Living as a Single Farang in the Jungle: Lahan Sai with C&A

Timely departure from Roi Et, the group heads for Lahan Sai. The ultimate intention is twofold: a little tourism with the main goal of the old Khmer temples: Prasat Hin Phanom Rung and the Muang Tum temple.

There is also a day of “jobs” on the program, but that can change and sometimes take a little longer…. you never know… surprises are never far away…

We arrive in Lahan Sai on Saturday, early afternoon. It's busy at the Jan Jin Resort. Fortunately we reserved two bungalows, otherwise we could look for another place to sleep. The bungalow nr7, which Lung Addie always gets assigned, was already occupied, but he will get better. He gets the bungalow that is normally used by the owner's family ...

After arrival, first introduce C&A to the family and the house of our Mae Ban that is under construction. It was much quieter in Nongki Lek than a few weeks ago. Most of the relatives had left for Bangkok to earn their living there. The rice season has come to an end here and so there is little or nothing to earn here, but go work elsewhere, in construction in Bangkok or Korat, far from home.

So C&A can get a first impression of what rural life is like in a small village in Isaan. Cooking is done outside, under the open sky on a charcoal fire. The chickens, the dogs, everything just roams freely in the yard. On the left and right someone is sleeping on a wooden bench. Don't even wake up from our croaking…. Already too much Lao Khao? C&A likes the house, that will be fine and will provide enough comfort for someone to wear out their old age once it is completely finished… that will come…

It's Saturday, so big market in Lahan Sai and we have to be there. Here C&A can soak up the local atmosphere, as well as the behavior of the Farangs living in the area. They sit in a cafe on Saturdays, just at the beginning of the market. In fact, you don't have to look for the cafe. You can hear it from a distance. It is busy, almost all the tables are full and at one of them a short, stocky Irishman is speaking. The more time goes on, the noisier these table occupiers become. The English expletives are also becoming more frequent…. Opposite you have the Skandinaven. Quiet conversations and even at times just nothing. Just sit and stare into space, without any kind of conversation…. finished talking???

You can also eat in the cafe and, from experience, Lung Addie knows that it is not bad. After all, it is one of the only places where you can eat food in Lahan Sai Farang. A is a lover of Thai food, but he misses the point. Wan nie, wan Sao, mow mie ahaan Thai. Yes, they don't have customers for Thaifood on Saturdays. The tie rakjes of the local Farangs buy their food at the stalls on the market and the Farangs…. often have their food from a bottle and therefore have little need for food on a plate. C&A then try the Gordon Bleu, on the advice of Lung addie, which is quite tasty. He himself wants to try the Stroganoff. Normally it is a dish with beef, yes, here it is with pork. Not bad, but the chef will have to tinker with the sauce. Lung addie was hungry, so eat what the potluck is the message and it doesn't always have to be top food.

So tomorrow, Sunday, we're going to visit the Khmer temples, a bit of tourists before we get to work. Sunday, the day of the Lord, no work is allowed, Monday we can start and also finish because on Tuesday we will leave for home again, to the South.

Photo: Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, a Khmer temple complex on the edge of an extinct volcano at an altitude of 402 meters (Buriram - Isaan)