News Bites Thaksin set for US trip   Bangkok Post (British) Ambassador identifies travel risks     TTR Weekly Warning for swimmers in Thailand as British tourist drowns  Mail Online Thailand’s Sugar Premium Seen Sliding as Global Demand Declines   Bloomberg Almost half of Thai monks suffer overweight problems   Thailand News Thai weightlifter wins silver medal   Bangkok Post   Funny Mail Comments made in the year 1955

  Seen at the local warehouse store 

Idaho(an) instant mashed potatoes,
near the pancake mix and flower
PANG !! 90 Baht

If you come to Sakon City, Bring a raincoat

	With only brief intermissions, it's been raining light and steady, now for the third day. No tropical downpours.  Drainage seems to be working fine. Just enough rain to  wash more potholes into the roadway.
	Took two days to fill my water tanks. During tropical rains they can fill in ten minutes.
	Moss is flourishing on the uncovered walkways. Slippery as hell, you don't want to walk barefoot there Not a dancefloor

**Thunderstorms in the area Friday morning through late Tuesday night **Accu Weather

	Tue Jul31	Wed Aug1	Thu Aug2	Fri Aug3	Sat Aug4	Sun Aug5	Mon Aug6	Tue Aug7	Wed Aug8	Thu Aug 9
AccuWeather	28/23 60%	30/24 55%	32/24 60%	31/24 75%	30/25 95%	30/25 80%	30/25 80%	30/24 80%	31/24 75%	31/24 95%
AccuWeather Feels Like	34/24	39/26	42/26	41/26	39/27	38/27	37/27	40/28	40/27	40/26
MeoWeather	26/23	28/23	29/23	30/24	30/24	29/24	32/24
Thai Meteorological	26/24 60%	29/24 50%	31/24 50%	29/24 60%	28/24 40%	29/24 40%
The Weather Channel	29/24 50%	31/24 20%	31/24 20%	30/24 60%	30/24 60%	32/25 30%	31/25 30%	31/25 60%	31/25 30%	29/25 20%
Wunderground	29/22 90%	29/23 80%	32/24 50%	30/23 50%	30/23 70%

Even though forecasts vary, all tend to agree: daily rain, heavier Friday.
For the moment our weather is arriving from the North

 Mars Landing, August 6, 1:31 AM (edt), 12:31 (Tt)

Wat Phra Suthawat

I couldn't have said it better A very informative read Ajahn Mun shrine at Wat Pa Suthawat, Sakon Nakhon  at travelfish

News Bites Thailand seen exporting 6.5 million tonnes of rice - Business Recorder (they hope) Thai rice losing on world market - The Nation 700 dogs rescued from smugglers - The Nation  (Business continues) Illegal transnational dog trader caught in Nakhon Phanom, 700 dogs rescued - Pattaya Daily Shoppers hurt in building ceiling collapse at a Tesco Lotus outlet in Ayutthaya Police Seize Sex Aids and Toys from 13 Bangkok Warehouses - Pattaya Daily Rowan Atkins Sequence Opening Ceremony 2012 Olympics

Sakon FC vs Nong Bua Lamphu no zip

Overall the game lacked enthusiasm and energy (zip).
Of course there were a few exiting moments, but most of the time I was thinking if I should take up embroidery to keep myself busy. It's something I used to be really good at in my early teens (1960).

I had really expected a win. Instead of 0-0

The refereeing wasn't all that great either.  Yellow cards when there really was no reason.  No cards when there should have been one, like the time it looked like handball.

Probably the only excitement for me was half time.
The two farangs, Tony and myself were chosen to draw the winning tickets.
As luck would have it, Tony drew my number.
It was the first time in seven years of attending Sakon FC games that I had won ANYTHING.

I won a t-shirt

It was obvious to me that I was bored at times.  Hazardous electrical wiring and an unusual way of spelling Sakon Nakhon caught my attention.

Sakon FC next travels to Kalasin on August 5.
I hope the team overcomes the doldrums in time to face Kalasin FC.

In other local sport news another Futsal season begins next month and there are hints that the teams are looking for sponsors.

Rainy Season = Flu Season Thought I was the only one with an extremely sore throat. I noticed I'm not alone, plenty of folk are carrying cough syrup in their hip pockets. This one was especially harsh, had to resort to taking  1g Augmentin  twice a day. I know when it's working, I sleep for 18 hours and feel weak when I am awake. I'm over the worst of it now.

