Christmas then and now

Before Thailand (2003) I always celebrated Christmas on 24 December. 

Sauerbraten, a wine braised beef dinner, while the nutcracker was playing on radio or tv. 

Gift exchange after dinner and leftovers on Christmas day.

Christmas eve 2022 I attended a wake and a funeral, drank bourbon and had spagetti for dinner.

  Christmas day started off as usual at 4:30 am, a man with a headlamp rummaging through the garbage, collecting recycables. A funeral before lunch Bสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Covid in the royal household

". . . Their symptoms are “very mild,” the statement said." 

". . . omicron subvariants has increased in Bangkok and Thailand's tourist destinations . . ."

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Possesion is legal, smoking in public punishable by fine and jail time, some politicians want to impose further restrictions

That Choeng Chum Annual Temple Fair

31 December through 6 January . . .

. . . at Wat Phra That Ching Chum and Muang Stadium

 

 

Daily entertainment

31 Dec. 2022, meet Mor Lam Siang of Isaan 

   1 Jan. 2023, meet Mo Lam Nueng Phet Mueang Chai 

   2 Jan. 2023, meet Mor Lam Nuengrungthiwa Amnuaysilp 

   3 Jan. 2023, meet Kaen Nakorn / Somchit Bo Thong 

   4 Jan. 2023, meet with rhetoric J

   5 Jan. 2023, meet Weerapong Wongsilp 

   6 Jan. 2023, meet Mor Lam Wihok

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Chilly Nights Ahead

Those really chilly nights are generally reserved for January. 

Don't recollect seeing below 10 degree temperatures in December สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Tenth Onie Games

8:30  am I heard persistent noises, thought it was birds and cats on my roof. 

Then I realized there was a rythm to the noise and frantically grabbed my cameras. Now I have some heavy editing to do, almost 400 photos to sort through

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Covid cases continue

Source: Sakon Nakhon Provincial Public Health Office (Facebook)

First number required hospitalization / Second number daily new case

I suspect the numbers will escalate over the holiday period

 

Wed 7	Thu 8	Fri 9	Sat 10	Sun 11	Mon 12	Tues 13
0/26	2/70	0/64	5/59	2/28	3/14	5/50

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The Isan Dog Trade: almost ancient history

Eating dogmeat was once considered legal, just like eating chicken, turkeys, fish, snails, snakes and bugs. 

Trucks with cages would roam towns and villages for stray dogs, they'd offer plastic buckets and bowls as a trade for your dog.

You'd think dogs could sense when the dog traders were in town.  Silence, no barking, many went into hiding.

Mostly western individuals and media pressure closed down many of the markets and outlawed the practice.  The practice changed from local consumption to export to Laos and China where the practice is still allowed.

After the practice ended local governments had to deal with an overpopulation of stray dogs

Declined a few offers to partake in dogmeat meals, they had a very recognizable smell. From my experience, eating dogmeat was mostly done at special occasions.

 

Tourism up, Rice Exports up, Baht regains value

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