I stay close to home when "When the roads get deadly"

Anton (German Tony) posted this video on his facebook wall.

I like the music, hope you do too!!
The video gets a bit bloody

I prefer to celebrate the New Year within walking distance to my mattress.
Here's one reason why:
When the roads get deadly THE NATION

Sakon Pattana Suska School Reunion

I was invited by friends and family.

The entertainment and service was really great and made for a pleasant evening.
The party started 6 PM, Thai time.
We were the first ones to arrive and seemed to have the place to ourselves for at least an hour.

Most of the food disappeared quickly after hitting the table.
It was just that good. If you wanted to eat, you had to be quick about it.
One of the kids at our table has a sumo wrestler type body. He eats like that too.
I made sure I didn't go away hungry.

Half way through the evening, two tables were joined so friends could sit together.
Monkey see monkey do.
All of a sudden tables were moved everywhere, there were three tables in our group.

For a moment it looked more like moving day than a party 

I knew so many people and made many new friends,  I did spend some time table hopping.

The party was still going strong when I headed home.

Yea I Know, Another parade

Many kids from my neighborhood participated in this one.
I was told days ahead to be sure and get some photo's of them.

Delight your palate for free

Tony invites you to a New Years Eve Day Luncheon

Feb 7, 2009

"We'll have  fish on the BBQ," says Tony and his wife.

They are planning a free lunch starting at Noon, Friday 31 December.

"We could use  some help with the  fishing," says Tony.

Anglers wishing to catch their own fish are welcome to start fishing any time after 10 A.M.

Tony's pond has a variety of fish.

His place is located 16 km from Muang Sakon Nakhon on highway 223
For further details you can reach Tony at 0898627102

The place where  happy memories are made

 

Dec 17, 2006

 
Jan 14, 2007



You never leave wanting more when you've been to one of Tony's bashes.

His wife is an Ace in culinary delights.

Two local Expats hospitalized

.

Happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year
If you drive, stay sober.
If you party hardy, then let someone sober do the driving.
Expect increased road checks over the holidays

Two local Expats hospitalized

an e-mail I received

Dear Hans,nice to see you the other day,thank you for your help.
I read your web-site daily. Sometimes I pick up some interesting small items of news, however, as Sakon Nakhon's roving Falang reporter, I think you are missing out on some important human interest stories of local falang persons, instead of commenting on parades etc.

In the local General Hospital are 2 seriously unwell peopole.
{1}Laurie R... ... suffered a heart attack.
{2}Tony P...
I have visited both of these people.
Are they not worth a visit from you our intrepid reporter ; a mention on your web-site.they have personal help but encouraging support may help from other fellow falangs, it is not nice to be in a hospital in a foreign country.
What do you think?
regards,

Thank you for sharing information regarding the health of two of our compatriots.

 

Roving reporter is a misnomer.  This blog is a hobby, not a profession.
I first started a website, then switched to this blog with the intent of providing information and entertainment for tourists and expats. I post information as I discover it.  I try to avoid gossip without verifying the facts.

With a few exceptions, this blog has been pretty much a one man show.  I gladly accept contributions from others.  A recent example is the entry Mekon River At Nakhon Phanom with pictures contributed by Gene.

I frequently get invitations to photograph weddings, birthday parties and the like.
I generally only publish photographs of public events, such as parades, for a reason.
I've had a number of occasions when I received frantic phone requests to remove specific pictures because people didn't want their whereabouts to be published.
Some reason given: "I don't want immigration to know where I am," or "I don't want my Ex to know where I'm living."

For similar reasons I have edited the names from your letter.
I do wish to commend you personally for visiting our hospitalized friends and sharing the information.
Which hospital?

Another Expat home under construction

Supposedly at ITU Soi 3/5 Sakon Nakhon. I went looking for it. Found another construction site, but not this one. First time I've seen them use a pile driver. Usually they dig the holes by hand.

Fish farming encouraged as extra income for poor and elderly

At least that's my understanding reading the news story in GOOGLE Translate.
You really have to read between the lines to understand these computer generated translations.
I do have a problem understanding the references to "...Thai sex change doctor fish..."
original article GOOGLE Translate

-----------------------	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Thai Meteorological	29/14	30/15	28/14	28/12	28/13
Accuweather	33/15	32/13	29/12	29/13	31/16
Weather Underground	29/14	28/13	27/12	26/13	28/15

An odd way of Celebrating New Years

Safety Inspection Failure

Ya'll come

Hi,

     as the boxing day quiz did not happen I have decided to try again with a quiz on New Years Eve.

There will be prizes and a free buffet at half time. The price is 100 baht a person. starting time is 8.00pm. People must book their table in advance by calling me on 0872269151. Tables and chairs will be available. 

I do have some people already.

Martin.

S-BAC Sport Day

Take care you 95-100%

Noticed this sign while hiking along the highway this morning.
I blocked out the company logo and phone in the upper left corner.

Your Passport: Don't leave home without it

Local police will begin verifying that foreigners are in possession of a valid passport.  It's a rumor making the rounds these days.  As with any rumors there may be some validity to this one.  Governments are always on the lookout to increase their revenue.

Foreigners are required by Thai law to carry their passports with them at all times.  Persons not in possession of passports may be subject to arrest and fines.

A number of persons carry laminated copies of their passport and pertinent documents.  These are not legal documents.  It is up to the discretion of the officer if  such copies are acceptable.

