Holiday Season is approaching

When I have aches and pains I go to the nearest Ma & Pa. I have a standing prescription of 3 Doctor Chang.

With the holiday season approaching, so are the parties and plenty of drinking. Programs of getting drunk drivers of the road also intensify this time of the year.

Personally I have a three drink maximum. Then I either call a friend or walk.

Yes I walked home from Eddie's bar just recently. Nearly to 20 km to my house.

Mud Fishing

The swamp next to my house is beginning to dry out and is slowly becoming a grazing ground again.

Before all the water disappears, locals put on rubber boots and gloves and start digging for fish.

Meanwhile, the local bird enthusiast is airing out his living room.

Wakeup Call

turn up the volume & click arrow to play

It's the morning wakeup call. The neighborhood speakers blare traditional regional music, followed by public notices.

It's all reminiscent of my Psy Ops days (Psychological Warfare aka Propaganda)

You have to read the Honest Cab Driver story at Pattaya Today.

We're not talking small change here!!

Seattle restaurant Thai Tom facing possible closure due to health violations.
Cockroaches, food containers stored in the restroom.
Sounds to me like AUTHENTIC Thai.

British expats and tourists encouraged to register with new embassy tracking

Now that's a tourist attraction

Here's the headline that should make rubber tappers happy.

Thailand to give out 30 million free condoms

Yesterday, December 1, was world aids day.

Living like a native

Did my weekly shopping .
Yeah I know... in the west I would have received at least a warning, if not a ticket for unsafe load.

Eleven bags
But then T.i.T.

Special thanks for the candy I recently received.
Haven't had that sort of candy in over six years.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You,

Sakon Nakhon Cable service grows

Sakon Nakhon Cable recently added a number of new channels to their lineup, and in the process made some changes.

At first I was a bit upset that the only English language movie channel got the ax. It was replaced with UNIVERSAL and SciFi.

Now if I miss the Jay Leno show on internet television, I can watch it weekdays at 5 p.m. on Sakon Nakhon cable.

English language channels on Sakon Nakhon Cable:

5 Universal, 8 Sci Fi, 9 Fox Crime, 21-22-23-24 S-Sport, 25 ESPN, 29 Music Lifestyle, 30 MTV, 41 National Geographic, 42 Zone Reality, 43 Bloomberg, 44 Aljazeera, 46 CCTV, 47 NHK, 48 Fashion

Cable service is limited to the Sakon Nakhon City area. Some channels are switched at times for special events and purposes

Sakon Nakhon TV Network 042730977

Single Didgit Temperatures Ahead ?

Single digit temperatures are forecast for mid December.
A month earlier than noted last winter season. It was January 12, 2009 when I noted It's shivering cold. Night time temperatures dropped to 7 C or 45 F.

Over the next few days nighttime temperatures will begin to drop to 16-15-13-14

30 year Average (1961-1990) low for November is 19C

All you can eat 49 Baht

Most all you can eat places had raised their prices in recent years.

But one near my house didn't, and is doing brisk business.

Ideally suited for large family dinners. This one was for mama's birthday.

Sakon Nakhon not a two airline town

TR Weekly has some more news regarding airline service to this area.

The NOK Air Schedule which starts Dec 4 ends February 1.

Sounds to me like high season service only.

Meanwhile PB Air is still struggling with airplane delivery, and may return to the local market.

Personally I would have preferred newer aircraft than the 12 year old planes they are expecting.

What this area really needs is a air shuttle service to Udon Thani for connecting flights.

With no great options on the horizon, I'm considering a trip to Vientiane to accomplish what a trip to Bangkok should have.

Read the TR Weekly article

Sakon Nakhon Flight Pricing

In response to a comment about pricing I did a bit of research. Here is what I came up with.

Destination	Rt Price Baht	Air 1 way	Price per km
Sakon Nakhon - Bangkok	5,530	524km	5.28
Udon Thani - Bangkok	3,298	450km	3.66
San Francisco - Los Angeles	*2,660	554km	2.40

*exchange rate USD 1 =33.3Baht

Reminds me of Thai bar pricing: Fewer customers, higher prices.

The limited three times a week schedule is a deterrent for me.

Considering the Bus for my upcoming round trip.

NOK Air anounces Sakon Nakhon Flights

NOK Air has posted flight schedules to Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom to take effect on December 3.

Sakon Nakhon flights will be limited to Monday, Friday, and Sunday. Round trip cost start at Baht 5,530 . Online Booking is available.

According to news reports the Sakon Nakhon route, among others has been revoked by PB air

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Smoke'm if Ya Got'm

All around my neighborhood you could see smoke yesterday morning.

They weren't BBQing
They were getting rid of their mosquitoes.
Now with many of the swamps and rice fields drying out, more of those pesty insects are seeking shelter in populated areas.
That morning smoke out sent the bugs to my house.
I got a bit carried away last night. Used up two packs of mosquito smokers, and another pack this morning

Branch 63 Boxing Day Dinner Party planned

Mark your calender

Album 080515 Eddie's Grand Opening

Eddie and wife are planning a free food (with drink purchases) dinner party at their restaurant Branch 63 on December 26.

About boxing day

T.i.T. Bits

A belated Birthday Greeting

to Ken who turned 72 last week.

In a text message he sent me, he claimed to be the oldest Westerner living in Sakon Nakhon.

I never use text messaging, and unfortunately did not read his message until today.

Yesterday, November 23, marked 4 years since the funeral services for Hans

Tomorrow is

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

If you're out shopping at any of the major stores tomorrow, you'll be reminded with a variety of activities. I received my pin today, a day early.

Global Warming: It's all about MONEY

Is it really caused by humans?

these scientists and professionals disagree.

Cool to Cold Weather Alert

.... cool to cold weather in the North, Northeast, Central and East with 1-2 °C drops.

read more at

Thai Meteorological Department Warning No. 26 (214/2552)

Issued : November 23, 2009

Saturday Brunch

Think the sign is new, had not spotted it during previous visits.
It's the outdoor restaurant at the MJ Majestic hotel.



Great location for people watchers and to meet friends.

It's right across the driveway in front of the lobby, with a view of the street near the night market.

Food is good.

Service at times is not stellar.
This Saturday lunch one waiter on duty attending to over twenty patrons seated at eight tables.
At other times I've been the only customer with three or four waitresses.

Plenty of people watching this day. Arrivals of guests to a wedding party.

Everyone dressed in their finest.

Car license plate numbers of arrivals indicated they were mostly upper class.

Some appeared chauffeur driven.

28th Phu Phan Royal Soccer Competition *FINALE*

This time I planned a bit ahead, brought my own chair, refreshments, and jacket. It did get a bit nippy during the last hour.

Being the final game of the annual competition, I knew there would be no seating available in the bleachers and I would have needed earplugs.

short video click on arrow

Udon vs Yasothon

Udon was favored. They held the title more than five times.

The first and only goal during the first five minutes of the game decided that Udon was not going to remain undefeated champion. After that the outcome was quite obvious. The first half of the game and the halftime show were broadcast live. I understand home viewers saw me on TV three times.

T.i.T. During half time I decided to use the restroom. The men's room was out of service. The lady's restroom, with individual stalls, became a unisex restroom. The cubicle I finally got my turn at turned out to be a shower stall. I couldn't get myself to use it as a urinal. I got back to the end of the line and waited for a proper toilet.

The competition concluded with a fireworks display.