle at his schoolmates, resulting in three deaths and one injury on Friday night.

The suspect, Pratchayanan Niyom, confessed to the crime, saying that, prior to the drive-by shooting, he, his Ranger buddy Supachoke Pimpila and several friends drank at a restaurant in front of the university and got into a row with another group of students there.

Pratchayanan's group left but claimed they heard a shot at them from the student group. While on the way home, they spotted the student group drinking at a roadside pavilion.

Supachoke told Pratchayanan to slow down and shot at them. Supachoke then got off at Thung Sri Udom while Pratchayanan was later arrested. Police charged the student with conspiring with another to commit premeditated murder and illegally carrying a gun in a public place.

The university meanwhile paid initial assistance money of Bt50,000 to each family of the deceased.

Now from a very good source I have the truth of what happened. And again it seems that influence and power has diverted justice, at the moment.

This is a poster that the Law Faculty students of Ubon Ratchathani University have set up. It counts the number of days the killer is at large and will continue until the person is apprehended.

On the bottom of the poster it virtually says they were murdered using a weapon of war. And the police cannot arrest the murderer even though they know who he is.

It all started over an argument. There were two groups of people involved here. A group of students from the university and two other people. One a political science student named Pratchayanan Niyom and the other a border patrol policeman named Supachoke Pimpila.

The group of students complained to the bar owner as Pimpila was smoking in the bar. Smoking is illegal in many venues across Thailand and a fine of 2,000 baht can be issued but in fact the law is hardly ever enforced.

So the bar owner asked him to go outside and smoke and he replied in Thai rudely to what equates to “fu#k off.”

So the bar owner calls the police from their box not too far from the bar, they arrived and told him to smoke outside. He wasn’t happy but agreed to do this.

Pimpila on his way out of the bar, asked in general, “Who called the police?” The students said, “we did, so fuc# off” I have been told.

Pimpila was then heard to say, “I will get you!” as he left.

Niyom, the political science student was good friends with one of the law students, so they knew each other.

Pimpila had called Niyom as he was in Ubon Ratchathani visiting a friend who had been shot during one of the break outs of fighting in the idiotic Preah Vihan fiasco taking place at the border.

Pimpila and Niyom left the bar, but Pimpila went and picked up his M16 machine gun, returned to the bar and waited.

As the law students left, Pimpila opened fire. He killed the three students in the poster and injured one other.

He gunned down three people over an argument or harsh words about smoking.

Pimpila is the son of a senior army man I have been told, quite influential. Apparently Pimpila dropped out of army cadet school and was helped into a position by his father in the Border Patrol Poice.

Niyom was captured and is currently sitting in jail for his part in the murders, while Pimpila has fled like a gutless dog into the bush and for some reason no-one can find him.

If what above is true and I trust my source 100%, then power, money will mean he will probably never be caught. He could be across a border or in hiding for years to come.

My friend mentioned “the loss of face,” a Thai thing that I cannot get my head around and is just such a load of shit to me. This could be the reason Pimpila killed the students.

Losing face in Thailand is meant to be a big thing and people have been killed for it many times.

In January 2010 a German was stabbed to death on Phuket, he apparently tooted his horn at kids who cut him off on motorbikes; they followed him and stabbed him to death.

In September 2010 a Thai Bangkok bus driver was shot by a Thai man after he refused to stop outside a certain Soi, the reason being there was no bus stop there. The driver made comments that angered the passenger who eventually got off the bus, then went home, got his gun, found the bus and shot the driver.

In January a German man was shot in Chang Mai, he weaved his motorbike between traffic; one Thai motorist objected, got out of his car at traffic lights, pushed the German off his bike and shot him twice in the back. The German apparently gave the man the middle finger. They arrested the man at a later date.

What is “loss of face?” That is question so many people cannot answer, even Thais.

Say, you get a bad meal at a restaurant, you are just meant to grin, not eat it, pay and leave and never return. You are not meant to, complain to the waitress, as she or he has to then tell the chef who will ‘lose face’ and this could cause conflict.

A car is driving the wrong way down a street as it is a short cut to the little street or soi. You are meant to grin and say “Mai Pen Rai” (never mind) and just go on your way. You are not meant to, toot your horn, yell obscenities, make rude gestures at the person. As this is a loss of face.

You get bad customer service at a shop; you do not call the manager as the person who is losing face will probably want to kill you.

You never yell or scream no matter the situation, how wrong the situation or other person is. You are meant to grin and just walk away. The mai pen rai system.

