You know what they meant to say

You are not "In Town" yet, but that is the way "To Town."

Read some time back that a number of the DOA terminals had been allocated funding for upgrades of facilities. DOA is Department of Airports.

Got to see some of those changes yesterday on my one day round trip to Bangkok.  The exterior tiled fish ponds are gone. Check in areas had some walls removed, looked brighter, new conveyor belts.

Obviously the face lift is still in progress


The shrine had  a wooden house as a neighbor for many years. Wonder if those containers are permanent or temporary

The fish pond is gone, and so is the wooden house

The flight to Bangkok and the evening return flight, a 737-800 with a capacity of  189 passengers was about 95% filled. Wasn't that long ago when a 72 passenger aircraft was more than enough for  the Bangkok - Sakon Nakhon flight.

Also obvious to me is an increase in personnel from ground crews to security. One staff remembered me and greeted me by name.

On the return trip I presented my boarding pass on my tablet, a fairly recent innovation.

Won't be that long till new technology is in place

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

37 Phu Phan Royal Palace Cup 2018 final games

Game 27 decides third place between Sakon B and Bueng Kan at 4 pm on November 29 

Game 28, decides the winner of the Phu Phan Cup trophy, Sakon A vs Loi 3 pm November 30
Both games will take place at the provincial stadium on airport road

During the final game there will be plenty dignitaries, parking and seating will be at a premium
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Where were you last Sunday afternoon

Opened Google Maps and checked the "my places - visited" feature. It has a list of all my daily travels, in many cases with pictures.  
If you have the feature activated, your mobile phone geotags every photo you take with your mobile. 
Sunday I was near the Mekong river, but I had no idea how close till I saw the map

Your mobile keeps track of all the places it's been, so if you are going someplace you don't want people to know, turn off you mobile, better yet, leave it at home.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

37th Annual Phu Phan Cup football ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽ Sakon A advances to the semifinals

As anticipated yesterday's game Sakon A vs Roi Et was challenging and exciting from start to finish. Both teams gave 100%.

I totally dislike a winner being decided in a shootout, so I was delighted with the Sakon A goal during the four minute extra time 

Game number	date / time	opponent	opponent	location
25	28 Nov 4pm	Sakon Nakhon A	Bueng Kan	Sakon City
26	28 Nov 4pm	Loei	Sakon B	Sawang Daeng Din
27	29 Nov 4pm	loser game 25	Loser game 26	Sawang Daeng Din
28	30 Nov 4 pm	winner of game 25	winner of game 26	Sakon City

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon Sakon City games are broadcast live on facebook.com/sakonnakhonnews61

Hibiscus Teatime

Harvesting as needed. Each bud contains dozens of seeds.  
Ready to grow the next batch and plenty left over

There's a scheme proposal as elections edge closer

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

37th Annual Phu Phan Cup football ⚽ Sakon A hosts Roiet, Monday 5 pm

It's going to be a challenging game
Roiet previously defeated Nong Bua Lamphu  2 - 0
and Nakhon Phanom 4 - 0

Obviously Roiet kept their opponent from scoring, possibly indicating a strong defense.
Winner continues in the tournament, looser goes home

Bring back VACATION LAND

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's like a cat and mouse game

The Thai Immigration bosses had asked all embassies to verify individual income of all foreigners wishing a retirement visa.  The certifications they had been issuing for years were obviously misused and in many cases as outright lie.

Embassies balked at this and decided to cease issuing certifications for income statements. 

The word is out, get your embassy letter before the termination date, in most cases Dec 31, 2018. They can be used to apply for a visa through June 30.

Or you can stick the required amount into a Thai bank account.  Keep in mind You can't touch it for three months and must have additional funds to live on during these three months.

In my discussion on the matter it appeared as if there is a cat and mouse game in progress. I asked how monthly money transfers will be handled in the future, I was told "that is up to the foreign embassies."

If I am not mistaken this means they plan to hold out in hopes that embassies will change their tunes and provide the information.

If the standoff is not resolved within a year, most likely there will be an exodus, once that ball gets rolling it's going to be hard to slow down or reverse.

Some foreign embassies probably would not have great difficulty to accommodate such income inquiries with  the systems in place.  IRS computers come to mind.

Personally I'm not transferring my savings to a Thai bank because my U.S. last will and testament would become worthless.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

I like watermelons but not the messy, drippy ...

... and full of seeds eating.  

Been having some weight gaining problems and the fruit was suggested as an aid, not a solution.  Third day third watermelon, four bottles a day, and yes more visits to the throne room.

Most of the times when I crave a snack I reach for the juice instead

Just don't let the juice stand out overnight, unless you like the smell and taste which brews overnight. I add a shot of booze to each one watermelon just as a sanitary measure

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Just dump it anywhere, but don't block my way

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

As fast as a jet

I seen these floating lights slowly rise, 
then at a certain height, the wind pushed em as fast as a jet.

Parade starts at 6 pm 
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Unnecessary Danger

The sign at a busy intersection allows motorcycles and bicycles to pull ahead of waiting cars at traffic lights. Motorcycles have a faster start than cars, but imagine bicycles in front of dozens of cars as the light changes to green.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Cooler nights this week, nothing drastic

Phu Phan Cup November 2550 (2007)

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon Most likely a bit chilly in the mountain areas. a couple of 16's forecast starting this weekend

Flabbergasted two to three months advance notice of activities

Upcoming events are being announced two to three months in advance.  Unheard of in past years when many events received a few days notice, occasionally a week.
Christmas fair in Tha Rae

Colorful events

Red Cross Fair in January

December 9

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Colorful Weekend

    

Designated on the map with a P, indicating a parking lot, the area is located by the Rear gate to Wat Phra That Choeng, and across the street to the waterfront park. Over a decade ago the area was an outdoor restaurant.  I remember it because the restaurant staff brought out a fan for the table with the foreigner, me.

The latest 'Colorful' configuration was put together in mid October in time for the longboat races.

Live entertainment...

food stalls ...

... and an art exhibit

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon