This does not make farang

Pim Hoonhout tells about a helicopter flight in 2008, where he was allowed to sit at the controls. And our herring man from Hua Hin has something new again: smoked mackerel and kipper. Tasty!

In 2008, at the request of investors from the Netherlands, I started to set up a unique project that would then cost approximately 17 million euros. It was a piece of land of 50 rai. They wanted aerial photos of that.

A friend of mine was crazy about toy airplanes and also had a helicopter. He wanted to take the photos for a fee of 30.000 baht. Bit expensive, according to the shareholders. Through friendly people from the army I got the offer to do that with an army helicopter. After all, it was good for the country.

We made an appointment to get off the ground from the airport in Hua Hin. I knew that. Once there, no helicopter to be seen, but parachutists. I thought, could that thing be hidden? A colonel came to me. He said that I could board that dropping plane.

The plane was actually full, but there was still room for me against the back of the pilot's seat. No belt or parachute, but strong hands so as not to fall out the back. Terrified on take-off.

After almost everyone jumped out except the pilot and me, he asked me if I wanted to fly the plane. He looked surprised, because I wanted to do that. After all, I had one flying lesson in a Cessna for my birthday. With a bluff I took my place behind the bat, surprised as I was that the plane flew much easier than a Cessna. Okay, on landing he helped me not to end up in a temple.

The investors came to see for themselves, but the gentlemen did not want to put a penny more into the project. End of story.

Old profession resumed

I myself have resumed my old profession as the only fishmonger with import permits in Thailand through my connections. In the meantime, there are others who have thrown my good name up for grabs and have started such a thing themselves, because I do not supply them because of their ignorance. Don't trust their product. I came up with the idea because all the herring that was offered to me in Thailand did not meet the requirements.

On www.dutchfishbypim.nl you can see trusted addresses. Not all addresses are listed. My herrings are also for sale in Chiang Mai, Phuket and so on. Actually all over Thailand now. It is only in Pattaya and Udon Thani that you have to be careful to buy a good herring.

Postscript

In the meantime Pim – that man never sits still – has started smoking mackerel and kipper. Smoked, as it should be, on oak wood from Europe. Kipper is especially popular with the English, mackerel with the Dutch. Please note: they are available in limited quantities because fish has to come over from the North Sea and smoking takes a lot of time due to the limited space.

Pim's previous contribution 'With no Pen to describe' was on October 16, 2013 on Thailandblog.

Submitted communication

'Exotic, bizarre and enigmatic Thailand': that's the name of the book that stg Thailandblog Charity is making this year. 44 bloggers wrote a story about the land of smiles especially for the book. The proceeds go to a home for orphans and children from problem families in Lom Sak (Phetchabun). The book will be published in September. (Photo: Johan Bankersen)