Caution!! Holiday Mayhem Ahead!!

With the New Year approaching, expect roadside driver inspection stations to be set up throughout the province. Some of these roadside stations will be equipped with breathalyzers

Not for Squeamish
Locally produced News VDO
Reasons to wear helmets when riding a motorcycle

 

The video below is less graphic, yet very eye opening if you are not familiar with Thai traffic.
I recommend you read the article which accompanies the video at channel4

Have a Safe and Sane New Year

Yesterday's News

• Thailand exports to China account for 11 percent of exports
• Thai government gets poor rating for honesty
• Huge Waves Continue Battering Thailand's Southern Coast
• Thai Government Launches One District, One Scholarship Programme
• Thailand's tsunami alert system broken: tourists at risk at Thai beach resorts
• 2011 Most watched Commercial on the Net
• "... Chinese mattresses are 30-40% cheaper. But their quality is another story...

Happy holidays

Lesser Crime and Punishment

Many Years ago... 2007, if you want to be exact
"A young man" in his late teens, did something foolish... The cops came... 
...Court date in thirty days... Postponed twice... Three months later: The verdict

• Six months as a novice

The charges were severe enough to warrant jail time,  I was pleasantly surprised to discover one of Thailand's Crime and Punishment alternatives (for Thai Nationals only)

• Rehabilitation Temple Time

I visited twice as a friend of the family.
It's a long drive to the temple grounds right there there where civilization seems to end

 Past where the Thai Buffalo roam

Where the jungle begins.

Simple Life is mandated

Getting along with your neighbors takes on a whole new meaning

Visiting Hours are very restricted, 
only gifts  for grounds maintenance allowed

Were you renew contact with nature

A place for worship and reverence

A curriculum of Order, Discipline, Spirituality were quite evident

That was years ago.  
The story has a happy ending.  
"A young man' has since served honorably in the military and is these days a mature family man.

My Christmas Past and Present

When I grew up, he wasn't called Santa.  His name was then Saint Nick.
He had a sack full of  toys,  new clothes, plenty new socks, for those who BEHAVED.

Saint Nick had a servant accompanying him.
That was Ruprecht.
A hunched over fellow, with a sack of coals over his shoulders, very Grinch like personality.

Kids who didn't BEHAVE received coal instead of Santa's gifts.
Ruprecht carried a broom made of twigs, with which he gave you a rear end education in BEHAVE !!!




Yes I met the Grinch 

My uncle Joseph gave me this huge wrapped box.

My uncle Joesph was a prankster by heart

I began unpacking...
Inside was another wrapped box...
I began unpacking...
Inside was another wrapped box...
I began unpacking...
Inside was another wrapped box... and so on...

Each time I opened a new box, there was that moment of anticipated excitement.

When the room was cluttered with empty boxes and wrapping paper ...
... I held a bag of roasted chestnuts like a trophy.
Sheet yeah !! I was disappointed as hell at the moment.





Christmas Present

Christmas Eve: Dinner with friends

Dec 25 Christmas Day

I had dozed off in front of the TV.

Santa stopped by after work to bring me a bottle of Sangsom muscle relaxant (rum) and a handwritten note

Sakon Nakhon Camera Events Ahead

Upcoming Events

That Choeng Chum Fair January 2 - 8 Free Nightly Concerts	Parades	Chinese New Years January 23 - 25	Red Cross Fair

January 14:  National Children Day  
January 16:  National Teachers Day

Parade Thursday!  I think!

Usually don't get advance notice to many of the parades.
Someone happened  to mention there's another parade coming up.

"Parade on Tuesday."
"You mean tomorrow?"
"No, Thursday."

Starts at  Phra That Choeng Chum and comes down I.T.U. 

New Years Celebrations

Of course I wish everyone a happy New Year.  ENJOY and be safe.
I'll probably do what I've been doing in past years:  Celebrate within staggering distance of my mattress.   

As usual I'll bring some cash so all my friends can trot over to the fireworks stands.

