Link→ Thailand travel insurance scheme:Success or flop?

The article sounds more like a TAT advertisement. 

219 Applications in the first month isn't exactly ground breaking.  But then this isn't the tourism high season.

The big drawback the effective date is when you enter the country.
Interesting advice is read the fine print:  not covered is motorcycle riding, extreme sports, intoxication, etc. Read the fine print.
Wonder if elephant riding could be considered extreme sport

New meaning to climbing tree

Post by Sun Gazing.

Praying for Puddle Advantage

Two years ago on Sunday, August 12, 2012 

Sakon FC triumphed over Surin FC 2-1

The 2012 Sakon Nakhon FC team

That year Surin ended the season 13th, Sakon Nakhon 14th in a 16 team league

Since then Surin has been 5th in 2013.
With only a few more games left this season, Surin is in 4th place while Sakon Nakhon is second to last.

The odds seem definitely in favor of  

From yesterday's Facebook post I presume that the team  travelled yesterday players and are well rested for today's game

Post by SURIN CITY FC.

Don't count out Sakon Nakhon FC totally, there has been steady improvement over the past few games.

The rain god Vassakan may lend a helping hand with a drenching rain before game time.  Sakon Nakhon players seem to be more at home and perform better when they have "puddle advantage."  A drenched field also adds a bit of humor to the game.

It might help if someone would wake up Vassakan before the game

MuchADO about Thailand 30 day Visa Extention

Tourists can now extend their 30 day stay in Thailand by an additional 30 days.
The desired effect according to some articles is  to speed up Thailand’s tourism recovery.

Most tourists only get a yearly 30 day vacation, many even less.  Vacations are generally planned months in advance.  I doubt very seriously that these extensions will have the desired effect of keeping tourists for a bit longer.

In the past visa extensions done through visa runs mainly benefited an estimated million 'permanent tourists' who did not otherwise qualify.  Many of them workers without proper permits.  A more sensible approach would be to legitimize those workers.  It would most likely stabilize the foreign teacher pool among other benefits

Related reading:

• Thai Rice Export delays due to labor shortage

Link→ This Is What Weight Loss Does To Your Brain TIME

"Obese men and women are estimated to be about 35% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s..."

Link→ Thai stocks expected to attract more foreign investors in 2015 - Pattaya Mail

My thought
Plenty recent headlines indicate the money bags of Thailand are buying foreign companies from Cambodia, Vietnam, to the US, and elsewhere.
To me that sounds like diversifying, in case...

“Thais are among the most clever people in Asia when it comes to finding legal loopholes.”

Link→Is the Thai Junta Really Going to Jail Sommeliers for Recommending Wine? | TIME

The article headline seems a bit misleading.  The article itself is very well written.
It's an opinion about the proposed 'draconian' alcohol laws.
The article points out that many of these laws have been on the books for a number of years.

My opinion, if enforced these laws would be a deathblow to Thailand's tourism industry

T.i.T. No Limit

Post by www.mcot.net.

Malaysia Airline in Distress

Link→ Malaysia Airlines to Cut 6,000 Staff in Overhaul

Link→ Malaysia Airlines flights left with rows of empty seats as company struggles after disasters


How not to comfort a passenger

Tourists at risk anywhere

Link→Thai tourist in NYC duped by blond seductress
she splits Hyatt hotel room with his Rolex, Versace necklace, $2k cash

The beer tasted "a little funny" should have set off alarm bells.
Many hotels in Thailand require 'temporary' guest identification

I know I should not gloat*

Gloat*dwell on another's misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure. 

But here are some precious moments in Thailand. Click on the pictures to see the two albums

41

Life without Cars

Hit and run driver sought

Information is sought leading to the apprehension of a hit and run driver, whose victim died.  
The vehicle is a silver bronze Toyota Fortuner 

Post by สกลนคร ทีวี เน็ทเวิร์ค.

Post by iGSakonNakhon.

Tha Rae landfill major problem

Link→Tha problem landfill mining Sakon Episode 1 | MCOT.net.

