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

No Drinking in Public and more no's for the holidays

1:08 The military draft theater is over for another season. Red card you're in, black card, go home. The whole event turns into a comedy when the   ladyboys prance on stage. Many are offended to be ridiculed in public, while others use the event to strut their stuff. Danish physiotherapists Mie Jensen and Nanna Riis Madsen have spent the past three months doing volunteer work and live at the Danish Raindrop Foundation Handicap Project in Sakon Nakhon The government has announced further restrictions on Songkran activities, many of which may well be ignored ?!? "...  loud music and dancing on the back of pickup trucks will be prohibited." no huge water guns; no alcoholic drinks; no powder; no over-exposure dress and no excessive use of water.  There's no low season on roadway mayhem So the bunny learned to herd... Does he do windows? Still slightly under the weather, I did sneak out of the house to visit a birthday party for a short period View Album

Sakon Nak    hon

Some things are better not said or written, cause that creates problems

During my early school years, year after year, my report cards repeatedly read: "DAYDREAMS TOO MUCH." Corporal punishment with a bamboo cane on my palm or bare ass for inattention was frequently.  I missed out on the Attention Deficiency Medication issued a few decades later to anyone not paying attention to a boring lecture. Age 7, living in an orphanage, I was promoted to bedtime storyteller for the toddler bedroom.  I had a wild fantasy, or maybe I was just talking them to sleep. Daydreaming is an escape from reality.  Daydreaming the same dream too often is unhealthy.  Your subconscious mind may make it come true. Some dreams are worth repeating.  For me it was a repeated dream I had in the early 1960's. Here I want to retire! Here I am fifty years later. Thailand.  There are great benefits.  On your daydream you can do anything, get away with anything. Never get punished, unless that's your dream. Of course there is a problem: Recognizing the difference between imagination and reality. Keeping them appart. A song which I had to memorize back in school in the early 1950's in Germany: "Die Gedanken sind frei" "The Thoughts are free." the song is from the 1840's.  Video has English subtitles Full text translated at wikipedia   The great thing about fantasy is there's no age restriction.

Sakon Nakhon

Thai New Year ahead, stay safe

Feels like temperatures over Songkran (Apr 13, 14, 15)   43 to 45 C   109 -113 F Stray thunderstorms
Now there’s an app for Songkran fun too  THE NATION Next week I'd recommend avoiding traveling long distances on major highways if it's possible.   Songkran  compares to Thanksgiving or Christmas in the west. Folks are coming from all over the world for family reunions. A few of the local flights over the holidays are booked solid both coming and going.   Of course I am anticipating seeing friends I have not seen in a year or more. Haven't seen any announcement postings regarding local activities, which is not unusual.
Appears I have a strep throat and snivels most likely caused by too much air conditioning and fans overnight.  A few days ago I passed out and hit my head on a cabinet. Have been drinking honey and taking other medications.  Not quite back to health as of yet, but feel a lot better.  Sure hope my health will be back to normal in time for the holidays.

Sakon Nakhon

Postponed

Sakon Nakhon

New and existing traffic rules to be enforced

Some of the more obvious new rules, everyone must buckle up, even in the back seats of cars and busses.  Of course it will be interesting to see how this applies to songthaews and older vehicles without belts. Then again the 100% helmet law for motorcyclists has been on the books for nearly ten years and it's a long way from 100%. No passengers in the back of pickups has been on the books for a year, but it's just now being enforced.  This one has a bit of controversy to it.  The majority of laborers get to work every morning riding in the back of pickups.  They just have no means of alternate transportation.   Many kids get to school that way. Poorer villagers depend on riding in the back of friends pickups to get to temples or for a holiday outing.  Then of course there is Songkran.  That's when the entire family rides in the back of pickups with a water barrel for a great time of water fights. Rear seats in the cab of pickup trucks may no longer be used for passengers, these are made for cargo according to one police official Then of course there is also the question: "Are parades exempt?" Lets just say, many Thais are unhappy.  These rules will save lives, but most likely we will hear of some allowances especially for songkran Let's not forget, soldiers in army trucks, buckle up. Can't ride in the back of a police truck either. Maybe you can, police may be exempt ??