The loss of face thing is absolute bullshit to me and I am sure many other foreigners. Maybe someone can explain it to me better, so I can at least try and get my head around it a little, but I doubt it.

I believe it is one of the things holding Thai society back, stopping progression into modern times. Look, road rage isn’t a good thing but giving a person a piece of your mind because they have done something dangerous is not a bad thing. Telling a chef the meal you got if not up to standard, is not a bad thing.

But that is just me. There are good things about the passive Thai system as I call it, but also many bad things as well. It is getting the balance right that would be hard to find.

As for above, I hope the Law Faculty of Ubon Ratchathani University keep pushing the police until Pimpila is caught and sentenced to death. This is the punishment he deserves. Sadly if caught and he pleads guilty the death penalty will not be given, another ridiculous part of Thai law enabling criminals who confess get much more lenient sentences.

A classic example of a policeman called Somchai Visetsing, he murdered two foreigners, Vanessa Arscott, 24, and her boyfriend Adam Lloyd, 25.

The couple dined at a restaurant he owned, apparently Vanessa went to the toilet and returned crying as Somchai had followed her.

She left to return to their accommodation while Adam argued and then fought with Somchai.

Adam left to catch up to Vanessa but Somchai was in hot pursuit. He shot Adam then ran down Vanessa as she tried to flee. Then he shot her as well.

Somchai confessed he murdered the couple.

“He said he shot Mr Lloyd after an argument in which the Briton allegedly spat in his face. He ran down Ms Arscott, who was trying to block his escape by car (she was running away), and dragged her along the road for about 200 metres before stopping, getting out of the vehicle, and firing three bullets into her as she tried to crawl away.”

When he understood he was still facing the death penalty he retracted his confession saying it was under duress and someone else murdered the couple but didn’t know the person’s name (apparently Mr Ya).

Thankfully the judge believed his confession but because he had a good record as a policeman (he won ‘Policeman of the Year’ two years running in Kanchanaburi Province), and originally confessed to the crime, plus co-operated with police, the death penalty was converted to “life.”

Earlier this year there were reports of Somchai being seen in different locations across Thailand. This came about from internet forums and reports of sightings on the murderer.

He is meant to be serving his two life sentences in Khaobin Supermax Prison in Ratchaburi Province.

Thailand’s Department of Corrections denied this and said he was safely locked away.

What did sadden me was the mentioning of the possible release date for Somchai of being 2037, that is too soon. He would be 71 years of age on release but in reality was sentenced 33 years for Alex’s murder and “life” for Vanessa’s.

He should not be breathing, as simple as that.

Brunty

Massaman Curry Isaan Style for a Cold Night.

It has been very cold here in Isaan Thailand the last few days. In Thailand we have floods in the south, an earthquake in the north and drought in many other provinces.

The temperatures have plummeted, as my dad would ask, “what is it 20 degrees?”

Well it is probably a bit lower than that, mid teens but the wind chill makes it worse. So with the cold weather comes food that warms the soul.

I like a massaman curry, I have made it many different ways but this is the easiest, just so simple and delicious.

So these are the ingredients needed for my take on a massaman curry.

First off it is simple, about 300ml of coconut milk into a pot.

Then you add two tablespoons of yellow curry paste and simmer until it blends into the coconut milk. Then add your meat, it can be beef or chicken, whatever takes your fancy. Also add 4 or 5 tablespoons of fish sauce, about 5 tables spoons of sugar and a tablespoon of salt. Add about 400mls of water and cook for 30 minutes.

Add your potatoes; I cut up about 3 or 4 medium sized ones.

You can also add mushrooms or anything else you might like, up to you. Then cook for another 30 minutes. Keep a little water handy just in case you need it.

Here it is nearly ready; it has been on a slow simmer for an hour in total.

Then I add some fresh coriander and it is time to eat. I actually like it a day later, the flavour is even better then.

Served with fresh steaming rice is perfect on a cool Isaan night.

And my two girls were watching TV.

Tonight as I type this I am sitting with tracksuit pants, jumper and socks on and I am thinking about putting my beanie on, a little chilly again.

Brunty

Hit and Run in Thailand, Part of Thai Culture.

Sorry as this is a rant.

It is about the 19 year old pissant teenager of a wealthy Thai man. I will call him “Coward,” he cut a 17yo girl in half in his father’s Porsche while speeding.

The top half of the girl ended up in the car, while her bottom half ended up in the ditch in the middle of the road.

He drove 10klms before ditching the car and fleeing. I read reports back on Friday but waited as the stories in different papers were so conflicting.