Some months ago there was a sweep of foreigners in a major tourist resort to check possession of valid passports. At that time copies were not accepted as sufficient proof.

Consumers will have to accept the inevitable

Domestic sugar prices to rise Bangkok Post

-----------------------	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Thai Meteorological	29/17	26/15	24/13	24/14	26/15
Accuweather	29/12	30/14	32/14	33/16	32/13
Weather Underground	25/11	26/13	28/13	29/13	28/13

My thanks for the many invitations I received for the holidays.

My apologies to those whose invitations I had to decline.
I spent Christmas eve at home with an unpleasant stomach infection.
I had multiple Christmas day invitations, for which I am very grateful.
Regrettably I can not be in six places at the same time and had to choose.

China bars English words in all publications

True Friendship

SakonNakhon Beef Fest

For a moment I wasn't sure where I was.

American Indians...

Is that the Marlboro Man?


Definetly doesn't remind me of any Thai cattle farmer.

Here's some SakonNakhon beef reality

Above normal drought conditions likely

Sakon Nakhon Residents advised to use water wisely

An above normal drought is likely in the coming months according to the Meteorological Department.
Local farmers are being advised to plant drought resistant crops.
Water storage levels are being closely monitored.
While Nong Han water level is at 80%, other province reservoirs are at 70 to 66%
source ryt9   translated version

Phuket high season down

Tourism is down 25% from last year in Phuket, according to an article in the Phuket Gazette.
The last few years haven't been all that great for Thai tourism numbers.
Recent government reports contradict these findings, reporting a steady increase in arrivals.
Thailand's overall tourism numbers may be up somewhat, but the big spenders seem to be going elsewhere.

Governments tend to distort statistics for their own benefit.
A typical example is a recent US government finding that there has been no rise in the cost of living in the U.S. over the past year.
Makes you wonder where these people do their shopping.

Bus travel may be dangerous to your health

YouTube - Double Decker Crash Kills Thai Tourists in Malaysias Highlands
YouTube - Raw Video Bus Crash Kills Dozens in Ecuador
YouTube - Five badly hurt as coach overturns near Norwich

Merry Christmas

Let the holiday overindugence begin

Here's a few pictures of the gathering at Eddie's Bar after the funeral yesterday

Tomorrow I'll be heading to Tha Rae, where there will be a Christmas Mass and Christmas Play before the parade.
Christmas day I will be attending a private Christmas dinner.
The following day, Boxing day, I'll most likely visit the local beef festival.

Wish all a very enjoyable Christmas holiday

Expect cooler temperatures over the next few days. There is some question as to how cold it will get, but weather services seem to agree that it will get cooler

	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday
Thai Meteorological	33/20	33/20	29/17	26/15	24/13
Accuweather	34/17	30/9	24/9	23/9	24/10
Weather Underground	31/19	33/17	28/12	27/13

Eddie packs the house one last time

The Chapel was filled beyond capacity,
The pews were filled and extra chairs had to be brought out.

Been here nine years.  Attended festivals, parades, parties and funerals.
In all this time I have never seen so many westerners gathering in this city.

There is no better Eulogy than that.  Eddie had a lot of friends from many nations.
Some of his friends traveled great distances to bid their last farewell.

Until he became ill I used to visit Eddie at least three times a week.
He was a dear friend.  I'm only sorry that he did not achieve his dream:

He was waiting for the day when he would get his pension.  He had traveling plans:
"I'm gonna blow this popsicle stand."
Eddy was only months away from achieving his dream

To view/copy all pictures in this album go here
All pictures may be copied and distributed for non-commercial use.

I invite all of his friends to eulogize Eddy by leaving a comment

Eddie's last rites time and place changed

Meet at What Pa Suthawat (the temple previously designated for last rites)at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, Dec 22.
Then convoy to Phan Khwang's Saint Pio 10th Church


Phan Kwang is on the Sakon-Udon highway
There will be a get-together at Eddie's Bar after the funeral services.

What ?? I have to pay to show others how dumb I am?

Chern Chim Holidays

Christmas Hours
Christmas Eve (Dec 24) 10 AM to 10 PM
Christmas Day (Dec 25) Noon to 9 PM

Boxing Day      (Dec 26) 10 AM to 10 PM
                       Quiz Night 7 PM, Bt100 per person, prizes awarded, please book ahead 0872269151

(Comment overheard regarding quiz night:  What I have to pay to show others how dumb I am?)



Escape Bar Christmas day dinner

Turkey and potluck (guests bring their own food)

The demographics of Thai tourism have changed  

read more at the Phuket Gazette

Slow News Day at the Pattaya Daily

German man dies in bed watching porn read more
It's not the worst way to go

Most Popular Free Windows Downloads of 2010  at lifehacker

Eddies last rites

Wednesday, 3 PM, What Pa Suthawat

Mekon River At Nakhon Phanom

Gene recently told me that he was planning a visa run in Nakhon Phanom.
I asked him to take some pictures of the river to see the water level.
I had heard it was quite low.
From the looks of things, it is low for this time of the year.  The rainy season just ended two months ago.
All the steps to the boats are now above water.
The Welcome to Thailand signs is a bit ominous.
Reports Gene: "Customs was rummaging through everything..."

...it was very hazy...

Eddie has left us

March 2010

I first received word on Facebook

July 2009

Pictures from Eddie's Grand Opening May 15 2008