Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Kenny Rogers inducted

in the Country Music Hall of Fame

Source: Associated Press on You Tube


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Buddha Rescheduled in Thailand

Update: Reschedule cancelled

Loy Krathong gets go-ahead from govt


The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that it will postpone its annual celebrations for the Loy Krathong festival in honour of the late Supreme Patriarch Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana.

Loi Krathong festivities delayed


Makes no sense to me

After all, Loi Krathong is in honor of Buddha  
Would Buddha really mind if we included the recently deceased monk head with the same reverence.

Then there is a matter of seniority!! 
Buddha is getting rescheduled??


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Swaeter Season Ahead



Mister cool is reapearing at the Thai Metereological website.
A few days ago the nighttime temperature at my house dipped down to 16C /60.8. The coolest October temperatures I have felt here in the past ten years.

It's a bit warmer for a while with occasional dips in temperatures. 
Still plenty of time to clean and air out the winter bedding.  
Silly me:  
  1. When the outside temperatures are above 35C - 95F, an airconditioner at 15C - 59F feels great
  2. When the outside temperature drops to 15C, then I'm shivering

Recalling my past

1966 Pleiku Vietnam PSYOPS Mission






Sunday, October 27, 2013

Golden Pond at the Sakon Nakhon LOVE COMPLEX

That was then: 2002




A decade later its changed big time

See for yourself at the

 Sakon Nakhon Guide  Thai Script website

LOVE COMPLEX   microsoft translator  
LOVE COMPLEX          Google translate 


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Protect your E-mail from Phishing

Received this e-mail apparently from Gmail, indicating that I had reached my disk storage limit.
For a moment I was in a panic, but then I looked at the return address and realized it was a phishing attempt.
  • Phishing is an attempt to collect your user name and password

The link provided in the e-mail looked quite authentic, but again the web address obviously was not authentic: 
slg-itc.eu/xc.htm

There are times when you wont even realize that your information has been stolen until severe damage has been inflicted, which may include financial transactions.
Hacked or not, it's important that you regularly change your passwords.
Important to note, it's a problem with all accounts, not just Gmail.
Recommended reading:  
Warning: Over 20,000 Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo Email Accounts Hacked!

Thailand's Buddhist Supreme Patriarch dies

Thailand's Buddhist Supreme Patriarch dies aged 100 BBC

Officials told to wear black 30 days

Thailand Departure Fee to be raised...

... effective in mid-2014  The Nation
... effective in November  Thai PBS
  • Domestic flights from 100 THB to 200 THB
  • International flights from 700 THB to 800 THB 


Related article: 
500 Baht Tourist Fee proposed

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

T.i.T.








Tuesday, October 22, 2013

500 Baht Tourist Fee proposed

The reasons both pro and con regarding this proposed fee, simply don't hold water.
Here are a few of the reasons reported
  • Increase in quality of tourists
  • Reduction in overstay
  • Funds would go for "additional Care" of tourists
The fee probably will not hurt tourism in the least.  Other countries have much higher fees without ill effect.

The fee is to go into effect January 1, but there are some wispers of postponing it by a few weeks, as not to cause 'Confusion.'

Rather than a tourism fee with no visible benefit, I would have prefered the proposed mandatory medical insurance fee.  The difference here is the tourism fee can go straight into the general fund, while the medical insurance fee must provide a service.

Thailand prepares to introduce arrival tax

More than 100,000 foreigners

Sunday, October 20, 2013

T.i.T. today

More Inflation Fuel

Thailand to Raise Minimum Wage of civil servants

The Thai government said it will raise the minimum monthly wage of civil servants by 50% to $500 as of Jan. 1, with the aim of encouraging private employers to follow. The plan has spurred concerns about inflation, which accelerated slightly in August.

Time adjustment ahead

Daylight Savings Time changes

Of interest to those watching television from around the world on the net, most European countries will set their clocks back one hour, this coming Saturday, October 27.
The U.S., Canada and Mexico move their clocks back one hour the following Saturday, Nov 3. 


