STV Video Sakon Nakhon FC vs Loei FC March 28

Thai Division 2 League North Eastern Region League Standings (sixth of sixteen)

Home for the Holidays: Biggest Thai Travel Week Ahead

Thais will be coming home from all over the world.
It's time to be with family. Songkran "Thai New Years."
Bangkok is preparing for it's annual exodus by declaring Free Express Way Access beginning April 9 for certain freeways.
It's also the season for a hefty increase in road check points for drunk drivers.

Of course there are those "Grumpy Old Men."  They are stocking up on groceries, preparing to become shut-ins for a week.  They want no part in the exuberant water dousing.

Rules are simple: Dawn to Dusk, Outdoors.
Weapons of choice: Anything that holds water. Fire hose, garden hose, cups, buckets, water guns.
Toy water guns are already on sale at almost every Ma and Pa store including major Department stores.
bigc.co.th sales brochure

The perfect weapon is available at most garden stores.  Sturdier built than any toy water gun.

       

Wide opening allows for use of  ICE cubes, hand pump, adjustable spray, and finger trigger.

May be used for garden purposes after the holidays.

T.i.T. Bits (plus)

Yes it is, no it isn't, yes it  is

• Mekong River lows, Chinese Dams are the cause New Mandala

Rubber Upsurge

• Supplies drop Bloomberg

Local Internet Getting Better

• For the last five days I have had uninterrupted internet connections.  Prior to that I had experienced frequent and lengthy interruptions daily.  Let's hope it's not an anomaly.  I still enjoy watching Judge Judy.

Presumption confirmed

• ..."happiness" takes on a new meaning...  rickymartinmusic

Another presumption confirmed

• Failed Whore News dlisted

Two Videos to start your day

Thai Rice and Culture

SakonNakhon FC serves Loei FC it's first loss of the season

It was one of the better games, if not the best for SakonNakhon FC.

Larger than normal crowds.
Noisier than ever cheering team, (they have a new and larger drum).
The team seems to have greatly improved.

Sakon Nakhon's goal was hailed with confetti

You can bet there will be celebrations tonight.

Next challenge will be April 3 at Surin

A video to start your day

Welcome Bar announces new TAPAS menu

Savory Mince Toasted Sandwich	B50
Savory Mince	B40
Yellow Chicken Curry	B40
Pasta in Cheese Sauce	B40
English Beef Stew	B40
English Sausage Sandwich when available	B60

Tapas at wikipedia

Magic

Road trip " In search of SakonNakhon FC

One of my favorite things I like to do is jump on my motorcycle and explore the country.

What makes these trips so enjoyable is the fact that Thai's welcome you wherever you go.

I had been trying to locate the headquarters for the local football team for months without success.

This time I was determined.  With information that the road was near the 7-11, I closed in on the area.

I stopped off at a nearby residence to ask for directions.

To my surprise I met a family who I have known for a few years.

I followed their instructions and was on my way.

I came across a man collecting recyclables and again asked for directions.

Success.  I had wanted to see the place since many people had bragged about the excellent fishing there.

My presence acknowledge from a distance, residents were preoccupied with chasing away uninvited cattle and repairing the break in the fence.

 

Road Trip "Thai Artisan creations"

Unfortunately there are no large museums or art galleries in the region.
Filling that gap in Thai culture are community temples.  That is why I do enjoy  visiting local temples.


You can see the ongoing construction from highway 223 on the outskirts of the city of SakonNakhon.

  

 
Of course the more valued artifacts are protected in glass cases
 
 
   

Flights to Sakon Nakhon now daily

NOK Air begins daily flights between Bangkok and Sakon Nakhon

Depart BKK  9     a.m.

Arrive SNO 10:30 a.m.

Dept SNO   11      a.m.

Arrive BKK 12:30 p.m.

Weather Alert

Weather Alert: Strong winds, possible thunderstorms
Change in wind direction from SSW to ENE.  Cooler overnight temperatures.

Change of wind directions began around 9 a.m. with strong easterly gusts.
Power failure in my neighborhood from 9:05 to 10:07

T.i.T. Bits

Distance to Pattaya reduced.  New Motorway open. 

• ...the airport just moved 20mins closer to Pattaya. pattayarag.blogspot.

Improved Internet in Thailand due to GOOGLE departure from Mainland China. I don't think so!

• With the departure of some of GOOGLE services from Mainland China, in a dispute over censorship, some reporters have speculated a decrease in internet use in China.  Resulting in more bandwidth available for other parts of Asia.  My opinion: Censorship does not equate to user numbers, they simply use other services.  Think this dispute is simply over who should pay to administer censorship.  Big Business or the government.

Improved Internet in Thailand   new high-speed internet cable almost ready to start

• Google's Pacific Ocean cable close to completion  
• My opinion:  I use both Google and Yahoo e-mail services. Google is a hell of a lot faster.  At times Yahoo will 'hang,' while Google is at full speed.
  
  
  

How do you advertise a Business Grand Opening?,

• Most likely you would advertise discounts or sales prices...
• OR
•  
•  

 

 

Living Expenses here and there

My electric water heater was 'on the fritz.'  The on/off switch was wearing out.
Most times you had to hit the button half a dozen times before the water flow would shut off.

