Isan Industrialization Accelerates

American Embassy Bangkok, Consular Outreach in Udon Thani      March 6 Notarial services and certified copies, passport renewal applications, extra visa pages Feb 29 2012 Royal Longboat races and Wax Castle Festival If you're making plans to visit Sakon Nakhon for this year's festival be aware: dates posted at various sites (Oct 8-12)are last year's dates. The festival marks the end of Buddhist Lent The end of Buddhist lent 2012 is on October 30 Hot weather food safety With the arrival of the hot season, it's important to remember that food not properly stored, can begin to spoil within hours. Eating such food can lead to diarrhea and other ailments.  Reheating or microwaving foods purchased at local food stands is recommended. Aspirin Shortage? Recently wrote about a possible shortage, had a friend of mine inquire in Bangkok Same answer "Sorry No Have high / low Temperatures Wed 29 Thu 1 Fri 2 Sat 3 Sun 4 Mon 5 Tue 6 Wed 7 Thu 8 Fri 9 AccuWeather  35/23   36/23   37/23   36/23   33/23   36/23   33/20   38/24   38/23   36/21  MeoWeather 35/23 35/24 36/25 36/24  33/25 34/26 35/26 Thai Meteorological 34/22 35/24 35/23 35/24 34/24 35/24 The Weather Channel 33/22 34/22 34/22 31/22 32/21 33/21 34/21 34/21 35/22 36/22 Wunderground 35/22 35/22 37/23 37/22 33/21 34/23 35/23 Upper Isan dubbed a special Zone  Bangkok Post  It's been talked about for years.  Industrialize northeast Thailand.   Progress had been slow.    Last year's Thailand floods devastated many industrial centers and raised Thailand's (official)    unemployment numbers.  The floods added new emphasis to the discussions.  Primary provinces considered for industrial growth   Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Nong Khai  Industry requirements   Fast, efficient and financially feasible delivery of their products to the consumer. Highways:  Seems to me the highway project began about five or six years ago. I'd estimate the project is about 20% completed. Rail:  Thailand's rail system is antiquated, to put it mildly.  There is no rail service in the three two of the three provinces considered for industrialization. Air:  A second airline to Nakhon Phanom begins this month.  Air service to Sakon Nakhon is to increase from one to two flights daily Ship:  Frequent droughts make the Mekon river impassible Mekong River dry in sections of northeast Thailand    MIZZIMA (Burma Media) 28 February