Thailand on the Road to the 2014 world cup

02 SEP. 17:00 TST.   AUSTRALIA VS THAILAND

 

Brisbane training session Bangkok Post, Aug 31
Thailand's Rocky Road
 
Thais offered big bonus against Socceroos ESPN, Aug 31
The Football Association of Thailand offered a one million Baht bonus for a win...

Thai coach fears Socceroos on ground ninemsn, Aug 30
Thailand's toughest road (away) game

Sakon Nakhon Agricultural Fair Now Open

The annual Agricultural Fair on the Kasetsart University grounds starts Today. The fair features irrigation management and improved farm techniques. The focus is on food safety to promote quality agricultural products for export, thus enabling local farmers to improve their incomes. The fair runs through September 4.

The University campus is 12 miles from the city of Sakon Nakhon.

   

Been a while (2006) since I attended the Agricultural Fair.
When I arrived they were just demonstrating rectal exams with arm-length gloves.

It's my understanding that what now is the College campus used to be the Sakon Nakhon Airport. 

That's my Thai Buddy and Guardian Angel  Samart, his wife and their masked grandson. Bought that blue blanket for around Bt 200. Served me quite well as couch protection for five years. Time to get a replacement. 

Other Sakon Reads

At the web board 'skyscraper city' is a thread of over 40 pages entitled:
SAKON NAKHON "City of Beautiful lake, Beautiful Mountain and Beautiful Girl"
It's worth scrolling through the pages for some really great local photography.

The board is in Thai, so if you want to read some of the articles, then install a translator (add-on) into your browser. On page 43 there's an article mentioning a celebration in Tao Ngoi District (southern most district of Sakon Nakhon province), on September 12.  The event is highlighted by a barge procession similar to those held on the Mekon River



Wolfgang S. aka Farang Mike in Issan  recently wrote "Sakon Nakhon, an introduction," at his website<
Wolfgang S. is obviously a professional travel writer. The article is a  brief overview of the area's history, sights, entertainment, accommodations, etc.

Sakon FC beat opponent Mahasarakham 1 - 0

video by Zintiara

The game started two hours before the listed start time of 6 pm. A practice becoming very common with away games.
The game was broadcast via a live feed from the Sakon FC website and was also broadcast on local Sakon Cable television.

The team, which had previously slipped to twelfth place, has advanced to eight' place with this win.
Sakon FC next host Nakhon Phanom on Sunday, September 4.
Many local fans jokingly consider this game as Sakon FC vs Sakon FC.
Five of Nakhon Phanom players where traded from Sakon FC at the start of the season.
Nakhon Phanom is in the tenth position in the North Eastern Region.

Five games remain to be played this season

Sunday, September 4     17:00	Nakhon Phanom
Saturday, September 10 16:00	Mukdahan
Sunday, September 18   17:00	Nakhon Ratchasima
Saturday, September 24 16:00	Udon Thani
Saturday, October 1       17:00	Kalasin

yellow = home games

Yes, we have a "NO Gambling Crackdown"

The Headlines

• August 25,  The Nation No gambling in Bangkok: Jakthip
• August 26,  The Nation MP's gambling-dens charge prompts crackdown
• August 26  Bangkok Post Chuvit's tip on gambling den pans out

Locals give it two weeks before things should be back to 'Normal"



In my Days... I used to love Karaoke
Don't let grandpa tell you they didn't have those confounded karaoke machines during his time.
They were just a lot less affordable.  PANG!!!

 19th and 20th Century Karaoke machine

Remedy for flooding 'discussed' again

Nong Han, Thailand's second largest freshwater lake covers 77,016 acres.

The lake is becoming shallower each year with an annual estimated 300,000 cubic meters of sediment entering the lake.
Source: ryt9 (Thai)

Comment: Talk of dredging the lake appear in the media almost yearly.  Now with increased flooding in the area, more serious consideration may develop.
The lake is a source of fresh water for many local communities and farmers.  With an influx of new housing, dredging the lake would insure sufficient future supplies

New Museum to open in Phu Phan later this year

First read about the development of a Museum in Phu Phan two days ago.
The translated article made little sense to me.
From that article I understood that the local military and residents are involved in the development.
20 million Baht is to be spent on the museum.
Other than Phu Phan the specific location was not mentioned to date.