We called the electric shop.  Their technician arrived within the hour.
He took the heater off the wall and took it to the shop.
An hour later he returned, reinstalled the heater.
Cleaned out the dirt trap screens on the water hoses.
(a routine I had forgotten a few years ago).

The bill was Bt 300 (US$9.30)

A stateside friend of mine had an electrical problem.  None of the lights or wall plugs would work. Unless the oven was turned on, then the lights and the TV worked just great.  He called the electrician.  A bad breaker was replaced.

He writes "Best part was it only cost me $211.00 and 80.00 of that was for the new breaker so I thought I got out of that one pretty cheap."

British Coach of the year

Interesting Reading

Jan-Erik "Janne" Olsson, who brought to you the "Stockholm syndrome"
Longtime Isaan resident

• Bangkok Post   http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/34810/inhuman-beast-finds-his-peace

The future of Thailand's democracy

• Los Angeles Times   http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/laoeweiss212010mar21,0,7559774.story
• The Economist   http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15718981

Fire Walking Ceremonies photos

• inspiring-isaan.blogspot.com http://inspiring-isaan.blogspot.com/2010/03/yesterday.html

Thai VOODOO

• bbc.co.uk  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8574225.stm

Phu Tai Phan dancers

Dance Arts College Kalasin

Dance Arts College Kalasin

SakonNakhon FC - 1 Udon Thani FC 1

Even though SakonNakhon scored the first goal, followed shortly by an Udon goal, it was quite obvious that Udon kept the Sakon Nakhon players mostly on the defensive. Plenty of close calls and 'squeakers' kept fans on both sides on the edge of their seats.

The air got quite thick during half time. While one Thai friend tried to tell me it was just fog, the smell of smoke was apparent. This was obviously smog. I was not in the mood to argue or give English lessons.

 

While SakonNakhon remains in the middle of the pack in the North Eastern Division, Udon Thani is tied with Nong Kai for last place.

Tough challenges ahead:
SakonNakhon hosts Loei on March 28.  Loei holds the number one position in the Division.
SakonNakhon travels to Surin April 3., to face the team presently in third position.

Le Carnaval

Funny or is it ?

Fire Season ALERT

SakonNakhon Province has issued alerts warning of increased fire dangers, especially in the Phu Phan mountain areas.  Smokers are especially warned to dispose of lit cigarettes properly

http://www.ryt9.com/s/bmnd/866446

Lunch break at Sakon Nakhon Immigration

They are taking  A Rest during that hour according to a sign in the office.
Well at least there's only one 'R.'

Sakon Nakhon FC Not at their Best

Met the local television camera man at the graduation ceremonies and asked him to make last weeks football game available on the net.
ขอบคุณ (Thank You)

Sakon Nakhon lost against Nongbualamphu 0-2

I expect a win tomorrow

Thai Time = regular time plus one, or two or three, or...

You are invited to our graduation ceremonies. Please come at eight.
Knowing the inconsistencies with Thai time keeping I arrived half an hour late.

Still plenty of time to take pictures of arrivals and last minute preparations.
Ceremonies started promptly at 11:10, as verified by the time stamp on my photographs.

Lucky I kept some pain remedy in my motorcycle.

From the number of graduates I can only surmise that the school is doing quite well.

Handing out diplomas was the wife of the provincial governor.
It was the first time that we had been introduced and I was surprised by her knowledge of English.

I declined a luncheon invitation.

SakonNakhon T.i.T. Bits

SakonNakhon FC

• Last Sunday, Sakon Nakhon lost against Nongbualamphu 2 -0 
• Due to severe upper spinal pain I did not attend last Sunday's game.
• Sakon Nakhon will face Udon Thani FC this Sunday in Udon Thani.
• Udon Thani has four losses and one draw

          North Eastern Region League Standings


S-BAC Graduation 

• Ceremonies begin 8:30 today at the Imperial

Welcome Bar

• Pool Tournament Friday 7 p.m.
• Sunday Luncheon

Mr Simon and Nee  invite you to drop in and visit

Weather

• The temperature roller coaster ride continues with temperatures climbing to unseasonable hot, 
• followed by another cooling trend with night time temperatures in the upper teens.  
• Then uphill.. 

Who is the real King of the Road

     

 Bangkok                                                              Sakon Nakhon                                       

Cattle ain't dumb.  I could hardly believe my eyes

A dozen cattle are about to cross a four lane road.
One cow and one calf walk into the road, they block traffic from both directions. Like crossing guards at a school.
The elder roadguard looks around and snorts: "All Clear."
The patiently waiting herd now crosses the street.
The 'road guards' retreat and follow the herd.

Motor traffic resumes.

Pedestrians crossing the street, that is 'another' story. 
Everything with wheels has the right of way.

Those white stripes you thought identified crosswalks?  They are just a suggestion.
When crossing a road remember double lines in the center of the road are pedestrian safety zones.

Thai Classical

Student performances at Saturday's S-BAC graduation Bash

School's out for Summer

สกลนคร
Many schools are in their final week of the yearly second semester.
A few schools have already started vacation, lasting until early May.

With this hot weather, it's back to the canals to cool down.