T i T bits: Anticipate closures

If you're coming to Thailand, look at the calender.
No alcohol served or sold on national Buddhist holidays.
Bars are closed, restaurants do remain open, but are not allowed to sell alcohol.
Residents and well versed travelers generally stock up the day before
for a variety of reasons.

Alcohol sales are furthermore limited to specific daily sales hours at all markets and stores.

During extended holiday periods, some cash machines may run dry.

**Events Calendar **SakonNakhon Hotels ** .

Recommended Reading

at Telegraph.co.uk

An article written by Sasha Bates, a well versed travel writer,

she gives her impression of her visit to the Isaan Province.

*Events Calendar *PB Air Fares *PB air Flights *SakonNakhon Hotels *

R.I.P.

Australian Expat, and longtime Sakon Nakhon resident "Andy" passed away a few minutes before 3 p.m., Sunday, July 5.

Andy had been suffering from cancer for a number of years.

He had been unconscious for some hours before his death.

Our condolences to his wife and child

T.i.T. Bits

British Tourists caught in Bkk airport extortion

This is almost identical to the Australian woman and the bar mat incident. Travelers are responsible for everything in their possession. Keep your purses and bags secure, don't give others a chance to 'add' to your belongings.

Local weather: Replay from last year, it seems.

A similar weather pattern, starting with extremely heavy rains in China,

requiring evacuations in that country, but not as massive as last year, at least not yet.

Downstream rivers are rising.

Then the weather directions change with our weather coming from the east.

For a good laugh visit

Betel nut is a misnomer, as the name actually implies the Areca nut wrapped in a Betel leaf.

My interest is in the Betel leaf.
The juice from the leaf and stem applied to the skin seems relieve a number of skin irritations and brings instant pain relief.
When chewed, the leaf has a variety of medical uses, curing worms, headaches, relief arthritis and joint pain.
It also has antibiotic effects when placed on open cuts. I am adding the Betel to my garden.
Read more about it at WIKIPEDIA

Saturday started early, with many locals making preparations and heading to temples, to make merit. Todays trip to the healer was done at rocket speed. Samat, who had been driving me every day, was in a hurry to get back home to take the family to their favorite temple.

There is a football game this afternoon, at the school near my house.

And then of course there was a concert

For a good laugh visit

A little bit of everything

Long Weekend ahead

I was supposed to be in Bangkok for the '4th of July,'
It was to be a reunification with my Thai friends from Seattle.
The entire restaurant staff. Multiple families.

This extended illness of mine, even though apparently in it's final days, still is a factor that I don't want to commit myself to an extended holiday away from home.

I had considered to use the time to renew my Passport.
Then I realized, they are going to be closed for an extended time from Independence day
through the Thai holidays concluding on Wednesday.

A week in Bangkok is too long in that town for my tastes.

Then there is the spread of swine flu, I tend to shy away from mass transit for the moment.

There is bound to be a local parade, but so far I have not heard of any date or time.

Michael Jackson's worm,
Britney Spears Twitter,
Gossip Girl Sex Tape.
Do they strike your interest?

Then consider reading the new category added to the (right) sidebar: "Computers and the Internet."
It's news about the latest attempts to access your computer with worms and viruses.
Internet places and mail to avoid.

Texas Longhorns
Trojan unscientific survey ranks Houston as the horniest city in The U.S.A.


Thais pronounce it BAIPOO.

Thanks for the help in identifying the leaf in my previous post.
Looking up a pronunciation has been impossible.
What I need here is the actual Thai script, so I can use one of the many online translators.

I have not missed any of my daily appointments with a local healer. Seven sessions are required.
Really noteworthy is that Shingles is quite predominant in this area. I have heard from many local Thais.
Oh they've had it, or they have family members who've gone through it.
But the crazy revelation is that many people stricken with this virus don't see a doctor, instead rely on local, some herbal treatments, and healers.
That first week I could not have survived without pain killers.
Most of these people are half my age.

Wax Candle Parade July 16, 2008


Tourism Authority are you listening.

According to international news media, Norway seems to be least effected by the present world financial crisis.

For a good laugh visit

Witch doctor.. The scientific method

Second visit to the healer.
Same amazing effects. This time I paid attention to the leaf he was chewing.
On the way out I pinched one of the leafs from a vine.
I broke off the stem and squeezed the juice onto a spot that was missed.
Same relieving result.
Now to determine what the name of this plants is, and do some research.

For a good laugh visit

The title says it

Extraordinary

You don't realize it's a commercial 'till the very end.
A bit of a tear jerker!!

For a good laugh visit

I'm off to see the witch doctor...

My last visit to the hospital, while in severe pain was pretty much worthless.

The pain injection I received was so weak, I simply felt like I had a couple of beers.

No pain relief at all.

The same can be said for a number of herbal medicines.

Even though one seems to have some effect after repeated application.

At this stage I am ready to try anything. Even a healer.

I visited one this morning.

The guy chewed on a leaf and then spit a fine, cool mist on my back,

reciting what was apparently prayers, between applications.

Astonished is all I can say.

All the shingles pains to my back disappeared.

This little healing episode cost 30 baht and needs to be repeated seven times.

I'll be back!!

Thais are strong believers in the supernatural, spirits and such.

A number of experiences here in Thailand have convinced me there is something to that.

For a good laugh visit