Monday, February 4, 2013

Sakon Nakhon Cold Season Ends abruptly


Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang and Lampun 

battered by hail storms 

(Sunday, February 3)

Bangkok Post Article w/picture    
Thai Visa (comments w/picture of car damage) 
Facebook Picture   
Facebook Picture

Sakon Nakhon Cold Season Ends

Near record high temperature likely this week
Recorded highest temperature for the month of February 38.8 C /101.84 F
Ad humidity and other factors, Feels Like could reach 43 C 109.4 F
Yesterday, Sunday I traveled to Bangkok.  Temperatures were surprisingly cool and pleasant.
Monday morning heated up quickly.  By mid-morning I was breaking out in a sweat while walking.  

NOK air aging fleet?

Nok Air seems to be having some maintenance problems with their ATR aircraft.
After sending an inquiry regarding their aircraft I received a typical corporate response:

Refer to booking number xxxxxxx
As your complaint, we are so sorry to hear that you got an inconvenience during travel with Nok Air due to our flight DD9403, DD9406 on 30 January 2013 is suddenly delayed with operations reason. We recognize that time is valuable for passengers, however the most important for Nok Airlines are security and passengers’ life, we concern that it is our responsibility to take all passenger to the destination with safety. We hope you will understand on this matter, and enjoy your flight.
Again, please accept our sincerest apologies for any trouble or inconvenience we have caused you. We highly appreciate your feedback as it will assist us in becoming better at what we do.
We look forward to serve you again in the future.
Sunday morning, half an hour before my flight, I noticed a jet heading south flying over the Sakon Nakhon Airport. 
Half hour later, my flight arrived.  Obviously not the ATR, but a Boeing 737.


No complaint from me regarding the replacement aircraft. Most of the flight we stayed inside clouds. A bit bumpy at times.
Not too bad. The landing was a bit unnerving. When the reverse thrusters were activated, the whole plane rattled so badly, I was expecting the overhead baggage compartments to come crashing down.

When dining in Thailand, translation essential

Saw this in a restaurant located inside a hospital
It's French for  bread.
Still, it caught me a bit off balance.  Everything was in English or Thai, just the name of the restaurant

Back at my hotel I had a 'Winner' Schnitzel. That's named after a famous city.



Saturday, February 2, 2013

T.i.T. bits plus








They're Back, End of Cool Season??

They weren't around 

Kids using the pool:
With temperatures in the 50's and 60's Fahrenheit the pool was just not tempting. 
Just one daring kid took a dip right around New Years. 
   Hadn't seen goose bumps like that since I left Alaska.
A large group of kids visited yesterday after school and left disappointed.
   I advised them the pool would be cleaned and ready for use the next day
 

The Formicidae Family
Them there pesky critters


Ants returned from hibernation.  

When temperatures dropped below 15.5 C (60 Fahrenheit) none were to be seen.
Now they're returning from all directions.
The only other time ants disperse, you know it's about to rain.

I use talc (baby powder) around the outside perimeter of the house and garden.
Soapy water (dish soap) kills 'em quickly and washes their trails without causing damage to plants. 

Mosquitoes did not suffer from the recent cold spell.  Not cold enough to decimate them.
Seems they've been more of a problem than usual.
With the weather warming, fans are the best defense against mosquitoes. 

Friday, February 1, 2013

฿ gains continue ⇧ ⇧ ⇧





Travel Thailand By Bus

344km/214 miles
5hrs 10 min (car)

  A You Tube Video by Tom Isaan


It's a great little travel slideshow video of bus travel along the way from Ubon Thani to Sakon Nakhon.

First slide immediately tells me
it's not a FIRST CLASS coach ride.

Most cities and towns are served by more than one bus company with their own terminals and stops.
Some first class services are better than others.








The do's and don'ts displayed on the bus window also indicate
it's not a FIRST CLASS coach ride.


No dogs 

No Smoking 


Karaoke o.k. 
No way I'd never take  a Karaoke Bus

DVD movies 

VIP bus "it's NOT"


This one 

should be a 

 See Thailand

 through a  

Bus window 

Promotion Poster





Experience the ride condensed to a   2:46 minute video

Visit:  Isaan-Live