Weather alert: Cold Front

.
Source: Thai Meteorological Department
Cold front from China will drop local nighttime temperatures and create windy conditions for a few days.

Mountain Lows 9C
Lowland Lows 12C

เตือนสภาพอากาศหนาว
ในช่วง2-3 วันนี้ตอนกลางคืนจะมีสภาพกากาศที่หนาวและมีลมกระโชก
บนภูเขา อุณหภูมิต่ำประมาณ 9 องศา
บริเวณทั่วไป อุณหภูมิประมาณ 12 องศา

It's the Holiday's, Best wishes to you all

.
Winter Solstice Turkey Dinner

I had somewhat of a fest last night. A 12.84 lb butterball.
That's an import at the local market and therefore quite expensive at 1,250 Baht (U.S.$36.23).
A luxury item indeed...
... considering that you can buy half a BBQ chicken, ready to for under a dollar.

I gave half the turkey to my (Thai) neighbors. They made quite a family gathering out of that meal.

Thus we celebrated winter solstice 2008, the shortest day of the year

New Toy For the Old Boy

Shopping for my Christmas present.

My friend Samart had gotten a quote:

• His quote: Bt58,000 for a new one, minus trade in of Bt10,000 = Bt48,000
• My quote: Bt55,000 for the new one, minus trade in of Bt10,000 = Bt45,000

• Surprise ! ! Surprise ! !
  

You have to start the day with an open attitude when shopping for a new bike.
First there is the trip to the bank, withdraw a wad of cash.

To use the old bike as a trade in, paperwork had to be updated at the police station.

By now I needed some mood enhancing...
A quick visit to Ned's Bar for a orangetequila and a clancoke.
Relaxed Mood.

Samat to the rescue:
More documents required, even a house title, not mine of course.
Most documentation is still done the old fashioned way: Pencil and paper.
Even if there is a computer on the desk... ?

Special requirements had the mechanic busy installing a car horn and an audible turn signal.

Samat delivered the new bike an hour after I got home.

Not done yet: Blessing Rites:

• bike seat open
• cloth on gas tank
• flowers from the garden, plate, candles
• Samat does the incantation
  
• Do not drive motorcycle for three hours

Som Tam Sunday

.
.
My Sunday visitors arrive shortly afternoon (12:34).
The pool is way too cold these days. I need a pool heater in Thailand !?
PlayStation on my front porch is the alternative to swimming.
A mother collects her son, she's got chores in mind for his Sunday.
He comes back later.

The visitor crowd increases.
Some wait their turn at PlayStation watching the big screen T.V.
I'm in my Command module (computer, T.V., easy chair, window on the porch).

A quick phone call to Mr. Bob's house.
He's on the road to Khon Kean, half way there.
I call his mobile...
I wish him the best and hope to see him on Christmas day.
By then he should be recovering from one of those balloon artery operations.
You know, artery rototiller.

I'm in the kitchen refilling my drink. There before me is Joeys lunch.
The Som Tam looks really good.



Just a pinch between two fingers, first impression, tasty salad.

Ten seconds pass: I'm in a cold Thai Chillies sweat.
Nonstop hiccups included.
Half an hour later, after eating a handful of steamed peanuts I regain control.

MEMO TO SELF:
NO SOMTAM, unless especially made for farang (ONE THAI CHILI ONLY).

Remember? Pool too cold for a swim.
300Baht of coins in the pool changed that thought instantaneously.
There's a load of towels in the wash machine.

5 p.m. plus two large bottles of coke a pack of cookies, assorted nuts and candy
"I go home" It sounds like a motorcycle convoy leaving my home.

Saturday Morning Parade

I do live about a city block from one of Sakon Nakhon's parade routes.

I heard uninterrupted drum beats this morning.

Some sort of kids parade












The sun was shining, but morning temperatures were on the nippy side. Plenty of goose bumps.

Thailand's children's day is not until January 10.
Were they celebrating early, or was this a rehearsal ?
My sources tell me: "Like Sport Day"

Virus in my wardrobe

A local purchase. Most likely not an export item
Quality is surprisingly good.
Been wearing them for three years now.

"Ya'll come on Back, ya'll here"

Thailand bekons The Tourism Recovery Saga

"The Monster New Years Bash Pattaya"

Nightly New Years celebrations for a Week.
Thirteen Bands,
1 million vacancies

source The Nation Business > Monster NY bash to revive tourism



"Free for sale"

• They are "selling" 100000 "FREE" airline seats to Thailand at Air Asia (you pay fees&Taxes)
  
• "..it is now safe to travel back to the ‘Land of Smiles’."
  

Papaya

Right: this years crop - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - left: July 2007



Eaten green in a salad known locally as som tam.
Local variations are spiced with volumes of Thai chilli pepper

Sweet Dessert "It's Delish..."

Rice in a stick

Sticky rice, prepared with coconut milk, sugarcane,
with added variations of blueberry, strawberry or other more exotic flavors.


They call it.
ข้้าวหลาม khaao laam

The ingredients are folded into young banana leaves, stuffed into bamboo, and then roasted on an open fire.



Four star dining in my book