Face Saving White Lies

Thought my teaching days were over.  Had given notice early in July.
My reasoning at the time was that my classes were mostly preempted by school social events.
Teaching English once a month just didn't seem to be of any benefit to anyone.

Was on the phone with the school yesterday for almost an hour and finally caved in.
I did receive a promise that only one class would be preempted till the end of the term.

Students and teachers of course did not know the truth about my absence.

As far as they were concerned I had been ill.  It's a face saving white lie instead of admitting he real reason.

To emphasize my recent illness I was presented with a "get well basket."
Further appeasement was promised to be in place  by Friday:  A computer and big screen TV.
Teaching and lecturing will be so much easier with visual aids.

Look at the basket, how many vitamin drinks?  If you think eighteen, you're wrong.  The boxes are empty decorations.  Deceptive!!

Extended Rainy Season Predicted

An unfaltering El Nino, keeping the ocean water temperatures hotter than usual, is blamed for a rainy season which may well last through the end of the year and into 2012.

•  Heavier rainfall feared in coming months Bangkok Post August 23

• Pacific Surface temperatures are well into the 80's and 90's wunderground

Present weather conditions

Coming from the north, expect rain momentarily

110823 Sakon Nakhon Sandwich and Steak House >> Bygone

Until recently, the choice of expat establishments in the city of Sakon Nakhon was quite limited. That changed almost overnight. Now expats have three places to choose from.

1. ChernChim

2. Sunshine Garden

3. Sakhon Sandwich and Steak House

The Sandwich and  Steak house is the latest addition to the scene.
It's located at the entrance to the PLR Apartments, just off I.T.U.

I've eaten there twice since Sunday. In my opinion the food is  **** (4 star).
Hakan and his wife had been in the area for three years, but only recently opened their restaurant.  They expect to expand their restaurant into the shop next door at the end of the month. 

Most portions are quite filling, but if you wish a hamburger, you might want to consider ordering two.
At 35 baht per burger, these portions are made for local on the go customers

 

Click on menu for larger view

Sakon FC 4 - Amnat Charoen 0

Video by Zintiara

The rains subsided early Sunday afternoon.  There was plenty of water and mud on the field adding a bit of slapstick to the game.
Announced start time was 5 PM.  Don't know whose timepiece they were using.  By the time I arrived at 5 PM,the game had already been underway for fifteen minutes.  In fact I was still in the parking lot when I heard the cheering crowd announcing the first goal.
Both teams played a very good game, but Sakon FC obviously had the upper hand in this game.

Sakon FC next travels to Mahasarakham  for a game scheduled for 6 PM, Sunday, August 28.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the start time will again be altered.

As seen on the net

Recent SakonNakhon You Tubes

Royal Birthday Celebration  video by websanom Aug 12, 2011


Unity Academy Celebrations (Love Season 2011) by Zintiara

NET NEWS

Thai Airline one way or the other

Reuters Aug 19, 2011 3:06am

• EDT Thai Air to launch new regional airline in July 2012

Aviation Week August 18

• Thai And Tiger Airways Win Political Reprieve

Political Outlook

xinhuanet (China)

• New Thai gov't likely to face demonstration

American Citizens

American Embassy  consular outreach services in Udon on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 8:00 to 12:00 at the Napalai Hotel, 572 Pracharaksa Road, Muang Udon Thani,  tel:  Tel. 66-42-347-444

Thailand Tourism

• Thailand to shed 'sex tourism' tag soon

"...Thai diplomat said...on the sidelines of an event organized in Panaji (India)..."

Murder In Sakon Nakhon

Parts of this story have been in the news almost daily since the day a body of a young lady was found floating in a nearby river (Aug 13). Apparently blood along the shore alerted someone who discovered the body.  The culprit was quickly apprehended.
He was taken to the scene of the crime for a (seen on TV) "re-enactment."
Of course friends and family of the victim where at the scene during the re-enactment.
The distraught mother of the victim was consoled and slightly restrained by friends.
The online version of the story (in Thai) can be found at RYT9
The translated version can be fount at Google Translate. The computer translation is far from great.

Temporary respid (we had)

Light through medium rain for most of last night. Subsided during the early morning hours.

Weather seems to be traveling from the East South East.

Temporary respid from the looks of this Google satellite image.

Meanwhile I'll empty my water tanks into the pool.

Slight warming trend from the present 26C to 31C. 
The 'feels like' is another story, 41C by midweek.