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Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Parade



Bang Bua (BKK) Lotus Festival




Heavy Rain alert in South Bangkok Post


Just a few days ago someone said: 
"Thailand to become completely dry by mid-November"


Earlier this month Chonburi looked like this




And if the flooding isn't bad enoughExpect political troubled waters

Amnesty bill change slammed The Nation



Local weather this week

Day time temperatures   30 to 32 (86F-89F) 
Feels like                      35 to 37 (95F-99F
Night time temperatures 18 to 20 (64F- 68F)

Friday, October 18, 2013

Sakon Nakhon Food Fest

It's a well known fact, I don't go out much in the evenings. Only on special occasions.
The annual Food Fest, part of the Wax Castle Festival, is one of those occasions.
First headed for a drink at the tavern across the street to the municipal grounds entrance.A perfect place for 'people watching.'
Somewhat silly rule: Beer bottles had to be kept out of sight


Plenty posing opportunities




Plenty Dining Choices







Floral Displays


And of Course the Stars of the Show:  The Wax Castles





I've seen these events for ten years. It's always the same, little variation.
The best part for me was seeing friends I had not seen in a long time, and stocking up on a few favorites


Pudding and chestnuts 

The Wax Castle Parade is later on this afternoon.
I'll watch the live televised version.

T.i.T. today

Thai and Chinese food may not be too healthy

The headline may be a bit too drastic, since many Thai and Chinese foods are quite healthy.
The article specifically discusses the salt content of curries. It’s an unhealthy amount,
dangerous to your health if curry is on your daily menu.
Many other Thai foods also contain large, unhealthy amounts of salt
image

Index suggests half a million enslaved in Thailand

Classical Thai dance to not be removed from school curriculum

Mo important than the 3R’s
So why am I laughing at other people’s misfortunes?

Thailand to become completely dry by mid-November

Royol Chitradon, director of the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute  said

Telephone Kaput

Old ten year old Sim card “Orange” needed to be updated to “True”
Transfer process may take three days.  Haven’t been able to receive calls for three weeks… in a few more days maybe I can
reblogged this from barnabydavis
reblogged this from barnabydavis

Bangkok Bank shrugs off growing bad loans

 non-performing loans keep rising 

 Immigration  Apple's Restaurant Pit Stop Restaurant Tippy's Restaurant  Welcome Bar 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

New Year Holidays extended

   Tues 24   Wed 25   Thu 26   Fri 27  Sat 28   Sun 29 
 Mon 30   Tues  31  Wed  1  Thu  2   Fri  3   Sat   4   Sat   5 

The government of Thailand has declared a five day new years holiday. A look at the calendar will show that this will most likely be acceptable practice worldwide.
Plain logic would be that little work, if any, will be accomplished  on Monday, Dec 30, or Thursday Jan 2 and Friday, Jan 3
Let's just declare a nine day holiday and be done with it 
Reason for this proclamation is to increase domestic Tourism

 Immigration  Apple's Restaurant Pit Stop Restaurant Tippy's Restaurant  Welcome Bar 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

T.i.T. today

Snow forecast in Bangkok

A Thai beer tycoon wants to build a massive indoor snow park in Bangkok
Things to see and do during the
Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat and Wax Castle Festival
Love the soundtrack.  Well done editing of longboat racing action 
Even though I don’t understand the language, I love this apparently  'Thai Country Music.'
Young novice monks are generally from families, too poor to raise them, from broken homes, and occasional orphans.
2013 Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat races ‘LONGBOAT PARADE’
Video by sakonnakhoncity


Rice Fuel ?

Most produced Crops
  1. Wheat
  2. Corn
  3. Rice

Surplus Rice Used as Bio-fuel in Brazil


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races Day 2










I was invited to sit with one of the racing teams on the waterfront blocked off to the general public. I accepted that offer, but declined an invitation to travel on a motorized longboat.