Cool Videos from Dong Ma Fai by djwave2009 21 km from Sakon City on Hwy 22

Nok Air increases domestic flights

Recently mentioned that NOK Air begins 3 daily flights service Bangkok to Sakon Nakhon   effective September 1 All Sakon Nakhon flights will be made by ATR72-200 aircraft BKK Departure SNO Arrival SNO Departure BKK Arrival 06:15 07:45 08:15 09:45 13:15 15:00 15:30 17:00 16:40 18:10 18:40 20:10 Among other increased flights the airline announced: five daily flights to Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai four daily flights to Ubon Ratchathani, three daily flights to Mae Hong Son and Udon Thani two daily flights to Roi Et, Most of the increased flights become effective over the next three months. Even though the increased flights may be beneficial to much of the traveling public, all flights originate in Bangkok. Of greater benefit would be flights with multiple destinations, such as Bangkok, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Bangkok. I for one would make weekly shopping trips to Udon Thani, without detouring through Bangkok. I'd be more interested getting to other destinations without the hassles of deplaning and reboarding planes in Bangkok. Back in the nineties Thai airlines flew from Bangkok to Sakon Nakhon, to Nakhon Phanom, to Bangkok.  This made it possible to fly from Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom in a matter of ten minutes

Sakon FC hosts Nong Bua Lamphu this Sunday With the recent changes, Sakon FC  has a good chance of winning this game. The field may be somewhat saturated by gametime. Accu weather predicts 64.2 mm (2.5") of rain on the way over the weekend

News Bites Yala Province Violence More Australians die in Thailand than in any other foreign country   9 News Dengue Vaccine Shows Promise   medical news today Thailand HUB Fever TCEB announced three strategies to make Thailand exhibition hub in GMS  THE NATION Heard that one before Thaksin says he'll be back home soon    Bangkok Post As of July 10, India had eclipsed Thailand as the world's largest rice exporter..  ASIA ONE Anatomy of a nasty Thai traffic stop Global Post

Heavy Downpours are likely....from July 24 to 26 . Thai Meteorological Department Advisory 06:52 am, July 25 We are now approaching the heaviest of the rainy Season.   August  statistically produces the most rain in Sakon Nakhon

News Bites  NOK Air begins 3 daily flights service Bangkok to Sakon Nakhon    effective September 1 All flights will be made by ATR72-200 aircraft BKK Departure SNO Arrival SNO Departure BKK Arrival 06:15 07:45 08:15 09:45 13:15 15:00 15:30 17:00 16:40 18:10 18:40 20:10 "Sakon" hand foot mouth, with 30 patients Sherman Hemsley Dead Dead at 74 Best remembered for his role as George Jefferson in The Jefferesons >

Mandatory Appointment System for   American Citizen Services at U.S. Embassy Bangkok This message is for all U.S. citizens in Thailand. Effective Monday, July 30, 2012, the U.S. Embassy, will strictly enforce an appointment-only system for all non-emergency services. The appointment system, which was introduced in 2011, allows American citizens in Thailand to plan ahead and book a time to complete their required service. This has substantially reduced wait times for U.S. citizens who require non-emergency services. Due to a consistently-growing workload, the American Citizen Services section will now move to the appointment-only policy that is being followed at Embassies and Consulates world-wide.... To Continue reading this article

Funny Mail   It’s time to vote for Parent of the Year. Here are this year’s candidates (link) I just received my tax return for 2011 back from the IRS. It puzzles me!!!  They are questioning how many dependents I claimed.  I guess it was because of my response to the question: "List all dependents?" I replied: 12 million illegal immigrants; 3 million crack heads; 42 million unemployed people on food stamps, 2 million people in over 243 prisons; Half of Mexico; and 535 persons in the U.S. House and Senate." Evidently, this was NOT an acceptable answer.  I KEEP ASKING MYSELF, WHOM DID I MISS?

