Back from Vientiane

Going to Laos, big queues at the border.  Thai immigration had 2 counters open.  I arrived just after one bus and another two arrived shortly after.  Result, a long wait.  Got to Laos and it took 5 minutes to get my visa and be in a taxi to Vientiane.

Low season is biting.  My Tuk Tuk from Nong Khai bus station was only 80B.  previously it had always been 100.  Taxi from the border into Vientiane 200Baht, previously always 300B.

Vientiane itself was quiet, very quiet and it seemed hotels almost empty.

Had my baguette and coffee at my usual little coffee shop, Croissant D'Or, Enjoyed some nice wine and a good dinner which ended up being by candlelight as there was a power out.

Returned to my hotel to find it in darkness and the sole employee on duty sat outside.  Asked him if he had a torch so I could get to me room.  'Sorry no, I only have my cellphone'  And no offer to guide me.  After a further 20 minutes of no lights I used my own cellphone and found my room, collected my bags and left for a hotel round the corner that had electricity.

Things are looking green thanks to the rain

Eye of the storm

Yep today is rain again.. One of the more violent, if less wet storms of the week.

First there is the distant role of thunder

The gathering storm clouds

Then the wind gets up

There is often a brief power outage

and finally the rain arrives.

It's stop after a brief downpour, but lookin g at th sky and hearing the trees in the wind, maybe we are just in the eye of the storm.

If it has truely passed then we were clipped by the edge.  but yes, the wind has risen, teh rain has returned, we were in teh eye of the storm

I was not surprised when Nit and crew arrived back early.

I could hear the thunder to the south... towards ku khao where they were selling and could sense the wind rising.  The new tent struture could not stand up to the wind....

I am sensing a downpour soon..... The first drops have started, and the sky has darkened.

At least the oppresive humidity of earlier has gone.

The worse could still bypass us but we'll see.

Remember When....

You were raised on egg & chips, played in the dirt, got smacked when you misbehaved, had 4 TV channels & no remote, school day always started with assembly, shops were closed Sunday, watched films without thinking they were real, recorded the top 40 from the radio by blocking the holes on casette tapes, drank water from a hose, didn't know what a Happy Meal was, and you still turned out OK

Back after my break

I quickly remembered why I left Pattaya!

Signs iof low season with more bars restaurants with 'For Sale' signs than I've seen in some time.

Travels

Off to patta for a few days tomorrow....

Need a change of scene

On This day - 1975: Saigon surrenders

The war in Vietnam ended today as the government in Saigon announced its unconditional surrender to North Vietnamese forces. The President, Duong Van Minh, who has been in office for just three days, made the announcement in a radio broadcast to the nation early this morning. He asked his forces to lay down their arms and called on the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong to halt all hostilities.
In a direct appeal to the Communist forces, he said: "We are here to hand over to you the power in order to avoid bloodshed."

read More

In The News

Border Clashes Continue - Read More

Thai Navy wants U Boats - Read More

raids on radio stations boost fears of coup - Read More

Special Tourism Zone sought for Pattaya - Read More

More Fun

Family are like underpants!!!! Some crawl up your ass, some get a little sideways, some are your favorite, some are holy, some are cheap and just plain nasty, some of them are full of shit, some you don't know how you got them, and some actually cover your ass when u need 'em too!" Re-post if you agree

I Like It.... Middle Ager Texting Codes

ATD -at the doctors.

BFF -best friend fell. 

BTW -bring the wheelchair. 

BYOT -bring your own teeth. 

FWIW -forgot where I was. 

GGPBL -gotta go, pacemaker battery low. 

GHA -got heartburn again. 

IMHO -is my hearing aid on. 

LMDO -laughing my dentures out. 

OMMR -on my massage recliner. 

ROFLACGU -rolling on floor laughing and can't get up.

TTYL -talk to you louder

in The News

TV Blackout and troop movements in Bangkok - No Coup

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Another border clash with Cambodia

Read More

Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association joins hands with Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote both domestic and international tourism to the Northeast using soft adventure and eco-tourism as the draw cards.

Read More

In The News

Thaksin faces party rebellion - Read More

Airlines hike surcharges - Read More

 And In Korat......

The superintendent of Pho Kaew Police Station, Colonel Passakorn Klanwan, has been slapped with a transfer order for allowing an entertainment venue in his jurisdiction to stay open beyond authorised hours and welcome under-age patrons. - Read More

Appatrantly the police are to launch an investigation as to how the Pub could flout the law.... The article seems to given the answer when it says Pub records indicate 20 policemen were paid 500Baht a day by the pub.

