Pit Stop Chern Chim December Price List

                                   

Sakon Nakhon Floating Lantern Festival (Loi Kratong)

video published on 28 Nov 2012 by  supaporn kangthong

Ride the Pony Gangnam Style

Since the Gangman style video was uploaded to YouTube, it's had more views in four months, than the Beeb. It's most viewed from Thailand. The U.S. is second in number of views.

It's not music for everyone.  Then again some people didn't like rock, some people didn't like disco.

I have yet to see a translation of the Korean song. But I love the beat.
Listening to the song is like taking an extra dose of energy pills,
Makes me want to dance. Something I haven't done in years.
God knows at 68 I really need the exercise.

Then of course there are certain 'news men' and 'psychiatrists' who make comments like "madness," "without intelligible words," "it means nothing...."
It's commentary without research.  The intelligible language is Korean.

Obviously the music is quite popular in Thailand and heaviy imitated.  
A few Navy officials almost got into some hot water and had some explaining to to.  A version of Gangman Style even won first prize in Thai Prisons

Thai King gets 'Gangnam Style' birthday wishes

And now another 'foot in mouth commentary' by mister Bill Oh

Genius Mathematician, please explain

I'm having some difficulty understanding Thai Math.

   

Image from Wikimedia Commons

 

       Bangkok post reports 

   ...projected 6% average   

     salary increase in 2013.   

Here's my math problem: Effective January 1, 2013, the minimum wage across Thailand will increase up to 60%, in some provinces it's a bit less.  Granted, many wage earners are making more than the minimum wage, but not all  ?? Is there some algebraic formula I'm missing here  ?? Speaking of the rise of the minimum wage:  It's going to be interesting to see what effect this will have on the cost of living in Thailand.  The minimum wage was raised earlier this year to 300 Baht in seven provinces.  About the same time food prices jumped drastically.  Most obvious to me were beef, pork, poultry, and fish prices.  Labor intensive !!

It's noticable: water levels going down

It's the same location, slightly different angle.  Picture on the left was taken in 2006, a fairly average rain year.  Picture on the right taken yesterday.  I'd say the lake water level is down about three feet, at least.

There's no drought relief in sight in the forecast for the rest of this year.  It's hard to predict what the spring of 2013 will bring at this point.  If there's no relief before the 2013 hot season arrives, the lake may well expose some ancient relics, it's been hiding for centuries.

An attempt to raise an ancient Buddha statue in 2009 from the lake bottom failed due to the lack of a strong enough crane.  That year 2009 we experienced a milder, shorter drought.

It's a zoo out there

Recently mentioned spotting the critter (above) in my garden. 

Apparently they can change colors. 

Or it could be the peacock syndrome where the female is quite drab looking and the male shows off all his colors

Logic ??

installing barbed wire around your home generally is to keep intruders out.But there are apparently other uses: 

• hang laundry, 

• store general household items.

Yeah that's right.  That's a homemade ladder the homeowner uses as a shortcut.  I've observed him

Happy Loi Kratong Day

Kratong stands have been going up since early morning

Parade float construction is underway at many local flower shops 

No smoking no alcohol allowed in public parks

Sakon Nakhon Loi Kratong 2003

As for the time of the parade. Can't seem to get a straight answer
Best answer, sometime near sunset

Apple's One Free Beer with Pizza Friday

New Menue, and ongoing raffle at Pit Stop Cafe

So Good Restaurant Welcome Party

Tipi makes a Welcome Party for her Ausi Husband "Kevin"

That's the news according to SchwabenTony read what he's saying here

FREE FOOD  Oh So Good

Sakon Nakhon CM CENTER to open soon

Spotted the first new tenants moving in.

There's still plenty of construction underway.
Haven't seen any grand opening signs as of yet, but with shop owners beginning to move in, it can't be much longer.
The shopping center is located south of Big C.

Sakon Nakhon Loi Kratong 2012

Sakon city dwellers will be heading for the lake park en-masse.

Thais believe that floating a kratong (raft) will bring good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

The Loi Kratong Parade is generally around sunset.
The parade delivers a royal kratong to the waterfront
I'll update time information later in the day.

This is also the day for the release of the Thai fire balloons, AKA sky lanterns.  

