Sunday, September 5, 2010

The day before

They set up a football field full of chairs for todays Event.
Of course it is raining this morning.
Most likely it will clear up later in the day, but the field will be soaked.
There'll be plenty of wet feet today.


                

                

                

Saturday, September 4, 2010

T.i.T Bits and more

Today
Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair.  I've previously mentioned it here
Sunday

If you plan on visiting the Sunday event at Sakon Pattana Suksa School Grounds, be sure to wear pink.  That's what they broadcast over the local loudspeakers last evening.

I didn't know that:
TAN NETWORK (Thai-Asean News Network),
featuring international and Thai News in English have a website here
TANN broadcast is available on TRUE VISION channel 78
.
.
Baht on higher grounds : good or bad for Thailand ? 

.
.
7.4 Quake in New Zealand
Why Travel Insurance
Yeah I saw that yellow bug around town




"...Charlie... Charlie... let's re-hempefy the UK...
...let's do it man, you and me..." Video

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Sunday Event at Sakon Pattana Suksa School Grounds



Information is quite sketchy still.
Depends on who you ask and how it's translated.

I'm taking a wild guess here: It's a local government sponsored event
There's an article published on the net at ryt9
Read the article in Google Translate.

Opening ceremonies are at noon:
          "...speeches by people in authority..."

Looking at a government planning map, there should be plenty of things to see and do after the pomp and circumstance.
The entertainment starts at 6 PM:
"...4-D movie multimedia,music drum Seng Pon Pon Pon Carabao Parn Thanaporn..."

Large crowds are expected, 20,000 according to one estimate.
If that's the case, expect mass traffic congestion along ITU


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

T.i.T. Bits PLUS

I've been told:  "Carabao is coming to town this weekend."

Haven't got much of the details.  
All I've been told is that the Sakon FC football game  had to be rescheduled.
More info when available













Religious Upbringing in Thailand

In my days bamboo punishment was dealt out on an outstretched hand or a bare bottom.
I never made the same mistake twice.

But then that was in another country, at a another time.











They weren't lying

 
Over a week ago, the day after tropical storm Mindulle visited the region, I had the largest number of visitors at my house. 
School kids looking for something to do.  It was early in the morning.  
I generally restrict visiting hours from 2 - 5 p.m.  
Really didn't believe when they told me: "No school today the school is flooded."   This video confirms it.





There's a reason for frequent visits to the Welcome Bar
Moderate and heavy drinkers outlive nondrinkers, 20 year research reveals TIME
Would someone please tell me where I sign up for such a survey... please!!

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours
Belly, that is. 
Growing trend noticed in Asia is men rolling up their T-shirts to keep cool, exposing their midriff in public. Los Angeles Times

Better living through chemistry comes to mind
  • McDonald's Happy Meal, still fresh after 137 days  GOOD




Hey Lady, "LOOK OUT !!!"

Heavy clouds to the North. 

Same looking South. 

Looks like clear skies at Eddy's Branch and the Welcome Bar.

Monday, August 30, 2010

SakonNakon Road Trip


One of my favorite pastimes is to jump on my crotch rocket and visit nearby villages.
This time I decided to visit the rice farm areas behind Wat Phra That Dum.


Typically like many places in the world, on Sunday afternoon, people where washing their cars.  Not so typical, no hoses, just buckets of flood water.

Beyond the villages, devastation. Most of the rice fields have merged with the local lake (Nong Han).


Most folk seem to have adjusted to the situation and were out with fishing rods, tackle boxes and fishing nets.



More vehicle washing


That explains it!

Been in these parts many times during the dry season when everything is dusty and dry.
Was always a bit perplexed why farmers would have longboats on dry land.

 

Back on Main Street: Ducks are loving it.

Rethink


This canal is dry and empty most of the time.  But it's a different story during the rainy season, when it turns into a rapid moving river.

That driveway with only one drain pipe to this new residence needs some rethinking.  But then it's a great fishing hole for the moment.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Bangkok Butt Police

Smokers be aware littering subjects you to a Bt2,000 fine.
Tourists in Bangkok are being targeted Bangkok Post

Weather Warnings continue almost daily

"Heavy Rain and Flash Flood" weather warnings from the Thai Meteorological Department continue on an almost daily basis. The latest one is here

High humidity expected this weekend has been delayed until later this week.
AccuWeather predicts FEELS LIKE  temperatures reaching 115 this Thursday and 116 on Friday.

Some areas are flooded more than others. 
At last nights football game the field resembled a wading pool.  I wanted to ask if there was a lifeguard on duty.
Here in Muang Sakon flooding has been minimal.  Many other parts of Thailand aren't that lucky.
ISAAN STYLE has some photographs of local flooding here and here.

Flooding is is part of the Thai way of life.  It happens quite frequently.
During a visit to a temple in Ayuthea in 1995 we had to hire boats to get from the road across temple grounds to see parts of the temple not submerged.