hank75

Isaan is regular Thai! Just the fresh air, loamy soil and bootleg whisky grows them slightly different there

I have encountered this too with my guy. I think they are trying to keep the beer cold as they usually drink outdoors in the heat. Regardless I think it’s good for all that alcohol consumption to be diluted and they’re getting some hydration. I am not a fast drinker so it made my beer repulsive.

You had me worried there for a hot minute. I thought that the family had tried to scam you, requested money, or done something seriously offensive like try to sell you 50 light bobs. Perhaps you were caught off guard but this feels normal in a large family situation, being asked about your intentions when inhibitions have been lowered sufficiently by familiarity and alcohol lol. I actually found this question positive rather than the opposite.

We used to call this a granny flat. What is the Cambodian equivalent for this I wonder? House of Falang?

The taxi system is now efficient and uncomplicated unless a massive queue has built up. As @captainmick has said, you can insist on metered fare and the driver will ask for extra to take the highway, for which a receipt is provided. Or he may ask you for a flat amount (usually 500) the profit to him is so little that there is no harm to agree. I have not been “scammed” for many years of taking airport taxis. Only once the driver tried to move off without switching on the meter while asking for a higher flat rate. I told him firmly either he charged the meter rate, or I would exit the taxi, walk back to the taxi rank and he would have to leave the airport terminal with no passenger and join the long queue all over again. Worked like a charm.

That’s the old Shangri La, the new one is 500 AUD on a reasonable day and I can assure you it’s not worth it in the slightest.

Seconded and at 6500 it is good value. You will not get the same standards in Manila, a similar class hotel is either very aged or very expensive (the only one I can think of which I would find realistically comparable is the Shangri La BGC, and that is double the price. And I prefer Meridian)

More at risk from the motorcycles than the breakfasts, to my way of looking at it

Depending on what exactly you use these quite often get dispensed without a prescription in normal Thai pharmacies so you can easily stock up if you travel there occasionally.

Probably should check out Joyzone and GASS too if you don’t necessarily want to off someone

From my ex guy (and others) I received the sense that adult life expectancy was relatively short in Cambodia. Parents in their early 50s were described as “very old” and on their last legs. Several boys I know lost a parent at a young age. Excessive drinking among other factors is a likely contributor! Added on to a hard farming life….malnutrition… poor healthcare. My ex guy’s mother was so riddled with gout and ailments she could be barely walk.

@jimmie50 I’m sure you didn’t envision yourself starting your retirement adventure in a crowded village house, using outhouse toilets and enduring drunken karaoke! Hang in there. Your reports are bringing back memories of spending Songkran with my ex guy in Siem Reap where I was invited to partake in the “festivities” with his friends and relatives. Will recap that here when I am less exhausted, it’s been a dinger of a week. All I can say is you have far more fortitude than I did; a day was more than too much for me. On a serious note, be careful whatever you consume is fully cooked. I didn’t like the sound of collecting rainwater in vats to cook and wash with. Sounds like a case food poisoning or bacterial infection around the corner.

Looks a bit grim. Agreed, short time room or nothing beyond 2 days

I stand corrected but my logic remains similar, the fate of Soi 4 lies with its owners and should not be confused with the complaints of the failed investor

Why is it surprising that an Australian speaks English?