Hot Season Prelude?

Most weather services are predicting a slow warming period, with highs possibly reaching 30C next week.
Accuweather is the oddball, forcasting feels like temperatures at 37C (99F).

VDOs of this year's Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade

Sakon Nakhon Chilly Nights

Sakon Nakhon's coldest Christmas in recent memory

I've experienced eight Christmases in Thailand, this is the coldest in my memory.
A few more cool days with a slow warming trend
By this weekend we should see daytime highs in the low 30C (Mid 80F).

Tha Rae Christmas Star Parade, Christmas Eve

Photographs

• Celebrating Christmas in Thailand By Richard Barrow at thai-blogs

You Tube
                         

High waves ravage S. Thailand, thousand affected, tourists marooned
xinhuanet




Images of this years floods in Thailand

So this is Christmas

It's a chilly morning in Sakon City 10C/50F.
Not the reason I moved here.
The cool temperatures make my years of work related back and neck abuse, painfully  noticeable.
These aches and pains are very minimal during the warmer days.  Almost non-existent.
A side effect of the increased pains is 'THE GRUMPY OLD MAN SYNDROME.'
I tend to bitch about things which otherwise would be irrelevant.  My 'Doctor Chang muscle relaxant' had disappeared.


Last time I watched the Tha Rae Star Parade was in 2009.
It was quite warm that day  33C (91F).

Had considered a  trip to watch the parade last night, but opted
instead to cuddle my hot water bottle and  indulge in 'SangSom' muscle relaxant.

I opt for alcoholic pain remedies which are known to cause brain disfunctions.
It's a better option than prescription drugs known to damage the liver, kidney or stomach, or all three

I'm not much into the Christmas Scene...
...had not planned on decorating.

The recommendation was made!!!
I wasted some money and strung up some lights on the front porch.
The hat was not my idea.
I would have hung up some 'stockings,'  but it's cold enough that I'd rather keep them on my feet.





Christmas day began at 2 AM...
...when a visitor to the apartment building across the street needed to get the attention of his girlfriend with the car horn.
My mobile started signaling me "Merry Christmas" text messages at 5:05, 5:07, and 5:13 AM.
All from the same sender +66 (Country Code: Thailand)

Sakon City Parade tonight
I preferr the invitation for an evening  KLATSCH



News that drew my attention last week

• Dec 24 Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade, 4 PM Dec 25  Thai Travel Blog

• Dec 23  Satellite debris falls on Thai-Cambodian border  MCOT

• Dec 23  Police claim debris from Thai aircraft  Phnom Penh Post

• Dec 21 Labour shortage looms in Thailand   The Nation

• Dec 20 Sakon Nakhon District 18 may be pre-declared disaster area cold - - - RYT9 (Thai)

• Dec 20 New advertisement video by Bird's Paradise Extreme Resort You Tube

Dec 16  Photos of the recent Home Pro Opening  skyscrapercity

Dec 14  Photos Bus Accident Nakhon Phanom Highway khontone

Coldest night of the year tonight

Last year was the coldest year in a decade (10 years).  Local lows hovered around 12C.
December 9 of last year my pool was still in use.  This year we stopped using the pool in mid November.

This weekend: cool! After that things start warming up slowly.  From Thursday through early next year, little change in temperature.

A week later... Thursday January 5..... lets just say you might want to make sure that all your fans are in proper working order.  It's too early to forecast accurately, but it might well feel like 37C
 

	Sat 24	Sun 25	Mon 26	Tue 27	Wed 28	Thurs 29
Thai Meteorological	24/12	23/11	24/12	26/13	27/15
Weather Underground	23/10	23/11	24/12	26/14	27/16	28/16
AccuWeather	27/8	27/10	28/13	29/16	30/17	31/17
MeoWeather	21/9	21/11	23/12	25/15	26/16	26/16
Weather Channel	24/11	24/12	26/11	27/13	28/14	29/15

Clear and sunny skies.  Don't let the coolness fool you. Consider sun protection