Newcomer Bueng Kan, any surprises?

Weather

• Use sun protection !! 
• Chance of rain 0%.  
• Humidity will make the daytime temperatures feel much warmer than they really are, especially Friday and Saturday
• Further nighttime temperature cooling likely begining Sunday

Football 

• Phu Phan Cup Sakon Nakhon versus Bueng Kan  3 PM
  Bueng Kan is the newest province of Thailand after being split from Nong Kai Province on March 23, 2011
  As Recently as July the team started a logo competition
  Obviously a very new team. Will be interesting to see if they have any surprise in store for us


• This evening (Nov15), 6 PM  Thailand vs Australia televised on NBT

Phu Phan Cup Arrives

The crowd had gathered early awaiting to participate in the 'Pomp' marking the arrival of the Phu Phan Cup.
Traffic was halted as a police escort arrived at the 'Arc de Sakon,'
(not the real name, but it seems befitting).

2011 Phu Phan Cup Schedule in English



Think I'll be on plenty TV newscasts.
I was standing mostly at the opposite end of the cameras.

All of the cameramen took video of me while the Thai national anthem was playing.

I'm Walking

After my recent illness I had promised myself to do some exercise.  I had read that exercise does help improve the immune system.  Consciously I had put it of for a few days.
My subconscious took charge.  I lost my motorcycle key.  To make matters worse, my mobile was totally dead.  The only option I had was...

Tha Rae "Lone Football Boy (man)"

Final day of the football matches at Tha Rae

The extended trip yesterday has left me too sore to even consider attending the games.
I watched two games there yesterday and was very impressed by the professional performance of many of the players.

Did get a bit of a chuckle watching
"The Lone Ball boy (man)."
Generally there are four to eight ball boys retrieving stray balls.
At these matches there was one ball boy  racing after stray balls on his motorcycle.
He did have occasional help by a younger boy on a bicycle.
High grass surrounded the football field, making it a real challenge to find lost balls.

.

Asia Cup

A bit of a dispute erupted during the recent match between Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
Saudi Arabia defeated Thailand 3-0 on November 11.
The next Asia Cup qualifier game is November 15, 6 PM, when Thailand hosts Australia.





SEA (South East Asia) games
Thailand lost against Malaysia (1-2) on November 9.
Thailand won over Cambodia (4-0) in a Game on November 11.

Thailand faces Indonesia in a game this evening at 7 PM.
The game is broadcast on  Thai TV Channel 5

When nothing goes right, visit friends

"The football games start at 10 AM," so I was told
I left at 9 AM to insure I was early.  I was four hours early.
Must be something about Thai time I still don't understand?
Apparently everyone was informed of the change in starting time except 'moi.'

The football stadium in Tha Rae is right along the highway.
The stadium reminds me of the History Channel series "Life after People."
The cement structure is black from mildew, metal handrails are rusted through, and foot high grass surrounds the field. Rooms below smell of urine.

I didn't expect the games to take place there.
I asked some gentlemen sitting outside the police station for directions.
Those directions took me to a deserted school football field.

Next I asked a gathering of Baht bus drivers. "Turn right at the flashing light," they said.
I visited another deserted school play field .

Obviously I was getting nowhere
I decided to look up my Thai friend where I have a standing invitation each year for the Christmas star parade.

A quick visit to the 'field after people,' where we were advised of the 2  PM start time.
With plenty of time on my hands, I was offered a tour of the local parish grounds.
My host is the grounds keeper there.
He proudly showed off various flowers and plants.

 

With even greater pride my host showed  me the Tha Rae replica of the Madonna caves of Lourdes

There's a bit of Tha Rea history on display on the parish grounds.

The bell was donated by the French in the 1920's

You are advised to walk barefoot on the stone path to enjoy a foot massage

With the tour ended I was invited to while away some time at my host's home.
He had added a special room to his house to display his pride and joy.



"Painted by a local 19 year old," I was told

So I'm thinking of returning...

Then I see the cost of living... "NEVER MIND"

I am frequently asked if I consider returning to the U.S.
I do consider it occasionally, but then there are reasons that make me decide to stay right where I am.
Obviously local food prices have risen somewhat over the past few months, but nothing like in the U.S.
Cucumbers and carrots have become a daily part of my evening meal.
Cucumbers the size depicted in the first video sell locally for 10Baht (US$0.32)

On my way to Tha Rae

Not a Dog Festival. 

Football been happening there since last week.  Someone mentioned Coke Cup, but I'm not sure.
Today is the first day I feel well enough to make that motorcycle journey. 10 AM start time.

