Drilling for water.

A busy and excited day today. Writing this I am happy to  have had this experience. 

Around 9 AM the drilling firm with its truck and compressor arrived at our land. They did a great job. The soil is full of small rocks and even with glazed /glass material. 
After about 30 meters of drilling the first muddy water came to the surface. But to get enough water they needed to drill for several hours to reach 60 meters deep. 

We asked for drilling a 5 Inch (about 12.5 cm) diameter. The company guaranties us enough water to do agriculture for 10 Rai (16000 m2). We need water for 5 toilets, 4 showers, kitchen, laundry and watering the garden (about 2500 m2) and filling the pond. Together with the pump (that will be placed on March 3rd) this will be more than enough. 

Nice to see the ritual to search for water with a kind of wedge rod, and also to honor the spirits with See sip (40 degrees Thai rice whiskey), incense and drinks, for a lasting and healthy result. 




Meanwhile, security guard Kadhow is keeping an eye on everything. 

And not to forget even Khun Yai (Phatsamon's mother) visited the land to see what was going on and to ask questions about the drilling. She is proud of everything that's going on. 

Frans Captijn
e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Fixing the electricity wires

At around 10 PM the firm arrived to fix the electricity wires. Working in the open field with around 37 degrees C, pulling and after that hanging the heavy weight of the nearly 600 meters 35 mm2 wires was a hard job but... the workers succeeded. They did a great job.

Both the tree workers of the water drilling firm and the electric poles and wire company we offered a Thai lunch. Great prepared by Phatsamon's sister in the village. 

I learned from my mom, people who word for you are your guests and you need to take good care of them. So we did. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

On our way

The loaded truck (with Buddha statue, couch, Yamaha Tricity scooter, and all the hardware (tools), the (loaded) Mazda and we (with dog Kadhow) on our way. A 900 km drive. The truck doing great (the Mazda after his 30.000 km regular maintenance as well). The name is "workhorse" for the truck is really great and we are proud, carrying around 1200 kg through the mountains without problems. Yes, really working but still healthy and safe. 

Both cars consumed 3945 THB (around 110 Euro) on fuel together for the whole trip. 

To send only the scooter by Thailand Post (a great service National Post offers) from Mae Rim to Surin should cost us 4000 THB. So (still thinking Dutch) happy to do it this way with all the things we carried. 

Frans Captijn

e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

First move to Surin. Tools and basic materials.

The last couple of months we ordered and received a lot of equipment. Some were already delivered at Surin but most of the hardware and tool we ordered to Mae Rim. Just to check the quality, tryout and to organize already in toolboxes etc..

Our private Mazda Hatchback does not have the space and loading capacity to transport this kind of things. That's why we bought the second hand workhorse / truck.

So, today packing and loading are finished. Ready for the first transport and move.  

Frans Captijn
e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Drawings for the first part of the process finished

Today I finished the set of drawings for the first step in our process. We need them for the so called Or Bor Tor (Building & Construction authority) to get formal permission. 

For me it was a great exercise to start to learn drawing with a digital Cad drawing program. I am sure this will help me to make the next sets even better and quicker. 

A lot of work need to be done. These drawings are only a very small beginning. 

Hope we will get our formal permission soon. 

Frans Captijn
e-mail: 

pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Truck appearance, safety, and our co-driver.

Driving in Thailand is different then in The Netherlands is my experience living and driving a scooter, a car and a short time now also a truck. 

On many places you see the sign 'Safety first' and it brought us to the idea to make the truck, especially in the evening and night, more visible. Also we wanted to gave it a small kind of 'face-lift'. Not changing the mini-truc in a way not allowed by Thai law and different than written down in the legal papers, but just in a way to show why we use this truck and where it belongs. 

On the picture the results. 

Dog Kadhow is fond of driving our private car. He has his own private space using the luggage storage space of the hatchback. Now he got his first experiences in the truck as well. Although you often see dogs sitting outside on the loading floor of a pick-up truck, I do not like him to be there. 
It worked out, being a more than curious (and spoiled) dog, he does not feel comfortable at all sitting on the floor.
So, he took the role being a co-driver and jumped on the seat. Not a problem in this second hand truck. 




Frans Captijn
e-mail: 
pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Third time (we hope) lucky

Yesterday we visited Dan Chang (Suphan Buri province), about 600 km from Mae Rim/Chiang Mai, to check another second hand Mini Truck. This time a Kia Jumbo Workhorse K2700. 

This one looks perfect for what we have in mind it has to do (help us) for the next few years. 
The owner, an American Expat with his Thai wife, after 14 years living in Thailand is going to leave Thailand, to live in Mexico. 
This couple used the truck for work at their orchard. 


Daughter Carlien gave us some advise in relation to buy this car and asked her technical college in Perth and a friend with experience working on this kind of mini-truck. 



What we found was another expat, in our feeling and experience, you can trust and a truck in a good condition for our needs. 


Today we drove back to Mae Rim / Chiang Mai and got a good experience with this car. New tires, new breaks, good maintenance and condition and driving great. The first load is waiting. 

Third time lucky (as a Dutch slogan says)? We hope so and looking forward to a great relationship with this car. 


Frans Captijn
e-mail: 
pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com

Third attempt to find Transportation

As we said, this process we want to see as a journey and, so far, it is. 

During the weekend we did not succeed in finding a single cab pickup truck rental in Chiang Mai. We need at least the loading space of a single cab car to bring our materials for building to Isaan. 

A Dutch slogan is "Without transportation there is no movement" and we understand that's totally true. This must be a first step. So, Phatsamon did do a lot to find other solutions last Friday and Saturday. There is a lot to find but hard to find something that fits our present and future needs. But still some options.

And as our process is a journey... we have to travel this week to check a new opportunity we found. A small truck used by an American man and his Thai wife for their orchard. They are leaving Thailand and sold their land already and cannot take this truck to America. 

We have an appointment for a test drive and who knows this is the right solution for us. Wee keep you posted.



Frans Captijn
e-mail: pyramidhousethailand@gmail.com