Heavy Rains cause Home & Garden Ant Invasion

Bangkok Lady Cops doing the Safe Songkran Promotion Dance

This Week Temperatures rising slightly. April 13 & 14 we might see 37C.  With humidity it should feel like lower 40's C Chance of daily scattered thunderstorms Rainfall Apr 7: 103mm (4") Rainfall Apr 4: 59mm (2.32")

Ants on the Move looking for dryer grounds to homestead Just days before the rains began I noticed a mass invasion of ants from all directions. Think their weather warning system is a lot better than the ones made up by humans. I encircled the house with talc powder.  As long as it remains in powder form, talc is a great ant inhibitor. When the humidity solidifies the powder, I use a straw broom to return it to powder form. Gardening day this morning.  Ants on the move for dry homesteads. In the garden I use a mixture of dish soap and water.  Kill's the ants and loosens the soil. Haven't had any plants die from dish soap.  Spiders and other bugs seem to 'hightail it' too. In tiled areas of the house I use spray window/tile cleaner.

I'm not expecting miracles

New Expat establishment opening next Monday Details on Sunday Ban on booze (sales) as emergency services brace for accidents It's quite obvious that Thailand does have a serious alcohol problem. Total bans don't work, just look at the American prohibition during the last century. Be aware that road checks will be set up before, during, and after the holidays to catch intoxicated drivers. Sakon F.C. Website has been closed for a few days now for non payment of annual fees. The team seems to be in serious crisis, seven games this season, no wins, one draw. The team faces Kalasin this Sunday here in town, 5pm.  I'm not expecting miracles. Sakon Nakhon Youth Football Wednesday's scheduled game was postponed due to tropical rains, to Sunday, 1 PM. Mister Hans F.C. has won their first two games Opening ceremony of the Solar farm: " Solar Power Sakon 1"  ryt9 Thursday, April 5

Sakon Nakhon News By Mister Smith  Thai script Sakon Nakhon Daily on Facebook   * SAKON NAKHON "City of Beautiful lake, Beautiful Mountain and Beautiful Girl  Sakon's Songkran water added

Google Translate 194 marijuana bars Seized by Mukdahan police  astv.mobi Google Translate  Ubon Truck collides with Bank  astv.mobi Democratic Voice of Burma  Deadly malaria strain threatens Thai-Burma border   TIME.com  Drug-Resistant Malaria Is Spreading,                    and It Could Be a Public Health Disaster Bangkok Post    Songkran celebrations all over Thailand Teacher Gig.com  Native English Speaker  27,000baht per month, Phon Ngam

Countdown to the Thai New Year

Sakon Nakhon Songkran schedule of events   April 13 14 15 16 (substitution day) 17 (? substitution day) The high season is over,  its becoming noticeable at major tourist destinations. Thais are ready for their trip home to spend time with family and friends. Any day now an announcement will be made in the media, that  "Extra buses" are being pressed into service departing from Bangkok.  Bus fares/schedules on line The Mass Exodus may get a few days head start because of the National Royal Funeral Rites,  8-10 April I've already noticed that domestic airline tickets seem to be a bit higher over these holidays.   One of the reasons I have no travel plans. Of course my favorite part of the holidays: I get to see folks I had not seen since last year's festivities.  Rekindling old friendships, some dating back ten years. There will be plenty to see and do here, food fair, parade, temple events...

Sakon Nakhon Youth Football Season starts

.. Mister Hans  Youth Football Club  wins opener 3-0 I had nothing to do with the renaming of the team. Actually wish they would not have named it after me. A local announcer was doing a broadcast over the intercom system. He mentioned team names nonstop. I was somewhat embarrassed that my name popped up over the loudspeakers at least once every two minutes. Would have preferred LIVE Y.F.C. Next Game 13:00 hrs, April 3

Sakon Nakhon Songkran schedule of events

Mobile Museum at Sakon Nakhon Ming Muang Field

Mobile Museum is in Town at the Ming Muang field (across the street from the police station). I happen to spot it just as they apparently had opening  or dedication ceremonies.

Typhoon Pakhar looses energy downgraded to tropical storm. The storm has made a right turn (east), making way for a weather system arriving from the southwest. Any way you look at it: rain for the holidays.

You can't make this stuff up

Sakon Nakhon Sound and Light Show  October 2003 The first formal invitation I received in  Sakon Nakhon was to the Sound and Light Show in October, 2003. Three chairs were reserved for me in the front row. I was told the chairs had been labeled with my name. This is the actual sign.  No I did not make this up!!!

Pakhar tracking at Wunderground

Tropical Storm upgraded to Typhoon Pakhar

29 March:   Upgraded  from Tropical Storm 02w to Typhoon  Pakhar  30 March:   globaldisasterwatch.blogspot " ...12 inches rainfall possible in the storm path"  31 March:   Thai Meteorological Department Weather Warning "...thunderstorm with gust and 3-5°C temperature drop in the Northeast..."  Updated tracking maps     wunderground weather.com Thai Meteorological Department Forecast tracking map wunderground 5 day tracking hurricanezone.net

4:25 AM,  31 March Almost the Doughnut effect noticeable frequently over Mueang (City) Sakon Nakhon.

Nong Han Monster?

Naga Sighted on Nong Han lake Thai media identify the object as a Naga. Naga is a deity found in Hinduism and Buddhism. Nag is the Hindi term for Cobra. From the video it's hard to determine if the object is indeed an animal or other object. I'm a bit skeptical, especially since "Fools Day" is this Sunday.

Tropical Storm "Pakhar' Moving inland That storm in the South China Sea, which I first mentioned March 22, Sakon Nakhon alert: Batten down the hatches, has intensified and is now moving inland.  Pakhar is expected to reach Vietnam with 129 km (80 mph) winds. The storm is moving extremely slow creating a potential for flooding. Tropical storms at this time of the year in this area are quite unusual. At the moment the local weather system is moving in a north-easterly direction with local cloudy conditions over the weekend The local forecast at accuweather calls for thunderstorms and rain from 4 April through 15 April.

Beware of flying lawnmowers

This morning 9 AM Parade.  Looks like some sort of Sport day

Yesterday afternoon: Sounded like an overhead lawn mower flying along ITU and circling the Sakol Grand Palace hotel. Don't know what the occasion for the flyover was this time. Last time, some years ago, it was a car dealership promotion.

Flood-struck Thailand braces for wet season - Al Jazeera  Daring double game in Thailand - Asia Times Online Japanese wary of flood prevention - Bangkok Post

Funny Mail