TAT Secret (they forgot to tell you) of the Dragons and Lions and Serpents

The red banners are already hanging across many major streets entering Sakon City, announcing the annual "Chinese Dragon, Lion and Cobra Festival" held each year on December 11.    It's one of my favorite festivals  in this city, unfortunately it's also Thailand's best kept secret. In 12 years of residing in this town I have not seen it listed in any travel brochure. Google it: "Sakon Nakhon Dragon Festival," or Sakon Nakhon Chinese festival. You'll find two entries and a video by Tom of isaan-live and a few posts by me, nothing else.   Preparations for the event are already underway with nightly practices at the Chinese temple, as in this 2008 video The beating of the sticks is to scare away cobras ??  In past years I've watched many of the neighborhood kids practice with the sticks.  It does take a bit of practice, it can be quite painful During the festival there are three nights of entertainment and art exhibits at the Chinese temple I strongly recommend seeing the shows, they are an experience of a lifetime. If you are sensitive to noise I recommend earplugs or cotton, it does get noisy at times.  Parade participants stay overnight at the temple on the night before the parade  for face painting and other preparations.  Participants receive free meals furnished by temple parishioners for all practice evenings and the overnight sleepover

Before the temple performances and the parade there will most likely be some public lion dance performances in town.  I should have the information of date and time sometime this month.

The parade departs the temple at 6 am on December 11. The best location to see the parade is the route before it arrives at the downtown bus station. From there the parade splits up into smaller groups to cover different parts of the city. The dragons enter Chinese businesses in a ritual to offer good fortune for them in the coming year. The Chinese dragon is the symbol of good fortune.  Some of what you see might be a bit unnerving     Be safe, keep alert !!

In late morning the Dragon Slayer comes to the rescue at the town square

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Alvin At Home

The icebox is covered with a doubled up blanket. Seems to help keep things cooler inside and reduce electric cost slightly.   Alvin loves tearing at the blanket.  He's had past experience using the stuffing as his bedding.

Miracle Recovery

Used Google translate. Wrote short sentences describing my recent medical history and present complaints.  Printed the Thai translation and a picture diagram of the three problems on my leg and foot.  Went to one of those 6pm clinics, the one next to the WAL store.  The last time I saw that doctor was at least five years ago.  He seemed impressed by the fact that I had spent some time translating and printing out my history and difficulties.    And then the surprise. "Limit your walking, don't drive," he said in English, "you don't need to be bedridden all day, but do rest frequently.  A few questions and an examination, then I received an injection for pain control and some alternative medicines to tramadol, to which I am apparently immune.    I celebrated by going out for the evening, had a very pleasant time, until the pain medicine began to wear off.     Saturday all day, for the first time my foot did not swell up from sitting or walking.  The infection, now greatly reduced was painless for most of the day.  As I am also immune to antibiotics: I soaked my foot in vinegar water, then applied a mixture of vinegar and honey to the infection, it seems to help.  Something used in ancient medicine.    The fat lady hasn't sung yet (It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings), but I am hopeful of a nearly full recovery, it's just going to take a bit longer.  After all I'm not 20 anymore.   35 Awesome Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar  salad dressing,  dandruff,  arthritis,  kidney cleanser, treat gout, nail fungus, disinfectant, are just a few