Some reported the car was stolen, others reported a young man in a white shirt leaving the car and getting a taxi from the scene.

The girl was from Laos and had just come to Thailand to work. There have been reports of the body being on the passenger seat, but from the pictures I have seen and I will not link to them as they are graphic and disturbing (printed in Thaland’s septic tank of a paper Thai Rath)is not right as it was in the passenger side footwell.

I do not know if any of you have seen a disturbing video of a Vietnamese policeman cut in half by a truck. For 5 minutes there is video footage of the policeman talking to people as the lower half of his body lies smashed parallel to him. I warn you that if you Google it and watch it, it is very confronting. I do not recommend it for anyone who is squeamish or traumatised easily.

I hope this girl was not like this, I hope she had passed away immediately. Coward the driver, drove 10klms before ditching the car and fleeing in a taxi, leaving the girl’s body in the footwell of the passenger seat. This is a despicable and heinous act.

The car was quickly found to be owned by Suppachai Thaksinthaweesap a 58 year old, then they discovered he had two children studying at university level.

Police summoned him but he refused, an apparent call from a senior policeman said’ ‘Suppachai Thaksinthaweesap wanted to postpone the meeting with police.’

It was reported that, “Mr Suppachai told police the driver would surrender to police after he returns from a trip to pay homage to his ancestors during the Cheng Meng festival.”

Are you joking? Please wait while the murderer pays homage and respect to ancestors. What about the respect to the girl he killed and left in his father’s car. But this is Thailand and money talks.

I will follow this case as far as I can and will report on it until justice is done. But being Thailand and their at times pathetic laws pertaining to admitting guilt and getting reduced sentences, I won’t hold my breathe for a decent sentence.

In the papers they reported the mother of the Laos girl can seek up to 200,000 Thai baht ($6,500 Australian) compensation from the owner. How cheap is a life? Can’t she sue them for billions?

In Thai law it states:

If the drink-driver has killed someone the maximum penalty is 10 years in jail and a fine of up to 200,000 baht. (we will never know as he ran away for 3 days)

Section 291 of the Criminal Code, however, states: ''Whoever does an act so negligently that causes death to any person shall be liable to imprisonment for not exceeding 10 years and fine of not exceeding 20,000 baht.''

What this means is that you would be subject to these penalties for any negligent act that resulted in the death of another, including those when you are driving too fast or recklessly.

To me the amount she can claim is just 20,000 baht. I hope this is wrong and the mother can sue these people until they are bankrupt. As for the 10 year jail term, if I was a praying man I would pray everyday that Coward receives that sentence but never lives to see the light of day again.

Coward has been released on bail, his real name is Peerapol Thaksinthaweesap and admitted he was speeding, doing about 120klms per hour.

He said, “"I'm sorry, I didn't intend to," meaning killing the girl and fleeing like a dog.

He also claimed the girl ran in front of the car.

If he was not speeding I am sure he would have been able to stop or take evasive action, but this is all in hindsight now.

Speeding, drink driving and breaking road laws are just part of Thai culture.

Thai drivers speed, I would truthfully say 80% of drivers speed and excessively. The other thing that disgusts me is the hit and run rate. There is hardly a day where a story of a hit and run accident taking place. The Nation newspaper reported way back in April 2009 about 81 people killed in hit and run accidents in 90 days.

I would say this rate is much higher now, if a person stops they are virtually guilty until proven innocent. This is even for cases where you know the person who hit the deceased is not in the wrong. Maybe this is why people flee. But I think mostly alcohol, unlicensed and drugs would be the biggest reasons.

In Thailand I would say that the Thai people are probably the worst drivers I have ever come across. Especially in cars, they are ignorant and do not believe they have to follow any of the road rules.

Look, I know that everyone makes mistakes, but most people’s mistakes don’t mean killing people or the death of people. Accidents do happen, but this above is not an accident to me.

Am I being harsh? Does the kid deserve a chance? But again, How would you feel being the mother and father?

If she was my daughter I know what I would do!

Brunty

Part 2. Why I Changed Schools, Isaan Thailand.

I was going to write a few parts of my leaving my last school, Assumption College Ubon Ratchathani but really cannot be bothered going over all the small things that built up and up. If you can be bothered part 1 is here.

I am writing this second instalment as I ran into a group of parents the other day; these are parents of students I used to teach many years ago. I taught them in primary 1 but now they would be primary 4 or 5.

When I left Assumption people knew I was leaving but didn’t know when. Many thought it was the end of the school year being March. But I planned on leaving earlier than that as I had no choice as you will see a little bit later in this post.

