Thailand housing from poor to middle class

Once upon a time... a long time ago...

Firework factory blast in Saraburi - subzerosiam.com  no casualties, blaze under control within hours Sakon Nakhon province  Tomato farmers gain from Doi Kham, T-Holding partnership - The Nation Human Rights Watch: Police Blamed for Killing Drug Suspect - The Isaan Record

Mailbag Chinese traditional qi gong treatment for prostate problems     Bizarre and hilarious Made me wonder if the person who sent me this video is doing research on a medical condition he might experience

Football -Bus Terminal - Rumors - T.i.T.

Nong Kai FC   Home Field Advantage Victory

It was a different story the last time these teams faced off. (Aug 1,  2011 Sakon Nakhon Fans are Mad as Hell) Feb 18, 2012, with home field advantage and a near capacity stadium of cheering fans.... 5:25pm    Nong Kai scored early in the game. 5:35pm There was a brief moment of hope for Sakon Nakhon 5:39pm Nong Kai FC quickly shattered that Dream It was really a great game, well worth the six hour round trip travel time. The Nong Kai Football Fans added to the day's fun experience

T.i.T.Police Blotter

Somewhere in Thailand Speeding motorist stopped at road check. Doing 50 kph (31mph) over the speed limit. No radar device, but the speeding was obvious. The officer was quite polite and professional. Quite jovial ! "Driver's license!! Where are you going in such a hurry." "Football game," the driver responded. After the mentioning of football the conversation assumed a fan club atmosphere. FIFA, and various British football teams were mentioned. A Bt100 note was neatly folded and exchanged hands. Back on the road again, resuming the previous speed, passenger not knowing the Thai word for cheap, exclaimed "Very Mai Pang." Driver replied (through translator): "In SakonNakhon they want Bt400  !!!"

Bus Terminal 2 begins operations March 9

Sakon Nakhon Shopping Mall Rumor persists

Rumor of the pending construction of a new shopping mall in Sakon Nakhon first surfaced some weeks ago on Facebook. Subsequent discussions guessed Robinson or Central Plaza. Similar posts also appeared at a Thai website entitled SAKON NAKHON "City of Beautiful lake, Beautiful Mountain and Beautiful Girl" More recently a government employee's unofficial reply was "Next Year."

Mailroom

Wear your company name with Pride Fuquing Fuxin Furniture Compay

Introducing "Princess"

Monday, Feb 6

Now that's what I call parking

Where were you when...?

This video is well worth watching and sharing

Tear Jerk Theater

 Rated  

Subtitled

 

Those bosoms are factory made

Weather is approaching form the south, south-east.

The heaviest rains are most likely over southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

Hopefully the storm will dissipate somewhat before reaching us.

Winds from the north, north east are beginning to cool the area.

Today's high is most likely the highest temperature of the week until the weekend.


Flooding is no deterrent for Bangkok police

That's the impression I got looking at the Bangkok Post.  It's a picture of a policeman on a bamboo raft.
The article mentions that a number of water pumps have now been pressed into service.
You'd think they would have done that weeks ago.  But then this is 'Amazing Thailand.'
There's even talk of digging a canal from a highway. Would not be at all surprised if the highway was previously a canal.

Thailand isn't the only country suffering from extreme floods

While all media is being bombarded with news, videos, pictures, comments and continuous updates of Thailand's floods, Cambodia floods are almost totally non-existent in international media.

In Bangkok most folk had at least enough warning to move their cars to higher ground, not so in Italy.











Plenty of video clips at You Tube of the November 2nd Miss International Queen Competition

I have never seen any talent in lip sync performances.  Keep in mind those bosoms are factory made

Dry Season is Wedding High season

July seems to be the most popular wedding month worldwide.
Not so in Isaan where July is the start of the rainy season.
Now with the dry season well underway,  I've noted a steady increase of wedding plans, and have a number of invitations confirming 'Dry Season is Wedding High Season'

  Thailand's past corruptions come home to roost

That's about the best way  to describe the discoveries reported in this news item.
Would be interesting to see statistics of how many Bangkok canals have disappeared in the last five decades

• The Nation - Many city canals 'illegally blocked'

Boat builders doing brisk business in Thailand

Love the float with a couch  (1 minute 4 seconds into the video)

A major crack is developing in Antarctica.

A big chunk of Antarctica is expected to break off later this year or early next year.
The estimated 880 sq km ice cube is expected to drift north.
It is a reoccurring event. A similar such breakup occurred in 2001.
What is of interest is the effect the ice cube will have on cooling ocean temperatures in the area.
Possibly months of drought conditions on nearby continents months after the ice cube dislodges and melts.

