Sniffle season starts now (I just got over mine. Three days bed rest)

I had noted the coming cold spell earlier last week. By yesterday social media picked up on that fact, indicating it will be especially cold for this coming week.  In fact this 'could be' the coldest nights of the cold season which lasts through the second week of February.   Of the ten weather websites I check daily, they all seem to have a slight variation in their forecasts.  TMD (Thai Meteorology Department) tends to be on the conservative side.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's almost Christmas

Last year's winners  article posted 30 Dec 2016 For  non facebook readers To be marked officially between 1 November, 2017 to 1 January, 2019, the “Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018”... Apples Christmas Facebook link

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Obviously there are some disagreements, only thing obvious: Cooler days ahead

Highs and lows forecast

	fri 15	sat 16	sun 17	mon 18	tue 19	wed 20	thu 21
ACCU	38 / 18	28 / 14	25 / 10	24 / 9	24 / 9	24 / 7	28 / 12
WUNDER	32 / 18	28 / 14	25 / 10	24 / 9	24 / 9	23 / 9	25 / 11
TMD	30 / 20	29 / 19	28 / 18	26 / 16	27 / 15	26 / 14	25 / 13
BBC	31 / 19	27 / 14	23 / 10	23 /8	23 /8	23 /9	26 / 13
RP5	30 / 19	27 / 14	21 / 9	20 / 6	20 / 5
FORECA	32 / 19	28 / 15	25 / 12	24 / 11	23 / 9	23 / 11	25 / 12

Christmas holidays 29 / 14 on average
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Phu Phan Cup Sakon Nakhon A vs Udon

Sakon Nakhon B vs Mukdahan 18 Dec,  3 pm Sawang Daen Din Sakon Nakhon A  vs Udon,  20 December, 3 pm, Provincial stadium Airport Road

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Live longer: avoid getting angry, be stubborn, avoid depression be happy, smile a lot, stay active, eat right, get plenty of schooling

Of course genetics also plays a role in life expectancy. Longest living person in recent history "Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who lived to the age of 122 years, 164 days."  Science-Backed Secrets of Longevity | Time  List of the verified oldest people - Wikipedia  be careful on the roads, especially in Thailand

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Missed the pole dancing

I'd seen these shows plenty of times before. I missed this year's show to instead attend two birthday parties, hoping that someone would post a video of the entertainment

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

The Christmas Schedule 2017

At least these days we are getting better pre-event notifications. Unfortunately these notifications are not directed at foreign tourism.  I suspect it may happen eventually that these schedules are translated Add caption The Tha Rae starlight parade is the one not to miss.  After all the Star light parades originated there Boat trip? Nah. I prefer private boat trips, instead of sitting in bus fashion.  I used to enjoy boat trips where food and drinks were served.  These days NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED.

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Chinese festival underway through Dec 16

Didn't make it to the starting gate (parade starts at the temple) because I had stopped off at a clinic for a blood test. Had to wait for the doctor to be called, after all it was a national holiday. I was flabbergasted when the doctor apologized for the waiting time. He made a special trip on his day off.   The parade was fun and entertaining.  Over the years this events seem to have shrunk, some previous activities deleted. And even the big poles shrunk. Some major activities planned for today at the temple, instead I'll be visiting two birthday parties this evening

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Weather Alert Pending COLD AHEAD

First line of defense of course is warmer clothing and warmer bedding.   Clothing wise dress in layers.  When it gets too warm you can take a layer off.  Small electric heaters are handy for small to medium sized rooms.  A built in thermostat is advisable.  BBQ's generally reserved for preparation of meals now also are used to keep warm. Use only in well ventilated areas. I tend to do more baking this time of the year and hang out around the gas oven.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

The 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and last until the evening of the 5th January

