Let's Parteeeeeee

Flood conditions = SHORTAGES = PRICE SPIKE

Dill, one of my favorites, 

has doubled in price at the local night market.

A bunch went from 10 Baht (USD.32) to 20 Baht.  

Vendors are blaming the doubling of prices on shortages due flood conditions

Jicama is in season

Tastes like the offspring from an apple and a potato wedding. Juicy and starchy

Pronounced mangau 'Man Kaeo' in Thai,

also called Mexican yam bean or Chinese potato.

Nutritional Value  

"LIVE BROADCAST" at Thai TV 5

Don't shoot the messenger.  
Festival Brochures advertised live broadcast.
But it didn't happen.
All I can say "this is Thailand"
Possibly a couple of bursts of heavy rain preempted the broadcast ??

 "LIVE BROADCAST" at Thai TV 5 

Sakon Nakhon Royal longboat races final heats

Sunday October 9, 4pm to 5pm local time

Thai TV5 can be seen on the web at

 wwitv.com

Visited the boat race track yesterday. The sun was hot, brimmed hat, umbrella, and/or sunscreen is advisable.

Definitively more race teams than in recent years.
But the general crowd seemed much smaller.

It's the first year no alcohol is sold at the event.

The no alcohol effect could also be noted in the cheering stands.  Not as vocal as in previous years.

Dont drive drunk or you may wind up with broken joints

 

This lamp post on I.T.U. hasn't fully recovered from a  recent D.U.I.
The lamp post. which had been knocked over and luckily caused no injuries in the fall,
has been replanted in it's rightful position.  However there are still some broken joints which need mending.

Buzzy as a (wax castle) Bee

Last minute preparations were still underway Friday at the Ming Muang Field,
where most of the Wax Castle celebrations are staged

The concert stage is ready

Many vendors were already open for business 

Most anything you can think of, you can buy it 'at the fair.'

I did mention, most anything you can think of, you can find it here
Women's dresses 100 THB (USD 3.25), Brassieres 59THB (USD 1.90

Central Thailand Flooding expected to get worse

Ayutthaya disaster worsens  Bangkok Post

Main highway to North swamped, jail evacuated

Water, water everywhere  Bangkok Post

Ayutthaya flood disaster that seems to be getting worse and worse without an end in sight.

Crocs escape in flood-hit Ayutthaya   Bangkok Post

Landslide danger in Phuket's mountains

 American Citizens services Message on Flooding in Thailand 

.....conditions are expected to continue for at least several more days, worsening in the Chao Phraya River basin from Uthaithani and Chai Nat provinces to Ayutthaya.

.... portions of 54 highways are closed.  This includes the Asia Highway, the main highway north out of Bangkok. 

Bus and train service linking Bangkok with points to the north is suspended.  

October Sunshine Garden Fest In Sakon Nakhon

October 7
17:00 opening party Free snacks (several sausages, bread, baguette),

October 8

10:00 Brunch
11:00 -   13:20 Live F1 quality of RTL in German,
13:30 Oktoberfest music from CD, etc. Possibility of a soccer tournament Sunday,

October 9

10:00 Brunch white sausage breakfast or brunch
11:45 - 15:40 Live F1 on RTL in German, Preview, Race, Report, Possible with World Cup celebration, festival finale with music from CD, etc.

ENGLISH ALSO SPOKEN


How to Get There

Sakon Nakhon All You Can Eat Dining at 69 Baht

(THB 69) (USD 2.23) (GBP 144) (EUR 1.66) (SEK 15.20) (DKK 12.37) (JPY170.91)



Back in 2003 the prices where 39 Baht at "All You Can Eat Restaurants'

That's a 57% inflation  over eight years.

Somewhat of a Thailand economic indicator.

Still a bargain !!!

Yesterday's weather was unseasonably cool, felt like a typical January day.
A last minute birthday dinner invitation, I dressed to keep warm, and disregarded appearance.



The restaurant we visited last night is located at the north end of I.T.U.,

View of the lake, which separates the restaurant from the avenue, indicates that the water levels where near bursting.

The local Rainy Season stopped JUST IN TIME.

Sakon Boat Races and Wax Castle Festival

2011

.

Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup Longboat Races

October 8
08:00 Delivery of the Maha Chakri Sirindhorn cup to The monument park
09:00 Band led precession along the Mankhalai Road into the park (blue route on map)
11:00 Opening ceremonies and long boat parade including peacock dance contest Long Boat Race qualifiers
18:00 OTOP "One Tamboon One Product" sales and amusements. Food Fair, Concert, at Ming Muang Field (Map listing #2)

October 9
06:00 Mini Marathon "Pha-daeng Nang-ai"
07:30 Mini Marathon trophy awards
14:00 Boat Race finals, closing ceremonies of boat races (broadcast LIVE Thai TV5 from 4PM to 5PM)
18:00 OTOP "One Tamboon One Product" sales and amusements at Ming Muang Field. Food Fair, Concert

Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival

October 10
08:30 Phan Bai Si flower arrangement contest begins at the Ming Muang Field
16:00 Wax Castles on display at Ming Muang Field
17:00 Completion of Phan Bai Si Contest
18:00 OTOP "One Tamboon One Product" sales and amusements at Ming Muang Field. Food Fair
18:30 Bai Si Ceremony,Dinner and folk music concert

October 11
14:00  Wax Castle Parade (Red route on map)
           The Wax Castle Parade will be broadcast LIVE on Thai TV Channel 5
18:00 OTOP "One Tamboon One Product" sales and amusements at Ming Muang Field. Food Fair

October 12
06:00  Merit Ceremony at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum

Blue Route:   Longboat race trophy parade October 12
Red Route:   Wax Castle Parade October 15