Celebrating a birthday, house warming, or graduation in Khon Kaen?  Want to have a party but don’t have a big front or back yard.  In Khon Kaen, this is just not a problem.  Take your party to the street.

Khon Kaen Street Party

All you need to do is get some tarps, tables and chairs, and block the road.  Put up a few cones or maybe a metal barrier, and just do what the hell you want to do with no regard for your Khon Kaen neighbors.  Don’t forget to invite the dogs.

This is how they do things in Khon Kaen (and the rest of Thailand).  The picture above was taken at about 0700 as the inconsiderate neighbors were setting up party central on Soi 3 of VIP Homes 5.  Since it is Friday, this may be in place for the entire weekend.  I know that it will still be up and running tonight as an earlier photo at about 0600 showed they have lights in place.

Khon Kaen Street Party Lights

The only thing missing, and will most likely show up later on today, is the karaoke machine and the speaker wall that would make a heavy metal band jealous.  Again, no care or concern for the rest of the Khon Kaen neighbors and bad karaoke will permeate the airwaves throughout the night.

Can anything be done?  If you go and complain directly to the owners, they will say “It is only for one night.  Mai pen rai”.  Or, they will just smile and pretend they don’t understand even if you are speaking Thai to them.  The worst case is if there are a number of drunks that will take great pleasure in ganging up on one Farang.

So, all one can do is live with it. It sucks, but this is Thai style.  As long as I am happy and doing what I want to do, it doesn’t matter at all who I inconvenience.  I can block the street, blare loud music, and then leave a trashy mess on the road that I don’t have to clean up since it isn’t in my front yard.

I tried to convince my wife that on our last night here, before we move into the new house, that we should set up tents, block the road, and put up a wall of speakers and blast out some heavy metal music for the enjoyment of our neighbors.

But, my wife isn’t the vengeful type, and doesn’t want to piss anyone off regardless.

So, I will just have to put up with one more time (hopefully) and then we will be in our new Khon Kaen house with no neighbors at all.

Khon Kaen Street Party is a post from: Khon Kaen

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It is January 5ht, 2011 at about 1700 in Khon Kaen Thailand and I just got back inside after having a cigarette.  While I was sitting outside, I heard some noise down the street from where I live and went to have a look.

Right across from where I live in Khon Kaen, Thailand is a side street.  And, many folks on the street over cut through this side street to the street I am on so they can get to the main road without having to hit 10 speed bumps.

But, the idiots blocked it just so they have their little Khon Kaen Birthday party.

Blocked Road For Personal Party In Khon Kaen

They already have a sound system set up as I heard someone barking out orders to set up the tables and chairs.  And then, along comes a truck with the karaoke system and big speakers.

Truck With Karaoke Machine And Speakers In Khon Kaen

This is typical in Thailand.  Do something that benefits only you and to hell with the rest of the world.  It doesn’t matter that they blocked the road with no permission from anyone, will break the sound barrier with crappy singing, and leave a mess on the road for someone else to clean up.

I see this almost daily.  Park your car or truck in front of 7-11 and block the road while you run in for just a minute.  Block the road while you stop to piss in the bushes.  Stop and block two lanes of traffic while you chat with your friend.  No consideration of others at all.

This is Khon Kaen. This is Thailand.

So, it looks like it is going to be a long, loud night of bad karaoke here in Khon Kaen.

It’s My Party And I’ll Inconvenience You If I Want To is a post from: Khon Kaen

I have now been living in Khon Kaen, Thailand for the past nine months and I have a small rant to post. This is probably one of the things that irks me the most.  Lack of Consideration.  People in Khon Kaen, Thailand and elsewhere in Thailand have a serious lack of consideration for others.  It is all about ME!

I was going to entitle this post – Khon Kaen Inconsiderate A**holes – but held off.  I will try and remain somewhat politically correct.