The Murphy Rule

Just installed Windows 8 onto my computer. You know the saying: "If it can go wrong it will."   It did !! To make a long story short, I was at it for a week.I opted for the on-line update instead paying extra for the disk.Disk installation is simpler than on-line installation.I learned connection errors during the on-line installation can raise havoc. Of course with the new system I had to learn how to use the features, un-install all the unwanted software and re-install favorite software. All time consuming. I'm happy with the end result, especially since live TV video streaming is noticeably improved.

Race night at the Pit Stop

Come and watch the final race in the F1 championship, 
live from Brazil at 11.00pm Sunday night in H.D.
Free snacks before the start.

Drought Continues

Image, Midnight, Nov 23-24

Weather is coming from the south.  Rain systems seem to dissipate before they arrive locally.Night time temperature cooling trend  possible during the second week of December.

USTV NOW - Watch Live American TV Shows Online

Found this link at the ajarn forum
Free Channels are ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, NBC and PBS for 45 days
There are a number of upgrades available, starting at $29 per month for 28 channels

USTV now - Watch Live American TV Shows Online:
USTV now lets you watch all your favorite US television channels from anywhere around the world.

Should I cry 'WOLF?"

Eighty-six Police Cars.  Definitely an unusual sight around here.
Is the city motor pool being renovated?
Or should I be nervous?  Is the Bangkok Demonstration this weekend going nationwide?

Sakon Nakhon I.T.U.Lake Going, Going, Gone

Earlier this year, around July, I was looking at the lake at the end of I.T.U. somewhat nervously. 

I'd seen that lake spill over in previous rainy seasons. 

We didn't have much of a rainy season, so the lake did not spill over.
With this year's drought, the lake has disappeared.

From the looks of things, the dry lake bed is about to be filled in, and we'll be seeing housing construction soon.

Sakon Nakhon Community Products Fair

November 23 through December 2

There's a couple of items on sale which I doubt will be big sales items.  Books and CD's Then there's these blankets which I really do like.  Very soft

Pit Stop Restaurant Weekly Prize Draw

Pit Stop Restaurant will hold weekly prize drawings every Saturday.

This Saturday the prize is a frozen Oven ready Turkey Crown

The draw will take place Saturday evening if all 25 tickets are sold.
One ticket for the turkey draw 100฿

For details call  0872269151

..

Phu Phan Cup Pictures of Yesteryear

Phu Phan Cup Finals this afternoon.

Sakon Nakhon secured third place by trashing Khoen Kean 6-2 yesterday

Do you want T(h).A.T. on your phone ??

The Official Press release, as published by mass media: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced the launch of its “Amazing Thailand” official LINE account as another way to communicate with travelers who are in Thailand as well as target travelers who are in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. To download “Amazing Thailand” fun stickers for a limited time beginning 27 November 2012 at 10.00 hours until 26 December 2012, the travelers can also download the stickers on LINE.   What is “Amazing Thailand” official LINE account?? From appearances it's an application for your phone to receive Tourism advertisement, ie: SPAM. ←Click on the image for more Updated: Line is an application for the phone, which allows you to subscribe to various feeds.  It's been available for some time. This is an advertisement for another news feed by TAT. Other feeds can be seen when you click on the image.

Sakon Nakhon Rush Hour

It's 5:15 PM, the 100% Helmet rule became optional at 5 PM

More than 11,000 people die every year riding motorcycles according to Thai Government statistics

Sakon Nakhon not the 2012 Phu Phan Champ

Yesterday's game squashed that chance


Nong Khai 2   Sakon Nakhon 0

With this loss Sakon Nakhon has lost all chances for first or second place
The Sakon Nakhon game today will decide if they can maintain third place



Final day of the Phu Phan Cup is November 23
Both the game and closing ceremonies are to be broadcast on National TV

The last time Sakon Nakhon won the Phu Phan Cup was 26 years ago
Sakon Nakhon has hosted the Phu Phan cup for the past 9 years
This year marks 31 years of the Phu Phan Cup

Thanks Again

Just received a thank you note from two ladies who visited the "Sapphire City" last month.

  Always appreciate it when I do receive little notes acknowledging thanks.

  The girls had expected to see the Wax Castle Festival.  

  Unfortunately due to erroneous advertisement by TAT, they were ten days early and looked for alternative activities.

  Thanks to Anton, who provided the transportation, the girls 

experienced local boat races 

and restaurants.