"COPY" Thailand

There have been recent complaints of the overcrowded conditions of Bangkok's rail system.

The Sukhumvit line needs more carriages:

•  "Longer trains desperately needed on the BTS Sukhumvit line" The Nation

The problem is that Thais tend to emulate Japan as a model, rather than a western model.
Just be glad they are not using India as a model




55555 (5=ห้า=ha)

Thailand needs this win

To stay in contention for the 2014 World Cup, Thailand will have to win in a game against Oman this evening.
The game is scheduled to start at 6 PM and will be broadcast on Thai TV NBT

related reading

• Thailand need a win against Oman   Bangkok Post

Dengue Fever Alert

The local Public Information Service System was broadcasting at length on Sunday afternoon.  Of course I don't understand the language and asked what they were talking about.

Apparently they were warning of a major dengue fever outbreak and giving advice.

The news has been on the net for a number of days.

40,000 people reportedly sick from dengue fever NNT
"The central region of Thailand has been reported with the highest number of patients."

Having a fan facing you is the best solution. Mosquitoes can't navigate under windy conditions.
Just about any kind of oil applied to the skin is effective in repelling those pesky bugs.  Just remember that your skin absorbs the oil and it must be reapplied every couple hours.  Then there's a range of herbs and spices ranging from garlic to cinnamon recommended as repellant.
If you don't want to smell like a salad, citronella oil is available locally.
Besides applying it to your skin, it is quite effective when added to an oil lamp.


The rainy season is high season for mosquitoes, flu and colds.  Recently warnings have also appeared of the discovery of a mutant bird flu virus spreading in Asia.  Even though no outbreak has been reported in Thailand, it's been reported in a number of nearby countries.

• UN warns of mutant strain of bird flu virus spreading in Asia  THE NATION

Football as a Watersport

Heavy tropical rains arrived from the east around mid day and lasted for about an hour.
The rain stopped in the early afternoon. The football field was drenched with some puddles four inches deep. 

I'd been told that Sakon FC odd's improved due to the loss of a star player on the Nakhon Phanom FC team. No mention was made of a number of Sakon shortcomings. One local player sat in the audience, suspended from the game, due to a prior red card.
Sakon FC also had a new goalie in place. A bit green at first. He let a goal slip by early in the game. After that,  he did improve.

Another Sakon ace was injured early in the game and had to sit out the remainder with injuries.

July 2010

That one and only goal  by Nakhon Phanom did hurt a bit more than usual, It was almost like a revenge goal.
The goal was made by last years Sakon Nakhon team captain, who was 'sold' to Nakhon Phanom at the start of this year's season.

Sakon Nakhon put up a valiant effort.  Local fans were not disappointed.
Dozens of close call's did have fans cheering the team on.

Refereeing wasn't all that outstanding and was booed a number of times, especially when a Sakon FC goal was disallowed.

Of course with the field soaked there was plenty of slipping and sliding.  Frequently players had dug their shoes into the ground and where 'plowing the field.'  By the time the game ended, the field was ideally suited for mud-wrestling.
Sure the loss was disappointing, but it was one of the most thrilling games this season.

Sakon Nakhon travels to Mukdahan next Sunday, September  10 for a game there.  Start time is 4 PM.

..

English lessons just got a lot easier for me

As promised I finally have a computer and overhead projector in my classroom. It helps when over half the class forgets their textbook, or probably sold it.

Use Google translate most of the time, but also use Google pictures to help the learning process.
I use the textbook only half of the time. English textbooks printed in Asia tend to need some proofreading.
Choose the word from the box below! No box or list of names appear below.
 Have also caught a number of grammatical errors.

Occasionally I get stumped between British and American English.
Take a recent lesson: A picture of a boy and girl. The boy asks "can I borrow the rubber."
Where I come from if I were to ask a store clerk where I could find "the rubber," he would not direct me to the stationary section for an eraser.

Google translate has also come in quite handy to quell class disruptions.
I typed: "Three girls in the back of the classroom are sharing some hot gossip."
Made them blush, but it did stop their private conversation.

 I've also learned quickly that I must pre-screen some searches.
Recently used Google pictures to explain "dress classy.'
The pictures that popped up resembled a Fredrick's of Hollywood catalog. I quickly deleted that page. At least I had all the boy's attention.

 

Gossips

• Sakon FC odds of winning against Nakhon Phanom have just improved.
The star player for Nakhon Phanom has been fired.
He decided to play for another team in the Coca Cola cup without approval from his team
Sakon FC hosts Nakhon Phanom FC Sunday at 5 PM.

• Night market food prices have doubled on some items.
A fried egg which previously sold for 5 Baht, now sells for 10 Baht.
Other prepared food prices have also risen noticeably.
Where prices have not risen, expect significantly smaller portions.

Smörgåsbord

Concert at city Hall this evening, missed it 

There's a concert at Sakon City Hall this evening.  Traffic around the area, including the night marked is heavy.  It's an annual event, unfortunately I missed any public notices of the concert.  Can't miss the spotlights in the sky

Thailand FC 1 - Australia FC 2

Didn't expect Thailand to win against Australia. It was somewhat of a pleasant surprise that Thailand scored first and kept the lead during the first half. Australia had possession of the ball most of the game and kept the Thai defense very busy. Best player on the Thai team was the goal keeper. He quite often caught the ball or diffused a score attempt. But the odds were against him. 

OTOP  Festival September 15 through 18 

at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University

Google Street View is coming to Thailand thaitravelblogs

Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting street view as it is expected to promote tourism.

Of course this could also expose the seedier establishments for a world view. Google-X (rated) anyone?

Russia Green Lights $65 Billion Siberia-Alaska Rail and Tunnel to Bridge the Bering Strait!  inhabitat

A centuries long dream close to realism.  A rail link between Russia and Alaska.  There are no details how and if this rail link will travel through Alaska and Canada to reach the lower 48 states. The tunnel will be twice as longs as the Chunnel

Thailand Railway On Line Booking

NOTE:  There is no train service in Sakon Nakhon.  The nearest train service is in Udon Thani

The State Railway of Thailand  began on line ticketing and reservation on August 1

There is a 20 baht internet booking fee and credit card processing surcharge.

Bookings can be made at  thairailticket.com

North Eastern Line Schedules and Fares at Thailand by Train

A planned high speed rail system connecting China and other East Asian countries, through Thailand has been  suspended after the recent crash in China.

Thailand instead will focus on improving the domestic rail system

• Thailand revises high-speed rail plan...  REUTERS

Thailand on the Road to the 2014 world cup

02 SEP. 17:00 TST.   AUSTRALIA VS THAILAND

 

Brisbane training session Bangkok Post, Aug 31
Thailand's Rocky Road
 
Thais offered big bonus against Socceroos ESPN, Aug 31
The Football Association of Thailand offered a one million Baht bonus for a win...

Thai coach fears Socceroos on ground ninemsn, Aug 30
Thailand's toughest road (away) game