Around Thailand

Chiang Rai Landslide
Sept 13

From the size of the crowd I would think there must have been some warning signs before the road collapsed.

Geriatric Muay Thai

In order to promote Muay Thai or Thai kick boxing, Thailand's Senate staged a traditional kickboxing fight between two senior senators right outside the Parliament....
 nocommenttv
This may have been sponsored by some sports medicine corporations

First International Lotus and Waterlily Conference 2010

October 20 -24


Kasetsart Chalermprakiat Campus
Sakon Nakhon Province 

Ho Ho Ho 18 bottles of coconut rum

 

Getting close to harvesting time again.
I blend the juice with the flesh, then add rum and / or vodka as preservative.
Looks like I need to buy a case of rum.
Now that's what I call Breakfast of Champions.
Did you know coconut juice is a natural plasma substitute?

Sakon FC 3, Kalasin FC 2

There was some confusion regarding the starting time.
Depending where you received your information, it was either 4 or 5 PM.
We were in phone contact with some of the players and arrived just as the starting whistle was blown at 4 PM.
Many of the local fans didn't show up until 5 PM, just as halftime ended.
Sakon FC scored early in the game and it seemed no real challenge with a 2 - 0 at halftime.
When the second half started, Kalasin had this burst of energy, as if it was a different team now.
Kalasin quickly evened the score 2 - 2, then their energy deflated.  
Sakon FC was able to win the game 3 - 2, with a final goal.

Sakon FC has two games remaining to the end of the season.  Both home games, one Wednesday and another Sunday

  

Very obvious, Kalasin seems to have much better facilities than Sakon.

An attempt was made to use the new electronic scoreboard, but no one was able to get the numbers right.

After a few attempts the scoreboard was turned off.  
 Must have left the users manual at home. (T.i.T.)

Anecdote:
It rained heavily as we drove through the twisting and winding road of the Phu Phan mountains.
At times traffic was backed up behind slow moving trucks.  It was slow going.
Finally the road opened into a four lane straight away.
Every driver decided to make up time by exceeding the speed limit.
Approaching vehicles all flashed their headlights.
All cars slowed to almost a crawl in anticipation.
And there they were, two cops standing in the middle of the road.
They looked like they were trying to figure out why their hand held radar gun didn't catch any speeders.
Like a Keystone Cops episode.
At least they got every driver to slow down momentarily.

Nong Hahn rainy season expansion

 

March 29, 2010                                                 Sept 11, 2010

Comparing the pictures indicates that the water level of Nong Han has risen by two feet during this rainy season.

WIKIPEDIA: "The lake covers an area of 125.2 km² and is the largest natural lake of northeast Thailand. The average depth of the lake is 1.9 m, however during dry season the lake shrinks as some shallow areas fall dry. Swimming in Nong Han is risky because of parasitic liver flukes."

 

At Wat Phra That Choeng Chum it appears they are adding more housing near the rear entrance to the temple grounds

Tour bus with wings

Buriram FC 3, Sakon FC 0

Sakon FC traveled to Buriram earlier this week and faced Buriram FC in a game Wednesday.
The game was broadcast live at the Buriram website.
Buriram is number 1 in the league, while Sakon FC has slipped to the number 8 position.


Sakon FC faces Kalasin FC this Sunday, September 12,  at Kalasin

Intese Monsoon, Torrential Rains, Weather Alert

Thai Meteorological Department weather warning issued September 10 warns of torrential rains and heavy downpours due to a nearly intense monsoon. High chance of flash floods along hills and waterways. 

Sakon Nakhon Dragon Dancers

Notice the platforms the dragon dancers are performing on. 

No wonder they had mats and catchers below.


You can't learn that dance step in one easy lesson !

   
SakonNakhon -Live Video

Huge crowds at Sakon Nakhon Celebrations

11 AM

Heard loud music outdoors. I thought "that car stereo definitely is loud."
Not a car stereo.  It was obvious they were doing a sound check just a few blocks from my house.

Noon

Stopped along the way in front of the MJ Majestic hotel and watched the dragon performance

1:30 PM

Made my way to the Sakon Pattana Suksa School Grounds. Most traffic I had seen on I.T.U., EVER. There was no parking to be had on the entire length of this 3 k.m. long road.

 

Was a bit surprised that only one policeman was taking care of traffic flow at the entrance. 

Very professional and courteous.

During the late afternoon and evening hours I.T.U. resembled a busy street in Bangkok.

Traffic was heavy, but unlike Bangkok, no traffic snarls.

Traffic and crowd control seemed to have been well planned and administered.

I was impressed.

7 PM

Returned to the area just after dusk

Most noticeable was the security, bomb squad vehicle, paddy wagons. 
Stadium bleachers were for security personnel only.
Carabao was performing on stage and could be seen on two giant screens.

Stayed through Carabao's performance and then went home.

8:45 PM

Saw the fireworks display from my house.
A tree in my line of vision, made for some unusual pictures, reminding me of the story of the burning bush.

The best part of the celebration, as far as I was concerned, all loud music ceased after the fireworks.  I had been worried that this celebration could last throughout the night, as they so frequently do.
See more photos of these event here