• BBC News - Major berg forming in Antarctica   

Dehydration a major cause of Kidney Stones

Had this pain on the left side of my groin on and off for almost two days.
Didn't take a medical degree to determine the cause.
I drink too much coffee, which we all know dehydrates the body, as does alcohol. 

The pain had not been severe enough for me to decide to seek medical attention. 

Searched out alternative treatments and determined what I had around the house to use. 

Drank a healthy amount of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, followed by extra helpings of water. 

After ten minutes I jumped up and down a few times. 

The stone seems to have been dislodged.  However, all that jumping has created uncomfortable pains in my spine.  Rum and coconut juice should remedy those pains.

Protect I.P. Act Targets Overseas Web Pirates

It is aimed at websites outside the U.S.A. distributing anything copyrighted. 

Those free downloads of music and songs are a primary target.  Even innocently recorded home movies may be targeted  if your radio or TV  happens to be playing in the background.
One website claims that kids like Justin Bieber may well wind up in the courts.  Justin got his start posting videos of him singing copy protected songs
Protect IP Act at WIKIPEDIA  

Loi Krathong Celebrations start early

Loi Krathong is still weeks away, yet fireworks seem to be on sale already.
They've been going off for the past two days, early mornings and late night.
I don't mind them all that much, but my two dogs sure do.
Thunderstorms or fireworks and they want to hide behind the washer or under the bed.

Generally most ma and pa stores display legal fireworks on the sidewalk.
Quite often you can find a bigger bang for your money, but it's not openly displayed.

Local Loi Krathong celebrations begin with a parade from the city monument to the lake park.
While revelers float their Krathongs on the lake throughout the evening



 WIKIPEDIA

• "...the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot.

One of the recent Wax Castle Festival concerts

Don't miss these

• 'pro' pictures of the recent Wax Castle Parade****

Headlines that caught my attention


Plenty headlines regarding the rise of prices for both rice and sugar.  Both prices continue to escalate.
'Sugar premium up as much as 44%' reads one of the latest headlines


Bangkok Post

• Bangkok Soaking (pictures and maps)

Silicon Republic

• Germany’s Rosat satellite debris scatters over northern Thailand

CarBuzz  

• View of $12,000,000 worth of Honda's underwater

 News Com Au 

• Pink is just a figment of your imagination

CBS New York

• Lady Liberty gets  high tech birthday presents

From my Inbox
Drunk at the Train platform

This visitor is quite a Flasher

 Prelude to the cool season   

The weather man at the Thai meteorological department has put on a sweater.
Night time temperatures in the low 20C, dipping below 20C in some areas.
Up to 10 km wind gusts from East - Northeast.
Now is the perfect time to plant vegetables which generally do not survive in the tropical heat and rain periods.

 Disco Dan is is quite a 'FLASHER.'  

New temporary house guest arrived early last night.  Nicknamed Disco D.
He  is quite a 'FLASHER.'  He puts on quite a show. I really love the all night free show.
He wears a flashing light on his rear end for special effects.  Quite some interesting and provocative moves.
I'd like to applaud the show, but I dare not.  I might squash the firefly Disco D. 

 Inflation in Thailand's future? 

The increase of the minimum wage will in the end not benefit the average Thai wage earner.
Businesses will not absorb those additional costs, instead they will raise their prices to stay profitable.

Add to that the shortages of goods due to the flood.
Prices will increase on everything, it's inevitable.  It's already started!!

 It's not a lack of modern equipment 

Lack of new equipment was the explanation given by the Meteorological Department, for not alerting the nation ahead of the severity of the flood disaster.
Reminds me a bit of an alcoholic making excuses for his/her continued drinking.
Alcoholics first have to recognize and then admit the problem.
The Meteorological Department's problem is not antiquated equipment.
The problem is educated and trained personnel.

I've only had one college course in weather phenomenon.  Yet, I have been able to alert my local readers of changing weather conditions with fair accuracy.  Frequently my alerts were days ahead of the Meteorological Department, using information from their website

Changwat (province) Sakon Nakhon 2552 (2009) 

Loi Krathong November 10

Rain Alert (again), Mothers day Friday, My IRS migrane

Video posted to You Tube two days ago taken at the nearby school.

Heavy rains and flash flood highly likely over the coming days Bangkok Post Aug 8

Mothers Day this Friday.  Even though I quit teaching at S-BAC, I did receive a formal invitation to attend their celebrations this Thursday. Public holiday on Friday.



