Are you ready for songkran?

Wear goggles Found some really inexpensive ones at a home improvement center.

Put your mobile phone in a ziplock bag. Keep in mind that condensation may develop inside the ziplock bag. Add a few paper towels or small cloth to the bag 

Avoid white cotton clothing. When wet, most will become see through

If your water supply contains ice cubes, be especially cautious that you are not throwing ice cubes.

Sunscreen gets rinsed off quickly, best to just cover up.  Good time to wear your pajamas over your light clothing

If you are driving, reduce speed whenever you see wet roads, children may be present.

Be polite don't throw water at people carrying groceries, don't throw water into open buildings

Local Ads seen on Facebook

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"... about 10 cases, worth over 10 million baht ..."

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April-June: Bang Fai :-: Thailand Rocket Festival

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.

The celebrations were especially dangerous in 2009  when a rocket misfired and decapitated a spectator. The news video of that event has long since been removed

Rockets are returned to the ground by parachute. Trophies are awarded for the parachute which stays in the air the longest.

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There's a whole new meaning to "Sperm Count"

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Building walls of a different kind

Modernizing outdated travel procedures

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Summer storms

High winds near my house not as severe as in other parts of the province. 
Did have heavy rains, but missed out on the hail





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Sakon Nakhon Tap Water

It must be emphasized that the test of my water does not necessarily reflect on water quality in other parts of the city.

A recent article proclaimed that Bangkok tap water is palatable (drinkable).

There are variations in palatable water sources. Drinking water in a different location may cause some upset stomach until your body adjusts. 

Acceptable ph levels for drinking water is 6.5 to 8.5. I would not recommend drinking local tap water due to the chlorine levels, even though within acceptable levels, if you are not accustomed to that level your vacation can include upset stomach and frequent stays to a local throne room

Been using local tap water for coffee and cooking for over a decade. Also been using it for brushing my teeth and dentures.

If your water source is a water tank of any kind: DON"T DRINK THE WATER.  Chlorine tends to dissipate when exposed to air within a short period. Fungus and other waterborne bacteria and viruses  flourish quickly.

Dishes washed with tank stored water should be totally dry before reuse.

Replace

Driveway cover needed some repair. Won't come clean
This is after trying to wash off ten years of dirt.
Decided to replace with insulated metal roofing instead. 

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190330 Malware Alert : FIRST ONE TV

First one TV service has been discontinued.
The site now features a web attack: JS Coinminer Download 75

If you've been there and seen the Goodbye notice, your malware detection software should have blocked the intrusion สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Where are you now? People would like to know

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Baht too strong, weather too hot

Hot temperatures, high humidity, expect scattered summer storms
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Sakon Nakhon Vacation Video Done Well

 Published on Nov 5, 2018

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Bang Fai 🎇That Waritchaphum District 🎇 🎇🎇April 6th 1 - 5 pm

Facebook Post
NW side of Nam Un
Further updates anticipated.
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Hibiscus

Enter "hibiscus" in the search window (top of the page-left) and see other posts on the subject

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,,, food spoils quicker in hot temperatures

Green fabric intended to create a shaded area is also great in holding back dust. The double layered east wall keeps the morning sun out. Cement structures absorb the heat when exposed to sunlight at increased capacity

I use baby powder around the house to keep crawlies like ants, roaches and the like  away. If you have outdoor trash cans a light dusting will keep the ants away.

Many foods taste best when freshly prepared, while other foods seem to taste better when reheated. Stew is one of those meals I prefer to cook and freeze and reheat in a matter of minutes.

I shared some stew with a few friends. Now every time they visit they ask for "Stew."

Keep in mind food spoils quicker in hot temperatures

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Automatic two month Tax filing extension for US citizens living overseas

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien residing overseas, or are in the military on duty outside the U.S., on the regular due date of your return, you are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension.
There is additional useful information on the above linked text.
If you had $10,000 or more in a foreign bank account at any time during 2018 You need to file a Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR).  Deadline for filing  FBAR is April 15. FBAR can be filed online สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

No Alcohol Sales weekend ahead. Shop Early

Actually felt like 72 this morning.  The two new thermometers were way off.  Could get very hot today and the next few days.  That local thunderstorm early yesterday afternoon really cleansed the air. We know that wont last. The thunder cleared out my pool and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon.

Youth League (U15 and U19) has been posting erroneous scheduling information. Yesterday it was the logo in the wrong place. I was ready to go see a game until a coach sent me corrected information. It would have been the third time that I went to an empty stadium. The schedule was later corrected. Still waiting to find out how U19 did in Loei yesterday.

Doing a daily inventory as all visitors eyes are on the mangoes. Most Thais seem to prefer eating them green. 

When I feel a bit tired and need to get going I grab a can of coffee. No wonder I get a jolt out of the stuff. One can equals half my cups.  One can contains almost three teaspoons of sugar. If I'd fill my cup I'd be downing six spoons of sugar. 

Chang Cup has a 64 team elimination round next week.  Half of those teams will me eliminated next wednesday. Did not see Sakon Nakhon FC in the lineup. There's another Sakon Nakhon football club  playing at Samut Sakhon.

https://www.facebook.com/TorefunSakonnakhonFootballClub/

Had toyed with the idea of traveling to Samut, then my monthly money transfer arrived and with a strong baht I am getting 10,000 less than what I was getting six months ago.  I'll sit out the first elimination round and hope for a win 

No local football over the election weekend.

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... it's going to be hot ...

I have become accustomed to fahrenheit. Wasn't reintroduced to the metric system until I came to Thailand.

No matter which system you prefer, it's going to be hot most of this week. Depending how high the humidity climbs, there could be scattered thundershowers
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kon Nakhon