Thailand

Preparations are underway for the Sustainable Turfgrass Management for Southeast Asia seminars in Thailand, with a field day scheduled for March 10 at ATC’s research area, where turfgrass is thriving with excellent color despite minimal 2009 fertilizer applications and a newly built putting green nearing tournament-ready height.

Roadside vendors near Korat and Khao Yai National Park in Thailand sell grilled rice field rats for 200 baht per kilogram, with regional preparation differences from Ayutthaya-style rats — including removed heads and tails — meaning buyers get more meat per baht, alongside tender baby rats also available for purchase.

Exploring the culinary culture of Sam Khok, Thailand, a writer investigates the weekend roadside market for grilled rat, finding it priced at 180–200 baht per kilogram—four times the cost of chicken—and humorously frames it as the centerpiece of a tongue-in-cheek “Sam Khok Diet” complete with whisky pairing suggestions.

A turfgrass researcher discovered “ELE-POO 100% ELEPHANT FERTILIZER” at an elephant kraal in Ayutthaya, Thailand, and plans to evaluate its effects on turfgrass color and quality.

A gecko named Oliver lives in the author’s office, hiding among papers and in shadowy desk corners, making the author grateful that geckos—rather than rats—share their indoor living space.

A blogger living in Thailand describes the abundance of roadside food vendors near his home, focusing on a curious weekend-only specialty: grilled rat sold every few kilometers, priced at around 160 baht per kilogram — more expensive than pork or chicken — which raises questions about vendor schedules, leftover inventory, and the best sauce pairings.

A turfgrass researcher shares their December experience working at a research center in Thailand, where they’ve built a putting green featuring 15 grass varieties in preparation for the March 2009 Asian Turfgrass Field Day, while enjoying the sunny, mild weather and blooming tropical flowers of a Thai Christmas.

A solo Thanksgiving celebration in Thailand featured a festive meal of vegetables, fried rice, salad, and omelette—a notable upgrade from the author’s typical diet of fruit and peanuts, complete with dressing up for the occasion.

A shopper describes a moment of brief alarm upon encountering a package labeled “ground dog” in the frozen meats aisle, which turned out to be dog food rather than anything more sinister.