Computer glitch at the (U.S.A) IRS?
They sent me a refund on my 2009 tax return.  Then I made the mistake to ask for an explanation. 

I received a notice to pay over $750 in back taxes for that year. "Failure to pay will result in the matter being turned over to collection."

Mailed in my check for the money and requested a review of my file.

I received a refund.  Thought the matter was settled.  I was wrong.  A week after the refund check arrived I again received notification to pay up, now with increased interest.

Of course phone numbers given are all prerecorded messages.

Scout Day - Rocket Fest - Sport Day - Asia blamed

 Sakon Nakhon Scouting Day  

.

This clip has been shown on local cable STV. 

I'm thinking it was scouting day.

That morning at 8, my driver was stuck in traffic near the school. It took us half an hour to get out of two city blocks.









 Rocket Fest at Phan Khon  

Think it was Phan Khon, 55 km from Muang Sakon, even though the video says Pungkon

  

View Larger Map

Google Translation:  

 Sports Species Fresno Campus Sakon Nakhon 

No idea where Fresno Campus is?
Dress up day?

Asia Pollution Blamed for Halt in (global) Warming  Scientific American  

JoSakon's Sakon F.C.

A slideshow by Jo (of) Sakon




"one first step... in the learning process."


Music by....???

Anticipation

Alcohol sales suspended Saturday 6 PM to Sunday Midnight.

That's been mentioned and groaned about plenty by now.

During this time period it is also against the law to post comments about candidates, as this may be construed as political advertisement.

• "...Thai citizens could face jail time of up to six months and a hefty $330 fine if they use Twitter or any other online platform to comment on any candidates or political parties..."Daily Caller

Ms Tum's House dedication

Quite obviously locals seem to be preparing for the short "dry period." 
My neighborhood seemed eerily silent Friday night.  No one home.

If the number of invitations I received are an indication, everyone was attending parties elsewhere.
House blessing ceremonies, funeral rites, plenty of reasons to gather.

A funeral gathering this morning (Saturday) in my neighborhood.  As soon as the religious ceremonies stopped and the monks had left, it was time to get inebriated ahead of the prohibition period.

Some locals are avoiding driving long distances as they fear an increase of police vehicle checkpoints this weekend.

• Dried local fish may not be safe to consume
  
  Thai Officials Screen For Cancer-Causing Parasitic Worms Huffington Post

• Korat Zoo does it's part to encourage Thais to vote  Manager (Thai language, cute photos)

• Media to probe Pheu Thai bribery accusations The Nation
  Makes me wonder if this is an attempt to disqualify election results

• Space Station Has Near Miss With Debris  NY Times June 28

Happy 4th

Hours of Alcohol Prohibition

We've had two days last weekend and are facing another two days this coming weekend when alcohol sales are prohibited.
Both these prohibitions are intended that voters have a clear head when heading to the polls.

Personal observation: It's not having the right effect.

Most disco's and bars where indeed shut down. A few bars where not, but had their lights dimmed.

Most drinking was done at neighborhood parties.  Last weekend there where more than the usual residential parties in my neighborhood. There are no enforced closing hours at such parties and reveling in many instances hardly slowed before sunrise. 



PTT's gas leak   MCOT 26 June




Stuff my friends sent me

Beer goggles

Hey Big Spender

A couple recently toured through Muang Sakon and blogged their experiences

• Rice Transplanting
• Tour with the monk
  Last time I visited the temple the elder monk tried to sell me a musical statue for 2,000 Baht.
  Final paragraph of the tour with a monk entry, all I can say "Been there done that!"
  
  First week in Sakon Nakhon I told my friends I'm going for a walk and see the city.
  Sometime later I returned to the restaurant where I started.
  They told me I had walked past the restaurant four  times.

Thaicom 6 to launch in 2013

• Los Angeles Times
  Very PANG (expensive)

Thai Airways announces purchase decision

• Seattle PI
  six Boeing 777-300ERs
  five Airbus A320s
  four Airbus A350-900s
  

It's NO LONGER Science Fiction

Tourism Authority of Thailand TAKE NOTE

• Brazilian tourist spend more... than any other nationality TIME
  
  

Drought in the forecast

Major E coli defense program at my house

.

.

Thai airports on alert after E coli outbreak monstersandcritics.com

I'm always on the alert in such matters.  I have a very sensitive stomach.  Five or more cups of coffee in the morning probably doesn't help that.  Cold drinks during or after a meal slow down the digestive process.  If you have an upset stomach the cold drinks will of course prolong the discomfort.

