Had a great First day of Songkran, am sitting the second day out, but will rejoin the party on Saturday

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Public activities toned down, but not the fun

The only thing toned down at this year's songkran festival were public events such as parades in many provincial capitals. Festivities went on as normal in most villages with parades and festivals, and of course roadside water throwing. Meanwhile the road carnage seems to be slightly less than last year, but we are only into the third of seven festival days.  Statistics indicate the majority of accidents are caused by drunk driving and speeding Equipment malfunction such as brake failure and bald tires also seems to appear quite often in the news. Enforcing no riding in the back of pickups is not going to solve the carnage problem, it's just going to be an inconvenience for the poor wanting to go to work or to temples and school.    Statistics also indicate that the majority of accidents happen between 4 and 8 pm. This is the time when more enforcement should be on the road.  Enforcements seems to be reduced during these hours, as is apparent by motorcyclist driving without helmets after 5pm.    Confiscating vehicles from drunk drivers would quickly solve the drunk driving problem.  Speeding fines are too low to act as a deterrent.  But then that's just my opinion. Happy Songkran

Sakon Nakhon

New computer

Now I have to put the brakes on my spending for a week. There's a huge difference between my old and new computer. It's like stepping out of a tuktuk into a racing car. From two to three screens.  For the first time my PC is faster than my MAC.  MAC is 2.6 ghz PC is 3.5 ghz

Sakon Nakhon

“Baan Kud Na Kham” Arts and Crafts Center

take Highway No. 22 (SakhonNakhon-UdonThani) for 85 kilometers. Turn right at Amphoe Sawang Daen Din ontoHighway No. 2091 and turn left ontoHighway No. 2280 to Amphoe Charoen Sin. Continue for 20 kilometers to reach the center

Sakon Nakhon

No Songkran Parade this year in Sakon City

So much for my tourism plans, save some money

Sakon Nakhon

Get ready, waterproof mobile bag, glasses or googles, hand towels, waterproof camera...

NOTE: Information regarding a songkran parade may have been incorrect.  At this time I have not confirmed whether there will, or will not be a parade. Tha Rae Easter parade is also unconfirmed
All forms of powder use during songkran for merrymaking is outlawed.  Obviously there will be some "who didn't get the word." Eye protection for motorcyclists is advised
If the road is wet, slow down, prepare to stop, anticipate getting water thrown at you  NO More than six people in the back of a pickup

Sakon Nakhon

Sakon FC climbing

Quite frankly I wasn't expecting a win at Sunday afternoon's game with Chaiyaphum . But with their recent success I did cross my fingers, hoping for a draw. Temperature and humidity was very high.  I kept comfortable with a wet iced towel draped over my head and neck.  Looked like a nun's habit, probably a bit strange looking, but it sure kept me comfortable. I anticipated correctly that this was going to be an exciting game.  It was. Sakon goalkeeper Sunjundaj stopped more than half a dozen attempts at his goal. Refereeing was ALMOST PERFECT.  One yellow card seemed to be a very bad call, the entire stadium let him know by booing. No goals scored by either team.  While Chaiyaphum slipped in the standings from third to fourth in the league, Sakon Nakhon went one step up to tenth in the league of twelve. Click on image for full view   Sakon FC next hosts Loi City on Wednesday, 19 April. Loi City this weekend moved into third position.  The first leg of the 2017 season ends with Sakon Nakhon taking a trip to Buriram.

Sakon Nakhon

Baht strengthening

HOT AND HUMID day and night Really hot and wet Wednesday

Sakon Nakhon

Attention . . . . . Attention . . . . . tell me WHEN, . . . . tell me WHERE . . . . . PLEASE

Rocket Festival underway in Waritchaphum Waritchaphum is a one hour drive from Sakon City Attended my first Bun Bang Fai in June of 2003     The winner is the person or persons whose parachute stays airborne the longest. The origins of the festival are obscured in history, it is generally agreed that the event has been celebrated since ancient times. There are three main versions to the Bun Bang Fai legend. One has it that the rain god Vassakan loved to be worshiped with fire.Villagers shot rockets into heaven in hopes that he would bless them with plenty rain needed for rice cultivation. A second version is that the rain god Vassakan would be sleeping during this time of the year (hot season) . Villagers would shoot rockets to awaken him to begin the rainy season. A third version claims the event as being a fertility rite, shooting phallic symbols (rockets) into the sky in hopes of fertilizing the land. The celebration is held mostly in North Eastern Thailand and Laos and is a mix of spiritual and religious beliefs, with plenty of modern day entertainment. Dates for the festivities vary throughout the area Some festivals are held as early as April, and as late as July during the dry and hot season. Religious ceremonies, parades and a variety of merit making are part of the celebrations. There are other activities in most Bang Fai Celebrations, including parades, fair, and concerts. A Word of Caution In 2009 a rocket misfired and decapitated a spectator, whose head was found after some searching, in a nearby creek

Sakon Nakhon