7:38 am 7/24/2012 Temperatures rising Friday, Saturday, Sunday 31c or 32c feels like 39c

News Bites Many Sakon Nakhon Schools will be closed this week for sanitation due to the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreak Source https://www.facebook.com/sakonnakhon Thailand- dream destination or nightmare WAtoday Kratom Leaf for Drug Cocktail Adds to Thailand’s Woes NYTimes AoT mulls handout for radar gaffe Bangkok Post Thai Mitsubishi Mirages recalled - Bangkok Post Plumbing installation underway at new Sakon Nakhon stadium skyscrapercity Noticeable Increase in Sakon Nakhon Traffic Congestion skyscrapercity

August in Sakon Nakhon

August 2, 2012 Full Moon Day Asana Bucha Buddhist observance commemorating the Buddha's first discourse  and  Wan Khao Pansa Buddhist observance marking the beginning of Vassa, also known as Buddhist Lent Not considered a Official Public Holiday Related Celebration: Wax Candle Parade August 12, 2012 Thailand Mothers Day    HRH the Queen  Celebrates   her 80th Birthday

Football AWAY. . . at home

There was a rush hour in my kitchen.

The afternoon meal was fast and furious

Then it was time to fire up the puter to watch Sakon FC get slaughtered

Sakon FC scored first and early in the game. They didn't maintain the lead for very long.

You could tell The Sakon players were worn out during the last 20 minutes of the game. Roi Et's goals came in rapid succession.

Final score Roiet 4, Sakon 1 

Sakon FC management should really consider transporting the players a day before the game, so they are rested on game day. Of course it would mean accommodation expenses.

News Bites

The Russian Viewpoint of Asia Arms Race

6:30 am 7/23/2012 Increased chance of rain, cooler temperatures, thru midweek

Sakon FC's Greatest Challenge Today

They're leaving early this morning on a 168 km journey to face Roi Et FC on their home turf.

Sakon FC made some recent big improvements, and a recent win 

But, today they are facing #1 in the league
   Roi Et with a record of 12 wins, 6 draws,    2 losses
   Sakon FC        record is   3 wins, 2 draws, 15 losses

Add to the challenge a four to five hour (not the most comfortable) bus ride.

Of course there'll be plenty of cheering on the team at my house.
A win seems unlikely.
But If a miracle does happen, there'd be a wild night in the old town tonight

In my Neighborhood Fish are Jumping

Some of the local kids spent the afternoon fishing in the empty lot next to my house.

Didn't think much of it till this morning, when I heard thump, thump.
They are jumping fish in a bucket with a lid.

The biggest is four inches.
Suspect I'll be asked to acquire a fish tank of sorts

  Tropical Depression Nine 

  upgraded to Tropical storm Vicente 

has changed directions and is expected to be farther north of us (see sidebar tracking map).

Local influence most likely will be a lowering of temperatures.

• accuweather: 34.3 mm of rain on the way (Sunday through Tuesday)

October in Sakon Nakhon

Great video slideshow  **
Shows local family life at first, then the Royal Long Boat Races and Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle parade

News Bites

Ten Cockroach 'bombs' blow up in Melbourne, Thai restaurant ninemsn Tourism Thailand devises 'DISCO Plan', tourism action strategies for 2013 4hoteliers Call to bar alcohol from Thailand-EU FTA - Bangkok Post Opinion: The reason given to bar alcohol from this Free Trade Agreement because of Thailand's alcohol problem is a ruse to protect the Thai Alcohol industry and duty fees. The average Thai alcoholic gets drunk the cheapest possible way possible. Domestic quality, 10 THB at a time, or 70 THB per bottle.

Image 7:10 a.m., July 21

Tropical Depression Nine is moving west and is expected to increase to a Tropical Storm when it reaches us Tuesday or Wednesday
wunderground tropical tracking
Expect rain, heavy at times, and thunderstorms

Yesterday's late morning half hour rain fall was 26.3mm (1.04")

News Bites

Drug Dealer Round-up Thailand vdonews Thai PBS English NewsKalasin Shooting reenactment vdonews Drug arrests in Sakhon Nakhon Bangkok Post Thai Ministry Mulls Oil Pipelines in N,NE

STV News

	You Tube Video by djmzaa  July 19  Google Translate: Day Students. Agricultural neighbors transplant rice seedlings
	You Tube Video by djmzaa July 19  Google Translate: Governor of Province. Visit the training and breeding fish in  black. In promoting fish foot spa in Thailand without having to   buy fish from Japan Nus development.
	You Tube Video by djmzaa July 19  Google Translate: Car pick-up Huay Yang District Forum motorcycle crash their car crashed head m 2 in the intersection. In the middle of the four students were tragically poor Sakon Bypass Road - Kalasin

acsbkk advisory: Hand, foot & mouth disease

Message to U.S. Citizens: Information on Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Children
Thursday, July 19, 2012

Information on Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Children

This message is to provide U.S. citizens in Thailand information about Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in children.
The following information was compiled by medical professionals posted at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.