How soup, or a hot drink at the end of a meal speeds the digestive process and lessens discomfort.
My grandparents had the best solution after meals.
They called it a Hot Toddy.  It sure relaxed me after a meal and made me feel great!
Many bugs develop a resistance to medicines, but I haven't heard of any surviving alcohol.

Major E coli defense program at my house Sunday evening

All televised football games where re-runs, but I found plenty of other things to entertain my guests, including appetizers and drinks.  It was really a fun evening having neighbors over.  There were seven of us indulging..
Note to self:  restock bar




Brawl at the AIS Regional League 2011 games
Samut Sakhon vs Angthong
Samut Sakhon is approximately 45 km southwest of Bangkok

Watch this Video it's GREAT:  Lucky Escape

Oh no she didn't say that !!

The English lesson was body parts.
I started from the top down, hair, scalp, forehead, eyebrows...
... wrist, hand, thumb, index finger... then a girl blurted out those unmentionable two words.
Oh no she didn't say that! Roaring laughter.   I went on ...middle finger... ring finger...

Trust me those words are not from my lesson plan

My Saturday
Shopping, funeral, football, concert. In that order.  Rain gear at ready!

Thai elections are approaching

All I can say:  "It's going to be interesting."

On a recent day trip to Amnat Town I noticed groups of people placing election posters along the highway.  Quite a few of them.
On the return trip I noticed most of these posters were either partially damaged, or totally demolished.  Mind you it was not in Sakon Province.

The following day, Thai TV carried news stories of election posters being vandalized elsewhere in Thailand.

Sakon province drivers have been advised to use extra caution, as many of these signs obscure traffic vision.

Text from Google translate"...planting party advertising. Sign introduce candidates. Which are often used as embroidery along the highway near the surface traffic This may result in accident to cover the event because of traffic or obstacles..." ryt9com 

Thailand Rice Price MAY soar...

...or NOT Bloomberg

Thailand ban of Tourists receiving tattoos of  Buddhist images Guardian UK

Not into this sort of thing myself, but many folks believe that these tattooed symbols offer protection in life.
Reminds me of the fact that the majority of Thai temples refuse to cremate foreigners (non-Buddhists).


Odd World

Dutch POT tourism up in smoke
Effect expected to trickle down to hotel, restaurant, entertainment and overall tourism industry USA TODAY
Arizona Medical marijuana superstore opens Reuters

Sakon FC sponsors concert

Skyscraper city com has a 13 page thread of Posts from and about Sakon Nakhon.
SAKON NAKHON "City of Beautiful lake, Beautiful Mountain and Beautiful Girl"

Bangkok Post has an article about an Isaan University offering
"...diplomas for between 35,000 and 50,000 baht each."

Gaba Rice (Brown Rice) most likely was pioneered in Sakon Nakhon Province according to an article in the Bangkok post. A healthy alternative to regular rice.
Innovation on the menu

Concert on June 4, 6 PM to midnight, at the municipal grounds (next to immigration and police station) sponsored by Sakon FC.
Featured is Nga Caravan (first video) and Pongsit (second video).

Sakon FC cheerleaders most likely will also appear on stage. (LOL)

Here's a video slideshow from last years school activities.  I was there, but left before the risque performances seen 3 minutes 10 seconds into the video

Sakon Dog-Gone Gang

 Storms expected in 48 provinces  THE NATION April 20

Heavy rains predicted to hit the area two days ago moved from East to West, just south of Sakon.
The only effect felt locally was a rapid drop in temperatures.


  Local Dog-Gone-Gang apprehended 
Villagers were complaining that their dogs were being stolen.  Three suspects were apprehended.
The price of dog meat has risen, making stealing dogs a profitable venture.
My neighborhood used to be much quieter before the practice became illegal.
Many of my neighbors have two or more dogs.  None of them confined to the yard.  Almost nightly I am awakened by dogs on the prowl and fighting.
Personally I have no interest in eating dog, but many locals consider it a delicacy.


 Sakon FC Drops from 6th to 9th place in the division standings 
The downhill slide will most likely continue as they next face number one in the league Roi ET

  Thailand Driving License The REAL Road Rules finally available! Thailand Musings

If you like tart taste.. 

..then don't miss this  berry now in season.  Was a bit too tart for my tastes, but after three days in a salt and sugar brine, they tasted a bit like sauerkraut.

 

Why I'm not fond of Trinkets

Received this little handcrafted trinket as a New Years present.
Raw Brown sugar, ants included

Expletives censored
Someone sent me a copy of the original video.  This is the edited version.  insert your own expletives.

Motorcyclist beware of big rigs 

Gesundheit (bless you)