Sakon FC

Thanks for the heads up from Paul at the Korat FC website to the fact that the 30th Phuphan Cub gets under way November 15th.  The schedule should become available this weekend

Thai parades

With very few exceptions, traffic is uninterupted by parades in Thailand









Received in the mail
Three German shepherds  go to a British Pub

Finally some good news from waterworld

Socceroos to play in Bangkok November 15

Due to the flooding there had been much talk to possibly move the game between the Socceroos  and Thailand to another town.  Chiang Mai was one of those options as the Rajamangala National stadium in Bangkok is being used  as an evacuation center.  The game has been moved to the Suphachalasai National Stadium, located in the center of Bangkok.

I think someones calculator needs new batteries

While overseas Thailand Tourism officials are explaining that there's no need to postpone vacations to Thailand because of the floods, tourism officials are estimating arrivals for this year will be down only slightly from 19.5 million to 19.1 million

While many Bangkok resident can float their  Kratong without leaving their homes this year,
there's finally some great news in today's Bangkok Post

33,000 Ayutthaya workers re-employed 
25 affected factories resume operations

Thailand vs Malaysia Football 4 PM, Nov 9, Thai Channel 3

Sakon Nakhon Home-Garden and Auto Show

November 9 through 13
Fairgrounds across the street from the Immigration Office

Those bosoms are factory made

Weather is approaching form the south, south-east.

The heaviest rains are most likely over southern Vietnam and Cambodia.

Hopefully the storm will dissipate somewhat before reaching us.

Winds from the north, north east are beginning to cool the area.

Today's high is most likely the highest temperature of the week until the weekend.


Flooding is no deterrent for Bangkok police

That's the impression I got looking at the Bangkok Post.  It's a picture of a policeman on a bamboo raft.
The article mentions that a number of water pumps have now been pressed into service.
You'd think they would have done that weeks ago.  But then this is 'Amazing Thailand.'
There's even talk of digging a canal from a highway. Would not be at all surprised if the highway was previously a canal.

Thailand isn't the only country suffering from extreme floods

While all media is being bombarded with news, videos, pictures, comments and continuous updates of Thailand's floods, Cambodia floods are almost totally non-existent in international media.

In Bangkok most folk had at least enough warning to move their cars to higher ground, not so in Italy.











Plenty of video clips at You Tube of the November 2nd Miss International Queen Competition

I have never seen any talent in lip sync performances.  Keep in mind those bosoms are factory made

Dry Season is Wedding High season

July seems to be the most popular wedding month worldwide.
Not so in Isaan where July is the start of the rainy season.
Now with the dry season well underway,  I've noted a steady increase of wedding plans, and have a number of invitations confirming 'Dry Season is Wedding High Season'

  Thailand's past corruptions come home to roost

That's about the best way  to describe the discoveries reported in this news item.
Would be interesting to see statistics of how many Bangkok canals have disappeared in the last five decades

• The Nation - Many city canals 'illegally blocked'

Boat builders doing brisk business in Thailand

Love the float with a couch  (1 minute 4 seconds into the video)

A major crack is developing in Antarctica.

A big chunk of Antarctica is expected to break off later this year or early next year.
The estimated 880 sq km ice cube is expected to drift north.
It is a reoccurring event. A similar such breakup occurred in 2001.
What is of interest is the effect the ice cube will have on cooling ocean temperatures in the area.
Possibly months of drought conditions on nearby continents months after the ice cube dislodges and melts.

• BBC News - Major berg forming in Antarctica   

Dehydration a major cause of Kidney Stones

Had this pain on the left side of my groin on and off for almost two days.
Didn't take a medical degree to determine the cause.
I drink too much coffee, which we all know dehydrates the body, as does alcohol. 

The pain had not been severe enough for me to decide to seek medical attention. 

Searched out alternative treatments and determined what I had around the house to use. 

Drank a healthy amount of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, followed by extra helpings of water. 

After ten minutes I jumped up and down a few times. 

The stone seems to have been dislodged.  However, all that jumping has created uncomfortable pains in my spine.  Rum and coconut juice should remedy those pains.

Protect I.P. Act Targets Overseas Web Pirates

It is aimed at websites outside the U.S.A. distributing anything copyrighted. 

Those free downloads of music and songs are a primary target.  Even innocently recorded home movies may be targeted  if your radio or TV  happens to be playing in the background.
One website claims that kids like Justin Bieber may well wind up in the courts.  Justin got his start posting videos of him singing copy protected songs
Protect IP Act at WIKIPEDIA