Anti Drug Campaign a Suck Seed

Suck seed ชนะ VS สกลนคร .wmv‏ - YouTube การแข่งขันบาสเกตบอล "บาสเกตบอลเชื่อมสัมพันธ์ต่อต้านยาเสพติด 2554" โรงยิมส์บาส มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น วิทยาเขตหนองคาย ระหว่าง 6 สิงหาคม 54 ถึง 28 สิงหาคม 54 Suck ...

I must confess this headline in my Google Alerts made me turn my head. 

There's an English lesson gone haywire. 
Really that's not how you succeed. 
Think the team's name may be success?
But then I am reminded that the Thai language has a similarly sounding word meaning honor. 

Here's my Google translation:  

Team Honor beat Sakon VS. Wmv - YouTube.

Competitive basketball against drugs in 2554  at the Khon Kaen University basketball gym . between August 6, 54 and 28 August 54 honor ...


Have  a suck-seed-full day!! 

On-Line Television Alternatives in Thailand

Online TV streaming service TVU, which had previously been blocked in Thailand
is no longer blocked.

It's totally free.  You wont find pay service channels at TVU,
still there's plenty of great news and entertainment.

TVU enables viewing through their website at

http://www.tvunetworks.com/

Alternatively you can download the 

TVUPlayer

Signup for the service is  free and allows you to select and save your favorite channels.

Need to take a break from watching the movie or news.
Simply hit the pause button and go do what you had to.
When you're done with what you had to do, simply hit the start button.
The video continues where you left off. You didn't miss a thing.
The recording feature is available for a minute monthly fee

Floods persist - Death Toll at 31 - anticipate MORE

• eThailand 9:59 AM August 18
  

  DDPM  warns of flash flood until Aug 21

• Thai Meteorological Department 5:30 AM August 18
  

  Weather Alert
  "...isolated very heavy rain, is likely in much of the North and Northeast."

• The Nation August 18    
  

  Floods persist in 12 provinces 

• MCOT August 17     
  

  Thailand’s flood death toll reaches 31

Pool Quick Fill

Weather Warning (again!!)
 
.. widespread scattered rain with heavy rain in some North and Northeast areas.
The warning is in effect thru Sunday, August 21 Bangkok Post


Heavy downpour, which started at 1 PM and lasted for twenty minutes did help in refilling my pool.

At that rate the pool should be filled this afternoon.

Rains forecast thru Sunday, after which temperatures and especially the humidity should rise with real temperatures in the low 30s, feels like low 40's

 



August 16  Thailand Tourist Deaths Linked To Pesticide Medical News Today


August 14 Sakon FC at Ubon video by Zintiara

August 14 Miss Thailand Crowned  video by CiNNtv1

New Helicopters for the Thai Royal Navy readied for delivery 

 video by LockheedMartinVideos

 

Rice Price Rise forecast

Sakon FC won at Ubon 2-1

Streaming video was continuously interrupted due to poor service provider in Ubon.
The win did not lift Sakon FC from its standing. Sakon remains in eleventh place in the division.
Sakon FC next Hosts Amnat Charoen on Sunday, August 21.

Overnight high winds

Thought its was noisy neighbors until I stepped outside and saw a few trees uprooted and bushes bent.  I quickly retreated when airborne debris headed my way.

Drilling for Water

Don't see the logic in drilling for water here in town.  My monthly water bill is generally under 200 baht.  Our wash machine runs through at least three cycles per day

Damaged Crops, shrinking inventories cause of Rice Price Rise

• Rice Set to Climb as Thailand Imposes Curbs, U.S. Crop Shrinks - Bloomberg

Death toll still rising  from Indiana State Fair disaster

 

Poland no longer interested in joining EURO

Dog rescue draws international attention

Pool Chores

Some of my annual chores include draining and re-grouting the pool.
It's a four day project, with most of the time spent waiting for the new grout to cure.
Plenty of disappointed faces, especially since the waiting period is over the weekend.
After cleaning, my water tanks (6,000 liter 1,320 gallon) will fill the pool three quarter full.
Filling the pool to the brim will depend on the rain.  A tropical rain can fill the pool within minutes.