Sakon Nakhon

It's like stepping out of a Pinto and climbing into a racecar

A great big thanks for all your visits: March 6 through April 6:  10,174 Page views at this rate I should reach one million in July
New computer.  With the old PC I could open a dozen windows and go make me a cup of coffee. With the new one, when I open a dozen weather windows, they are instantaneous.  Always thought it was the internet connection.  Now I know it was the ten year old computer. To load all my google photo albums I could load the page and go make lunch. Now that's nearly instantaneously.  It's actually faster than my three year old Macbook.
Noteworthy: Free Microsoft 10 upgrades from earlier versions can not be transferred to a new computer.  I wasn't all too eager to spend 4,000 baht for the home edition, or even nearly 7,000 baht for the pro edition.    At a suggestion I searched E-Bay and was totally flabbergasted GBP 4.99.  The Key was in my e-mail in less than 12 hours

Sakon Nakhon

Sunday is gonna be HOT and INTENSE

Temperatures warming: Today 34 - Sunday 37 Feels like Today 40 - Sunday 44. 44 Celsius equals 111 Fahrenheit As humidity rises chance of showers increases next week

Sunday Sakon FC faces a HOT CHALLENGE Sakon FC is eleventh in the league with 1 win, 3 draws and 4 losses   Chaiyaphum is third in the league with 4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses   Chaiyaphum is a high scoring team.  Sakon FC better pay attention to defense.  With a win under their belts and a very challenging game ahead, I suspect increased fan attendance this Sunday and recommend you arrive early for a seat in the shade

Sakon Nakhon

Baht continues gains this year

No Bull Shit: The real story

ˈbo͝olˌSHit/

Suck on what?

I'm trying to get the pronunciation just right so SIRIUS on my macbook understands. Told it "Sakon Nakhon".  It understood "Suck on a Nikon" and said "that's not nice." I've tried everything but SIRIUS keeps telling me "Suck on" various objects.. and "that's not nice."    Tried the Sakorn version, that didn't come out any better. When I asked Sirius for local restaurants, the closest it came to was Bangkok restaurants

Sakon Nakhon

Pit Stop Cafe new operating hours - FOR SALE

The Pit Stop Cafe hours  Monday to Saturday from 10.00am until late until the end of April. Quiz night this Wednesday, 5 April  7 pm. The Pitstop Café is for sale a going concern, A reasonable offer will be acceptable. For more details please stop by or phone.

31 + 20 = 1

31 + 20 = 1 Sakon Nakhon FC win
Miss Grand Sakon Nakhon 2017 Opening Ceremonies video by NERAMIT OFFICIAL  Main event: April 29 Saturday 3 pm to 8 pm televised on Thai TV 7 international beauty contest winners and television personalities will be in attendance
The translation is ... , I'm guessing a temple fair 4 - 6 April E. Sakon inviting Tourism Day the Earth Times Ophiuchus in the 8th district Waritchaphum.e-TOYOTACLUBA job that "Relics Srimongkol elegance. Chao worship Mahesak Home Hug the real world, "which will be held in the Oval on xxxxx2560 at the elements. Waritchaphum is about an hours drive from Sakon City
Dangerous behavior
Only Money Matters

Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon FC 2 : : Maha Sarakham 0

Sakon Nakhon

Wonder where this is going

Sakon Nakhon

Local April Fools news stories this year were too 'far fetched' to be considered believable.

A few days of comfortable temperatures.  By midweek humidity increases and chance of rain. Hot next weekend

Sakon Nakhon

Went to the Agenzy to rent a morterbike to do some Domestick travel

Saturday: high 28C 82F cloudy, scattered chance of rain

Sakon Nakhon

Weekend ahead

Apples final day of March Promotion Friday From 1st April Thailand will no longer accept old British £5 notes Oh! Never mind, new driver testing rules are being reconsidered Rainy weather in Korat Submarines are on order.  No money for drainage available at this time. Prostitution will always be around, especially if sufficient other jobs are not available These people live among us So that's your best friend?

Sakon Nakhon