From Clapsticks to Flutes

Times change, nothing stays the same.  That's very obvious with the Sakon Nakhon Chinese celebration in December. The yearly tradition continues with less fanfare.

Don't get me wrong, it was great fun today, things have changed.

Missing from today's celebrations were clapsticks, face painting, cobras, ankle wraps, high pole acts, just to name a few.

 Weeks before the event, 
 neighborhood kids would 
 spend their free times training with clapsticks. 

 There were a few painful learning moments.

 Participants arrived the evening before 
 and spent the night at the shrine for makeup 
 and a sleepover

 The high pole dragon fight 
 hasn't been part of the celebration 
 for a number of years

The human totem pole also has gone the way of history

Banners which were carried by two persons were this year pushed on racks. Eight banners pushed by four people per rack 

Totally missing this year was the fancy attire

Seems to me there were a few extra yellow lions in past years

  

New this year was a truck platform with a musical group and kids playing flutes

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon x

New Facebook group : Expats in Sakon Nakhon

x
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Tradition: New Year Day gift exchange

Christmas is a christian holiday, not generally celebrated by Buddhists. There are some local enclaves where Christianity is practiced. 

Don't expect too many Christmas presents from Thais, even though they are quite willing to accept Christmas presents.

Over the years it's been my experience that Thais exchange gifts on New Years day. It's a good idea to have a few gifts at hand for any visitors on New Year Day.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

COOL SEASON Starts

Wednesday daytime 29, night time 16, temperatures and feels like are identical
similar temperatures till the new year. 
New Year daytime 26 nighttime 13


สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Friday Cadet Event

I enjoy photographing people, editing the pictures becomes somewhat of a social study.  Some group photos I count the number of mobile phones in use. 

Some faces obviously indicate they'd really prefer to be doing something else right now.

Many of these photos where taken across the football field, so there was little posing for the camera: au natural 

A monk with an ingenious way of spraying holy water over a large group of cadets

Holy Water 'four point oh'

album 181207 Cadet

76

View album

Location settings follow you

Don't carry my mobile phone regularly.  It's obvious from my timeline on Google maps.  Carried it today and my timeline reflects when I started this trip, how long I traveled and how many kilometers I drove

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Cool and Dry er

Temperature at 6:30 am. I trust the old thermometer (right) as it was identical to a now replaced thermometer. Time to get a digital thermometer. 

Actual and feels like temperatures are now closer aligned, a sign of less humidity in the air

forecast by accuweather

Dryer air can mean dryer skin, especially if you take long hot showers in the colder weather. The remedy might just be a Thai oil massage.  Hydrate your eyes with occasional eye drops or a healthy cry.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Water level down slightly

August 3, 2018

August 15, 2018

December 3, 2018

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

I'm Guessing 8 KM visibility, driving 21 km

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon