I'll be dancing with Goblins tonight

Dressed for the Occasion

Why are you dressed like that?  Are you going out?
No, the other long sleeved shirts are in the laundry.

If you enjoyed last nights cool temperature, then you're going to enjoy this evenings 12C (53F).

It's actually 6C warmer in Northern Thailand cities like Chiang Mai and Rai

January weather arrived three months early.  El Nino is continuing to grow...

... prepare for Thailand's version of the Ice Capades

In cold weather, dress in layers.
I spent a few years at the U.S. Army Arctic Training center, I know what I'm talking about here.
If you wear layers, you can always remove a few till feel comfortable.
  

The coldest temperature I have ever experienced was 90F below (includes wind chill), at Ft Greely, Alaska.
We were living in tents. During those times I tried to hold it in as long as I could.  
Didn't dare expose my posterior to such a windchill.

Buffalo would rub their rear ends against warm brick buildings in the winter.  Come spring we had to scrub the #$@ off the brick walls.  Not something I mention in my resume.

Next week expect rain with the cool temperatures.  Going to really feel like home for many of us.

Get Yourself Two E-mail Accounts

A number of friends have complained about identical problems.  


Locked out from their e-mail account.


In these cases new accounts had to be created, but all addresses and mails were lost forever.
In all instances the answers to security questions had been lost a long time ago.


Best suggestion I can make is to have e-mail accounts with two different providers, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.


With your first provider, list the second provider as your alternate account.
With your second provider, list the first account as alternate.


If you loose access to an account in the future, your provider will send you instructions to enable you to access your account to the alternate address.






Quite a few Hotmail users are experiencing spam problems with their accounts.  
Spam is being sent to all their friends from their accounts.  
Change your password frequently, at least once a year. 
Don't let your computer save your password.  
If you can't remember it, write it on a piece of paper.
Never use the same password for different internet services.


Run virus protection software continuously

Wax Castle Vid clips and more

More video clips of the recent Sakon Wax Castle festival are appearing on the tube.
These  are professional television productions, with some insights how they are put together.

 

Another storm is about to hit southern Thailand, and it's another big one.  One Bloomberg reporter states this years flooding is Thailand's worst in 50 years.  Yes, murmurings can be heard of tourist cancellations due to the flooding.  Food prices are expected to rise.  Some people are already stocking up (hoarding).

Sugar Jumps to Eight-Month High in New York on Thai Flooding...  Bloomberg


TWIT Files
Remember the 'Balloon Boy' hoaxer, who just a year ago made headlines, when he claimed his son was aboard a wayward helium balloon. Denver airport was shut down, the National Guard sent rescue helicopters. The kid wasn't in the balloon, he was hiding at home

Richard Heene, the hoaxer, is back in the media.
He's selling tree branches as back scratchers at $20.
Probably to try to recover the $36,000 he had to pay in restitution.



Did a comparison test Apple Juice vs Beer. 

The apple juice went stale.
I really didn't need another alcoholic in my house.





I'm having iron-on's for my T-shirt made.
They should answer the two most predominant questions I am faced with on a daily basis.  

I did travel the entire route back in the mid 60's

BRRRR: I Told You So

We've had some pleasant cool nights in recent days.  
Actually had to cover up to keep the midnight chill off.
From the looks of things, I had better dust off the heavy blankets.

Depending on who you believe, low temperatures will drop down to 18C (64F) Thai Meteorological Department.
or even 14 (57F)wunderground

Recent daytime feels like highs of 44C (112F) aren't in our immediate future.
Expect high temperatures in the mid to upper 20's. (lower 80's F).

Visitors to the area will find the temperatures pleasant, but I expect to see plenty locals in overcoats huddling around smoky fires.

Castles, Solar Plants, and Paul the Octopus

2010 Wax Castle Parade video clip video by sersaman



2010 Wax Castle Festival video clip video by loveisjob.




A 6 megawatt solar facility 
is to be build in SakonNakhon Province.  
It is part of a Bt2 billion project of 34 solar farms to begin operation by 2012
read it at  RYY9  or THE NATION



R.i.P.   Paul, the German octopus with psychic abilities is dead

101026 Pool table ready for action at Escape Bar

A new menu is still in the development stage

           

click on menu for larger view

Recent Monk gathering in Sakon and more

Black Cock Phu Phan
I'm talking about chickens here. Local, highly disease resistant chickens
They are promoted to local farmers as "Fast Farming and Good Eating," to help promote farmers income.
Phu Phan is sometimes refered to as the land of three black magics, locally grown chickens, pigs, and beef
source RYT9
On the subject of food.  I'm a bit suspicious of the recent enforcement of "stern" measures by the EU regarding unacceptable residue in food claims. The EU has initiated stringent testing on eggplant, cabbage, string beans and coriander, lemon balm leaf and sweet basil from Thailand. These checks raise the prices of these imports 50%.  
Makes one wonder if this is just pure protectionism instead of food safety concerns.


Farmlands wilt under flood onslaught THE NATION

I'm available
Chinese companies 'rent' white foreigners CNN
It's a prestige thing.  If they can hire seemingly rich foreigners, means they have to be rich and famous.


Radio Flyer for Seniors





Can you think of other uses for this food item... you would

Last weeks boat races video clip

Last weeks boat races video clip

Clear to the East, but keep an eye to the West

After last weeks devastation in the Philippines, super typhoon Megi was heading west at first, right toward us. Then it made a sharp right turn and headed North. Locally disaster was averted.
Reports of deaths and damage in Taiwan are already making the news.

Cyclone Giri made landfall in Burma. The center of that storm seems to be moving north of us.
As it moves over land the cyclone is expected to diminish to a tropical depression.
There is a chance that the outer edges of Giri will give us some local rains and thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday.