 

I Like This

AOCDRNDICG TO RSCHEEARCH AT CMABRIGDE UINERVTISY, IT DSENO'T MTAETR WAHT OERDR THE LTTERES IN A WROD ARE, THE OLNY IPROAMTNT TIHNG IS TAHT THE FRSIT AND LSAT LTTEER BE IN THE RGHIT PCLAE. TIHS IS BCUSEAE THE HUAMN MNID DEOS NOT RAED ERVEY LTETER BY ISTLEF, BUT THE WROD AS A WLOHE. IF YOU CAN RAED TIHS, PSOT IT TO YUOR BOLG

Songkran News

The number of deaths from accidents during the seven-day Songkran long holidays this year has fallen by 25% from the same period last year.

Read More

meanwhile it seems some might have been over zealous in their partying...

Topless teenage revellers fined B500 for obscenity    Read More

In The News

Pattaya gained the highest occupancy averages, January through to the end of April’s Songkran festival, of all the regions monitored by Thai Hotels Association,

Russia represents 40% to 45% of the international tourist market, followed by Korea, India and the domestic market, which supplies 15 to 20% of the resort’s year-round business.

Read More


Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom office has partnered with the town’s municipality and tourism association to establish rent-a-bike tours that will follow a specified route along Mekong River embankment.


read More


A Hong Kong airline is making all its cabin crew take kung fu lessons to help them to deal with drunk and unruly passengers.

Read More


Diesel taxes set to be dropped.... Read More

The Everything Thai Cookbook

The Everything Thai Cookbook Whether you want to prepare a meal for one, or an entire feast, The Everything® Thai Cookbook will have you serving up tasty fare to tempt even the most critical food connoisseur.

Football

mukdahan 1 - Udon Thani 1

Next mtach - Udon - Korat April 24th

Death By Pad Thai

Death by Pad Thai Food isn’t just a gustatory pleasure; it is the stuff of life. At its best and most memorable, a meal becomes a story—and a story becomes a feast. In this collection of essays by some of the country’s finest writers, food is the central player in memories both exquisite and excruciating. Steve Almond recounts the gleeful daylong preparation of a transcendent lobster pad thai dish. Sue Miller reveals that after a lifetime of practical cooking, she is finally fed by a man who presents food as an offering, made just for her. Aimee Bender ponders her lifelong envy of what everyone else is having for lunch. Richard Russo relates the celebratory day he and his wife spent eating their way through haute Manhattan—and departing utterly famished. Expertly compiled and edited by Douglas Bauer—including pieces by Amy Bloom, Peter Mayle, Jane and Michael Stern, Ann Packer, and Andre Dubus III—this unforgettable collection presents food as education, test, reward, bait, magnet, and, most of all, gift. Gathered here are meals that sate our most complex palate, the appreciation of life. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Great Reads - Bangkok Haunts

Bangkok Haunts Sonchai Jitpleecheep, the devout Buddhist Royal Thai Police detective who led us through the best sellers Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Tattoo , returns in this blistering novel. Sonchai has seen virtually everything on his beat in Bangkok's District 8, but nothing like the snuff film he's just been sent anonymously. Furiously fast-paced and laced through with an erotic ghost story that gives a new dark twist to the life of our hero, Bangkok Haunts more than lives up to the smart and darkly funny originality of its predecessors. From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Scoreless Thai

The Scoreless Thai Evan Tanner can't sleep. Ever. Which gives him plenty of free time to get involved in lots of interesting endeavors in all sorts of exotic locales. Now Tanner's in Thailand with a partially baked plan and a butterfly net, hoping to snare a beautiful missing chanteuse who's metamorphosed into an international jewel thief. Tanner hopes everyone will buy his disguise as a rare butterfly researcher. And everyone does . . . Except the guerilla band holding him captive. They intend to remove his head when the sun rises, so Tanner must put his fate in the hands of a randy Thai youth who will do anything for a woman, even set a suspected spy free. Soon they're running through the jungle together, chased by bandits, soldiers, and yellow fever, and racing headlong into the heart of darkness—and into the flames of war.

Pearls of Wisdom

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist, that’s all."So live each day to it's fullest. ENJOY!

On This Day - 1998: Former Cambodian dictator dies

The former Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, whose regime led to the deaths of millions of his people, has died. Journalists who were shown his body in a village in western Cambodia were told he had died of a heart attack.
After initial scepticism most of the journalists said they were confident it was Pol Pot.

