Warm through the weekend

Chance of scattered rain 10 to 20% through Sunday Daytime temperatures low 30's feels like mid 30's Nighttime temperatures increasing to low 20's Next slight cooling trend Monday

Sakon Nakhon

Meals for all tastes

From the time we left Sakon Nakhon I noticed clouds and dust covering the skies throughout the country.  The sun seemed to be filtered, if not by clouds, then it was smog.  Anything past a couple of miles of visibility was just grey The polarizing sunglasses seemed to add some color to the otherwise grey skies In hindsight I would have been better off flying from Bangkok to Buriram. Would have been faster and less expensive than hiring a car. Unknown to me until the last moment, a friend was invited by the driver to accompany us since he lived in Buriram. That turned out to be a two hour detour.  We were promised a bbq chicken dinner upon arrival in a village were not everyone had electricity. Let's just say it was not chicken. With it's head on it looked like a rather small dog.  No, no, not dog! Cat? NO! It's not rabbit. Never did find out what was offered. I was not hungry anymore and was ready to leave. Later the suggestion was made that it was a rat. They tend to look like small dogs.    We did stop along the highway for a meal more to my taste and at a very reasonable price. Four course meal for four, drinks 460 Baht (US$12)

Sakon Nakhon

Took a little trip

Sakon Nakhon to Bangkok. Seems to me it makes no difference whether you fly by jet or prop jet, either way it's an hour's flight.  In flight meal is 100 baht extra, otherwise you get nothing.  Gone seem to be they days when light snacks and drinks were served on the flight.  No alcohol. Mind you I don't consider myself an alcoholic, but a beer or two do help keep me more relaxed, especially during the occasional 'speed bumps in the sky.' At Don Mueang airport they are still cramming you into buses like sardines to move passengers between planes and the terminal.    It's still faster than driving or taking the bus  (Answer to comment: NOK air is pictured simply because it was in the way of the terminal name. I did fly by Air Asia, a boeing jet)

Sakon Nakhon

Transportation services

There has obviously been some growth in transportation services in the area in recent years. I have not had to use any of the services advertised and can not attest to their efficiency.  Of note is metered taxies also seem to advertise flat rates for some of their trips.  It's best you have an agreement before you climb aboard

Sakon Nakhon

New Year Hangover and on

Sunday, January 3, 2559 was a complete bust. Homemade macaroni and cheese breakfast, after which all energy escaped me. Tried electrolyte.  It normally helps revive me. Not this time. Spend the entire day in recovery mode.  Occasional nap, occasional snack from the fridge, but mostly horizontal.    Most likely the result of overeating and drinking, past my normal bedtime for a week.  It was all good fun, mostly within staggering distance home. The reason we celebrate is we had to get a new calendar, make new goals which will most likely not make it through the week.    I'm taking a bit of a vacation, no not Pattaya, as some thought. Overnight in Bangkok, see a few friends, do a bit of shopping, then on to B-town. That town with all those premier league football trophies.  Home will be occupied, the dog taken care of during my absence.  One less thing to worry over, more energy to relax and enjoy.   Meanwhile: I have collected pictures from various drives, organized and deleted duplicates. Those I want to keep are being stored on the next in duplicate locations.  The goal is to have my computer travel ready.  Been uploading and deleting. Deleted 9 gig today, only 180 gig to go

Sakon Nakhon

Slight warming trend

Little agreement in forecasting daytime high temperatures, Apparent is a warming trend, then a slight cooling

	Jan 2	Jan 3	Jan4	Jan 5	Jan 6	Jan7	Jan 8
Accu FL	33	33	36	37	37	35	34
Meo	31	34	34	33	33	33	33
Thai MD	28	29	30	30	31	31
BBC	30	30	31	33	32	28	28
Wunder	30	31	32	33	33	32	30
rp5ru	29	29	31	33	33	31

There's more agreement in nighttime cool temperatures, mostly mid to high teen temperatures

	Jan 2	Jan 3	Jan4	Jan 5	Jan 6	Jan7	Jan 8
Accu	15	16	18	18	21	20	16
Meo	19	20	22	20	20	20	20
Thai MD	13	13	14	15	16	16
BBC	16	16	17	17	19	19	16
Wunder	17	17	18	19	19	18	17
rp5ru	15	17	18	18	21

Sakon Nakhon

More Please

All dates Dec 30, except where noted (April 2013) From 2015 Screen captures My opinion:  For the Thai economy to recover, further devaluation of the baht is helpful.  2016 a year of economic gloom: Pheu Thai - The Nation  Buckle up for a rough ride | Bangkok Post

Sakon Nakhon

Mud fishing and clamming

Two blocks from my house a lot sized pond had been drained for two days. New year's eve, locals took advantage of the  exposed bounty   Fishing is a man's sport While the women watch and plan the evening feast

Sakon Nakhon

Firework sales subdued, Gringe comes to mind

Mind you I have no complaints that there seem to be a lot less fireworks this New Year's celebration.  I does seem a bit unusual.  No fireworks could be heard in the days prior to the celebration.  Maybe one or two.  No firework stand popped up along major roads, as is usually the case. New year's eve fireworks sales were mostly small hand held rockets. There seemed to be more smoke and sparkles. No canon fire I had asked why there was no fireworks heavy artillery available.  The one word answer I received "Police." The emphasis of the evening was good food and drink with family and friends

Posted by Hans-Jürgen Lenz on Thursday, December 31, 2015

Posted by Hans-Jürgen Lenz on Thursday, December 31, 2015

Sakon Nakhon