Recuperating mode

One thing very obvious to me about aging is the fact that party mode is shortened to a few hours.
After that it takes one or two days to recover.

Big family dinner the night before the wedding.  Of course that also meant my glass was never allowed to empty.  It was the first time I appreciated the fact that Thais add a ton of ice to their beer.  After drinking two pitchers of watered down beer ( and a couple of cans), I walked home sober as a judge.

Morning of the wedding festivities was a different story.  The moment I arrived I was handed a double shot of bourbon on the rocks.  My glass was constantly under surveillance to insure I wasn't running on empty.
I tried abandoning my glass.  That didn't work.  The lost and found teams always made sure that I wasn't without a drink.

The only excuse I had not holding a glass was "taking photographs."  I took 350 pictures.

Click on the picture to view the wedding album

Later that afternoon I received an invitation for a private family dinner.  I had to decline,  I was old age exhausted.

The following day I also declined watching a Phu Phan Cup Game.  I had not yet sufficiently recovered.
Instead I relied on telephone updates.  Sakon beat Mukdahan 2-1.

With plenty of rest and gallons of water, I'm recovered enough to spend this morning teaching.

Clean-up starts now, no end in sight

Thailand Unemployment looms

Great photo's worth a look

• Means of Transportation in Flooded Thailand

Minimum wage rise postponed Bangkok Post

Yet another Plug and Play Toy

NEVER ENDING STORY: Thailand Edition 

• Red, yellow shirts back on the streets 

Battle lines drawn as fight over Thaksin clemency looms   Bangkok Post

Is this really money well spent ???

• Thailand gets $10Mln (US) package to restore Don Mueang Airport Thailand Business News

 

The moment I decided 'this is the place...' October 18, 2002 Phu Phan Mountains

Yet another Plug and Play Toy

My laptop, camera, and mobile phone are some of the modern conveniences I can charge up and use just about anywhere.
There's another device now you can add to your plug and play collection.
Throw away your Viagra or Cialis if you have need for them.
Israeli scientists claim all you need is a bit of electricity and you're ready to go

• Israeli scientists: Solve erectile dysfunction with electric shock

Wedding Season



Off to a wedding ceremony and a luncheon shortly. I was informed of the wedding weeks ago, but didn't realize that the main party was actually the night before.

That party invite I received typically Thai, one hour before.

Really enjoyed the evening, met a number of Thais I had not seen in years.

The food was scrumptious and plentiful. 

Invention, Prevention, and Music to My Ears

Noticeable Thai Invention

Suranaree University of Technology has the patent on an

• Artificial stick emits sound waves which kill  mosquito larvae Manager 

NOK Air Flights to Sakon Nakhon  through January 2012 

Flights from Bangkok to Sakon Nakhon will most likely continue using the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok through January.  New estimates indicate that repairs may well take a minimum of 60 days before Don Muang airport becomes usable again.  Damage estimates may be further altered once the field is dry enough to determine if additional repairs  are needed

  They're "thinking" flood prevention now

Why not build a canal in Bangkok, similar to the Los Angeles canals.
The L. A. canals sits dry most of the times, but when heavy rains do arrive in the area, serious flooding is prevented.
Such a plan is at least being discussed now:

•  "Thai authorities are considering the construction of a super-express waterway through Bangkok..." CNN

Of course my favorite response to Thailand's recent flooding comes from Ayutthaya, where city planners are dusting off ancient city maps and learning how their ancestors were keeping dry

• Ancient Thai capital may revert to old plan for flooding The News Tribune

Despite Floods Thailand Tourism UP

Read an article which claims October tourism numbers are up over last year.  That's not hard to believe.
Bangkok is obviously being avoided, but other destinations have seen an increase in numbers 

•  Phuket...Tourism Record

Music to my ears

From a distance it sounds like a marching band.
Closer up it sounds like a dryer tumbler filled with rocks.
It's becoming a familiar sound.  This time I'm glad so hear it in my neighborhood.  The street to my house is full of potholes.  Driving on this road has been like a ride on at an amusement park.

Sakon Sandwich and Steak House 2

The Sakon Sandwich and Steak House opened it's second restaurant at the EXPO Plaza, across the street from Big C.
The restaurant now offers 'buy three get one pita free.'



Prices at the EXPO restaurant, which offers only take out service, are less than the sit-down restaurant on ITU.

VIP Monkey? attends Phu Phan Games

A pet of one of the VIP attendees at the Phu Phan Cup games held at SakonNakhonPattanaSuska school seemed quite comfortable, but not really interested in the action on the field.
The animal was not chained and seemed very content sitting on it's owners shoulders.



Students from the school had been excused from regular classes to attend the games

In the first game Ubon beat Loei

In the second game Sakon Nakhon defeated Bueng Kan 1-0

These are not the football clubs we see during the regular season. Noticed some Sakon FC staff watching the games, obviously scouting for tallent.

I'll attempt to keep up with the scores here

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