Sunday, July 3, 2011

Sakon Declared winner over Nong Bua Lamphu

In Saturday's game stopped due to insufficient lightening, Sakon F.C. has been declared the winner 2:1.
Sakon F.C. has a new coach.  The former coach had been 'released' some weeks ago.

And there's another story in the makings at Sakon F.C.  It's a story about an old coach being primed.  That story will most likely unfold at a party on July 11 at the Sakon F.C. restaurant.

And that's Football in Thailand

I'd become somewhat of an avid Sakon FC football fan.  Have known some of the players for as long as I've been in town.  Hadn't missed a game.  Away games gave me an opportunity to travel and see other parts of Isaan.

Saturday's game at Nong Bua Lamphu didn't entice me to travel.
You could say I had a premonition.  Besides, they recently started broadcasting the games over the internet.

Joey had moved his computer on the front porch.  I was watching the game in my 'den.'
Surprisingly the video stream was perfect.  No interruptions.
Joey was logged into chat mode which delayed his feed by a minute and had a different announcer than the one I was listening to.

It was almost like instant replay.  If I wanted to see a goal again I could see it again on Joey's computer.

Nong Bua Lamphu apparently had some heavy rains before the game.  Water puddles and mud.

The plank leading onto the field resembled a diving board at a swimming pool.

Sakon Nakhon scored during the first half. Nong Bua Lamphu evened the score early in the second half.  Shortly thereafter Sakon FC had it's second goal.

As dusk settled in the stadium, lights were turned on.  From my vantage point I could only see one set of lights.  The game continued. As it got darker the game was stopped.
A thirty minute delay to fix the lights was announced.
Somehow I knew better. I started watching the boob-tube with one eye on the computer.
Referees and players bowed in front of the audience and exited the field.
Game Stopped due to insufficient lighting. Rematch to be announced!!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Anticipation


Alcohol sales suspended Saturday 6 PM to Sunday Midnight.
That's been mentioned and groaned about plenty by now.

During this time period it is also against the law to post comments about candidates, as this may be construed as political advertisement.

Ms Tum's House dedication
Quite obviously locals seem to be preparing for the short "dry period." 
My neighborhood seemed eerily silent Friday night.  No one home.

If the number of invitations I received are an indication, everyone was attending parties elsewhere.
House blessing ceremonies, funeral rites, plenty of reasons to gather.

A funeral gathering this morning (Saturday) in my neighborhood.  As soon as the religious ceremonies stopped and the monks had left, it was time to get inebriated ahead of the prohibition period.

Some locals are avoiding driving long distances as they fear an increase of police vehicle checkpoints this weekend.






Happy 4th

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Crystal ball not needed: We know what comes next

Elections




Costs


Weather
June 29, 1 PM our weather is arriving from SW and SSW

Thought everyone knew this about web browsing...

...but apparently not. 

Reading foreign language web pages
 
Most browsers let you install Add-ons.
Google translate is one of those add-ons.
Any time you arrive at a foreign language page you can select the translator under your tools.


The translation is far from perfect, but you can get an understanding of what's being written.


Multiple e-mail recipients

If you're sending an email to multiple friends, don't use TO:  use BCC (blind carbon copy).  
If you use TO: every recipient will have most, if not all your friends e-mail addresses.  If you use BCC the recipients only see their own address.
further information

If you're forwarding e-mails, highlight and delete any sender and previous recipients from the mail

...a vigilante group rushed at me...


Found a brown coconut laying in the yard. 
Didn't listen that the nut was past any use.  Had to find out for myself. 
Used the machete, a very common household and garden utensil in most Thai homes.

Opened the coconut, it reeked.  Threw the coconut away, turned around an stepped on the handle edge of the rusty machete.


Minor puncture wound.  If it would have been bleeding I would not have worried too much.  Flowing blood tends to cleanse a wound.
I ain't taking any chances.  I was off to the hospital for a tetanus shot.
At the hospital the mistake I made was to agree that they clean out my wound.  
I had actually done that before I came to the hospital.  I received a quick swab, a band aid and a tetanus shot.


I received a bill for 130 baht (US$ 4.20), paid it and was on my way out the door.
As I opened the car door a vigilante group rushed at me from the hospital, clerks, nurses and even the owner/doctor.  "I didn't pay the bill."
They kept showing me a bill for 200 baht (US$ 6.46).  I kept digging for my receipt, I couldn't find it.


Minutes of arguing till the cashier wrote out a new receipt 130 Baht for the shot, 200 baht for the band aid in the emergency room.
I keep promising myself that I will change hospitals.




A block from the hospital, on the way home, I decided to stop at the liquor store and replenish my peppermint Creme De Mint.  I like the stuff, makes my mouth smell like I just gargled.
 
While at the store I made a great discovery.  Don't know why I missed it in the past.  Pipes, pipe tabaco and a roller.

Cigarettes, especially the paper and filter contain lots of chemicals.  With pipe smoking I avoid  the hazardous additives.


Why I bought the roller is quite obvious. A pack of smokes is anywhere from 30 baht (US$ .97) to 60 baht (US$ 1.94).  A kilo (2.2lb) of tabaco can be had for 100 baht (US $3.23).

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Hours of Alcohol Prohibition

We've had two days last weekend and are facing another two days this coming weekend when alcohol sales are prohibited.
Both these prohibitions are intended that voters have a clear head when heading to the polls.


Personal observation: It's not having the right effect.

Most disco's and bars where indeed shut down. A few bars where not, but had their lights dimmed.

Most drinking was done at neighborhood parties.  Last weekend there where more than the usual residential parties in my neighborhood. There are no enforced closing hours at such parties and reveling in many instances hardly slowed before sunrise. 



PTT's gas leak   MCOT 26 June




Stuff my friends sent me

Monday, June 27, 2011

Sakon Looses to Roi Et 3 - 1, but I was impressed

Considering the spanking Sakon FC recently received (9 - 1), and the fact that the team had a recent makeover (new players),  plus that they were facing  the number one team in the division, I had no idea what to expect.


A collision between two players during the first ten minutes, sent A Roi Et player to the hospital with a head injury. The first half continued without emergency vehicles on site.


Sakon Nakhon players did an impressive job.  They had obviously improved.  Cheering by local fans was also a lot more vocal than in the past.  Most fans left the game quite content, rather than the previous game, which was very depressive.

Obviously the Roi Et is financially better endowed, they have their own team bus and furnished two buses for their fans.  No such luxuries locally

Roi Et Fans

Hm, what's wrong with this picture? That's not a one