Tuesday, June 7, 2011

S-BAC (Sakon Business Administration College) Sold

The privately owned and operated school was recently sold.
Announcement of the sale and introduction of the new owners to teachers and staff where made yesterday at a dinner hosted at the Grand Palace Hotel.

Sin Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival


Half way through the video sound is discontinued.
Advance video to 04:10,  made me grin.  Only in Thailand



Red moon Eclipse visible June 16 THE NATION
If you stay up till after 1:22 am and the sky is clear

Watch this Movie Trailer   Bad Teacher

Monday, June 6, 2011

Major E coli defense program at my house

.
.

Thai airports on alert after E coli outbreak monstersandcritics.com

I'm always on the alert in such matters.  I have a very sensitive stomach.  Five or more cups of coffee in the morning probably doesn't help that.  Cold drinks during or after a meal slow down the digestive process.  If you have an upset stomach the cold drinks will of course prolong the discomfort.

How soup, or a hot drink at the end of a meal speeds the digestive process and lessens discomfort.
My grandparents had the best solution after meals.
They called it a Hot Toddy.  It sure relaxed me after a meal and made me feel great!
Many bugs develop a resistance to medicines, but I haven't heard of any surviving alcohol.


Major E coli defense program at my house Sunday evening



All televised football games where re-runs, but I found plenty of other things to entertain my guests, including appetizers and drinks.  It was really a fun evening having neighbors over.  There were seven of us indulging..
Note to self:  restock bar




Brawl at the AIS Regional League 2011 games
Samut Sakhon vs Angthong
Samut Sakhon is approximately 45 km southwest of Bangkok




Watch this Video it's GREAT:  Lucky Escape

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Buzzy Saturday

Going shopping Saturday at Big C was probably a mistake.
For some reason traffic resembled Bangkok rush hour.
Not sure what the reason of this influx of people was.  It definitely was not the evening concert.

By the time I finished my shopping, traffic police where on every street corner attempting to untangle the mess.

As soon as I had unloaded the groceries
I was off to a funeral.  Don't really like going to those events, but I do feel obligated to support my friends in mourning over a loss of a loved one.

One of the monks there was smoking cigarettes like a chimney.
I had to be reminded that he's only a "Monk for the Day."



Next stop Sakon FC vs Nong Bua Lamphu
The game started minutes after the start of a tropical downpour.
The game was stopped within minutes.
After the downpour subsided, the game resumed. Anywhere else the game would have been postponed. Not here. It's all about money.

From 110604 FC




This would have been a really good competition, had it not been that the field was under water. It was still fun watching. Was more like an underwater comedy hour.

I was really surprised that one of Sakon star players was red carded.  What he did was so obvious.
Someone whispered in my ear.  He has an offer to play for another team.  Getting red carded means that he wont have to play in the next game and can therefore leave for his new team a week early.
He's not the only Sakon player leaving the team for financially greener fields.

Next week is the season final game for the league
Sakon FC vs "former" Sakon FC.
Actually it's Sakon FC vs Nakhon Phanom.  Some of the best Nakhon Phanom players are former Sakon players.

Sakon is eight in the league.  Nakhon Phanom is seventh

The evening concert sponsored by Sakon FC

Paying customers numbered in the low hundreds.  I stayed for half an hour.  Sakon radio was broadcasting "live."  The DJ's, both former students of mine.


Their English retention wasn't anything to be proud of. I was greeted with good morning and good night.

Isaan Hot Suff on the net


I-Guide

Some locally dedicated pages: Sakon Nakhon Travel Guide.
The page entitled Drinking in Sakon Nakhon lists up to date information about the WELCOME BAR
Eating in Sakon Nakhon lists information about the Sawatree, Green Corner, Baijak Coffee and Steak House.  That page also makes reference where to eat "dog-bone soup or peppery dog meat salad."

That entry is just BAD TASTE, at least that's my opinion!

