Luangta Maha Boowa Thailand and Gold

There was an article in one of Thailand's Nearly English Language Newspapers today about the gold Luangta had collected for the Thai Government following the 1997 crash. As he well knew the buggers would be trying to get their grubby hands on it.
Well a real newspaper with real journalists might have given you abit more information about that 13 tonnes of gold.
Not too worry some of us old expats do a bit more than sit around and drink all day. My friend "Khon Kaen Retirement Larry" did a bit of math for us.

13 metric tons = 458561 oz (rounded down from 458561.507)
Gold in December 1997 was $290/oz.
Gold in December 2011 is $1600/oz.

1997 = $132,982,690 or  3,989,480,700 Baht
2011 = $733,697,600 or 22,010,928,000 Baht

There are also long tons and short tons but I just used on.
Nice little profit sitting there.
Keep the money where it belongs.
Luang Ta Mahabua, who demanded the country's reserves be permanently safeguarded from potential manipulation or use by the authorities.
And he is not dead quite a year yet and they are already after it.

An Isaan Persprctive 21.12.11

I guess the "Bog Blog" is as good a place as any when talking about the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This story appeared online yesterday from the "Phuket News" and there were a few things that struck me.
The first thing hotel management did was accuse them.
Is it just me or does this the first line of defense regularly in Thailand when dealing with a problem,
Jet skis, motorbike and car rental, robberies, the customer is always at fault.
I am surprised they weren't charged for damage to the safe.
Next, as always, nobody knows anything.
CCTV security camera installed for the floor  was “misaligned”.
This along with, dummy cctv cameras, locked fire escapes seems to be the norm at the higher end tourist destinations.
And finally "Ms Wong asked for the CCTV camera to be repositioned for better security." WTF, why does she have to ask that the hotel align the camera and just how many cameras are misaligned.
But to me the real grabber is the comments.
It seems like this is a regular occurrence. Getting mugged by tuk-tuk and\or taxi drivers and hotel and jet ski rip-offs.
Where are the tourist police and all the other authorities. The other part is that everyone is always too embarrassed to open their mouths.
Recently, here in Khon Kaen I listened to a Thai gentleman talking about getting ripped off by a taxi driver, with the "meters not working" scam. When asked if he argued with the driver or reported it to anyone he repleied "Oh no, I couldn't do something like that"
Do tourists expect to get ripped off where ever they go?
I am just an old man in Isaan, but from my perspective  I sure as hell would not be back "Mr Nagi told the hotel owner that although he was dispirited by the incident, he would be back to stay at the hotel next year."
And to me none of them are operating with a full deck

kathin at Wat Po Non Than, khonkaen, isaan 06.11.11

The temple is an old one in town and is home to both city and forest monks. The kathin is held on standard time as opposed to forest wats where the meal us offered for 0800. If you are ever in khonkaen, it is worth a visit for the weird scenes around the temple

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Another Tourism Authority of Thailand Error in Isaan

"Make merit in 'Tak Bat Devo Festival 2011' October 15-26 at Kalasin City Pillar Shrine, Kalsin. Call 043 – 871146 for more info."
That was the Khon Kaen TAT post on their "face is more important than fact" page on Facebook.
I contacted a long time contact for 2 reasons !
I have never heard of a Tak Bat Devo go on for that long and If TAT posts it I assume an error.
Here is the reply to my question
Dear Khun Tom, Tak Bat Devo you mention will be at Larn Tham, Phoo Sing Temple, Sa Hat Sa Khan. The event will last only 2 days-15 to 16 October. More info may be at Nonbuee Municipality's website . If you call that number u gave me please ask for KhunTukta.
Prasit Galasilk.

Khon Kaen Cinema Festival

I am sure you all have been reading about the upcoming festival here in Khon Kaen. When I saw the sugn this morning I asked why it was in english? I was told ' because it is international" Give me a break TAT has not even posted anything about this in Thai let alone English.

