Sakon Nakhon Floating Lantern Festival (Loi Kratong)

video published on 28 Nov 2012 by  supaporn kangthong

Ride the Pony Gangnam Style

Since the Gangman style video was uploaded to YouTube, it's had more views in four months, than the Beeb. It's most viewed from Thailand. The U.S. is second in number of views.

It's not music for everyone.  Then again some people didn't like rock, some people didn't like disco.

I have yet to see a translation of the Korean song. But I love the beat.
Listening to the song is like taking an extra dose of energy pills,
Makes me want to dance. Something I haven't done in years.
God knows at 68 I really need the exercise.

Then of course there are certain 'news men' and 'psychiatrists' who make comments like "madness," "without intelligible words," "it means nothing...."
It's commentary without research.  The intelligible language is Korean.

Obviously the music is quite popular in Thailand and heaviy imitated.  
A few Navy officials almost got into some hot water and had some explaining to to.  A version of Gangman Style even won first prize in Thai Prisons

Thai King gets 'Gangnam Style' birthday wishes

And now another 'foot in mouth commentary' by mister Bill Oh

Genius Mathematician, please explain

I'm having some difficulty understanding Thai Math.

   

Image from Wikimedia Commons

 

       Bangkok post reports 

   ...projected 6% average   

     salary increase in 2013.   

Here's my math problem: Effective January 1, 2013, the minimum wage across Thailand will increase up to 60%, in some provinces it's a bit less.  Granted, many wage earners are making more than the minimum wage, but not all  ?? Is there some algebraic formula I'm missing here  ?? Speaking of the rise of the minimum wage:  It's going to be interesting to see what effect this will have on the cost of living in Thailand.  The minimum wage was raised earlier this year to 300 Baht in seven provinces.  About the same time food prices jumped drastically.  Most obvious to me were beef, pork, poultry, and fish prices.  Labor intensive !!

It's noticable: water levels going down

It's the same location, slightly different angle.  Picture on the left was taken in 2006, a fairly average rain year.  Picture on the right taken yesterday.  I'd say the lake water level is down about three feet, at least.

There's no drought relief in sight in the forecast for the rest of this year.  It's hard to predict what the spring of 2013 will bring at this point.  If there's no relief before the 2013 hot season arrives, the lake may well expose some ancient relics, it's been hiding for centuries.

An attempt to raise an ancient Buddha statue in 2009 from the lake bottom failed due to the lack of a strong enough crane.  That year 2009 we experienced a milder, shorter drought.

It's a zoo out there

Recently mentioned spotting the critter (above) in my garden. 

Apparently they can change colors. 

Or it could be the peacock syndrome where the female is quite drab looking and the male shows off all his colors

Logic ??

installing barbed wire around your home generally is to keep intruders out.But there are apparently other uses: 

• hang laundry, 

• store general household items.

Yeah that's right.  That's a homemade ladder the homeowner uses as a shortcut.  I've observed him

Happy Loi Kratong Day

Kratong stands have been going up since early morning

Parade float construction is underway at many local flower shops 

No smoking no alcohol allowed in public parks

Sakon Nakhon Loi Kratong 2003

As for the time of the parade. Can't seem to get a straight answer
Best answer, sometime near sunset

Apple's One Free Beer with Pizza Friday

New Menue, and ongoing raffle at Pit Stop Cafe