Pensioner, Nurse  and  Grandson

Sakon Wax Castle Festival & Royal Boat Races 2012

It's official now, the posters are on their way to the printers. 

The dates are October 26 through 30 for the

Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle festival 

and the

Maha Chakri Siridhorn Royal Longboat Races

As of today  Thailand tourism website still has the dates wrong.
Other websites are still proclaiming last year's dates

Plenty more rain in the immediate future

Followed by some sunny days.

At the moment the weather is still predominantly arriving from the east, at times swinging from south-east and north-east

News Bites

Asia Rice: Demand from Iraq, Nigeria supports Thai prices   - Reuters Thailand calls for parity in food trade  - Bangkok Post Tesco to double distribution centre network in Thailand - SHD Logistics News EU-type crisis possible in Thailand - Bangkok Post Thailand's 40 Richest - Forbes

The UK Border Agency in Thailand is currently experiencing a large volume of work   - UK Border Agency

Red Bull scion stirs debate on justice in Thailand  - Muscatine Journal

Storm Clouds Gather Over Thailand's Flood - Control Plans - Wall Street Journal Blogs

Sakon City seems to be in a storm funnel, with the fiercer weather moving to the north and south of us.  The weather system is mostly moving from the east to the west

3 AM, Sept 6.

4:15 AM, Sept 6.

Area to the west of the masks (photo): the last 24 hours.   Area to the east of the masks: whats headed this way Expect increased daytime temperatures and humidity near the weekend.  Feels like temperatures 44C / 111F  weekend and Monday likely.

Sakon Nakhon First impression ten years ago

Ten years ago - 2002

My Seattle living room was somewhat of a Thai   memorabilia  museum..  

I had an offer visit to Sakon Nakhon and see if I'd like to retire here.

I visited Sakon Nakhon twice that year. April and October

Cheap living, hospitable and fun loving people, laid  back attitude, and a longtime dream (40 years) of retiring in Thailand, attracted me.

I packed my bags and arrived in Sakon Nakhon in February of 2003.

At risk Areas in Thailand Weather Alert

All parts of country except South warned of heavy rain  Bangkok Post

Flood warnings for at-risk areas in North and Isaan  THE NATION

Google Earth 4:30 AM  Weather system is moving East to West

Caterpillar Invasion Don't touch

Looked like a whole herd was headed into my front gate. Even after I disposed of the intitial invasion, more kept coming. 

If you see them, "don't touch." 

Don't know how toxic they are, but am told if you touch them, at a minimum you'll need medication to relieve the itching. 

Watch your kids.  Small children tend to consider such insects new found playmates.

News Bites

Red Bull heir arrested in deadly Thai hit-and-run Read article at: FOX NEWS

Helium Shortage