"why I always go "home" for Songkran"

Post by นางฟ้าชัดๆ.

Post by Jakkree Thampitakkull.

Have a Happy and Safe Songkran

Happy New Year for the third time this year

Post by Thai TV Social.

Sakon Nakhon Getting ready to PARTY

2012 Songkran

Peace during Songkran in Thailand ? I Hope !!

Red-shirt followers told to prepare for final battle 

after April 18 Thai PBS English News

Thailand Red Shirts threaten violence

if government is oustedCBC News

Another Super Sakon Songkran

Lot's of fun 
Great Video!! Amphoe Wanon Niwat

Sunday

How to Party Sakon Style

You have to admit it took some elaborate planning

Songkran in Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Songkran UP-grade

Sprinkler systems were the new addition to this year's 

Songkran in Sakon Nakhon

They were making final adjustments early Saturday morning

Towers had been erected in a number of locations throughout the city.

The main (name that) square had quite an elaborate soaking system

Click on image to see the full view 

Sakon Sonkran Parade 2013

View all 178 photos

Common Sense be your guide

Obviously some folk did not get the word about rule 10

     Do not play if the batter is warned.
     But for the distribution of flour. A fine not exceeding 2,000 Baht




Then there's rule 5 to consider
     Do not play with high pressure spray gun.
     Any violation. With imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding 4,000 baht fine.




Plenty other rules apparently lost in translation

• Do not turn on the sound. Any violation. Punishable both.
• Do not splash water tank pickup truck on the streets to oppose the imposition guilty. But if it is in violation of the prohibition. The accident resulted in a violation of an offense.
• forbidden to sit or stand on the rear tailgate Splashing Water.
• Do not put ice spa. Any violation. Arrested immediately.
• prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in public swimming areas. ....

Getting ready to PARADE

Saturday, April 13
Three sources confirmed the start of the parade as 1 PM.
     Obviously that was not the start time,
     rather the assembly of participants in the staging area.
The parade started punctually at 2 PM.
     Gave me the opportunity to observe and photograph PEOPLE, relaxing before the parade.

Where's my goggles

2005 .. .. 2006.. .. 2007.. .. 2008



2005 album        2006 Album       2007 Album      2008 Album

Wednesday

No Alcohol / Smoking

Songkran

Police to toughen alcohol ban and road safety laws during this year's Songkran
Pattaya Mail

No Alcohol - No Smoking

Songkran Social Taboos

As posted by  Overly sharp dagger Sriboonlue in Nong Han Luang FM 99.50.

Translated by Google Translate

Sri overly sharp dagger merits. 2:21pm Apr 4 Prohibition that Festival 2556 are as follows: 1. prohibit buying and selling on the flanks. Any violation. Punishable both.  2. Do not turn on the sound. Any violation. Punishable both.  3. Do not splash water tank pickup truck on the streets to oppose the imposition guilty. But if it is in violation of the prohibition. The accident resulted in a violation of an offense.  4. forbidden to sit or stand on the rear tailgate Splashing Water.  5. Do not play with high pressure spray gun. Any violation. With imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine not exceeding 4,000 baht fine.  6. Do not put ice spa. Any violation. Arrested immediately.  7. Woman banned for obscenity. If any violations were immediately guilty of lewd acts with girls or women.  8. prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in public swimming areas. If the sale to children under 20 years, or for those who are already drunk. A fine not exceeding $ 20,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year  9. ban on drinking alcohol in the car, both the driver and passenger to drink alcohol. To imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding 10,000 baht fine.  10th. Do not play if the batter is warned. But for the distribution of flour. A fine not exceeding 2,000 Baht  11. prohibit drunk driving. Any violation. Punishable by imprisonment not exceeding one year. Or a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 baht, or both imprisonment and fine. And the court shall suspend the driver's license is required at least six months. Or revoked driver's license.

It's helpful to have some crossword knowledge to make sense of the Google translation.
I had a really good laugh reading the rules.
It wasn't just the translation that made me laugh, I suppose most of these rules apply "where police is present."

Local Songkran celebrations

In an article at "Sakon Nakhon on Facebook,' an announcement is made indicating that local celebrations will be held from April 12 through 15.