Tom Isaan 
has a web album I greatly admire  tom isaan 's Public Gallery

His recent addition Baan Pheng, Mahasarakham, Wat Chaiprasit Murals is one of my favorites

Isaan Com
   
had some recent security upgrades http://www.isaan.com complete with facebook and twitter log in.
IsaanDOTcom's flickr photostream is worth a look

Water levels rising

1 pm 110704 (June 4, 2011)

I judge the water levels by the level in nearby canals. They where empty and dry a few weeks ago.
I'm just taking a wild guess, but if recent rainfall is any indication, I'll have to dust off my rubber boots.

With a global change in climate, it's difficult to predict what this rainy season will look like.

A few more burst of tropical rains like the one Saturday evening will send the water levels rising

Counting: June, July, August, September, DRY SEASON.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Oh no she didn't say that !!

The English lesson was body parts.
I started from the top down, hair, scalp, forehead, eyebrows...
... wrist, hand, thumb, index finger... then a girl blurted out those unmentionable two words.
Oh no she didn't say that! Roaring laughter.   I went on ...middle finger... ring finger...

Trust me those words are not from my lesson plan





My Saturday
Shopping, funeral, football, concert. In that order.  Rain gear at ready!



Thai elections are approaching
All I can say:  "It's going to be interesting."

On a recent day trip to Amnat Town I noticed groups of people placing election posters along the highway.  Quite a few of them.
On the return trip I noticed most of these posters were either partially damaged, or totally demolished.  Mind you it was not in Sakon Province.

The following day, Thai TV carried news stories of election posters being vandalized elsewhere in Thailand.

Sakon province drivers have been advised to use extra caution, as many of these signs obscure traffic vision.

Text from Google translate"...planting party advertising. Sign introduce candidates. Which are often used as embroidery along the highway near the surface traffic This may result in accident to cover the event because of traffic or obstacles..." ryt9com 





Thailand Rice Price MAY soar...

...or NOT Bloomberg


Thailand ban of Tourists receiving tattoos of  Buddhist images Guardian UK
Not into this sort of thing myself, but many folks believe that these tattooed symbols offer protection in life.
Reminds me of the fact that the majority of Thai temples refuse to cremate foreigners (non-Buddhists).


Odd World
Dutch POT tourism up in smoke
Effect expected to trickle down to hotel, restaurant, entertainment and overall tourism industry USA TODAY
Arizona Medical marijuana superstore opens Reuters

Thursday, June 2, 2011

My Pal Murphy

Murphy is my invisible friend who accompanies me almost daily.
He's in charge of all the mishaps, " Murphy's Law".

He definitely accompanied me this morning. First day of school.
My ride was late. Car problems.

Rode my motorcycle to school. Enjoyed the morning breeze.
Arrived early, they were having an assembly.

I always hate it when they hand me a microphone and ask me to "give a speech."
I don't like speeches. Makes no sense to give a speech in English to people who do not speak the language.

Short and sweet "Hope you are all fine, see you in class!"

Once settled into the classroom, they brought in a table for me.
Just as I sat down a decision was made to move me to another classroom.

Air conditioned.

I had been given three textbooks. None of them applied to the three classes I was teaching. None of the students had textbooks. The books had not arrived.

I was actually prepared for this. I've been in Thailand long enough.

I had planned to use my MacBook in the classroom. The school has wireless internet. After four tries at logging in I gave up. Was able to get the correct access code after class and can use it "hence forth."

Surprisingly the morning went quite fast.

I rewarded myself with lunch at the Dusit.
It's one of my favorite dining places.
English menu, food's great, and the service is better than many other places around town. They also have wireless internet.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

After the Rain








Do ya think the rainy season has arrived ??


Native English Speakers wanted at Akatamnuaysuksa School  posted May29


The Seri Thai (Free Thai) movement monument in Sakon Nakhon Bangkok Post

Do ya think the rainy season has arrived?  I do. 
Heavy rain, thunder and lightening woke me shortly after 4 AM.
The system passing over us at the moment is 'slowly' moving west.
Accu weather forecasts rain this week and next.  At times somewhat spotted (here and there).




Japan struggles with earthquake, tsunami cleanup You Tube

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