Double header Saturday

S-BAC graduation ceremonies where held this morning at the Imperial Sakon Hotel.
Both academic and vocational diplomas where awarded.

Sakon FC hosts Udon FC today 5 pm



Thai tourism to lose Bt3 bln in revenue from Japan disaster  MCOT

One year visa extension. In and out in 18 minutes Khonkaen. Forum
  
Rubber prices way down The Jakarta Globe March 17

Unseasonable cold is almost over

There's all sort of chatter about the unseasonable cold weather most of Thailand had been experiencing for the past four days

• Sharp drop in temperatures felt nationwide as mercury plummets  THAI VISA Forum 
• Summer?  ajarnforum

More seasonable temperatures should return Sunday.

Even Alvin noticed the cold. 

Smart little fella.  He pulled most of a bar towel behind him to seal his mansion and keep warm

They'll be howling at the Moon

Tomorrow the moon will be 356577km  from the earth.

• “SuperMoon” or “SuperHype”? universetoday
• Supermoon' May Cause Moonquakes, Scientist Says  foxnews

SuperMoon happens once every 18 years.
2011-18 = 1993!

March 12–13, 1993 Storm of the Century, the ’93 Superstorm, the Great Blizzard of 1993, wikipedia
March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm Japan Earthquake


March 1993 seemed a routine month for me. Work on the docks of trucking company.  I was making plans for a vacation the following month (April).  That year I went to Pee Pee island and Chiang Mai

He could have fooled me

English version of NHK TV is available through local Sakon cable.
It's reporting about the effort to contain six nuclear reactors and news of the effects on the economy
Here's an internet feed    Watch NHK  World in English



House under construction for sale in Sakon Nakhon udonmap

Thailand's Got Talent Season 1:  She or He

You'll figure it out after 1 minute of the show
The singers personal comments at the end of the video reveal it all.

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.