TAT is preparing to propose a range of tourism stimulus measures

Link→TAT plans to extend visa stay for tourists to raise revenue

Thailand Happiness: Happy Hour permanently cancelled

Link→Thailand Shoots Itself In The Foot With New Alcohol Laws 

  Link→Tougher use of alcohol promotion laws coming soon to Phuket

  Link→Junta ordered Thailand Law Enforcement Signals The End of Happy Hour

  Link→ Junta Cracks Down on Alcohol Promotions

  Link→Tough new crackdown on alcohol promotions in Thailand

Bar and restaurant owners scratch off all those beer logos from your beer mugs and glasses.
Won't have to do that to Chang or Singha glasses, as they do not specify beer, they also sell water
 

Road House invites you to a birthday party

As posted on Facebook
Larry Nelson

For all my Thai friends, this Friday, Larrys Road House will be having a birthday party for my cook / waitress / and good friend Lek. She has been invaluable to me in my quest to become a great Expat / Thai bar in the north Issan area of Thailand. 

We will have live 2 piece band which plays English just as well as they play Thai music. Lek and her family will be supplying a great buffet with traditional Thai food, chicken wings, etc. as well as our normal Farang (Western) menu.

Please plan on being here to help a special lady and friend celebrate her birthday in a big way.
Activities will begin at 5 and last, as usual, until the last drunk leaves.

Friday at Apples

Link→ Military government extends tourist length of stay in Thailand to 48 nationalities

30 day extension can be obtained at any immigration office of TBH 1,900.

Weather moving from the east

Thai exports surprisingly fall in July, clouding growth outlook

  Thailand’s motor vehicle output down 28.5% in January-July

  Thailand Trade Backslides to Deficit in July

  Baht shrugs off falling Thai exports

  Thailand junta woos foreign investors with ‘open economy’ plans

Speed Cameras on the way to Kalasin

Drivers travelling through the Phu Phan mountains to Khon Kean should be aware of speed cameras shortly after Yang Talat on highway 209.
Highway speed limits are 90 km unless otherwise posted.

Speeding tickets are generally mailed to the registered vehicle owner

Motorcycle driving in Thailand is hazardous

Driving at night is extremely hazardous, as evidenced by this hit and run

Post by สกลนคร ทีวี เน็ทเวิร์ค.

Thunderstorms, some heavy drenchingthroughout Wednesday

Thai Meteorology Department forecasts 70% precipitation  through Saturday.
System in the South China Sea is moving NW

Advertisements and promotions of Happy Hour banned in Thailand

It's not April 1, so it can't be an April fools joke.  Some of the laws listed seem quite reasonable, while others just seem far fetched. 
 I seriously question "is this real?"
Neither the Nation nor the Bangkok Post, nor any other news service make mention of this story at this time

Link→ Junta Cracks Down on Alcohol Promotions
chiangmaicitynews


Link→ Tough new crackdown on alcohol promotions in Thailand
Thailand Forum

• sales are banned to anyone under the age of 20
• promotions of free ice and mixers banned
• No drinking is allowed after midnight in bars or restaurants
• no alcohol logos are allowed on glasses, ashtrays and other paraphernalia
• no alcohol posters or logos
• no beer girls

Link→ Thai rubber farmers feel 'betrayed' by military government | Reuters

Link→ NCPO budget cuts 'risk hurting farmers| Bangkok Post

Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Festival October 3 through 9

Post by นครพนม.

The city of Nakhon Phanom is a little over an hours drive from Sakon Nakhon on the Mekong river.

Their most renown festival is the annual Illuminated Boat Procession. 

A version of this celebration has been around since ancient times, when decorated rafts laden with offerings and candles were floated down the river.

Over time these rafts increased in size and today are large barges.

From the distance these barges look more like a neon display.

In reality they are thousands of oil lamps.

Nong Kai Fottball Club owner deserves an honorable mention

Pascal and Markus aka Staldi were invited to attend the football game in which Nong Kai FC hosted and beat Sakon FC.  
Markus is a tourist from Switzerland spending a recent vacation in  Thailand   Uhrlaub in Thailand

During half-time the club's owner welcomed Markus and presented him with a team t-shirt.

Pascal is the real hero of this story. 

He operates the House Baan Sanploen providing complete tourism services for the disabled.  His German Language website provides detailed information.

Link→ Three quakes hit northern Thailand at Chiang Rai Pattaya Mail

Related News dated 6 May, 2014
Link→ Big earthquake shakes Thailand's north