Thailand's political landscape is changing (the series) 

• Thaksin offers to be trade Ambassador National News Bureau of Thailand - NNT

• No plan to get Thaksin a new passport, says Yingluck - THE NATION 

I'm a tablet skeptic

They were celebrating Mothers day in the early evening

Didn't attend the public gathering myself, but there was plenty of activity right across the street from my house.  A birthday party. I was quite surprised that the noise level was almost non existent after 10 PM.
After I went to sleep I slept undisturbed until the party ended at 5 AM.
Anyone who lives in Thailand can tell you that these parties can get quite noisy, especially with all night off key karaoke.



Thailand's political landscape is changing quite noticeably

• Terrorism Charges Against Red Shirts Were 'Inflated'  The Nation

• Japan To Allow Visit' By Ex-Thai PM Thaksin  ASIA ONE  

Thailand's 1 Student 1 Tablet policy

• Pheu Thai defends its 1 student 1 tablet policy Thai Financial Post
• Primary students will definitely get tablet PCs Bangkok Post

Based on my own experience, I'm quite skeptical about the outcome.  

First year teaching English I bought all my students dictionaries.  

By the next day most of the dictionaries were no longer available. Most had been traded in for CASH.

Then there was the incident where  missionaries on bicycles were happily passing out dozens of Thai bibles, convinced they had converted a whole flock.  At the end of the day Mama collected all the bibles to be traded for CASH.

I seriously doubt that this policy will serve its intended purpose of a improving literacy.  

Instead I suggest it will improve gaming skills.

Nakhon Phanom Dog Rescue

• Dogs saved from dinner tables, but still in danger

Of course this sort of news is abhorrent to most, but eating dog meat is more prevalent than you think  WIKIPEDIA. It won't be part of my diet!!

It is the rainy season

Earlier this week I observed that our neighbor province Nakhon Phanom was getting heavier rains than here at Muang Sakon (Wetter than Wet).  Apparently my observation was correct

• Non-stop rain swamps Nakhon Phanom in worst flood in decades -  The Nation

A new weather warning has been posted today at the Thai Meteorological Department website

• "Heavy to very heavy rain in the North and the Northeast" 

This warning affects the upper portions of NE and N Thailand.

Daytime temperature forecasts thru the middle of next week  indicate temperatures in the low 30's, with feels like temperatures in the low 40's  Nighttime temperatures remain in the low to mid 20's.


Flood warnings had been posted earlier this week for Bangkok and surrounding provinces.  Been checking this Bangkok webcam daily and haven't noticed any drastic changes.  I'm not denying that flooding is occurring, but it's not noticeable at this particular view. 

 

Mothers Day Celebrations at School

When I arrived at the school, 9 AM, they were busy preparing lunch.

Fish BBQ

They were still setting up some of the displays.  Didn't quite figure out what was on display here.
I kept looking for darts

Is that a spare gas tank or the glove compartment (BLEND)

Adults seem to be more into the POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE (formal ceremonies)

Ceremonies honoring mothers

For some reason this part of the mothers day ceremonies quite often becomes very emotional.

For some reason this poster made me think of 'Hot Dogs.'

On my way home I passed a number of schools, all seemed to be having mothers day celebrations

Rain Alert (again), Mothers day Friday, My IRS migrane

Video posted to You Tube two days ago taken at the nearby school.

Heavy rains and flash flood highly likely over the coming days Bangkok Post Aug 8

Mothers Day this Friday.  Even though I quit teaching at S-BAC, I did receive a formal invitation to attend their celebrations this Thursday. Public holiday on Friday.



Computer glitch at the (U.S.A) IRS?
They sent me a refund on my 2009 tax return.  Then I made the mistake to ask for an explanation. 

I received a notice to pay over $750 in back taxes for that year. "Failure to pay will result in the matter being turned over to collection."

Mailed in my check for the money and requested a review of my file.

I received a refund.  Thought the matter was settled.  I was wrong.  A week after the refund check arrived I again received notification to pay up, now with increased interest.

Of course phone numbers given are all prerecorded messages.

Mountain roads dangerous during extreme weather

Advice: 

• Avoid driving on Phu Phan highway during extreme weather conditions MCOT (Thai)
  Some road shoulders have slipped down the mountain side

Debit card users

• If you have a Thai Bank account, recently enacted policy throughout Thailand lets you use other banks ATM up to four times a month without charge.

Sakon FC vs Loi City FC

• Final Score Sakon 1 Loi 3

• Next Game at Ubon.

