The night before... the dragon festival

Many of the festival participants spend the night before the big event at the Chinese temple.
Final practice and rehearsals and getting everyone into costume is an all night job.
Meals are served to participants, and if they tire they can roll up in their bedroll until it's their turn at makeup

There's not just dragons, but also cobra's are part of the celebrations






(Photo's 2004)

 
(Slides 2006) 



A post at Thai Visa regarding Sakon Nakhon Immigration 

The individual renewing his yearly visa was confronted with a new requirement:
He had to sign a document acknowledging  that if at any time he no longer has required the  income, he may be subject to 'be asked to leave Thailand.'
Noteworthy here is the fact that there are some basic guidelines for all immigration offices.
Individual immigration offices have the authority to ask for any additional documentation they deem necessary.

Congratulations to Martin

He is celebrating the one year anniversary of  his establishment.
It's really an accomplishment, considering the number of similar establishments in the area which have failed.  Martin is offering the first drink free to visitors on Saturday.

Weird 

Disasters are occurring more frequently these days
It's not just better media reports, it's actually happening.
Look at the frequency of  Worldwide Earthquakes between Magnitudes 6 and 8 over the last century, at a chart prepared by the Horizon Project

Santa Home at the north pole is a mobile home
The Magnetic pole, which previously moved an average of 10 km per year, has picked up speed in recent years, now moving at 40 km per year.  Airport runways, which previously pointed north have had to be renumbered because of the directional change

The video below does not cover all the natural disasters which happened this year.
When this year is over, the world will probably have experienced the most natural disasters in one year.
At the moment, Los Angeles is experiencing the strongest Santa Ana winds on record.
Heavy 165 mph winds in Scotland
I'm repulsed by religious fanatics who point out to predictions in the bible that the end is near.
There's a scientific explanation.
God is a woman and her name is Mother Nature
 

Dragons and Lions: How to tell the difference

With the upcoming  dragon festival I am doing a bit of research as to the origins of the event.  First thing I realized was that I have my dragons and lions mixed up.  The dragon has a long tail and requires quite a few people under it's skin to operate.  Whereas the lion is a two man operation, one handles the head, the other handles the tail..
I don't feel too bad though, apparently its a very common mistake.

 

Dragons come out this time of the year.  They visit  Chinese businesses to bless these establishments with good luck and prosperity in the coming year.


Lions appear on the scene in time for the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The Chinese New Year in 2012 is January 23

Sleeping Lions

Who will survive?

Home Pro opens December 16 in Sakon Nakhon.
With the recent opening of the Thai Watsadu store, and pre-existing home improvement stores it's going to be interesting to see 'who will survive.'
I've visited local home improvement stores in the past. They didn't seem all that busy, in fact many had more staff than customers

• Intense competition ahead as homes repairs The Nation

Dragon Festival December 11 through 16

.
...
It's one of my favorite yearly events in this city ♥
Parade starts at the Chinese Temple at 7:30 AM, Sunday December 11
Parts of the parade break off into different groups to visit and bless businesses in the area.

Around mid morning, don't miss the dragon fight in the main square (a block from the municipal complex).

Caution: Do not stand in Business Doorways where fireworks are about to be set off

Plenty of daily events at the temple.Don't miss the evening performances

Ho Hum Parade Season

Had two early morning appointments at my house, so I made no special effort to photograph the festivities around town.

I did have to go shopping at the electric store at 10 AM.
Of course I ran smack dab into the fireworks.

One guy saw me coming and made sure I'd have ringing in my ears for a while.
Seeing the youngest child high up in the air always makes me nervous. But I guess there were enough people below to catch the kids in case of a mishap.

 

At least this year they had an ambulance standing by

There'll be plenty of noise at the temple tonight

• Leaked report reveals Thai military responsible for protesters' deaths Guardian UK
• Nasa sells shuttle PCs without wiping secret data BBC
• World reacts to WikiLeaks Guardian UK
• Flooding in Australia ITN
• Weather causes Petrol Prices to soar ITN
• Tax man is getting desperate- German Sex Tax Reuters

Local Beef costs inching up

Mama does my weekly beef purchases every Saturday morning.  Recently prices have crept higher on a weekly basis. 
My freezer is almost empty.  Plenty of room.  Within the next few days I'll head to the slaughterhouse and purchase a six month supply.  The slaughterhouse sells to the general public after 8:30 PM, every day except Mondays.

See this on December 11

Avoid this on Dec 11 (don't stand too close)

It's a strange world out there

Keystone Cops Alive and Well

Detectives spent eight hours investigating the grizzliest murder scene in 35 year before realizing it was a movie set.   Read about at  Mail Online

Molesting for Dummies by TSA

TSA recommends using sexual predator tactics to calm kids at checkpoints

They should make him an Ambassador
Immune from petty prosecution

Willie Nelson charged with misdemeanor, rather than felony pot possession

Wikileaks

No new revelations. Confirms what we already knew and gossiped about.

Parade... Parade.. Parade

Can I borrow your Beamer?

A tenant from the apartment house across the street is moving 100 yards away to a different apartment.
He came to ask me to borrow my Beamer. 
I was somewhat puzzled, since I don't own a BMW.
He pointed...  It was time for a short English lesson:  "Wheelbarrow" 

 

Televised this evening

Football Thailand vs Lao, starts at 5 PM

Saturday Dec 4
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair

Starts at sunset, downtown

Sunday, Dec 5 
Parade

Celebrating the birthday of HRH the King, starts at 4 PM

Friday, Dec 10 

Constitution day

Saturday, Dec 11
Dragon Festival 

December 11.  Parade departs the temple at 6 AM.  Don't miss the main show at about mid morning, and evening celebration at the temple.  If you visit the temple the night before you can see practices and makeup application

A number of local schools  have Sports day early in the month.  These include parades and entertainment 

The silly side of U.S. Airport security

 
Your airport screening x-rays may soon be available on Pin-Up Calendars

Loudoun County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors member Eugene Delgaudio claims TSA airport pat downs are part of the homosexual agenda. wusa9



A lesson in Bird Photography

by Photographer: Andrey Goncharov found at pixdaus

Sakon Nakhon Dragon Festival

Chinese Temple

Dragon Festival Closing Exhibition

Dragon Festival Conclusion at the temple

Dragon Festival

Suggested gear: earplugs, smoke mask, helmet

The Dragon and Cobra ritual Practice Session

I have yet to get a correct answer what this festival is called.

Until I get a definite answer I call it the Chinese Dragon Serpent Festival
The ritual is in the belief that it will insure a good year ahead.

The beating of the sticks is to scare away cobras.
I can attest to that this ancient ritual is still effective today:
If you make plenty of noise, snakes tend to avoid confrontation.

Mostly kids, and plenty of adults gather at the temple nightly.
These ceremonies take a bit of practice and safety lessons.
It can really hurt if you don’t pay attention.

The nighty practice sessions are rewarded with a meal donated by temple parishioners.

Kids with sticks and cobras on the prowl

It happens every year around this time.
Kids beating numchuck type sticks together.
No they aren't about to do a Kung Fu hit on you, they're warding off snakes and dragons.

It's all practice leading up to the dragon festival held this year on December 11.
Nightly training sessions are now underway at the local Chinese temple.
The cobra snakes you see aren't real.

Dragon Fest 2006