Participants are being asked not to use, shampoo, powder or ice.

I suspect the call not to use ice will be largely ignored

Don't turn on your phone...

... if it gets wet during Songkran.

We have the tendency to turn it on to see if it still works.

DON'T DO IT!! You only exasperate the problem.

Immediately remove the battery and place your phone in fresh, plain rice.

Unlike the suggestion in the video of 24 hours,  I'd double that time (48 hours).  Unfold the phone and remove all removable covers

Sakon City BOOM Town

Sakon City Songkran to the classics

It's obvious:    There's a construction boom underway in Sakon City. Within minutes in any direction from my home, there's construction underway. It's like that all over the city. The construction boom is going on in most of North Eastern Isaan. A decade ago, what today is known as Sakon City, was then a sleepy, slow paced town. Before the arrival of Big C, MACRO, and  Tesco. Changes were gradual at first    I.T.U., a major roadway these days,     was mostly dirt road for many years.    It functioned as a party zone.        Album 040315TheBigParty Internet was available locally at breathtaking modem speeds of 14,400 over local telephone lines. There was a waiting list to get a phone line to your home, unless you had friends with "connections."

sakonnakhon-live calendar discontinued I've deleted links to my calendar. It's simply not a project I can maintain at the moment. Had two hard drives crash on me over a year ago. Recently began a slow recovery process. I've recovered over 2,000 photographs so far, with lots more to go. Can't describe how happy I am seeing these pictures reappear. For a calender of 2012 Thai holidays I recommend the  THAI VISA calendar I'll continue to list local and special events here @ sakonnakhon-live

Links of Interest Thai government plays down consumer price rise- Korea Herald Husband relives hell of wife's killing - Bangkok Post FUTSAL World Cup: November 2 to 18, 2012, Thailand ℞  for Alzheimer’s: Music !! Ex-Thai PM Thaksin plans early return from exile  - Atlanta Journal Constitution Protein in the morning can reduce cravings and hunger throughout the day- TIME

Weather Increased chance of rain this weekend.

Funny Mail

Songkran Rules Overlooked

High-pressure water guns outlawed Sale and use of talcum powder not allowed Drinking alcohol while walking banned  Those rules where published prior to the start  of the Songkran holiday.  Obviously these rules were not sufficiently publicized. Had a fire hose pointed at me from a firetruck. I do have to admit I fired the first volley of ice water. Was blinded by talc on numerous occasions Had to stop frequently to wash my eyes Wasn't walking while drinking.  Was offered a drink probably every two minutes. Declined 99% of those offers The funniest Songkran story comes from Ayutthaya, where a 20 year old ladyboy (transvestite) was fined Bht 500 for dancing bare chested in public,  exposing 'her' implanted breasts.  "... relatives delivered him to police." Guess the lesson here is if you want to act the part, then follow the rules.

Day 1, Songkran 2012 in Sakon City

It's Party Time... Crank up the car stereo      No room for luggage in this car truck

I Enjoy visiting this nearby village temple    and watch the progress                 More Pictures in this album 120413

Songkran Celebrations on I.T.U.      More Pictures in this album 120413 ITU

Songkran Celebrations at the temple

Funny Mail

Caution: Slippery When Wet

April 11:  Food Fest Preparations

April 12:   Songkran Preparations at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum      This Year the Buddhist statutes are lined up along the temple grounds for worshipers to douse.      Caution:  When wet, the marble tile can be quite slippery in places      Obvious to me was the absence of larger statues on display in past years      Donations kindly accepted      As I was leaving the temple I passed the stage area.       One of the stage hands insisted that I take his picture and quite boisterously said      Welcome to Thailand !!      After having been here for almost a decade, it's still great to hear that

Subdued Songkran?      Bangkok Post published an article Songkran spending subdued      Noticed that locally      Only spotted two huts along the 'wet route.'   One quite meager at that.      There were a lot more in past years      Also in past years, the city set up water barrels and insured they were filled.  Did not see that this year.      Could be that they were running behind schedule in their preparations?      If you want to avoid all the water festivities,               you may opt to go for                    a pleasant boat ride on Nong Hahn