Starlight parade in 2006 in Sakon Nakhon Tha Rae Christmas in 2009   Recovering from an injury, had to decline a number of offers to go to Tha Rae. Hoping that I will have recovered enough to see the football game tomorrow evening The first year I saw the starlight parade I noticed none of the parade participants were passing out candy.The following year, the year MACRO opened here in town, I bought five large bags of candy. We timed it at an intersection, merged our vehicle into the parade, and began throwing candy. Unfortunately, Santa's helpers were a bit too eager throwing candy at onlookers.  Within three blocks, Santa's candy bag was empty. The next year I bought a sh.t load of candy and we parked near the parade starting point.  As the parade was about to get underway, a Sakon Nakhon man in brown (policeman) immediately nixed our plan to merge into the parade.Of all things, the officer confiscated all candy and escorted us to his police truck. There we were introduced to his nieces and nephews.  With emergency lights flashing, we were now in the lead vehicle of the parade. A dozen hands throwing candy at onlookers.A few of my Thai friends were a bit surprised to see me standing in the lead vehicle

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Today is Constitution day, Since it falls on a Sunday, Monday is a Substitution Day

Since 1932, Thailand has had 20 charters or constitutions

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หากคุณต้องการให้นักท่องเที่ยวชาวต่างชาติมาเยี่ยมชมลองใช้คำบรรยายภาษาอังกฤษ ไม่พร้อมใช้งาน ในวิดีโอนี้If you want foreign tourists to visit, try English subtitles. Not available in this video

The video is well put together but seems to focus on domestic tourism only

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Seven Seven Seven Most Dangerous

The public relations campaign for the upcoming holidays 21 Dec to 10 Jan.  Three weeks, hence the title 777.  Drunk driving is most likely the most serious cause of holiday road carnage. After that it's speeding.   Enforcement of traffic rules, or the lack of it probably ranks high on this list. Times are changing, slowly.   First warning I received during my first year in Sakon Nakhon was as I entered a restaurant and the owner informed me the police had told him that I should slow down.  Fourteen years ago there weren't that many cars on the road.  The increase of cars came quite suddenly when the government offered 'discounts' for first time buyers.  Now thousands of previous motorcycle drivers became car drivers overnight with little or no training. Tackling road slaughter | Bangkok Post: opinion

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This Shindig starts Monday

My first year in Sakon Nakhon I had the privilege of getting a behind the scenes look at this festival , since members of my Thai family participated. Almost every year since I stood at the temple entrance on December 11 to watch the start of the parade.   The big show is December 12

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I'm probably all wrong by calling it the dragon festival, as it also involves cobras and lions

The parade gets underway quite early in the morning.  Once the parade hits the main road part of the parade may head in different directions. The dragons and lions enter CHinese Businesses and wish them a prosperous year ahead.   Watch out for fireworks   How elaborate the celebration will be this year, is yet to be seen.  I've only seen  the dragon fight high in the sky twice in the years I have been here I've always enjoyed visiting the temple days before and watch them practice their routines The parade is December 11, with nightly activities an the temple. Make sure you check out all the artifacts on display

Father's Day Thailand, December 5

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Sakon Nakhon Father's day December 5

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Tha Rae Christmas Parades

Ask ten people and you get ten different answers. My latest source is an employee at the Tha Rae church.  Fair grounds and sales begin at 4 pm. The motorized star parade on December 23 begins at 6 pm. There is a walking parade with handheld stars on Dec 24  I recommend you park a few blocks from the church and walk in.  Otherwise you may get blocked in.  I've been going to Tha Rae days before the parade and photograph people busy decorating houses and floats.  I'll be doing that this year also and it there are any changes I will post it days before the event

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Week condensed into two days

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December is the beginning of the party season

Dec  1 Grand Opening pet shop December 11-22 at Robinson  Dec 17  Apples Restaurant Dec 11 - 18 Parade and activities at the Chinese temple Dec 18 - 28 Phu Phan Cup Football Don't miss the halftime show during the opening and final game Dec 26 through Jan1  Temple Fair nightly concerts  Dec 20 -24 Star light Festival and parades Bare Bottoms Tourism not allowed in Thailand Article linked to ABC News For those people who like to pose with wild animals  Article linked to independent.co.uk It's one of those test balloons  Article linked to ThaiVisa

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