As always, if you believe that your child is ill, you should consult your regular health care provider.

The media has widely reported a severe illness claiming the lives of more than 50 children in Cambodia. Some questions remain unanswered, but the clinical and laboratory information indicates that these illnesses are caused by infection with enterovirus 71, commonly referred to as EV 71.

Tears and Sadness for a Pet

After a lengthy and apparently painful illness, Blacky, my beloved pet and companion passed away last night. In the last month Blacky had visited the vet frequently, to no avail. In recent days the thought of putting her to sleep had been heavy on my mind. Sep 17, 2003 Sep 30, 2003 Jul 25, 2006 Blacky was my favorite from the litter. After a first night of lonely crying, I bought FatBoy, her brother, as a companion

No major weather systems in the upper atmosphere arriving from South East.
Increased rain chances after the weekend

Cooler temperature forecast evaporates

Cooler temperatures which had been forecast for today  ain't happening. In fact it's the opposite.  Temperatures nearing 33C / 91.4F with feels like temperatures reaching 44C / 111F If the humidity begins to feel dense, expect a thundershower. There's been little rain this rainy season. Not quite drought conditions, definitively not  a rainy season

Destination Sakon Nakhon

News Bites

Heineken trumps Thai offer in $4.1 billion bid Northeast to count on festivals Sakon Robinson Construction photo update More schools in Thailand hit by HFMD Thai rehab center asks UK rocker to leave

Caution No Rear View Vision

  Rice husks on the way to disposal / recycle

It's very lightweight freight.
Trucks tend to be overloaded on the sides, blocking all rear mirror vision

Pass with Extreme Caution !!

On the Sakon City Waterfront

Hadn't been at the local park in a few weeks,
decided to motor that way and catch a cool breeze on my motorbike

New replica in the park. Seems construction is incomplete 

A number of weed waker and rake operators
You'd think one guy on a lawnmower could do that

The park entrance Remodel/dismantling pending

Underused tour boat

made obvious by the garden growing around it

Where's their phone number?

I'd like to arrange for a four hour lake party cruise, food, drinks, cocktails

If you're looking to hire a van and driver

They hang out in the shade at the waterfront

Where's the pony rides?

Soon Available

Water level seems quite low for the rainy season

  Sakon City life

    Goats meandering on I.T.U.

Wax Castle Festival 26-30 October 2012

The best time to visit ANYWHERE, Thailand is when locals are throwing a party  Some of the better known Thai parties are Songkran and Loi Kratong. Consider regional events with local culture. In Sakon Nakhon it's the annual  Royal Longboat Race  and Wax Castle Festival Held each year at the end of the Buddhist lent, when the rainy season comes to an end. The dates vary slightly each year according to the lunar calendar.  Generally the four days before and the full moon day in October, Arrive early:  A few days before the festival gets under way. Many of the nearby villages and towns have their own preliminary boat races with entertainment ... plenty to see, do and experience. A visit to the local temples where artisans are preparing for the wax castle contest,  is well worth your time. Make hotel reservations early, especially if you want a room close to the action. Reservations may be tricky. Only a handful of local hotels accept online reservations. hotels2thailand    tripadvisor   agoda  My own local hotel listing has not been updated since 2009  Furnished apartments are a cost saving option to hotels. Numerous events and activities for four days.  It's important: as soon as you arrive ask for a schedule of events The map shows the parade routes and locations of special events. Unfortunately the guide may not be in your language. The guide is distributed usually a week before the action begins. I list a translation on this blog within a day or two after receiving my copy. Local expat establishments are also a great source of information I've had the good fortune to sit in the VIP viewing stands and used the oprotunity to videotape most of the 2007 parade 2011 Wax Castle Parade photos: 112 2011 Wax Castle Construction photos: 12 2008 Wax Castle Parade photos: 273 2007 Wax Castle Parade photos: 101 2006Wax Castle Display  photos: 12 2005 Waxcastle Construction photos: 15 2004 WAX CASTLE  dinner photos: 54 2003 Waxcastle Sound & Light show photos: 69