Some interesting farm designs

Have you seen hexagonal roving rooms?

It is rather uncommon but I've seen one in Batam, Indonesia. This is another I've seen in the swiftlet town Ban Laem. Err.. painted pink? That's unique! Hmm... a lady owner may be.





































This is a large farm - probably 20m x 24m x 6 storeys! Multiple entry holes at split levels.















These are 3 farms in a row built by P'Jiap. His earlier design with open section behind the roving room on top is populated by pigeons (swiftlet friendly he reckons). He do away with that in newer farms now.















I'll update with more interesting & unusual designs here in future.

Bird Farms of Samut Songkhram

Samut Songkhram, 70km south west from Bangkok, is the smallest province of Thailand. The provincial capital was built close to river mouth of Mae Klong, a fairly large river that flows all the way from Kanchanaburi.

Many temples are built on river banks and some populated with birds. This is Wat Ban Leam's monk quarters that gave way to birds!














A bird house sighted cross the Mae Klong on opposite bank.














View seen through pavilion on Wat Ban Laem's ground.



















Another bird temple hidden in a quiet location out of town.



















Two converted bird houses along the busy Rama II main road.















A failed hotel converted into bird farm!















The largest in town, 2 blocks each as big as factory size building! A stone throw from my favorite sea food restaurant.














Samut Songkhram is also reputed to produce the best lychees in Thailand. It has a short season in mid-April, around Songkhran period. This year, yield was low and prices almost doubled last year!

Bird Nest Stadium?

I was thinking to feature this in my blog for a while.. the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Surely we bird nest farmers can be proud of. After all, bird nests are said exclusive to the emperors of China thousands of years ago. It could well be the largest market for bird nest in years to come.

This Bird Nest inspired design is both stylish and futuristic in looks.












Construction in progress.

























An update photo from Bangkok Post (15th May), reports of pollution haze over the Bird Nest Stadium. Will authorities be able to keep pollution in check by time of Olympics?











More info available at this official site:

http://www.stadiumguide.com/beijing.htm

A recollection of my first trip to Ban Laem

When I visited Ban Laem the first time, I knew nobody in town. So all I did was to drive around and took pictures from the roadside and outside locked gates of private compounds. These are my first impressions.

The first two farm houses outside town that came to sight. Looks new with 'dummy' windows.

































The impression builds up as I approached town with this large farm.















Tall farm houses cannot be missed, following one would led progressively to the others.








































































Some used external screen to shield the sun's heat from the west.

































Soon I reached the river where the density of bird houses increased.












































































This entire row of farm houses is awesome when I reached the farming nucleus, though the compressed panoramic view here do not project the full visual impact I had on site. Wow, who can own such a large farm house I thought!






As I latter learned, it turn out largely unsuccessful (or yet to be successful if nicely put)! It was built and sold by developer from Phak Phanang. Using their successful farm from the south as show case, they were successful in selling them to many individuals and walked away with US$2,000,000 profits I was told. The owners (may not be experienced farmers) struggled on their own to populate with birds. Too many rounds of renovations I was told. Now the birds seem to ignore them completely.

Last but not least, can't resist to include this lovely seaside restaurant in Ban Laem. Excellent sea food of course! Such a joy to discover it when I hit end of the road.





















Monkeys here have adapted well to live by the swamps. They pick live clams and other shell foods on muddy shore during low tides. Wonderful to watch the young swinging and jumping into the sea on high tides. They are also wise to look out for restaurant staff armed with catapults keeping them away from harassing patrons.

Provincial city of Petchaburi

Petchaburi, located about 120Km south west from Bangkok, is an ancient city with a long history. Driving around town you will see old temples and narrow streets converted to one way traffic. Three Thai Kings Rama IV, V & VI built their retreat palaces here. So this is a town worth a visit.

The theme here will stick to swiftlet ranching of course. It's scale pale in comparison with others. If compared to Phak Phanang, a Chinese saying "A mosquito's limb compared to a cow's leg!" comes to mind.

Nevertheless, a nice story I came to know here. Notice the shop house (to the left) with a broken corner window? It was a vacant 3rd storey of a shop house and some kids broke it with catapults through mischiefs some years ago. Then swiftlets discovered it and turned into home. Soon after all human occupants at lower levels moved out to make way for the birds.















Neighbors (picture to its right) across won't fail to notice the birds and could not resist converting their property into bird house too.

Then came an entrepreneur outside town, buy up a piece land next to it and put in place a large custom-built 4-storey farm house!















It was built by P'Moo and includes secret storage compartment for harvested nests. How thoughtful! Sorry, it's location is privilege information and can't let the cat out of the bag.

A panorama view of the bird houses








Front view of the first bird house in town, all windows & doors sealed!















A few more in the area, contrasting with old wooden house in neighborhood



















Several neighbors keep birds away from their balcony with nettings! Unwelcome?















This converted old shop house contrasted with a nice large house next door!

Phak Phanang - a swiftlet city like no others

Or more appropriately phrased - there is no other farming towns I've seen that comes close to Phak Phanang! Imagine you are accustomed to casinos the size in Macau, Genting, Sydney & Melbourne; awe struck by the sheer scale (both in size and numbers) of casinos in Las Vegas the first time you arrive! That was my feeling upon arrival.

Driving into the main street of town. Turn your head in any direction, you'll find bird houses in sight!























































This is said to be the first house populated by swiftlet some 85 years ago! All it's windows & shop front must have been permanently closed for a long, long time! If that being true, then Thailand has a long history in swiftlets farming; may even predates Indonesia.


















Every house worth converting must have been turned into a bird house! Practically all multi-storey buildings are converted.



























































































This looks like a hotel of "yester-years" converted to a bird house.


















I like the small town atmosphere here, casual and relax without hurry.














Market alley between the main street and the river.














Enjoyed a 'cafe yian' (iced coffee) & desserts by the side walk.














Fried chicken southern style are tasty too!














Gateway leading to a temple ground within. Oops, forgot to check if any birds in there.



















I was told this farm (within town) produced 40kg/month 4 years ago! It's only a medium size farm in neighborhood. Your guess how many tons this town is producing now!














Bird houses gets bigger and bigger from edge of town. These are only a small sample!




















Many newer farm houses are 7 storeys high. An Indonesian handbook claimed swiftlet has memories to 4 levels of nesting areas. Has it been proven wrong here?
This 7 storey farm house built by my friends P'Moo & P'Jiap from Ban Laem.



















Mega size bird houses are found around outskirt of town.






The town appears thinly populated now. Many must have cashed in and moved out over the years. Land price is said to be B30,000,000 per rai here! (1 rai = 1,600 m square or 40m x 40m)

A Google satellite picture of the feeding grounds around Phak Phanang. It must be enormously rich in producing insects to support such a large bird population!













In conclusion, I don't feel able to convey my full impressions adequately here, you just got to be there to appreciate its scale & magnitude!