Life in Phetchaburi

Oct 27

While we were traveling in Laos we decided we really did need to get to know Phetchaburi better. We know three places to eat and that’s about it. So today we got up and did some maintenance chores. Ron repainted an area outside under the eaves that had been water damaged when the roof leaked and I pulled a vine out that was invading a group planting. I threw the compost into our compost barrel and washed out our kitchen garbage can as it was smelly. Due to the heat here the compost and garbage need to be emptied frequently. 

We waited until 10:00 to leave, since not much is open before then. We parked the car on a main street in old town and started walking. In Asia I find the density of population is much greater than at home. The sidewalks are narrow, uneven, and at times treacherous, so I watch my feet the entire time. Here it is complicated by the fact that many mini businesses encroach on the sidewalks. Shops will put their wares out on the sidewalk and there is always a number of food vendors with carts. 

Oh, you can always count on motorcycles and cars being
parked on the sidewalks. Signage is another problem. Big signs in metal frames can completely block the sidewalk, forcing you into the street where there is heavy traffic. So we can’t just stroll along, as it were. We thread ourselves around various obstacles in our way. Today I noticed that many shops have canvas awnings that hang down below shoulder level to protect their goods from the sun , adding to our dodging. I always carry a sunbrella to keep the sun off and frequently had to maneuver it so that it wasn’t bumping into anyone or anything.

We walked almost two hours. My biggest find was a huge fresh market with scads of fresh veggies. I am thrilled even though we don’t cook much, as I mentioned before. But every now and then I love a plate of streamed veggies. We only have a stove top so steaming is my only option. We eat an enormous amount of rice here so having an alternative is super. We found where Ron’s barber is located and found several others too. We always fumble around trying to find it and now we can get there easily because we walked the entire area where the barber is located. I would have to admit those were the only real fines today.

We marvel as how many tiny shops all sell the exact same merchandise. After two hours we were wringing wet from the heat. I suggested we go to our fave lunch place which is cool and has a bathroom. It was good to get off our feet and chill for a while. The eatery is open air but always cool with big fans. Next, we went to an internet café to have our bank statements printed and a change of flight time from Vietnam Air. Right down the street was our massage place so we went in for a foot massage. Next we went to get water for our water dispenser but no one was there, so we got some fruit and headed home. Now we are in our bedroom mid afternoon chilling in the AC. The rest of the house feels like a sauna. Hopefully tomorrow we will continue exploring our town and discover more finds.

We had a toasted ham and cheese sandwich for dinner. I found some nice ham at the high end market in Hua Hin when we got in from Laos on Saturday. After dinner we played scrabble. Ron won big the first round and barely beat me the second game. Life is good.

Oct 28

This morning we cleaned up the sidewalks in front of Noy’s and our houses. He is in BKK for a medical checkup. There was a big wind storm last night that blew open our double screen doors and when I went into the living area to get some water I was astounded by how much leaf debris had blown in. There were leaves against every wall and on the floor in the living and dining rooms. 

After breakfast and showering, Ron went to get our water: two five gallon bottles and take some sewing up to our little village, hemming pants for both of us. When he got back we headed out for more exploration. We did the cross streets today of the streets we covered yesterday. We scored: another DVD store that has rentals as well as DVDs to buy. We rented two and bought one. We also bought veggies for tonight and some flowers for Pa Cha An at the fresh market we discovered yesterday. We came home after a couple of hours of walking in the heat. After lunch we took a siesta. The heat is quite draining here.

Oct 29

We had planned to get up and weed before breakfast. Ron doesn’t enjoy yard work but volunteered to help. When I opened our bedroom door I discovered it was raining. With the AC on we usually can’t hear the rain unless it is pouring which happens here frequently. I teased Ron and said ‘no wonder you volunteered. You knew you could get out of it with this rain’. Ha! So we showered, ate and did some computer work. Then it stopped raining so we did some weeding. Make hay while the sun shines as it were. Or maybe I should say ‘weed while it isn’t scorching hot’.

