Life In Inspiring Isaan

here comes the rain again

2012-05-26T16:05:00.001+07:00

looks like it will not be too heavy judging by the sky. But I could be wrong. Another power outage last night.

Got the air con in the units serviced today so they should be back at full blast.

Stormy Weather

2012-05-23T17:43:00.002+07:00

It seems that whilst we were in Udon today the storm struck Nong Han.

The trees have been removed and we are waiting for the rain to stop to check the outside electricals!!

Udon Municipality Elections

2012-05-21T10:22:00.002+07:00

The ruling Pheu Thai Party suffered another election defeat when its candidates in the Udon Thani Municipality race lost to their rivals yesterday.

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Rain Again

2012-05-19T15:02:00.001+07:00

Yesterday we got caught in a downpour in Udon. We popped into a bar for a late lunch/early dinner and it started to rain.

Nit got soaked crossing the road to get the car. Even though he brought the car round to me, I still had to step through six inch deep water as he did not care get any closer for fear of what lurked beneath... At least that was his excuse.

The rains skirted the resort, but as expected we had a power outage about 6pm due to the rain. It lasted a couple of hours. Luckily we have a supply of candles. However after 20 minutes of Atchi singing happy birthday and trying to blow them out the 'game' got a bit boring.

It's now raining here, but from the look of the sky I don't think it will be more than a few showers.

North Kessock - I remember the wait for the ferry - Now there is a bridge

2012-05-19T12:30:00.000+07:00

Trip - Heading South From The Pink Panther Station

2012-05-18T21:02:00.000+07:00

Durham..... Durham......... Durham, Durham. Durham

No Fog On The Tyne

2012-05-17T20:51:00.000+07:00

But it is Lindisfarne in the distance

Weather

2012-05-17T12:53:00.000+07:00

And it's raining.

Hopefully the heavy downpours will clear the air and the humidity will be less oppresive. it will save Tak from watering the plants, maybe we should reduce his wages on rain days.

Finally Got To Hawthorn 'Beach'

2012-05-16T16:14:00.000+07:00

New Lao Airline

2012-05-15T14:25:00.000+07:00

Lao Central Airlines, the first Lao private airline, owned by bankers, Phongsavanh Group, took off 3 May starting with a flight to Bangkok.
Lao Central aims to operate a mix of regional and domestic services from its base in Vientiane. After the Bangkok inaugural flight it said it was starting domestic services to Luang Prabang, 7 May and to Pakse next month.

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It's May and there was fresh snow - Trip Photos 2

2012-05-14T20:48:00.000+07:00

Trip Photos 1

2012-05-14T20:46:00.000+07:00

'Highland Chieftain' at Inverness ready for our 7.55am departure

Sites In danger

2012-05-14T14:23:00.000+07:00

The Global Heritage Fund, which promotes the preservation of historic architectural sites around the world, issued a finalised list earlier this week of the top 10 most endangered sites in Asia, some of them listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The sites include Ayutthaya

Read More At TTR

Rock Climbing In Laos

2012-05-13T16:00:00.000+07:00

A rock climbing facility has opened in Thakhek, Laos, with easy access from Nakhon Phnom via the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge.
Green Climbers Home is located near the Xiengliab Cave, 12 km, outside of Thakhek town. Together with Laos’ ecotourism tour operator, Green Discovery, rock climbing enthusiasts, Uli and Tanja Weidner, developed the camp site and routes specifically suited for rock climbers.

Read More At TTR

Football

2012-05-13T14:15:00.000+07:00

Udon could only draw with Yasothon yesterday. They are still top of the division, but will be overtaken by Loei City if Loei beats Nong Khai today. Roi Et are two points behind Udon with a game in hand.

Journey Home

2012-05-12T17:28:00.001+07:00

After an uneventful trip by rail and tube from Chelmsford to Heathrow T4, checked in with ease, and got an exit row seat. Something I would have no need of! Check in was quiet, I assumed because I was early.

T4 has few options for a drink or a bite to eat so ended up in one of the bar/restaurants. It seemed to be that, garfunkels of Costa Coffee. Once I got on board the flight the reason for the quiet check in was obvious. The plane was about 10% full. As soon as teh doors were closed the stewardess told everyone to take any row of three they wanted and lie down after take off.

Dinner was the choice of 'Veg or Non Veg.' I managed to ascertain that teh nin veg was chicken so went for it. Bar service was generous as usual, at least up to meal time.

Dehli was an easier, quicker transfer than Mumbai. But for some reason all transfer passengers had to wait at the gate to be shown the way to the transfer counter. It wasn't like it was hard to find.

On time departure to Bangkok, this time the plane was about 60% full.

Once at Bangkok quickly through immigration and the bag arrived fairly soon afterwards. Both I think were quicker than Heathrow. A night in the Queen's Garden Resort and then the shuttle up to Udon this morning.

Back Home

2012-05-12T17:16:00.002+07:00

And it's hottish. I should be grateful it's only 36C

Heading South

2012-05-08T18:33:00.000+07:00

On time arrival in Edinurgh from Inverness. Wel not quite, three minutes early. Surprised to see so much snow on the Cairngorms as we passed... it is May.

Now heading from Edinburgh down to Inverness. Had my 'british rail' breakfast, not it's time for sandwiches., with complimentary wine of course.