What bugs me is that people in Thailand (Thais and foreigners alike) feel it is OK to do anything as long as it is convenient for them and screw the rest of the world.

People constantly block a lane of traffic because they want to dash into 7-11 when there is a huge parking lot a few meters away but I guess they figure that is too far to walk.  Here is a perfect example I saw this morning while out for my daily bicycle ride.  On one side of the street is a Thai baht bus, parked on a dirt lot, off the road, and with turn signal indicator on.  Bravo.

Khon Kaen Baht Bus Parked Properly

Right across the street and in front of the 7-11 is the inconsiderate A**hole blocking one lane of traffic while he stopped to shop.

Khon Kaen Inconsiderate Driver

I guess it was too far to walk if he parked across the street near the baht bus.

And, yesterday, on the way to Thai Immigration in Khon Kaen for my 90-day report, I saw this at Khon Kaen University.  Security guards from KKU offloading boxes at the student union.

Khon Kaen Universtiy Security Guards Offloading Truck

I guess it was too much for them to pull up a couple hundred feet and park in the lot or pull up under the Student Union to offload the truck.  No problem – easy for them and a pain in the ass for everyone driving by.

The list goes on.  The ones that throw trash on the ground because the trash bin is two feet away and too far to walk to.

The cars, trucks, and motorcycles that drive on the wrong side of the road because it is easier for them to go the wrong way for “just a little bit” to get to where they are going.  Screw everyone else.  And, who cares if I am driving illegally?  Certainly not the Thai police.

I see underage motorcycle drivers (I am talking about 10-year old kids), motorcycle drivers and passengers without helmets, four and five people on a bike designed to hold two at the most, and motorcycles with illegal sidecars.

People constantly sweep the area in front of their house or shop and just let it go into the street.  raw sewage and waste get swept into the sewers.  Sewers pour directly into rivers, streams, and the Gulf of Siam untreated.

And, no one cares at all.  Mai pen rai, khrap.

I could go on, but I got this off my chest – not that it will do any good.  I will see the same inconsiderate assholes tomorrow and the day after.  Not only in Khon Kaen, but everywhere I go in Thailand.

It is so easy to be considerate of the other guy – it doesn’t take much.  Perhaps I just have to get used to this type of behavior while living in Khon Kaen.

Khon Kaen Lack of Consideration is a post from: Khon Kaen

Out again this morning at 0600 in between last night’s rain and the upcoming showers today.  At least it is nice and cool in the early morning. It is still too muddy to ride around Lake Nong Khot so I head out towards Central Plaza again.  I decide to keep on going past the shopping mall to the shrine and loop back around towards home.

It is a typical morning – overcast with the threat of rain – and cool.  Everything is normal.

The street vendors are serving up breakfast.

Street Vendor

The local monks are making their early morning rounds.

Young Buddhist Monks

And an idiot driver is blocking the road with his truck so he can get his food from one of the vendors.  It doesn’t look like it in the picture, but the truck is at a complete stop, with turn signal on blocking traffic so he can get his food.  Inconsiderate asshole.

Inconsiderate Asshole

But, on a positive note – this vendor must be doing OK.  Her stall is right outside where I live and I see her every day – and today she had a new stall – bigger and nicer.

New Street Vendor Stall

Bicycle Ride 18 September 2010 is a post from: Khon Kaen

Having some sort of family get-together where you need lots of room to party? Whether it be a wedding, birthday party, or even paying final respects, there is a simple Thai solution.

Since there is not enough room in the house for the ceremony, they just block the road and set up extra seating outside.

Then, you put up a tarp/tent and tables and chairs right on the street.

Ensuring that your tables, chairs, and visitors’ motorcycles block the road and endanger other drivers.

I understand making room for a party, or to pay last respects, but what I don’t understand is the complete lack of consideration for others.  Hopefully, this won’t result in a traffic fatality.

Too Many Guests – Not Enough Room is a post from: Khon Kaen