We decided it would be a great day to explore more of our town since it was cool from the rain and the sun didn’t come out. We found a new store we have never seen, large with a parking lot no less. That is a very rare event indeed. We went inside and walked every aisle. It may sound strange but some things are hard to find here so we tend to explore new stores in case we can find some needed or wanted item. The really good hardware store ala Hone Depot is 45 minutes away from here as an example. We bought a thermometer so we could see how hot the house really is and a few food storage containers.

After the store, we walked to the AIS store that is the service provider for our Thai cell phone line. While there, the sky unzipped and we had to wait 45 minutes for the rain to let up. As I sat looking out onto the street I noticed the storm drain in front of the store. Initially it kept up with the deluge but after a while I noticed the street starting to fill with water. Before the rain slackened the street was flooded with the water coming to the top of the curb, covering car tires above the rims. I don’t know if you have ever lived in a warm climate but insects rule. So as the rain increased so did the roaches coming out from the storm drain where they hide out. First we noticed big ones then a horde of tiny babies. Ick! 

Back to the car and a quick stop at a place down the street from our house. Here at 3:00 to 5:00 PM you can pick up your dinner. There is a covered area with four or five women and tables filled with pots of prepared food, probably 15-20 dishes to choose from. I point and a woman fills  plastic baggies with two or three large spoons of the item. Today, I got a beef/eggplant curry, chicken larb (a meat alad) and a stir fry dish of chicken, noodles and veggies for 90 baht, about $3. A young boy was there and helped translate what the dishes were that I had pointed to so I gave him my change and thanked him for the translation services. The women beamed. In BKK a 10% service charge is usually added to the bill in restaurants but not here. We frequently eat lunch at JM Cuisine, a noodle/stir fry place.  When we first started tipping the staff would run after us to let us know we had left money on the table.

.When we got home I weeded some more and Noy came over to help me. I can only bend or stoop so long so quit after about 30 minutes but the two of us made great headway.

Shops here are very casual for lack of a better word. Frequently shop clerks eat in front of customers. They don’t really go out to lunch so much as grab something nearby and bring it back to the shop and eat it at the counter.

Our town is small so there are only motorcycle taxis and some bicycle rickshaws, not cars. In rain

and sunshine we see motorcyclists steering with one hand and holding an umbrella with the other. Sometimes the passenger will hold the umbrella. Because Thais prize light skin they will wear windbreakers to keep the sun off. I can’t even begin to imagine how hot it must be. Street workers who sweep or clean the streets and construction workers with wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, a hat that has a mask and scarf to cover the neck and gloves. Geez I would pass out in all that! See photo.

Oct 30

We started the morning with Ron working on the pump for our little water fountain and me continuing to weed. Ron joined me after he discovered the pump had died a natural death. I am pleased to say we basically are finished until the tiniest weeds grow big enough to pull out.

After breakfast we went into our third day of exploration, this time to the west of the Phetchaburi River. We didn’t make any new discoveries other than seeing a huge wat being remodeled and it looks like no expense is being spared. After all the rain yesterday it is sunny and hot, hot, hot today.

Wat Mahathi Worawhan

r

Wat Khi 

Oct 31

Today we drove to our fave hardware store ala Home Depot south of Cha Am and got a new pump for our water feature. We found some regular sponges for the kitchen. The only place I have been able to find them. Mostly what we see here are the foam sponges which are useless for wiping down counters or sopping up spills. We got some other items we needed like a sprayer to use with bleach water to clean up all the mold on the sidewalk and sides of the porches and house. Next we drove to Hua Him, another 15 or 20 minutes south and ate a bowl of duck noodle soup at our favorite soup place. From there we picked up some items at the super grocery that caters to foreigners where we can get granola. I even found some oregano and canned tomatoes so I can make marinara sauce for spaghetti when the heat isn’t overwhelming me. We ended with a foot massage at a place we haven’t used before in Cha Am. I had a good one but Ron’s tech was in OJT and he wasn’t pleased.

Happy Halloween! Here are some photos from our yard: a huge

butterfly drunk on nectar and one of the many banana trees in our ‘orchard, also one of several papaya trees. There are also mangoes which will ripen in April long after we have left. There are a few other trees with fruit that we have yet to identify.

Flower in our yard

Butterfly gathering nectar in our yard

View of the Phet River from our yard