You can keep an eye on it's path at weather com

Sakon Wax Castle Parade 2010

Parade participants began arriving in town shortly before 2 PM.
They arrived by any means, buses, trucks, whatever was available.
A few people had already taken up their bleacher seats over three hours before the parade.
Seating was first come.

Further down the street there was plenty standing room available during the parade.

Escape Bar (and Restaurant)

Just further down Thanon Tor Pattana Road from where the Welcome Bar used to be is the Escape Bar.

It just opened it's doors earlier this week and is just a few doors down from a corner market, right next to the Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine (Chinese Temple)

Rental motorcycles are in front, available for 200 Baht per day.

 

The Escape opens at 9 AM.  They are still fine tuning their kitchen and should have their menu available after this weekend.  The pool table is expected to arrive this weekend.

You can find the bar on my map (right sidebar)
Look for the cocktail glass

I Love Sakon

I was just not in a party mood. Tired and run down.
Tried taking an afternoon nap, but that seemed to make me even more lethargic.

Generally love going to these events because I meet many of my Thai friends in a family oriented environment.

A large selection of food to tease your palate and great entertainment.

Joey went and brought back some great pictures at 2 AM.  I knew he was drunk as a skunk, cause he fumbled for a good five minutes trying to lock the gate.

Psst.. want to buy some Kippers

Martin at Chern Chim just received a limited shipment of kippers.
The line forms behind me

TiT Bits

You don't see this often enough: Child with helmet

Heard it through the grapevine

A new SakonNakhon jail is to built outside the city to replace the present jail located across the street from a number of schools. A park is planned at the present location.

The thinking is that a jail is not suitably located that close to schools.

Rally Tacky

Saw one website with a number of articles regarding Thailand floods.
What was tacky was that the articles were plastered with boat sales advertisements

Check out this link

2010 Press Freedom Index ranks Thailand 153 of 178 Nations

Taking care of his intoxicated buddy

Chafings in my rump from this slide ride

The US Dollar is on a fast slide down and the ride apparently is not over.
Meanwhile the Thai Baht is taking the express elevator in the opposite direction.
They are trying to slow the elevator down, but the breaks are malfunctioning.
Where is  the instruction manual?

I've had to make cutbacks in my budget.  The choice was which luxury to do without.

Hopefully the ride will be over at some time.  Until then I may have to consider more cutbacks.
It's not drastic yet.  I'm tightening my belt for the moment so I can splurge on my upcoming birthday.
Just hope the money ride doesn't end in the sewer.
I'd hate to have to pack up and move to an affordable alternative.




From the looks of things, other currencies aren't faring much better.
The AUD experienced a bit of a drop earlier this year, but has fully recovered.
I'd expect more visitors from Down Under, than from Europe or the U.S. this season.


Related Readings
Finance Ministry alerts operators with dollar weakening situation National News Bureau of Thailand NNT

Stronger Thai baht affects economy National News Bureau of Thailand NNT

Baht's rise may lower GDP growth by 1 pct The Nation

It's important to keep calm. 
If that doesn't work try this

Phew: That could have gotten quite nasty

Typhoon Megi had just devastated the Philippines  and wasn't quite sure where to go next.
West or north.
Yesterday afternoon it was still anyones guess. It all depended on that L (low pressure) on the weather map


Would have devastated us if it headed west.


Latest tracking map indicates the storm is going to be Southern China's problem by Friday afternoon.





We can expect some local rain and thunderstorms this weekend. Sunday's real feel temperature could reach 45C (113F)

Taking your pet for a stroll Thai style

Tambon Nong Song Dao Sakon - 16 October
video by arakwarit

The SakonNakhon Party has started

I've seen the opening ceremonies to the boat races many times, so I wasn't all that intrigued to see it again this morning.
But I did spend some time mingling with the crowds at the races.
Beer in one hand, camera in the other.
The best part for me was of course the number of people who recognized and called me by my name.
Of course there are always a few who seem to think my name is MONEY.


If I would have accepted all the offers for drinks, someone would have had to carry me home

  

  

I've had a number of invitations to join the party tomorrow.  I'll be there.

Cool Spell Ends

Yesterday
Overnight we had mostly drizzle and light rain with cool temperatures.
Today
The warming trend is noticeable early in the morning

Most of the heavy rain is passing through the lower northeast.
Nakhon Ratchasima has been declared a disaster area,
20 villages had to be evacuated. Flash floods hit Thai Catholic hospital

Locally a warming trend  has been forecast with feels like temperatures returning to the low 40's C by this weekend by accuweather

Super typhoon Megi, which caused havoc in the Philippines is expected to change its westerly direction and is now expected to move north into China  Typhoon Megi Tracking Map at Wunderground

Pictures of Philippine devastation at Yahoo News

Heavy rain, windy, cooling trend

Thai Meteorological Department issued a new weather advisory 
Widespread, very heavy rains and a drop in temperatures is forecast.
There is a high possibility that night time temperatures will drop to the high teens C (66F)

Missed the local firewalking

Went there during the early afternoon. They were passing out free vegetarian meals.  Otherwise nothing else was happening
I'll have to remember to go there in the evenings next year.

Teaching Position in Akat Amnuai

Salary At least 30,000 baht per month
job listing at ajarnjobspace.com

How many Thais does it take to build a platform ?

Areas have been assigned to racing teams for their cheering platforms along Nong Hahn

  

The local government hospital apparently has a boat entered in the race.  They are building their platform.
If you look closely, one guy is doing the work,  the other 15 seem to be advisors and counterweights.

Further down along the shore they are still working on getting rid of all the vegetation

And the answer to todays question: One !!