So the parents did the usual small talk and asked about the new school and how it was going and so forth. Then they said, ‘it was a shame that I couldn’t agree to stay at Assumption.’

When I enquired to what they meant and they told that the director of the school, Brother Fern had told them this in a meeting, I was gob smacked.

They had been to meet the brother on other issues they were worried about, teaching, and use of books and somehow I was mentioned. I do not need to make anything up, don’t need to lie or pad the story as simple as that.

The parents apparently asked about teachers leaving and mentioned my name. This is when Brother Fern said, “I wanted him to stay, I asked him to stay but he wanted to leave as he was going to get more money.”

What a loud of absolute bullshit! If this fell out of Brother Fern’s mouth I am disgusted as this is a downright lie again.

I had no choice but leave and a pay rise, how about a 4,000 baht pay cut. And when I told the parents what had really happened and why I left they were surprised and maybe a little bemused as well.

Why I left Assumption College Ubon Ratchathani. The final straw came in October, late October into early November. Each year when a teacher finishes their contract they are paid a bonus between 20,000 and 30,000 baht.

My bonus was due late October and the head of the English department I will call Miss B, she was going to be away in America with students, so I asked that she have all the paperwork submitted before she left and I would be able to pick my bonus up on the due date.

Of course it wasn’t done; it really wasn’t a big problem. Then the students and Miss B were stuck in America after missing a flight, they then had to stay another 10 days or so. When she finally arrived back at school I asked her to get my bonus payment organised.

So a week went by, and I asked if it was ready yet, it was waiting for Brother Fern to approve, once he signed the paperwork the money would be ready. It was around then another teacher alerted me to something that made me see red.

Another teacher had their bonus deducted, your bonus can be deducted for many different reasons listed in the conditions of the bonus, one is for each sick day you have. Now this is a load off bullshit in itself as you have 7 paid sick days per year, in 5 years I had 4 sick days. The amount deducted is between 700 – 1,000 baht per day you have off sick depending on your bonus.

Now this teacher had never had a sick day, he always hands in all his work, does a lot of extra work for the school and so forth. So I could not understand why his bonus was deducted.

I went to see him. I asked him straight. “Was your bonus deducted?” He replied, ‘Yes, it was.’

“Why did they deduct it?” I asked. He replied, ‘They took 5 days as I didn’t sign in the first week of school.’

School started on the 10th of May 2010. That was the first day of school when the students came back. In our contract it states we must have 11 weeks holiday per year. To complete our 11 weeks holiday for the year meant we did not have to be back until the 10th of May.

This was worked out in a meeting we had on the 03/03/2010 just before we broke up and went on holidays. In that meeting chaired by Miss B we discussed collecting all the books and CDs and tapes and place on the head’s desk. Summer course dates for students who failed and needed extra credits, report cards for students and the sign in time as the students were no longer at the school.

How do I know all of this? I have always taken notes of every meeting I attended at Assumption, right back to the first year I was there. I learnt the importance of diaries and note taking in my old job and have always recorded everything that might be needed at a later date.

Anyway, Assumption College wanted to deduct 5 days, from the dates the 3rd to the 7th of May 2010. The Thai teachers had to be back then as they had books to sell and also prepare for classes. Of course preparing for classes is important and I had already done this.

So I approached Miss B and said to her, “The school cannot and will not deduct money from my bonus for the dates 3rd to the 7th of May” and went through the notes of the meeting and what she had told us in that meeting on the 03/03/2010 about the starting dates.

After making sure she understood everything, I asked her to relay this to the administration and the people who arrange the bonus and also brother.

So time goes by, about a week and I finally got the “your bonus is ready.” I made my way to the finance department and the lady who is lovely and I have never ever had a problem with ever, found the sheet needed to be signed and handed it to me.

I looked at it and I think for the first time ever in that office I swore, and loud. I think my words were, “what the fu#k is this? Why has 6,000 baht been deducted?”

Now the lady who has nothing to do with this other than handle the money found the details for the bonus. And there in black and blue was 5,000 baht for the week of 3rd to the 7th of May 2010 and another 1,000 baht for a sick day. The sick day I could not have given a rat’s ass about. It was the week that made me see red.

I made my way back to the English department, pulled the head of the department aside and asked pretty much, “what the fuc#en hell was going on? Did she explain everything to them?” I was assured she had and she was sorry but Brother had to treat us like any other teacher, such as the Thais or Filipinos.

Now I was ready to blow as I have never expected to be treated any different from any person be them teachers, waiters or a street sweeper. I asked, “what that meant?” And when I was fed that the Thai and Filipino teachers had to sign in from the 3rd of May; I did blow.