I reckon the majority of people in First Class are on cheap tickets. Very few businessmen. I remember doing the Newcastle-Kings Cross run on business when First was the reserve of the Executive. But now, with free food and drink, and First Advance tickets not being much more than standard it is not surprising it's full.

I remember getting the 'Newcastle Executive', getting to the London Office for Meetings about 11.30, and heading home on the 5pm with Dinner. Of course it cost more then, I think it was about 100 quid return, this time my train trips are free, but my Brother had loads of expiring free tickets. I remember it was slightly more than the flight, but you did not have to get in from Heathrow.

I was tempted by the Craster Kippers this morning, but decided on the full English. Kippers tomorrow if they are on offer.

New Passport And Pub Food

2012-05-01T23:10:00.001+07:00

Arrived at 9.00 for my 9.30 appointment, they had obviously cleared the 9.00 appointments early as I was called at 9.25, and had been processed and paid by 9.28, with instructions that my passport would be ready at 13.28.

Quick and painless process.

Fell absolutely bloated after a pub lunch. Just not used to all this heavy British food. Was tempted by the Thai curry on offer, but knew I wouldn't enjoy it as it would not compare to the home made version in Udon

Picked up new passport at 2, so all set for my new Visa next week.

Only nine more days before I get back to the warmth and normality.

The trip stage - UK First Thoughts

2012-04-30T22:13:00.001+07:00

Well can't fault Air India for service. Left Bangkok on time. Late into Mumbai, but as I had a 6 hour wait that didn't matter.

We were slightly late leaving Mumbai for London. I put it down to the boarding procedures. First your boarding pass is scanned. Then security check you have security stamps on boarding pass and luggage tag. But the is a bottle neck in waiting so they herd you onto the boarding bridge.

First they check your passport/visas. Then your boarding card and detach the tag. Then your baording card again

When food came (breakfast and lunch between Mumbai and London)they barked 'veg or non veg' A little more information would have helped, and if I wanted veg I'd have pre-ordered.

Twenty minutes late landing at Heathrow but we did seem to be the only arrival at T4. I was 'encouraged' to use the automatic passport control. It took the machine a lot longer than my usual experience at manual UK checks. A lot longer than I observed it took Thai nationals at Bangkok - maybe because the Thais use fingerprints not facial recognition.

Baggage took an age. I don't understand why the first bags were there by the time I was at baggage claim. Bags arrived at irregular intervals and mine 30 minutes later. Oh well straight to the underground to Kings Cross.

I've noticed some strange things being back in England. Guess you become used to things. No motor cycle drivers, or cars, driving the wrong way down the street.. And no toilet hose.... just a roll of that tissue we keep on the table at home. What's that all about.

Now on the East Coast train, first class of course (Well my brother had free expiring tickets) enjoying my tumbler of red wine and afternoon tea. Egg and Tomato sandwiches bring back memories, but we never had wine on Bamburgh beach.

Tomorrow the passport office!

2012-04-29T11:40:00.001+07:00

A quiet night in Pattaya... Rit and Rot weren't working as their two brothers were in town. Actually cousins and apparently younger than Rot. So they decided we'd spend the evening at a Isaan style karaoke near their house. After a night drinking until 3am, I should sleep on the plane tonight. At least Rot managed to get me back to my hotel on his motor bike.
Now it's time to relax before the bus to the airport.

2012-04-28T11:39:00.003+07:00

Train 70 departed Udon a few minutes late, due to the train in front arriving late from Bangkok, and not being ready to return until our departure time. Still we were only 25 minutes later into Bangkok station. That's the nearest to on time I've managed. I was lucky on MRT and Airport rail link timings and actually managed with 2 minutes to spare to get on the 8am Pattaya bus.
As a result I was in the hotel before 10. Hope the rest of the connections on the trip go as well

Final Countdown

2012-04-21T21:50:00.002+07:00

So the clock is ticking. Off to Bangkok, night on the train. Next Saturday Pattaya (Rit and Rot should be around) and the Sunday with Air India. Worked out the trip involves 4 planes and at least 9 trains plus undderground, Skytrain, metro and airport rail links. And two buses. Still it's only a ten day trip. Appointments at UK Passport Office and Thai consulate all booked.

THAI Smile opens bookings

2012-04-20T18:46:00.000+07:00

The new Thai operation has launced it's website.

more here

Thai Smile will now operate 4 domestic routes initially. Originally it was to take over Thai domestic routes, then changed to be a regional player. Now it starts with Macua and 4 Thai routes.

The Website

In The Thai News

2012-04-17T19:13:00.000+07:00

Thailand’s Road Safety Directing Centre reported 253 road fatalities during the first five of the seven deadly days of Songkran, 11 to 15 April.

Thai Airways International launched its Hello Summer campaign for domestic travel through to June.

A mild earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale was registered in Thalang district of Phuket at 12.18pm on Tuesday, but there were no reports of serious damage, the National Disaster Warning Centre said.

New Apple iPad arriving April 27

Hormone-charged teenagers exchanging tokens of physical love. Naughty husbands purchasing temporary gratification. Or just drunken lovebirds not finding their way home. There was once a place where nobody needed to know your name as long as you had money, open 24/7 _ that place was the Peep Inn short-time motel.

Finally a stunning statement about the Thai rail system... According to Chula Sukmanop, an inspector-general at the Transport Ministry, double tracks allow trains to pass without stopping to wait for each other.