• MY OPINION: Sakon FC, formerly ranked in the upper half, is now ranked number 11 of 16 in the division. No surprise there. At the beginning of the season 5 of their players were traded to Nakhon Phanom. At mid-season foreign players left the team for teams where paycheck were not a worry.
  Hiring a new coach hasn't had any impact on team performance to date.
  Obviously it's a shoestring operation...

... compared to other teams.  Some teams additionally provide bus service for their fans.

Wetter than Wet

• TV broadcast of the Nakhon FC football game seem to indicate that they are getting more rain than in Sakon. Anyone having business on a thoroughly soaked field had to wade through an ankle deep stram surrounding the fields

Britons are behaving better than in previous years, 
or is it just fewer are traveling?

• ....the place Britons were more likely to be arrested was Thailand... Mail Online

Stock Market Jitters, Yeah me too

• My pension fund depends heavily on the stock market.
  Gives me a good reason to be nervous.
  The dominoes just keep on falling.

• Slim pickings World's richest man loses $6.7 billion in stock market rout The Sydney Morning Herald

Sakon FC start time moved ahead

Thailand's flood death toll rises to 13 MCOT Aug 5

SakonFC at Loi Saturday, link updated  Livestream

Saturday afternoon wind gusts 8 to 16 kmph (5 to 10 mph) ....
WEEK AHEAD Increased humidity 80 TO 88%.

Sunshine Garden 11 AM to 8 PM or much later. 
Now serving meals

S and P Downgrades US Credit Rating From AAA to AA+  

further downgrades likely

Sharia Law: Battlefield London 

NOK five remants

Two days ago, while the rain subsided I traveled south on I.T.U., past where it officially ends.
Past the new pavement where pothole highway begins.
Water runoff was fairly rapid. No extreme water levels.
But some locals will have to be extra cautious on their way home.

Vegetation flourished during the dry season in the river bed, now the river is widening on the side without vegetation.

Sakon FC has a new MERCEDES

At least new to the team. 

Latest I heard it was being 'repaired' before it's brought into service. Anyone have a guess what year this bus was new.  I'm guessing 1060'

From 110805 SakonFC bus

Mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaks, rain

The Google earth image can be somewhat deceiving. 

It seems to show only the upper atmosphere.

A better view of local weather can be seen at the 

Thai Meteorological Satellite page.
It indicates mostly cloudy with occasional sun breaks

No Surprise here!  Can't afford the insurance?

• Pattaya’s Jet Ski Problems Not Solved Yet Pattaya Daily

 U.S.A. Biggest meat recall EVER

Why would anyone want to dig a six foot trench on the Beach?

Sakon Nakhon Agricultural Fair and more

Sakon Nakhon Kasetsart University Agricultural Fair 
August 31 to September 4

• RYT9 (Thai)

Thailand to ban alcohol consumption in public locations

• Press TV
  

Thailand football violence.

• That red card should be permanent, but that's just my opinion

I've been fighting Alzheimer's all my life

• 2009 studies show caffeine markedly reduce Alzheimer's 

Municipal Advertising Stunt in Lithuania

Can you guess who's doing cyber warfare

UK seize biggest Cocaine haul

Using Cologne can be dangerous to your health

I'm really going to miss teaching!!

The change of my schedule by the school this semester, has made teaching English senseless.
My new teaching schedule of Thursdays and Fridays is repeatedly superseded by student and school activities on those days.
I see no sense in teaching English once a month, or even once every two months.

I have been with S-BAC since its inception and have hundreds, if not thousands of enjoyable memories, interacting with students and their  families,  teachers and staff.  Weddings, birthdays, graduations, public events... it's a long list of activities: Pleasant memories.




I'm really going to miss teaching!!

The Entertainer

And the heavens opened - and will remain open

 One  (Udon) death as storm ravages 14 provinces 
The Nation   

• In Sakon Nakhon...rainstorms damaged more than 5000 rai of rubber plantations. ...  
• ...Sakon Nakhon Governor Amnaj Pakarat convened an urgent meeting  ...

Almost non-stop rain in a two week forecast for Sakon Nakhon 
Accu Weather  


Three weather systems began to converge in our direction last evening. 

The locally strengthened system will probably observe a reduced speed limit over the Pu Phan Mountains, awaiting two systems approaching from the west.  I'm guessing here!!