Sakon Wax Castle Parade 2010

Parade participants began arriving in town shortly before 2 PM.
They arrived by any means, buses, trucks, whatever was available.
A few people had already taken up their bleacher seats over three hours before the parade.
Seating was first come.

Further down the street there was plenty standing room available during the parade.

Escape Bar (and Restaurant)

Just further down Thanon Tor Pattana Road from where the Welcome Bar used to be is the Escape Bar.

It just opened it's doors earlier this week and is just a few doors down from a corner market, right next to the Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine (Chinese Temple)

Rental motorcycles are in front, available for 200 Baht per day.

 

The Escape opens at 9 AM.  They are still fine tuning their kitchen and should have their menu available after this weekend.  The pool table is expected to arrive this weekend.

You can find the bar on my map (right sidebar)
Look for the cocktail glass

I Love Sakon

I was just not in a party mood. Tired and run down.
Tried taking an afternoon nap, but that seemed to make me even more lethargic.

Generally love going to these events because I meet many of my Thai friends in a family oriented environment.

A large selection of food to tease your palate and great entertainment.

Joey went and brought back some great pictures at 2 AM.  I knew he was drunk as a skunk, cause he fumbled for a good five minutes trying to lock the gate.

Psst.. want to buy some Kippers

Martin at Chern Chim just received a limited shipment of kippers.
The line forms behind me

TiT Bits

You don't see this often enough: Child with helmet

Heard it through the grapevine

A new SakonNakhon jail is to built outside the city to replace the present jail located across the street from a number of schools. A park is planned at the present location.

The thinking is that a jail is not suitably located that close to schools.

Rally Tacky

Saw one website with a number of articles regarding Thailand floods.
What was tacky was that the articles were plastered with boat sales advertisements

Check out this link

2010 Press Freedom Index ranks Thailand 153 of 178 Nations

Taking care of his intoxicated buddy

Chafings in my rump from this slide ride

The US Dollar is on a fast slide down and the ride apparently is not over.
Meanwhile the Thai Baht is taking the express elevator in the opposite direction.
They are trying to slow the elevator down, but the breaks are malfunctioning.
Where is  the instruction manual?

I've had to make cutbacks in my budget.  The choice was which luxury to do without.

Hopefully the ride will be over at some time.  Until then I may have to consider more cutbacks.
It's not drastic yet.  I'm tightening my belt for the moment so I can splurge on my upcoming birthday.
Just hope the money ride doesn't end in the sewer.
I'd hate to have to pack up and move to an affordable alternative.




From the looks of things, other currencies aren't faring much better.
The AUD experienced a bit of a drop earlier this year, but has fully recovered.
I'd expect more visitors from Down Under, than from Europe or the U.S. this season.


Related Readings
Finance Ministry alerts operators with dollar weakening situation National News Bureau of Thailand NNT

Stronger Thai baht affects economy National News Bureau of Thailand NNT

Baht's rise may lower GDP growth by 1 pct The Nation

It's important to keep calm. 
If that doesn't work try this

Phew: That could have gotten quite nasty

Typhoon Megi had just devastated the Philippines  and wasn't quite sure where to go next.
West or north.
Yesterday afternoon it was still anyones guess. It all depended on that L (low pressure) on the weather map


Would have devastated us if it headed west.


Latest tracking map indicates the storm is going to be Southern China's problem by Friday afternoon.





We can expect some local rain and thunderstorms this weekend. Sunday's real feel temperature could reach 45C (113F)

Taking your pet for a stroll Thai style

Tambon Nong Song Dao Sakon - 16 October
video by arakwarit

The SakonNakhon Party has started

I've seen the opening ceremonies to the boat races many times, so I wasn't all that intrigued to see it again this morning.
But I did spend some time mingling with the crowds at the races.
Beer in one hand, camera in the other.
The best part for me was of course the number of people who recognized and called me by my name.
Of course there are always a few who seem to think my name is MONEY.


If I would have accepted all the offers for drinks, someone would have had to carry me home

  

  

I've had a number of invitations to join the party tomorrow.  I'll be there.