Great Reads - Bangkok Tattoo

Bangkok Tattoo Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep of the Royal Thai Police returns in his riveting and smokily atmospheric new thriller. A farang–a foreigner–has been murdered, his body horribly mutilated, at the Bangkok brothel co-owned by Sonchai’s mother and his boss. The dead man was a CIA agent. To make matters worse, the apparent culprit is sweet-natured Chanya, the brothel’s top earner and a woman whom the devoutly Buddhist sleuth has loved for several lifetimes. How can Sonchai solve this crime without sending Chanya to prison? How can he engage in a cover-up without endangering his karma? And how will he ever get to the bottom of a case whose interested parties include American spooks, Muslim fundamentalists, and gangsters from three countries? As addictive as opium, as hot as Sriracha chili sauce, and bursting with surprises, Bangkok Tattoo will leave its mark on you. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Great Reads - Bangkok 8

Bangkok 8 A thriller with attitude to spare, Bangkok 8 is a sexy, razor-edged, often darkly hilarious novel set in one of the world’s most exotic cities. Witnessed by a throng of gaping spectators, a charismatic Marine sergeant is murdered under a Bangkok bridge inside a bolted-shut Mercedes Benz. Among the witnesses are the only two cops in the city not on the take, but within moments one is murdered and his partner, Sonchai Jitpleecheep—a devout Buddhist and the son of a Thai bar girl and a long-gone Vietnam War G.I.—is hell-bent on wreaking revenge. On a vigilante mission to capture his partner’s murderer, Sonchai is begrudgingly paired with a beautiful FBI agent named Jones and captures her heart in the process. In a city fueled by illicit drugs and infinite corruption, prostitution and priceless art, Sonchai’s quest for vengeance takes him into a world much more sinister than he could have ever imagined. From the Trade Paperback edition.

In The News

SONGKRAN  - DAY 1

29 dead in Road accidents on day one - read story

CIGARETTES TO COST MORE

Basis of duty to change to curb cheap imports. Proposal for mimimum of 3baht per cigarette duty - read story

In The News

NEED TO FLY?

Garuda will add a second daily flight from Bangkok to Jakarta on June 17th.

Meanwhile Air Austral puts on two weekly flights between Reunion and Bangkok


SONGKRAN TARGET

The authorities hope to cut the number of deaths on the roads during Songkran by 10%


POLITICAL NEWS


The House is not dissolved yet but the jockeying for position has begun and Thaksin is pushing for his youngest sister as Prime Ministerial candidate. Read Here 



The Commerce Ministry will seek the cabinet's approval for a budget of 1.3 billion baht for projects to reduce living costs for consumers and farmers. Read More

Live Cheap - Die Cheap

Author : Costello, John Graham

ISBN : 978616-2220258

Category : True Stories

Pages : 213

Format : ebook

Price: $4.99

Description

Live Cheap, Die Cheap, a world where drugs, violence, money and corruption go hand in hand, it will induce tears of sadness and tears of laughter; you will be shocked and appalled, amazed and inspired; you will propel from admiration and respect and end up reeling in disgust. But ultimately, you will feel.

Live Cheap - Die Cheap ISBN : 978616-2220258 Category : True Stories Pages : 213 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

On This Day - 1975: US pulls out of Cambodia

The US has admitted defeat in Cambodia and removed its remaining embassy personnel from the capital, Phnom Penh. Early this morning 276 people were airlifted from a football field near the embassy by a fleet of 30 helicopters.

In The News

FOOTBALL

After yesterdays matches Udon are 12th in the table which is topped by Roi Et who managed to maintain their 100% record with a 2-1 win over Yasothon.  Nong Bua lamphu managed their first points of the season with a win over Ubon.  next week sees Udon away to Mukdahan.



CONDO GROWTH

Pattaya sees 12 per cent increase in condo supply - Read Story

New York Interviews - First Thoughts

Author : Marranca, Richard

ISBN : 978616-2220784

Category : Buddhism & Meditation

Pages : 134

Format : e-book

Price: $4.99

Description

New York Interviews: First Thoughts is a wise and exciting collection of interviews from a variety of artists and writers, scholars and scientists – people such as Jane Goodall (chimp-human connection), Huston Smith (world religion), Allen Ginsberg (creativity and Buddhism), Salima Ikram (mummies), James Carse (Gnostic Gospels), E. L. Doctorow (history and fiction) and many others. The collection represents the wisdom of the ages and powerful issues of our time. It is representative of the author’s interests and time spent in and around New York City. The interviews were done at New York University, the Open Center, Omega Institute, Rutgers University – exceptions being Paul Ehrlich (author of The Population Bomb) at the University of Nevada, Reno, where the author also taught, along with Losang Samten, the Tibetan scholar and artist, who was in the movie Kundun.

