Saturday, November 6, 2010

This Evening

 
     Monthly SakonNakhon Cultural Fair, held on the  
     first Saturday of each month.

     Main stage at intersection of
     Thanon Charoenmuang  and Thanon Jaiphasook.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Mother nature has her hand in your wallet

Southern flood waters are slowly receding, but continuing to create havoc.

Soybeans at two year high Bloomberg
Rubber futures at 30 year high Bloomberg
Sugar prices hit 30 year peak AFP
Rice, cooking oil... etc... etc




A death in Chiang Rai may be attributed to the cold weather THAI VISA





Wednesday, November 3, 2010

But I just want to play with you

Alvin's exercise period
 
 

Thailand's coldest day on record ahead ???

According to Dan the Weatherman's World Weather Trivia, the lowest temperature in Thailand was recorded in Sakon Nakhon in 1974.  Temperatures dropped to 1.4C, 34.5F.

That was 36 years ago.  Recent weather predictions have forecast worst flooding in 50 years.
That prediction has apparently become true.

The other prediction, coldest temperatures in 50 years has me a bit worried.
Thailand is already experiencing the coldest temperatures in a decade The Jakarta Post

From appearances, we haven't seen the coldest weather yet.
The cold season did arrive early this year, thanks to a still growing El Nino.

Government agencies are beginning to take note:
"Temperatures-in-North-Northeast-to-drop-further"  THE NATION
It's not imminent, but the normal cold season around here is in January and February.

Brings to mind a logo from my U.S. Army days a long time ago.

Two wheeled memorial road trip headed this way

Motorcycles and bicycles departed Bangkok on October 31 for a memorial road trip.
The group of two wheelers is scheduled to be in Sakon on November 23 and 24, and will continue to Udon Thani and Nong Kai

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Over 100 deaths due to floods in Thailand





Major cause of drownings  "Drunk"














While heavy rains continue in the southern provinces, local weather continues to be affected by a ridge of intense pressure from China, with local minimum temperatures between 12 and 16C.  Minimum mountain temperatures are forecast between 6 and 12C

Monday, November 1, 2010

Lights Out

A four hour power outage today along I.T.U. started at 10 AM.
From what I could see it was routine line maintenance, replacing a short pole with a taller one.

Glad it was a fairly cool day and I did not need a fan.

    

Reminded me of my own days as pole lineman, except those where wooden poles

Ah... it's the Fallang



Mostly to appease my Thai friends, I've attend a yearly birthday ritual.
Even though I'm not a believer, it never hurts to get that extra bit of insurance.

Giving alms to the monks on this day should improve my chances for good fortune in the year ahead.

It's a triple birthday celebration, Myself, Samart, and one of his grandsons.

While the others gave fruit and rice, I opted for candy and cookies.
Of course there were also the traditional envelops with money.
I was a bit confused about the money envelopes:  There were eleven monks, yet I was expected to give only seven envelopes, Samart only gave six.
It was explained to me it's traditional that you give one more envelope than the last number in your age.  I'm 66, that means seven envelopes.  Samart, having given six envelopes, must be 55 today.




The abbot in front of the group of monks recognized me from previous years: "Ah it's the Fallang," he said with a big smile.