Miss B, we were not told that we had to sign in on the 3rd, you told us the 10th and that is when the 11 weeks of holidays went to. I again went over the meeting, the contract and what she said and I had recorded in my diary.

By now, she was nearly in tears, she was sorry and again said she had told the people but this was their decision. Miss B has been great to me over the years; there were times where we also were not speaking. But I respected the hard job she had. She had foreign teachers who expressed their ideas and thoughts, people who would say “no” if we didn’t agree with something.

The Thai teachers and Filipino teachers don’t do this. There is one Filipino teacher at the school stuck so far up the ass of the hierarchy you would not be able to suck him out with a plunger. Miss B doesn’t have these sort of people and never will.

I pretty much realised there and then that I would have to go and see the brother myself, sit down, show him my diary, the contract and explain it as simply as possible that what Assumption was doing was wrong.

And that is what I did, I walked across to his office, saw his secretary and with luck he was in and had no one with him.

What happened in the meeting will be part 3. For another day but he did not beg me to stay but I am sure as soon as I walked out, he had decided to get rid of me, but that is my opinion.

Brunty

Thai Chicken Wraps, Isaan Thailand

I like to cook, I am not a great cook so I never really show what I cook on this blog. But then I thought, why not!

I love Thai food and although we do eat out a lot, there are many Thai dishes I try to cook. So here and there I will do a blog on them.

Now if I can cook these dishes, anyone can. Today I felt like these chicken wraps I make. They can be made many different ways, and with different ingredients depending on how you feel.

Anyway, these are all the ingredients needed to make this dish.

I make the dipping sauce first, I like it to sit for a few hours. I start off with peanuts and crush them up using my pestle and mortar.

Next I put about 100ml of water into a pan and 3 or 4 tablespoons of palm sugar as well, bring to the boil and stir until dissolved.

Then I add about a tablespoon of dry chilli flakes (up to you on how hot you want it), 2 tablespoons of fish sauce and a teaspoon of salt. I boil this for another 2 minutes or so.

I then take this off the stove and add in the peanuts, some freshly diced coriander and about a tablespoon of lime juice (lemon juice is good but hard to get here). I let cool and put in a container and into the fridge.

To make the wrap ingredients you boil a couple of chicken breasts in about 500ml of water and add a teaspoon of white or black pepper and a tablespoon of salt. Boil for about 15 minutes, until it is cooked.

While the chicken boils I cut up about 3 or 4 onions.

And some seaweed as well in small strips.

I quickly brown the onion in a pan.

The dipping sauce finished, it has been sitting for a few hours in the fridge and is delicious, has bite, but also the sugar and lime juice with fresh coriander balances everything out. I also make a sweet chilli sauce, usually for my foreign friends as the other sauce is very Thai style.

I cut some fresh lettuce and also more coriander and wash and drain.

And then it is simple. I use warm water for my rice paper; you can use straight tap water if you like. Submerge the rice paper into the water and remove, lay on a flat surface and add your ingredients. Don’t be too greedy as I do at times as you completely wrap them.

This is what they look like cut in half. I don’t usually cut them in half but just eat them like a roll. You can add the sauce before you wrap, on top after or as a dip.

When I gobbled this one down I knew something was missing. I forgot the seaweed. The next wrap wasn’t so lucky.

I hadn’t cooked a lot as I was going to be home alone, but Miss Noot returned from the village with Nong Ja and Benjawan came home early from her friend’s place. So I don’t have anything left over for later tonight or tomorrow.

Never mind, I can always knock another batch up tomorrow.

Brunty

Black Caviar Wins 11th Straight Race, William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Sorry to regular readers as this has nothing to do with Thailand but something I really like and being "my blog" I can write what I like. I reported the other week on Black Caviar an amazing 4yo racehorse winning The Newmarket Handicap. She raced again tonight.

Black Caviar has won her 11th straight race. She is rated the best sprinter in the world and shows us this is true without any doubt.

She didn’t have an easy run either. She was slowly away, sat 4 lengths off of Crystal Lily who set a genuine pace. She was caught wide all the way to the turn.

Jockey Luke Nolen shakes her up about 300mtrs out and she takes off, by the 200mtrs for a clear margin and by the 100mtrs he is easing her down and she virtually walks over the line.

After he race Nolen trots her down to the grandstand where she received a standing ovation and cheers from the crowd for a good two minutes.

Nolen threw his goggles into the crowd, a very nice present for a lucky punter. He drops the reigns and stands up in the stirrups and applauds Black Caviar with all the punters on course.

