I'm Guessing 8 KM visibility, driving 21 km

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Dam ?

Couldn't get the water to hold still for these four pictures, looks like they are building a dam with seaweed. Would not be surprised if it becomes a waterlily pond

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine

Preparations are under way for next week's celebrations
Schedule translation pending 
I do know parade starts at 6 am on the eleventh. Been so for over a decade "personal experience."

I took the opportunity to look around a bit. There are few reasons why I visit shrines, temples and churches

ART

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Colorful and a bit noisy and a lot of fun NEXT WEEK

The day before the big parade is a good time to visit the Chinese temple (Chao Pu-Chao Ya Shrine). 

A variety of art from paintings, carvings and vases are on display. 

Plenty of preparations for the next day early (6 am) start of the parade

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Thailand at AFF SUZUKI CUP 2018 ⚽

Wednesday   Dec 5   18:50   Thai TV HD7

Match 23

Malaysia at Thailand Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok

Saturday   Dec 1

Match 21

Thailand at Malaysia  Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur

Sunday

Match 19

Thailand hosts Singapore

Previous games ↓ 

37th annual Phu Phan Cup is history

For a second year Sakon A wins the trophy, this year with no losses.  The final game of the series ended with a 4 -1 win by Sakon A over Loei.

Even though I enjoy the series I'm not at all overjoyed by the military domination of the event. Uniforms occupy all the shaded seats, while regular fans, visitors, and even the occasional tourist must endure seats without shade.

Quite a number of the Sakon A team are well known in the area as they played for the regional Sakon Nakhon FC in past years.

There were a number of unknowns to me. The fact that they won all games shows that they were good at the sport and worked well as a team.

There was one standout: Diarra Abou, made all those winning goals of the final game. With his talents he should be having no problem for an illustrious career

The regional football season won't start for another three months, but there are other local competitions and plenty of local futsal. 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Where's the ORIGINAL Phu Phan Cup

2013

2016

2016

2018

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

I can see clearer now

Previous across the football field photography was limited to a 300 mm lens. A bit blurred
Picture taken Nov 28: Sakon 1 - Bueng Kan 0 

I bought me this new  600 mm toy which takes a closer look

Clear enough to crop and enlarge and maintain picture clarity

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

You know what they meant to say

You are not "In Town" yet, but that is the way "To Town."

Read some time back that a number of the DOA terminals had been allocated funding for upgrades of facilities. DOA is Department of Airports.

Got to see some of those changes yesterday on my one day round trip to Bangkok.  The exterior tiled fish ponds are gone. Check in areas had some walls removed, looked brighter, new conveyor belts.

Obviously the face lift is still in progress


The shrine had  a wooden house as a neighbor for many years. Wonder if those containers are permanent or temporary

The fish pond is gone, and so is the wooden house

The flight to Bangkok and the evening return flight, a 737-800 with a capacity of  189 passengers was about 95% filled. Wasn't that long ago when a 72 passenger aircraft was more than enough for  the Bangkok - Sakon Nakhon flight.

Also obvious to me is an increase in personnel from ground crews to security. One staff remembered me and greeted me by name.

On the return trip I presented my boarding pass on my tablet, a fairly recent innovation.

Won't be that long till new technology is in place

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon