Ya'll come

Hi,

     as the boxing day quiz did not happen I have decided to try again with a quiz on New Years Eve.

There will be prizes and a free buffet at half time. The price is 100 baht a person. starting time is 8.00pm. People must book their table in advance by calling me on 0872269151. Tables and chairs will be available. 

I do have some people already.

Martin.

S-BAC Sport Day

Take care you 95-100%

Noticed this sign while hiking along the highway this morning.
I blocked out the company logo and phone in the upper left corner.

Your Passport: Don't leave home without it

Local police will begin verifying that foreigners are in possession of a valid passport.  It's a rumor making the rounds these days.  As with any rumors there may be some validity to this one.  Governments are always on the lookout to increase their revenue.

Foreigners are required by Thai law to carry their passports with them at all times.  Persons not in possession of passports may be subject to arrest and fines.

A number of persons carry laminated copies of their passport and pertinent documents.  These are not legal documents.  It is up to the discretion of the officer if  such copies are acceptable.

Some months ago there was a sweep of foreigners in a major tourist resort to check possession of valid passports. At that time copies were not accepted as sufficient proof.

Consumers will have to accept the inevitable

Domestic sugar prices to rise Bangkok Post

-----------------------	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Thai Meteorological	29/17	26/15	24/13	24/14	26/15
Accuweather	29/12	30/14	32/14	33/16	32/13
Weather Underground	25/11	26/13	28/13	29/13	28/13

My thanks for the many invitations I received for the holidays.

My apologies to those whose invitations I had to decline.
I spent Christmas eve at home with an unpleasant stomach infection.
I had multiple Christmas day invitations, for which I am very grateful.
Regrettably I can not be in six places at the same time and had to choose.

China bars English words in all publications

True Friendship

SakonNakhon Beef Fest

For a moment I wasn't sure where I was.

American Indians...

Is that the Marlboro Man?


Definetly doesn't remind me of any Thai cattle farmer.

Here's some SakonNakhon beef reality

Above normal drought conditions likely

Sakon Nakhon Residents advised to use water wisely

An above normal drought is likely in the coming months according to the Meteorological Department.
Local farmers are being advised to plant drought resistant crops.
Water storage levels are being closely monitored.
While Nong Han water level is at 80%, other province reservoirs are at 70 to 66%
source ryt9   translated version

Phuket high season down

Tourism is down 25% from last year in Phuket, according to an article in the Phuket Gazette.
The last few years haven't been all that great for Thai tourism numbers.
Recent government reports contradict these findings, reporting a steady increase in arrivals.
Thailand's overall tourism numbers may be up somewhat, but the big spenders seem to be going elsewhere.

Governments tend to distort statistics for their own benefit.
A typical example is a recent US government finding that there has been no rise in the cost of living in the U.S. over the past year.
Makes you wonder where these people do their shopping.

Bus travel may be dangerous to your health

YouTube - Double Decker Crash Kills Thai Tourists in Malaysias Highlands
YouTube - Raw Video Bus Crash Kills Dozens in Ecuador
YouTube - Five badly hurt as coach overturns near Norwich

Merry Christmas

Let the holiday overindugence begin

Here's a few pictures of the gathering at Eddie's Bar after the funeral yesterday

Tomorrow I'll be heading to Tha Rae, where there will be a Christmas Mass and Christmas Play before the parade.
Christmas day I will be attending a private Christmas dinner.
The following day, Boxing day, I'll most likely visit the local beef festival.

Wish all a very enjoyable Christmas holiday

Expect cooler temperatures over the next few days. There is some question as to how cold it will get, but weather services seem to agree that it will get cooler

	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday
Thai Meteorological	33/20	33/20	29/17	26/15	24/13
Accuweather	34/17	30/9	24/9	23/9	24/10
Weather Underground	31/19	33/17	28/12	27/13

Eddie packs the house one last time

The Chapel was filled beyond capacity,
The pews were filled and extra chairs had to be brought out.

Been here nine years.  Attended festivals, parades, parties and funerals.
In all this time I have never seen so many westerners gathering in this city.

There is no better Eulogy than that.  Eddie had a lot of friends from many nations.
Some of his friends traveled great distances to bid their last farewell.

Until he became ill I used to visit Eddie at least three times a week.
He was a dear friend.  I'm only sorry that he did not achieve his dream:

He was waiting for the day when he would get his pension.  He had traveling plans:
"I'm gonna blow this popsicle stand."
Eddy was only months away from achieving his dream

To view/copy all pictures in this album go here
All pictures may be copied and distributed for non-commercial use.

I invite all of his friends to eulogize Eddy by leaving a comment

Eddie's last rites time and place changed

Meet at What Pa Suthawat (the temple previously designated for last rites)at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, Dec 22.
Then convoy to Phan Khwang's Saint Pio 10th Church


Phan Kwang is on the Sakon-Udon highway
There will be a get-together at Eddie's Bar after the funeral services.