Sakon Nakhon Long Boat Races at Lao Po Daeng

October 13 - 14

2008                                                                                           2007

2005                                                                                           2003

Lao Po Daeng is 14 km from the Apple restaurant
  Look for this sign on highway 223

News Bites

Thaksin Overture Thailand’s exiled Thaksin Shinawatra makes cautious overtures to return home   The Vancouver Sun

Eastern Thailand Faces Drought   bernama Thailand facing severe drought, residents parched   bikyamasr Storms set to dump heavy rains on Thailand this weekend   THE NATION

2012 Sakon Nakhon Illuminated Boat Festival at Tao Ngai

Floats displayed at the fair grounds

Looking closely at the handicraft of the floats,

it's obvious that construction involved thousands of hours

The water level of the river wasn't all that deep. Knee deep in places.
Islands had formed in the middle of the river.
I was wondering how in the heck they could float barges in such little water.
Tiny four foot floats appeared.
I was extremely disappointed and ready to proclaim
"false advertisement!!"

Time passed by and I was ready to go home.
Here I have to borrow a line from a late night commercial:

But wait, there's more... 

I was enthralled

Having noted my disappointment earlier in the evening,

my 'Thai Family' asked me if I was happy. I was delighted!!

  The event was attended by a huge crowd, very orderly, very Thai.

Police did spot check large purses and coolers to insure the event remained a non-alcohol event.

2010 Video by arakwarit ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

So Good Dinner Party

Sakon Nakhon 'Inter EXPO 2012"

Now through October 4
at the Permsub Market, near the new bus terminal
Worth seeing ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 




"Inter" at the FREE DICTIONARY

Lost in Translation

The name of the market struck me as unusual and strange.   
Sub meaning below, or poor quality.

Searching through the internet I found Permsap used frequently for names of villas.
I'm told the Permsap means 'more money.' 




Never been quite satisfied with the translation of Sakon City.
Supposedly it means city of cities.
Interestingly the Facebook translation of Sakon City is Sapphire City

The translation at You Tube for สกลนคร is also Sapphire

News Bites

Thailand and Cambodia test single visa  TTR Weekly

with fees

THAI takes delivery of its first A380  Airbus com

Thailand to carpet Bangkok with 1 mil CCTV cameras  futuregov asia

My opinion: I've always said they should put a few million cameras in the "Restive South."

Thailand likely to trim industrial output target    MarketWatch Thai Aug factory output tumbles, some see rate cut ahead Reuters

For the moment a rate cut is unlikely, keeping the Baht strong

Thailand's top mobile operators bidding for 3G licences - Reuters

This process took six years, delayed by legal and political maneuvering.

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel?

The show must go on

Passed by the temple shortly before 8 PM, last night.
Due to the rain a few hours earlier there were NO PEOPLE. 
Only a projectionist and one vendor.
You'd think they would call it a night. 
Not so.

Sakon Museum Grand opening Awash

Awash: covered with water, flooded

It became quite obvious by late afternoon that a storm was headed toward the city. Thunder and lightening preceded the tropical storm shortly after 5 pm. Messages on facebook said the show will begin as soon as the rain stops.

In retrospect I should have listened to my instincts which told me not to go. Event planners had no rain contingency plan. When I arrived at 7:25 pm, sound and light crew were disassembling their equipment  Tables were drenched The celebration had been moved to a covered area, big enough to hold ten tables and allow for a cramped performance area Performers outnumbered the audience Media and media wanna bees outnumbered the audience Tables were reserved for government officials and their entourage  A very big disappointment, with the exception of seeing some local friends and acquaintances. I barley stayed half an hour.  I opted for a Pit Stop.