This is what horse racing is all about.

Brunty

Real Isaan Food, Homemade Gang Nor Mai, Thailand.

Yesterday in the afternoon a storm passed through our area, lightning struck and thunder boomed and of course it rained, sideways at times. It was heavy rain for maybe 20 minutes and then drizzled for another few hours after that.

The drizzly rain didn’t look like it was going to stop, so me being the brave one asked what everyone wanted to eat. I would whiz across and grab what was needed a few hundred metres away from our house. You can buy in a 500mtr stretch of road nearly any Thai dish you can think of, and also western ones as well.

Miss Noot says to me, “Gang Nor Mai,” a delicious Thai staple made from bamboo.

I said, “Is that all?” and she replies with, “Yes, but I want to make the Gang Nor Mai.”

This meant a trip to Nong Bua Market, this is about 900mtrs from our house. I smiled and said, “Yes, my dear!”

So the shopping list was then given to me, most we had like garlic and chilli but needed the bamboo and a few other ingredients. Benjawan decided to come as well as they probably didn’t trust me remembering everything.

So we arrived at the market, it was very quiet for this time of the evening, but the rain had kept people away and many little stalls were closed. I headed straight to where the fresh bamboo is usually sold, but it was closed. I caught up with Ben and she had no luck either at another stall.


Off to the next stall, closed. So I went to a stall that sells the pickled variety as a second choice. This being it can be very bitter or sour. This stall was closed. I knew of one other stall and headed to it. Closed, but then a man walks into it gathering a few things.

To cut a long story short, I lucked in. I managed to buy pickled bamboo from him and he told me it wasn’t bitter, the amount of times I have heard that!

When we arrived home the first thing was, “Why didn’t you buy fresh bamboo?” Well I will not print the response I gave.

Miss Noot wanted to get down to preparing the Gang Nor Mai, the problem was Nong Ja, our niece who I reported on not being well as she has German Measles. She has been clinging to Noot for days.

Ja was insistent on helping, she had been propped on the counter with the pestle and mortar.

Ja was making this, a sauce that is used in the cooking of the bamboo.

The vegetable is called “Cha Om” or Acacia Pennata or Climbing Wattle in Australia. If you have ever eaten an omelette here in Thailand the green vegetable in it is this.

What you do is simply add fresh clean water and pound away to make a sauce to add to the bamboo.

I had bought fresh Cha Om but Ben had also bought a bag already made. We have it growing in the backyard, it is like a weed but I like it in a few different dishes.

What you do first is simply boil the bamboo in fresh water, just add enough water to barely cover and cook.

Now this is a very important ingredient. Fermented fish sauce, the one used in many types of papaya salad and other dishes. Foreigners say it stinks, and it does. This sauce has been with us only a short time, maybe 2 months and sits on the shelf in its container, wrapped tightly in a bag. Its smell I cannot describe other than horrendous.

Eventually you add the Cha Om sauce and some of the fermented fish sauce to the bamboo. And continue cooking. Now it smells good.


You add some fresh Cha Om, already it has a lot of garlic and some chilli for kick.

And before you know it, it is ready to eat. The bamboo was bitter, very bitter but yummy. I love Gang Nor Mai, one of my favourite Isaan dishes. It is funny as in these dishes I can eat the fermented fish sauce but in papaya salad, I can’t.

We ate this with sticky rice, and Ja as well gobbled it down as she also loves it.

And then for breakfast today, we had it again along with Morning Glory in oyster sauce and fresh steamed rice. A good way to start the day.

Brunty

Hurting the Ones You Love, Isaan Thailand.

What I blog about today I am not proud of. I always try and write the truth and this means at times it is of something I am not proud of. But it is life in Thailand and what happens in my daily life. It involves my amazing niece Nong Ja who most of you know if you visit this blog.

The last few days have been hard. Ja has not been well and my patience is short. I have never really lost my temper or patience with my niece Nong Ja before, there have been times where she has been smacked for being naughty or doing something wrong.

This all started last Thursday evening. Ja was being her usual self chatting away, playing and then asked me to put on a cartoon for her. So she jumped onto the bed and I set the cartoon up and she settled down to watch it.

I was alerted to, “Jay (as she calls me) look at Tom or Jerry, she would burst out laughing and tell me what had happened.

I kept working away at the computer and I didn’t notice that all had gone quiet. When I realised that it was so quiet and looked around, Ja was missing.

So I hopped up and went out into the lounge room and there she was propped up next to Noot. She had a sombre look on her face and just didn’t look herself.