New York Interviews: First Thoughts ISBN : 978616-2220784 Category : Buddhism & Meditation Pages : 134 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

On This Day - 1957: Britain agrees to Singapore self-rule

The British government is to allow the island colony of Singapore to govern itself under a new constitution agreed in London. The Singapore Constitutional Conference ended today after four weeks of talks when Chief Minister of Singapore Lim Yew Hock and Alan Lennox-Boyd, secretary of state for the Colonies, signed an agreement.

Read More

In The News

FOOTBALL

Udon Thani 0 - 0 Nakon Phanom

FUN


Super Giant, a mobile theme park will be in Bangkok from April 16th to May 29th aiming for a million visitors  Story Here

Thai Lite 2

Thai Lite 2

Author : Tsow, S.

ISBN : 974-93671-3-8

Category : Asia Inside-Out

Pages : 204

Format : 125 x 195 mm

Price: $6.99

Description

S. Tsow gives you the lowdown on: Thai nicknames, Thai coeds, Quality tourists, Scum tourists, The Spa experience, Toilets for elephants, Western Romeos, How to get rich in Bangkok, and much more..

Thai Lite 2 ISBN : 974-93671-3-8 Category : Asia Inside-Out Pages : 204 Price from : 6.99 US$ (ebook)

Grand National

The Grand Natiuonal was always the only rae I placed a bet on back home.  Having looked down the horses I'll put a kiss of death on Calgary Bay by saying that's who I'd back at 33-1.

Don't think I ever backed a winner when I was betting real money!  Did winthe office Sweepstake a couple of times though

Finally caught up with Nit and his crew at a local market

SO here is N.I.T. (Nit's Indepentant Trading) set up ready for a new days market trading.

The Mazda certainly looks more impressive than Del's Boys Reliant Robin, as does the NV

The above photo taken at the wholesale store, VP, in Udon Thani

In The News

DRAFT DODGING RING ARRESTED

It's draft time in Thailand and police have uncovered a draft evasion ring paying under height males to take the place of prospective conscripts.   Full Story

SONGKRAN CASH


Over 150BN Baht in banklnotes have been stockpiled by banks at tehir branches to refill cash machines over Songkran   Full Story

Beyond Twilight

Author : Welman, Frans

ISBN : 978616-2450112

Category : Thrillers

Pages : 481

Format : ebook

Price: $4.99

Description

Beyond Twilight is a thriller with unexpected twists and turns. Starting with a man being killed in Manila, Philippines, who when discovered who he really was initiates a rat race for the assassins which takes the reader to Thailand, Brazil, Nagaland, the United States, the Netherlands and India. Beyond Twilight is about the longest running post second World War and post colonial Indo-Naga conflict which in spite of ceasefire and peace talks has not come to an end. The killing of a Naga leader sets off the string of events which forces India into real negotiations to achieve lasting peace between the two nations of which one is not recognized internationally.

Beyond Twilight ISBN : 978616-2450112 Category : Thrillers Pages : 481 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Songkran is approaching

Apart from the obvious passing of days on the claendar, friends from the village who work in Bangkok and elsewhere have started returning..  The numbers will grow before the 13th.  It means there will be some temporary Farang residents in the village if past years are to go by.  Wonder if any are the same as last year.

Time to see if I can find last years flowery shirt, or it's down to Tesco to buy a new one for 79Baht!

Checking the weather forecast it should heat up nicely for Songkran with temperatures hovering about 100F :)

Forbidden Land - The Quest for Nagalim

Forbidden Land - The Quest for Nagalim
Author : Welman, Frans
ISBN : 978616-2450129
Category : History
Pages : 268
Format :
Price: $4.99
Description
Forbidden Land tells the story of three attempts by Frans Welman and his companions to enter Nagaland, the land of more than forty Naga tribes. Although all three efforts ended in failure, the attempts demonstrate how India and the lesser-known Burma, now known as Myanmar, have been succcessful in keeping foreigners out. Neither country wants outsiders to observe the raging war that started shortly after independence from colonial Britain. The Naga's, who time and time again have made it known to both former colonizer Britain and newly emerging India that they wanted to be left alone, were invaded by India in 1954. Now 50 years later, the war is still on, although for the second time in its history peace talks are taking place. This war, forgotten by the international community, was the challenge for Welman and his companions. Their goal was to check on the rare yet compelling accounts of the land and people that told of beauty and democracy among the Nagas and their tenacity to not give in to a powerful alien master. The three journeys enlighten the reader to how fifty years of domination make a people believe that what has been done, including genocide, is genuinely defined in true terms. These journeys open eyes to see the beauty and the beast within. They will lead to the fascinating Nagas, who are in dire need to be assisted in their quest to be free.

Forbidden Land - The Quest for Nagalim ISBN : 978616-2450129 Category : History Pages : 268 Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)