I took a little trip

Brown Bag NOK to Bangkok
My neck, back, and hip where seriously inflamed. Old work injuries aggravated.
Driving or taking the bus to Bangkok wasn't a pleasant option.

Brown Bag NOK was the only option.
Not really fond of flying in an aging aircraft.
Don't know the age of the aircraft used locally.
The ATR 72-200 aircraft has  been around since the late 1990's.

The cost isn't exactly what I would call Budget, compared to similar flights from Udon.

Service:  The stewardess I observed seemed a bit preoccupied.  Wonder what was on her mind, very serious look. Didn't show that famous Thai smile till we landed.

She skipped our row  when the brown bags where handed out.  Had to ring the service bell and ask where ours were.

They're really Budget Air when it comes to in-flight food and drinks. The brown bag contains water and a pastry.

Saw a Monk drinking a hot tea.
Asked the stewardess if I could have a hot tea.
NOT AVAILABLE

I had some peanuts in my carry on to eat during my flight


Did some pre-flight cocktails I brought from home in a plastic container.  Sakonnakhon Airport security was kind enough to let me keep my open container until boarding time.
They did watch me like a HAWK with a THAI SMILE, till I disposed of the container.

Yes I like .o5 blood-alcohol when I fly.  It calms me down and relaxes me without becoming totally wasted

Westerly Rain , Northernly Cold, Easterly Wind

Thai Meteorological Department Weather Alert  "Westerly Trough*"
during 16-18 March

Had noted the cold system approaching from the north during the past week at the The Weather Channel

Windy conditions from  east-north-east started early Tuesday evening.
Winds at times 20km (12.4 miles).
Rain approaching from the west

Warmer temperatures towards the weekend, then some more cooler temperatures. 
Seesaw temperatures - up and down

*Weather Trough  defined at Dictionary Com

Thai Time

From the looks of things, they've figured out how to set the digital displays on the scoreboard.
The manual pages on setting the analog clock must be missing.

Time just seemed to fly by

Bring your own Paddle

Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok only serves a few domestic flights.
It's pretty much deserted otherwise.
Looks a lot like an airplane bone yard, a no-fly zone.

George and Dragon in Korat

Spent three quite pleasant days in Korat.
Visited a local expat hangout there called George and Dragon.
Such places in unfamiliar cities are a great source of information about the area

Didn't care much for the elephant rides offered outside the bar.  Elephants belong in the great outdoors, not on pavement.  Took the pictures from some distance (with a zoom), not knowing if the flash would spook the young pachyderm.

Transporting Goods to the Market

David vs Goliath

It's obvious Goliath won this round hands down
Korat FC  4 
Sakon FC 0

Video by Zintiara

Police Story Thailand: Episode 1

There are many horrid stories of foreigner encounters with the Thai police.
Unfortunately the pleasant encounters with the "Men in Brown" are seldom revealed.
"Police Story Thailand" is a series of articles revealing my encounters with the Thai Police.
Police encounters aren't always the most pleasant...  but in retrospect....

Episode 1: Kalasin Police
I admit, I had a few drinks before deciding to take a crotch rocket (motorcycle) journey. 
The cool air of the Phu Phan mountains quickly sobered me.
I don't know if it was my timing, or if someone had called ahead. 
At each police check along the way, cops seemed to wait for me to pass, before they shut off the lights and called it a night.

It was after midnight when I arrived in Kalasin.  I had no idea where to locate a hotel for the evening.
I stumbled upon the Kalasin police station.  It was a very hot and humid night.  All police staff where sitting on the steps outside.

I asked for directions to a hotel.  Blank faces stared at me. 
I used sign language, placing my hands next to my face, indicating sleep.  They understood.

I was given a police escort to a nearby hotel.  I was directed to a guarded parking area.
The police officer confiscated my luggage and escorted me to the hotel registration desk.
One hundred baht for the night.

The officer, my luggage in hand, escorted me to the room.  He inspected the room before letting me enter.  He placed my luggage in the room, handed me the key and motioned me to lock the room.
He refused my offer for a tip and wished me a
"Good Night."

Say What?

Almost wrenched my neck in disbelief when I saw this at the Korat stadium.
The letters in the seating at the stadium spell SAT – Sports Authority of Thailand
The sports center in Korat is a huge facility with a shooting range, swimming pool, tennis courts and a number of other facilities.

The facility is apparently near an air force base. While at the stadium jets flew overhead and landed nearby.

Sakon FC players and staff arrived around 5PM and were on the field practicing within an hour.

Local fans are betting that Korat will win 2-0, of course Sakon fans are of a different opinion