I asked Noot, “when did she come out?” The reply was that she wandered out, hopped up onto the couch and hadn’t said a word.

Silence from Ja always worries me as she isn’t a kid that is quiet, she likes to be doing things and you hardly get a moment of peace. Below is Ja a few days ago playing with her hula hoop. It isn’t anything exciting just Ja being Ja and Miss Noot makes a brief appearance.

Anyway, we couldn’t get a word out of her, she wouldn’t say if she had a stomach ache or something else. So this kept me on watch then. She did get a little bit of a temperature here and there through the night, but hardly anything.

Come Friday I had to go off to the school, I returned around midday and Ja looked terrible, she just looked miserable. Noot said she had eaten a little but was virtually silent all day. She didn’t have a runny nose or a cough but her temperature was going up and down a little.

About 6pm, we decided to take her to the clinic not far from our house, Noot diagnosed it as being a cold as the weather had been cold at night but pretty warm through the day these last few days, saying the temperature changes brought the illness on.

I laughed at this idea; as if kids got sick every time the temperature fluctuated here in Thailand it would mean a lot of sick days. I had no idea and was stumped. I had suggested the Isaan mushroom dish she had had for dinner on Thursday evening was the cause but this was rubbished by the girls.

So off to the clinic, the doctor said exactly what Noot said, “the temperature changes, from very cool to hot was the cause.”

Now I wanted to say, “Oh for fuc#s sake! Are you shitting me?” But I didn’t and I smiled, actually I think I laughed aloud.

So we were told to monitor her temperature and if any other problems to ring her anythime.

I blogged a little while back about how Ja stopped wanting to take her medicines when needed. Out of nowhere she just decided that she was not going to take anything offered to her. This has continued and trying to get meds into her is a nightmare.

Last time Ja had a cold, a very bad cough and runny nose, we could not get her to take any medicine, we had tried everything suggested on the internet and also suggested from friends. All very frustrating and it meant that Ja had to have three days in a row of having a needle jabbed into her.

So Friday passed into Saturday, Ja slept restlessly all night. She slept but with the odd bout of talking and rolling about the bed. Saturday she still looked terrible. Her eyes looked heavy, so tired but she had slept so much the day before and night.

Ja was eating, not a lot but eating here and there throughout the day. She drank plenty of fluids so I wasn’t so worried.

She had become very clingy to Noot, she wanted Noot near her all the time. She became upset if Ben or I were left alone with her. If Noot went to the toilet of for a shower Ja would cry and wail for her.

This carried on into Sunday, Noot was tired and frustrated. I had given Noot a rest here and there as when I walk out the door Ja is straight onto where I was going and of course wanting to go too.

Each trip was quick as Ja would quickly want to head home to see Noot, she would start a slow low whining of, “I want Noot, I want to see Noot.”

By Sunday afternoon I was at the end of my tether, and I am not proud of this. Ja was really getting to me. I am embarrassed to admit this as I am supposed to be the adult and she is just an off colour little 2yo girl.

For the first time, ever, since I have been lucky enough to have Ja in my life, I lost it with her. I yelled at her with anger, horrible anger. And it brings tears to my eyes as I sit and write about this, thinking about it.

One time when Noot had gone out to an appointment for her skin therapy, Ja had fallen asleep, so Noot scurried off for the appointment early. About half an hour later Ja awoke and instantly started calling for Noot.

I went to her and she said. “Go away, where is Noot? I want Noot.” And this was repeated over and over again. I had picked her up and tried to comfort her, take her attention off of Noot by feeding the fish, let’s go for a walk, watch a cartoon, play a game but all fell on deaf ears.

After what seemed a long time but more than likely wasn’t; I am ashamed to say I yelled at her. No, I screamed at her in absolute anger and rage.

“Ja, shut up! Noot is not hear. Shut up! Stop it.” I screamed. This has happened a few times the last few days.

This of course didn’t make things better, she continued to cry. And for the first time I could see that she was scared, or looked scared as I had never yelled like this and I am sure Ja seeing me lose it was scary.

Noot finally arrived home, I handed Ja over and left for the bedroom as I was hurt, embarrassed, angry just to say a few of the things I was feeling.

And like a big girl (no offence meant to women) I sat in the bedroom and sobbed like a fool, I was crying I think because of my behaviour and losing it at Ja, who I love so dearly.

Ja continued her funny behaviour into Sunday evening, Noot was tired and on edge, Ben and I were trying to make Ja happy and give Noot relief but not with much luck.

