Events

16 Dec
U-19

21 Dec
Thai Rae Christmas Festival Opening Ceremony of Walking Street Watch the history of the village, the mines and history of the birth of Jesus Christ by the students of the Miraculous Minority Students at the intersection Ruangwach Road.

22 Dec
Thai Rae Christmas Festival The Big Star Car Show And the school in the district of Tha Mineral Mine at the Martino mine. - Opening Ceremony of Ban Tha Min Christmas history And a demo of ancient stars. Have a look at the performance of the Sakon Nakhon Star Fair at the exhibition area in the Pavilion Martinez.

future events👇

Unconfirmed, most likely accurate,updated 15 Dec

Dirk Gentz was transferred to Bangkok on the afternoon of 27 November. He has since been expelled from Thailand. Apparently it stemmed from a private complaint to local police

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Christmas Rush at the US Embassy: Fifty dollar notarization stamp special. Embassy full day ends at 2 pm

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: <acsbkk@state.gov>
Date: Fri, Dec 14, 2018 at 3:03 PM
Subject: Message for U.S. Citizens: Notarial Day

  

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to offer a full-day of notarial services.

Date:  December 20, 2018.

Time:  0730-1400

Place: US Embassy Bangkok 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok

           

There will be approximately 400 notarial appointments available. All services will be provided by appointment only.  Please visit us here to make an appointment. 

Fees for notary services are $50.00 USD or 1700 Thai Baht per notarial stamp.

To expedite your service, please bring exact change or consider paying by credit card to facilitate the movement of people through their appointments.

Please arrive with your passport, a copy of your passport and documents filled-out completely, correctly, and NOT signed. Documents can be accessed through these links:  Notary– including Income Affidavits

general consensus "cool"

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

High amounts of pesticide found in study

further reading

 Weed Killer Residues Found In Popular Vegetables And Fruit - Khon Kaen Times November 26, 2017

 Study Finds High Pesticides Levels In Local Food - Khon Kaen Times  December 3, 2017

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

From Clapsticks to Flutes

Times change, nothing stays the same.  That's very obvious with the Sakon Nakhon Chinese celebration in December. The yearly tradition continues with less fanfare.

Don't get me wrong, it was great fun today, things have changed.

Missing from today's celebrations were clapsticks, face painting, cobras, ankle wraps, high pole acts, just to name a few.

 Weeks before the event, 
 neighborhood kids would 
 spend their free times training with clapsticks. 

 There were a few painful learning moments.

 Participants arrived the evening before 
 and spent the night at the shrine for makeup 
 and a sleepover

 The high pole dragon fight 
 hasn't been part of the celebration 
 for a number of years

The human totem pole also has gone the way of history

Banners which were carried by two persons were this year pushed on racks. Eight banners pushed by four people per rack 

Totally missing this year was the fancy attire

Seems to me there were a few extra yellow lions in past years

  

New this year was a truck platform with a musical group and kids playing flutes

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New Facebook group : Expats in Sakon Nakhon

x
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Tradition: New Year Day gift exchange

Christmas is a christian holiday, not generally celebrated by Buddhists. There are some local enclaves where Christianity is practiced. 

Don't expect too many Christmas presents from Thais, even though they are quite willing to accept Christmas presents.

Over the years it's been my experience that Thais exchange gifts on New Years day. It's a good idea to have a few gifts at hand for any visitors on New Year Day.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

COOL SEASON Starts

Wednesday daytime 29, night time 16, temperatures and feels like are identical
similar temperatures till the new year. 
New Year daytime 26 nighttime 13


สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Friday Cadet Event

I enjoy photographing people, editing the pictures becomes somewhat of a social study.  Some group photos I count the number of mobile phones in use. 

Some faces obviously indicate they'd really prefer to be doing something else right now.

Many of these photos where taken across the football field, so there was little posing for the camera: au natural 

A monk with an ingenious way of spraying holy water over a large group of cadets

Holy Water 'four point oh'

album 181207 Cadet

76

View album

Location settings follow you

Don't carry my mobile phone regularly.  It's obvious from my timeline on Google maps.  Carried it today and my timeline reflects when I started this trip, how long I traveled and how many kilometers I drove

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon