Apples Christmas

Jom and I would like to invite you to  our 4th Annual Xmas Party to be held on Sunday  December 20,   at Apples Restaurant in Sakon Nakhon .   We are doing things a little different this year. It will  be a sit-down dinner ( for 40 guests ) serving you a  traditional Xmas dinner, Turkey, Roasted Pork Ham,  etc, and Thai food also, .  Holiday spirits and -----OPEN BAR * for 695 Baht Reservation / Payment in by December 6. * Imported Bottled wines excluded.

Sakon Nakhon

News of the day

" the El Niño that is developing now is predicted to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest on record " Rice, Fish and El Niño: A recipe for disaster? | European Year for Development Fish and rice. It’s a staple dish found on every street corner across Asia and the Pacific. And now, there are deep concerns about the effects that the climatic… EUROPA.EU
They are on the move - the water is too hot at home Cluster of great white sharks seen off Bay Area coast Experts say a cluster of some 20 great white sharks was recently spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard off Northern California's coast. KRON4.COM
"An attempt to rescue the wounded was hampered by the crowd of faithful who continued giving alms to monks despite the collapse of part of the structure." Bamboo span collapses during alms, several injured MAE HONG SON: Several people giving alms to monks were injured, with two in a serious condition, when the Su Tong Pae Bridge, the country's longest bamboo bridge, collapsed Wednesday morning. BANGKOKPOST.COM|BY POST PUBLISHING PCL.
"According to Microsoft Asia-Pacific CIO Survey, this region is the most actively targeted for cyber crime attacks. " Thailand faces big risk from malware - The Nation Thailand faces big risk from malware The Nation Asia-Pacific region most targeted for cybercrime, Microsoft says NATIONMULTIMEDIA.COM|BY NATION MULTIMEDIA GROUP PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, NATIONMULTIMEDIA.COM, THAILAND

Showing alcohol labels on social media is going to get expensive

The article hints that additional regulations will be announced in December.  Publishing any photos showing alcohol labels on the web, or on posters is illegal in Thailand Jail and a $14K Fine—Thailand’s Fun Police Set Their Sights on the Selfie Uploading a selfie to social media and you could find yourself in very hot water with Thai authorities—if you’re holding a bottle or can of alcohol that is. BOKEH.DIGITALREV.COM

Sakon Nakhon

Cough Couch, Choke

The only warning that the area is getting sprayed for mosquitoes is the motor from the sprayer Had to rush to get my dog inside and close all windows and doors. Really had not experienced many mosquitos around my house.  The lots usually filled with rain after the rainy season are all dry.   One of the best ways to avoid mosquito bites outdoors is to sit in front of a fan.  Mosquitoes can't manuever well in windy conditions

Sakon Nakhon

Temperatures are doing a wave...

...a few days warm, a few days slight cooling, a few days warm.  Night time temperatures in low twenties (upper sixties F).  By the end of November we may see night time temperature in the upper teens  (low sixties F)    Extended dry season through January There seems to be a lot more RED than in past years Weather Underground provides information about tropical storms and hurricanes for locations worldwide. Use hurricane tracking maps, 5-day forecasts, computer models and satellite imagery to track storms. WUNDERGROUND.COM

Sakon Nakhon

Fat Pig Bar Reopens Sunday, November 1

It also my birthday. My budget does not allow me to invite everyone to dinner, but you are welcome to stop by for a drink Five cases of beer donated for the occasion.  Hope to see many of you there
Enlarge full screen↑

Sakon Nakhon

Aqua Boxing

Sakon Nakhon

Thanks for visiting, got a question - add a comment

	October 20 - 27 No big surprise that  the US is on top  in number of visitors  to this blog.  Facebook has 936 million users  on an average day,  83% is from visitors outside the US FB is the  most popular venue  in Thailand You don't have to join  to view public facebook posts.   Stop by and visit

Sakon Nakhon

At the fairgrounds before the crowds arrive

	At 6 pm wax castles were brought into the fairgrounds. Some slight confusion, as it seemed there were more than one person directing the flow, giving conflicting signals
	Spire installation was being done on site
	Exhibits were still being arranged
	Still plenty of room to walk around
	These bugs stayed inside their open air enclosure, no escape attempts
	5 varieties on this bug menu
	The reason I came to the fair. Me and Alving love chestnuts

Sakon Nakhon

Recent Sakon Hapenings shared on youtube

Sakon Nakhon

Let's end October on a high note, it would be nice

Make your own graph

Humidity may be weakening soon

↑    Noteworthy: Slight cooling trend begins with the start of the new weekend.  Realfeel temperature begins to be in line with the actual temperature.  Indicating humidity is weakening. Further ahead, slight cooling, slight warming.   During the second week of November windbreakers may be advisable on Motorbikes.

Sakon Nakhon

Bug catching simplified

No zapper needed to get rid of those pesky bugs circling around outdoor lighting. Simply moisten the inside of a clear plastic bag and hang it next to the light. In a matter of minutes the bugs are history.  The bugs fly into the bag, their wings get wet and they are unable to fly.     See that black triangle at the bottom of the bag, that's all bugs caught in less than ten minutes

Three dead in collision of motorcycle and wax castle towing truck at Kut Bak (approximately 40 km from Sakon City, at about 7 pm, October 23

Truck driver rumored have been drunk

Posted by สกล สเตตัส on Friday, October 23, 2015

Posted by สกล สเตตัส on Friday, October 23, 2015

Coming to Mexico: Worst ever, Strongest ever

Cyber Security

Thai Army cyber warfare unit to counter hackers under preparation - ThaiVisaForum  Thai activists claim victory in war on junta cyber plans VideonewsUS

Internet hacking is happening all over the world.  Governments are doing it to each other.  
Governments are doing it to their own population under the guise of protecting everyone.  

Nothing is 100% secure on the net

Changing your passwords frequently is recommended, but even that does not insure total security.

In banking, it's important to know that you are insured against losses due to cybercrime. 

Computer virus protection is essential.  
There's no such thing as a free lunch, free downloads generally derive benefit in other ways.  Read the "fine print"

Early Morning Preparationsd at the Sakon Waterfront

Sakon Nakhon

Banks closed Friday, Alcohol restriction day Tuesday

Friday,    Oct 23 is Chulalongkorn Day Banks are closed Tuesday, Oct 27 end of Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Awk Phansa) No Alcohol sales

Sakon Nakhon

@ Sakon Hotel and others

@Sakon hotel opened a short while back, located half a block east of Big C. I drive by it almost daily and watched when construction started. Haven't seen much online publicity until I came across this Hotel Map  map = link

Sakon Nakhon

Wax Castle Construction Lesson: The larger pieces

Sakon Nakhon

Hope to see you at the Sakon Nakhon Boat Races

Recently posted an article Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races, the first day Here's some more details:  Day one 9 am: Trophy parade   Day one 11 am: Boat Parade, races continue till late afternoon Day one evening:  Food Fair, Concerts, and OTOP at the Municipal Grounds (next to the police station)  Day two: final trophy Races start at 2 pm   Day two evening : Food Fair, Concerts, and OTOP at the Municipal Grounds (next to the police station)

Sakon Nakhon

Football 'time Out'

Warning Elephants 'musth' have the right of way

Consumer Reports 2015 Automotive rankings

Sakon Nakhon Chinese Temple Vegetarian Festival

Sakon Nakhon

The Restaurant Shuffle

Many Sakon Nakhon Restaurants come and go, some just relocate  The Ton Jan restaurant recently closed it's doors and moved to a new location a few kilometers up the road.  I'll explore it's new location and menu later today  Colin's "My Home" restaurant will close it's doors by the end of the month and return to it's former location of the "Fat Pig" restaurant.    click on the image for a larger map view It will take few days to formulate menu plans and we'll be announcing my birthday bash to be held at the Fat Pig on November 1. Martin's Pit Stop Cafe is open for the month of October.  Open every day except Monday.

Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races, the first day

	A morning parade picks up the royal trophies at the 'city gate park,' making it's way to the east entrance of the waterfront park
	Trophies are ceremonially placed on display
	A speech or two, to officially open the races, most likely by the current Governor
	Not to be missed,  the boat parade, get your seats early
	A peacock feather dance contests concludes the parade
	Boat races the rest of the day
	Refreshments and trinkets are readily available No alcohol at this public event. No smoking inside the park

Evening events at the municipal grounds
Sakon Nakhon

Tourists most likely pay more buy less

Make a graph

Not really the rainy season

Oct 18-24  Empty spaces indicate sunny or partly cloudy, slight warming trend midweek Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Accue T-storm in spots                         T-storm around afternoon shower                           Meo TMD weather PM shower AM shower rp5 .3mm .9mm forecast Rain storms Rain storms BBC light rain shower wunder 1mm 1mm

Sakon Nakhon

T.i.T

See and do October in Thailand

Sakon Nakhon

What next

Opened in January of 2013, CM Center never flourished. It's being disassembled. Wonder how much money was lost on this venture?

Sakon Nakhon

Oh My

Houston	North of Los Angeles
USA braces for early winter	England braces for winter

Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon Getting ready to celebrate

Trees have been trimmed on the road leading to the Sakon Nakhon Waterfront and beautification continues They are in the final stages of removings seawead from the boat racetrack The seaweeds still need to be hauled away, most likely to be used as fertilizer Practice runs can be seen most early evenings Sheltered from the hot sun, most wax castles are in the final stages of construction Grandstand Construction is in the early stages

Sakon Nakhon