Come Monday, yesterday Ja continued with her behaviour. Noot tried to make breakfast and Ja called and called for her. I went to her but again was rejected, told to go away and that she wanted Noot.

I am not angry at this, Ja wasn’t right and you could see this. She is a little girl that is sick, as simple as that and I couldn’t help no matter how I tried. This is Ja today, a scratchy and husky voice but the most talkative she has been.

Come yesterday afternoon, I mentioned to Noot that there was noway this was a bloody cold or flu. It had to be something else but I had no idea what. It had been 4 days and Ja had not picked up at all. She still looked miserable.

Monday evening, Noot called Ja’s dad and they took her to see the paediatrician at the hospital, I will admit that I had yelled at Noot early in the evening, “Can’t you see she is not right? Don’t you care about her?” Just a few things that fell out my big mouth that evening.

So they went to the hospital, and were gone a long time. I called once and Noot said they would be home soon. They arrived home and the dictionary on the iPhone was needed.

And the doctor at the hospital had diagnosed German Measles, I had trouble believing this as there was no rash that I could see. I went straight onto the internet to see the symptoms and treatment. Ja had been immunised, well had her first injection as her second was due in a few months.

Noot had pointed out a few small marks here and there on Ja but I associated German Measles as an awful rash covering the body. (writing this today being Tuesday the rash has really started coming out) So the week before the rash the symptoms of a cold were pretty well spot on. I am pissed, very pissed at the fuc#en doctor but again should have she been able to diagnose German Measles last Thurday. I am doing some reading as if she fuc$ed up she will know about it in a farang rage.

I am so happy that we know what is wrong, and I can boast and say that it was a load of shit the temperature change crap that was suggested and I bagged. What is frustrating is not being able to do anything for German Measles.

But what concerns me is this. My anger directed at a sick little girl. There are no excuses, not one reason I can think of. I could make up a load of shit and say, “I was tired, mentally drained” and so on but these would all be just a pathetic excuse.

I feel repulsed at how I acted at times as I sit and recall these past few days. My poor little girl has measles, she doesn’t understand what is going on, she is sick, feeling down and she has had a person who is meant to love her above anything else, screaming at her.

I am not looking for sympathy or kind words from anyone, not at all. I just want to write about it, let it out as the past few days have been hard, that includes today and will probably be tomorrow as well.

Today the rash has come out, Ja is sleeping a lot, she is still clinging to Noot and we are all tired and short. Seeing Noot yell at Ja hurts me as they are inseparable and Noot loves her to death, but things are trying, we are trying to just make it easier on Ja, make her happy and as comfortable as can be.

Right now, Ja is glued to Noot on the couch, falling in and out of short naps. When she wakes she wails, small low cries. At this exact moment 12 O’clock she is telling Noot to leave her alone.

I am staying around the edges, just watching and staying out of the way. I look forward to the old Ja back as soon as possible.

Brunty

P.S. I almost forgot I also did this in my time of stupidity. When I was in my room I punched my wall. It is a good wall to punch as it is solid brick. I cannot even remember the last time I did something as stupid as this. Maybe back when I was a teenager.

P.S.S Noot just called out to me; I was getting ready to post this blog. I walked out into the lounge room and asked her what she wanted. She nods her head towards Ja. I look at her with a stupid look as I am not sure what I am meant to be looking at.

Noot then said, “she is standing up and walking on her own,” this was for the first time in days. This was big for Noot who for days has had her attached to her nearly 24hrs a day.

I didn’t approve of the snack she was having but was not going to risk trying to take it away from her.

Brunty

P.S.S.S - Ja is chatting up a storm with Noot watching Popeye and eating her dinner. I am a very happy camper.

Ice Cold Beer and Kebabs, Ubon Ratchathani Thailand.

Sorry about the pictures as I took them on my iPhone.

On Friday night I was off to a birthday party for a mate. There were ice cold beers and kebabs for the lucky few that were invited.

The mood was good; everyone was enjoying the food and cold beer.

I felt a little guilty as the cook attended to the kebab, but again he got to eat plenty and also plenty of cold beers, but did have to sweat a bit.

The kebab was delicious; there are not many opportunities to have kebabs here in Ubon Ratchathani.

The birthday boy was circulating amongst the invited guests; I thank him for the ice cold beer and hope he enjoyed the night.

Presents were presented, this was a miniature poodle; I just hope they remembered to take it out of the box before the oxygen run out.

Also we celebrated the life of an amazing lady by all accounts, a mate’s mother who had passed away years gone by, so a double whammy all in one.

Brunty