Where you from ?

I just finished my second beer, and I just did come from Sakon Nakhon, so that was my answer.

2006 Sakon Nakhon Space Program

060430 Bang Fai

Waking the rain god, with the forecasts I've seen: He's awake !!

10 Million Very Big Rocket Home, Warin Buri, Sakon Nakhon, ROCKET FESTIVAL 2018 Published on May 7, 2018 ...... fireballs 2561 Sakon Nakhon Published on May 8, 2018 Yasothon @ Yasothon Published on May 13, 2018 Eight Firefighters Ephesus Yasothon 2561 Eight Jets Firefighters 555 Published on May 21, 2018 Previously wrote on the subject  Sakon Nakhon - Live: Bang Fai

 
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Attention . . . . . Attention . . . . . tell me WHEN, . . . . tell me WHERE . . . . . PLEASE

Rocket Festival underway in Waritchaphum Waritchaphum is a one hour drive from Sakon City Attended my first Bun Bang Fai in June of 2003     The winner is the person or persons whose parachute stays airborne the longest. The origins of the festival are obscured in history, it is generally agreed that the event has been celebrated since ancient times. There are three main versions to the Bun Bang Fai legend. One has it that the rain god Vassakan loved to be worshiped with fire.Villagers shot rockets into heaven in hopes that he would bless them with plenty rain needed for rice cultivation. A second version is that the rain god Vassakan would be sleeping during this time of the year (hot season) . Villagers would shoot rockets to awaken him to begin the rainy season. A third version claims the event as being a fertility rite, shooting phallic symbols (rockets) into the sky in hopes of fertilizing the land. The celebration is held mostly in North Eastern Thailand and Laos and is a mix of spiritual and religious beliefs, with plenty of modern day entertainment. Dates for the festivities vary throughout the area Some festivals are held as early as April, and as late as July during the dry and hot season. Religious ceremonies, parades and a variety of merit making are part of the celebrations. There are other activities in most Bang Fai Celebrations, including parades, fair, and concerts. A Word of Caution In 2009 a rocket misfired and decapitated a spectator, whose head was found after some searching, in a nearby creek

Sakon Nakhon

Thailand's Space Program

Wakeup Call for Vassakan, God of Rain

Thailand's Phallic Obsession

Updated: deleted video replaced

They used to be much smaller.

  Gunpowder and a home made parachute tied to a bamboo pole.

The purpose was to wake up the rain good.

The god in charge of the rain is also in charge of earth's vertility.

Some say the ritual is phallic in nature.
   Prizes are awarded for the one (rocket) that is UP the longest.

In recent years, these rockets started growing in size.

Airlines are getting a bit worried.

Used to require two people to ready the rocket for firing.

These days it takes six persons to prepare the missle

Firing platforms made of bamboo have been replaced with rebar re-enforced cememt poles

If you attend these events, be alert.  

Some years ago a rocket misfired and decapitated an onlooker.

Monday

It's nearly that time again

Time to wake up the Rain God

Bang Fai

Cost of Living - Temperatures RISING

Bang Fai, Phang Khon 4-5-6 May 2555

Prices in Thailand going UP!!      The series continues May 5 AJARN forum     Is Thailand expensive now? May 5 Bangkok Post    Fast-food prices up by 2-10%                                                        Chains try to keep up with increasing costs May 5  Bangkok Post   Pheu Thai failed us, say red shirts   May 3  Bangkok Post   Govt probes surge in food prices   May 1  ASIA ONE         Thailand's higher living costs eat up hike in daily wage

Looks like the makings of a disco supply store next door to the 'Apple' restaurant. Brings back fond memories of the 70's.  Some friends of mine were Disco installers and DJ's. Carabao was performing in town last night. Prefer to listen to his music in a concert setting, rather than a bar.

La Nina departed El Nino arrival expected  It's official: A number of weather services have declared that La Nina "the girl" has departed. La Nina is blamed for increased rain and storms in SE Asia. The arrival of El Nino "the little boy" is anticipated later this year.El Nino gets the blame for local droughts A slight rain shortly after midnight cooled temperatures 'slightly.' Indications are that local temperatures will continue HOT Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed AccuWeather 30 31 32 32 34 33 33 34 33 35 AccuWeather Feels Like 42 42 39 42 41 40 41 40 43 43 MeoWeather 31 33 34 35 35 36 36 Thai Meteorological 32 32 31 34 35 The Weather Channel 31 32 32 33 34 34 34 Wunderground 31 30 33 34 36 35 34 34 34 34

Move over Beethoven

Sakon Nakhon Flood Victim

Bang Fai Celebrations at Sawang Daen Din

Heavy Rains Of April 27 Motorcyclist falls into Sakon Nakhon Canal ...Search for body and motorcycle Photo of flooded roads around Chinese temple during morning rain Heavy rains broke solder connection to my downspouts

The weather forecast at accuweather predicts rain almost every day during the month of May. Forecasts beyond three days should be considered educated guesses. I've been following ocean surface temperatures on an almost daily basis since last year's rainy season, at wunderground. There seems to be some correlation between ocean temperatures and local rainfall. Ocean surface temperatures have been continuing to increase and spread since the beginning of the year. Hot ocean temperatures are the breeding grounds for hurricanes and tropical storms

S-BAC (Sakon Business Administration College) Sold

The privately owned and operated school was recently sold.
Announcement of the sale and introduction of the new owners to teachers and staff where made yesterday at a dinner hosted at the Grand Palace Hotel.

Sin Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival

Half way through the video sound is discontinued.
Advance video to 04:10,  made me grin.  Only in Thailand



Red moon Eclipse visible June 16 THE NATION

If you stay up till after 1:22 am and the sky is clear

Watch this Movie Trailer   Bad Teacher

Local Bang Fai celebration with deadly results

The Bang Fai season has begun.  

These celebrations can be most pleasurable events, but they can also be deadly as happened locally on May 11.

It's a stark reminder that if you attend such an event that you pay attention to your surroundings at all times.  These rockets are generally home made, some are quite elaborate, while others are not

 

Translation of the news article is quite incoherent, but apparently on that day a rocket misfired and instead of going skyward, headed toward spectators, hit a 29 year old spectator in the head, killing him instantly.

Related article: Bun Bang Fai - Thai Rocket Festival

Bun Bang Fai - Thai Rocket Festival

The origins of the festival are obscured in history, it is generally agreed that the event has been celebrated since ancient times.
There are three main versions to the Bun Bang Fai legend.

• One has it that the rain god Vassakan loved to be worshiped with fire.Villagers shot rockets into heaven in hopes that he would bless them with plenty rain needed for rice cultivation.
• A second version is that the rain god Vassakan would be sleeping during this time of the year (hot season) . Villagers would shoot rockets to awaken him to begin the rainy season.
• A third version claims the event as being a fertility rite, shooting phallic symbols (rockets) into the sky in hopes of fertilizing the land.
  

The celebration is held mostly in North Eastern Thailand and Laos and is a mix of spiritual and religious beliefs, with plenty of modern day entertainment.

Dates for the festivities vary throughout the area Some festivals are held as early as April, and as late as July during the dry and hot season. Religious ceremonies, parades and a variety of merit making are part of the celebrations.

Bang Fai

Bang Fai