Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races October 26-27, 2012

The procession delivering the Royal Trophies to the Grandstand begins at  8AM 
This year there are twelve groups participating in the parade

A ceremonial delivery of the trophies near the grandstands 

At the conclusion of the delivery ceremony, the Thai National Anthem is performed, usually by a military ensemble.

By the time the speeches begin, it's time to find yourself a good viewing area

If you arrive late for "The Parade of Boats," seats are available further from the grandstands

The Boat parade includes a trophy peacock dance contest

Boat races begin immediately after the "Parade of Boats."

Recommend a pleasant walk amongst  team cheerleaders and families, you'll get plenty of hellos and welcomes

Some time in the mid to late afternoon a rest period is recommended, so you are refreshed for an evening of fun activities

DAY ONE AT THE ♥ LAO PO DAEN ♥ RACES

CRANK IT UP SEASON

         

Hadn't heard the morning bulletin broadcast for some time.
After months of pleasant silence, early morning (around 6am) broadcasts have once again become almost daily routines.

Of course there's plenty of mobile units informing us, mostly about mattress sales, etc.





Still one of my favorites at the Lao Po Daeng Longboat Races, 2003

That's where I'm headed now the 2012 Lao Po Daeng Longboat Races

Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races and Wax Castle Festival

Just received my copy of this year's festival brochure.
Should have the schedule translated within a day

Blue route is the Longboat Festival parade route
Red Route is the Wax Castle Festival parade route

Amateur Hour at Thailand Tourism Authority

Earlier this year I noted an advertisement at the TAT website for the Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival.  The notice had the wrong dates. They used last year's dates Oct 12-16.

The web page was corrected four days after my second e-mail to the webmaster. But by then the damage had been done. Tourists agents throughout the world had picked up on the wrong dates.

Again there's a few of disappointed tourists in town, two weeks too early.

It's not the first time I've noted wrong dates listed for the festival.  
I've met and heard of disappointed tourists in past years.

The Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival is held each year in conjunction with the end of the Buddhist Lent and generally begins three days before the full moon.  Thus each year it's on different dates.

Wonder if T.A.T. will get this right someday.  Maybe even in my lifetime.

Sakon Nakhon Midnight Special

Cucumbers on sale at Big C. 
They usually go for 10 baht each there.

The bag of six cucumbers, bought at the midnight market, also sold for ten baht.

It's probably not called the midnight market.

Vendors begin to show up in the late evening when the night market (near MJ Majestic hotel) closes.

It's basically a wholesale produce market where many restaurants do their shopping.

Selling is done from the back of pickup trucks. 

I've done some shopping there at 2am in the morning.  
These prices are better than the night market.

News Bites

Thai govt rubber stocks jump to 200,000 tonnes  Business Recorder Gov buying at 10% above market value

High price to pay for keeping the baht low - The Nation "what if the baht appreciates to Bt27-Bt28 to the dollar"

Euro debt crisis main threat to Thailand next year- Stanchart - The Nation Up to now they've been saying the Euro crisis will have minimal effect on Thailand. Somebody woke up !!

Sugar Seen ... Rallying Up to 24 Cents on Crop Risk - Businessweek Thailand sugar production down due to lack of rain

Thai court issues warrant for former PM arrest warrant #6

Memory Lane Sakon Nakhon

You could set your watch by the passing of the herd. Each day, at the same time, they walked in front of Ned bar to a nearby grazing field.  1:35 pm Feb 4, 2007 Occasionally, they'd look in at Ned's looking for a handout, leaving disappointed   Did you notice the red tractor in the first picture?    Take a closer look

From Zero to One in the next 100 years