Here comes the Hot

Weather

Time to clean out the air conditioner filters

Suspect someone is celebrating Chinese New Years and forgetting to update the weather at the Thai Meteorologic Department.

Both AccuWeather and Wunderground predict a warming trend over the next week, with unseasonable hot weather midweek.  Feels like temperature may reach 38C (104F).

Cost Of Thai Living Increases

• ....severe impacts on Thailand's livestock production due to rising prices of animal feeds.... BERNAMA

• Electric rate hike ahead Thai Asean News

• Thailand Coconut production plagued by drought and pests  THE NATION

A large group of expats attended Dave's
farewell party to wish him all the best.

While Kat's away... Bob will ....
Friends held a birthday dinner for Bob  
while his wife Kat is in Bangkok for medical tests.
The food was soooo goooood

New Restaurant
Thai-Italian cuisine
featuring a 195 baht bacon pizza

Thailand Media Freedom on Trial Christian Science Monitor

Thailand's goal: 100-per cent crash-helmet wearing by year end 2011  BERNAMA

Travel tip - Extended weather forecast

How do we get from SN to Chiang Mai
3 adults 2 kids...
Planned on VIP bus but am told it goes to Chiang Rai not Chiang Mai.

Best route through Udon.
From Udon it's a 12 hour journey on the overnight.
Before you consider traveling by bus, read the following thread at Udon Maps

Bus times from Udon Thani to Chiang mai (night bus)....

A long range weather forecast for the summer season has been posted at the Thai Meteorological Department website.

"This summer, the average maximum temperature is expected to be

lower than last year. And rainfall will be above normal....

Hi O Isaan Cowboy

At the Sakon Nakhon Fair

Another squater evicted

I don't know why they consider my shoes such great housing, but I'm glad I look before getting in.
Don't know if this is the previous squatter returning, or one of his relatives.

They do all look alike.

From now on I'm leaving my shoes on the table, no matter what etiquette prescribes.

Unadvertised Gala Performance at the Red Cross Fair

It was one of those evening dinner and a show events, not advertised to the general public.
From all appearances it was an evening for government employees and their families.
Some students of mine were performing at the even, so I was invited.

Scroll through the Sakon Fair

Sakon City Web board has some great photography worth looking at

What Price Thai Virtue

It's like watching a never ending soap opera.
The plot with just minor changes is like a continuous rerun.
Only the actors change.

Episode One:

.

Teenage boy and teenage girl are in love and they move in together.
They share an apartment.
He just turned eighteen, she's a few years younger, just shy of being of legal age.
All parents are aware of the affair and don't seem to be concerned.
Eventually the affair turns sour and the girl moves back home.

The girls parents want justice and file a police complaint.
The police verdict is in favor of the girl.
The young man must pay Bt 60,000 to the girl's family as restitution.

A few days later, the boy witnesses the girl with a new boyfriend.
He photographs the intimate moment.  He's off the hook. No money needs to be paid.

Episode Two:

.

Plot is the same, except this time the parents demand the young man marry their daughter.
Wedding plans are made.
But then the young lady is seen repeatedly engaged in intimate affairs with various young men. A regular lady of the night.  Wedding canceled.

Episode Three:

.

The plot is repeated.  A Thai string wedding ceremony is held.
Less than six months later the marriage is dissolved.

I've been in the audience to many such dramas here in Thailand.
The plot is always the same with  three ending variations.




This is an old song. I had a copy of it in the early 90's

Fair Night

An hour before the nightly concert begins foot-traffic peaks. 
Concert goers are making their way through the leisurely fair goer crowd.
One hand on my wallet, the other on my camera.
Plenty of uniformed security was reassuring.
At the concert entrance, opened juice and soft-drink bottles were sniffed to insure a ALCOHOL FREE FAIR
You could say this night was teenage concert night

Mobile catering at the main entrance to the fair, seemed to be quite lucrative

I still  GOT IT

One of my favorite spot to visit is the air rifle range
I was somewhat of a marksman during my military career (1963-1975).
Makes me feel good that I still got it.


The rifle had been used all day and was overdue for a cleaning.
It jammed after every shot and had to be cleared and reloaded.

I was told I'm doing it all wrong.
Five bullets, five targets.
I explained I wanted to see how closely I could bunch them together.  I received an approval nod.

Before arriving at the fair I attended a
family birthday dinner at one of the newer 69 Baht all you can eat restaurants.



Something new for me on the menu.  Glass noodles made from seaweed.
Crunchy noodles.  I got to get some of those.

Worth Reading

My Thai Village Life...  

"Social Networking"

You'd think the guy read your mind.
Scroll down the page after you've pondered
the article and you'll be rewarded with EYE CANDY some really great photography


Sakon FC on FACEBOOK 

Beware at the Sakon Nakhon Fair

	...	Beware at the Sakon Fair Reader writes: ...she went for a walk round the fair last night. She got pick-pocketed, her phone has vanished BEWARE
Eat your Broccoli  Broccoli Fights Cancer		Sakon FC faces Mukdahan  in the first game of the season next month

Bollywood Action

You dont need to speak Bollywood to enjoy this film