I will be posting more on Khon Kaen and TAT efforts to have people partying and drinking before the end of Pansaa over the next few days

A Thai Invention (say what?)

I saw this at the Street Food Exhibit at Mahasarakham University at the Streetfood Exihibit

When I saw the date I immediately thought that with this kind of deep thought some thai student might invent the wheel in a few years. The education quality of a country shows itself in many ways. How many hours are dedicated to world history or how to do research in Thai schools? To get an award for something that has been existence for, at least, decades, as far as I know is another example of the quality, or lack of education  in Thailand.

When I was a kid these thing were used on the BBQ, usually for fish and sometimes chicken. To find out that something that was used 50 years ago was invented in Thailand 2 years ago is "Amazing in Thailand".

from Patipada, Luangta Maha Boowa, Samyojana

"patipada" is Acariya Maha Boowa's Book on Acariya Mun's Path of Practice

Samyojana

The saṁyojana are a list of ten factors that bind people to the endless round

of birth and death. They are:

1.Sakkāya–diṭṭhi: the belief that there is an entity of self or individuality

in the five khandhas.

2.Vicikicchā: doubt of a sceptical nature based on delusion.

3.Sīlabbata–parāmāsa: usually translated as “attachment to rules and

rituals”. But many who practise the way of Buddhism are not satisfied

with this and feel that it concerns morality more than rules

and rituals.

4.Kāma–rāga: sensuous craving. Although this is a correct translation,

amongst those who practise, the main emphasis is on sexual craving

and all that proliferates from it.

5.Vyāpāda: Ill will, malevolence.

6.Rūpa–rāga: the desire for the exalted states of the rūpa realms.

7.Arūpa–rāga: the desire for the exalted states of the arūpa realms.

8.Māna: conceit.

9.Uddhacca: restlessness.

10.vijjā: blind unknowing.

These ten factors are overcome progressively by the attainment of the four

paths, thus: the Sotāpanna has overcome the first three. The Sakadāgāmī has

also reduced the fourth and fifth. The Anāgāmī has overcome the first five

factors. The Arahant has overcome all ten factors.

A food teaser for the OTOP Fair, Khon Kaen, Isaan Thailand

Okay so by now your saw the stuff on offer at the OTOP fair and seen all the food that available here at the Fair in Khon Kaen and I am sure everyone is just wauting for the Isaan Live Podcast so here is a peek at some video

some mean looking clouds over khonkaen, isaan, thailand this afternoon

Okay, so overtime I say puffy clouds or blue sky it rains within the hour. So let's see if reverse psychology works on mother nature

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khai mun, somtam, khao ngiaow in isaan

And an adult beverage. Let the game begin

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one minute puffy clouds pouring the next in isaan

Caught in it in khonkaen

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puffy cloud morning in isaan 25.08.11

Here at beung kaen nakhon in khonkaen

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going on now at khonkaen university in isaan

A very odd look at buddhism

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Fish Farming on the Mekhong in Nong Khai, Isaan

More on aguaculture to include freshwater shrimp farming coming soon click on the panorama to view full size

 

on the mekhong 21.08.11

The sun has come out, which lately mean more rain to come and the river is up from a couple weeks ago

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Isaan Kids are into Mushrooms

Wednesday was Science Day at Mahasarakham University and kids from schools around the area came to visit. The Happy Mushrooms were there to welcome the kids and teach them the joys of mushrooms

morning at mahasarakham u

Computer class

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The Khon Kaen City Government sets a fine example

I have travelled to many countries and seen the national flags of those countries always flown proudly.
As a kid we lived in areas across the eastern and central U.S. where many immigrants lived and as well as the flag of their original countty people , PROUDLY flew the Stars and Stripes. I find it bad enough that a business would display a dirty or torn flag, but when government bodies fly a flag that should be retired and respectfully destroyed I really get confused. I see dirty and\or torn flags all over Isaan and other parts of the country at train stations and other government facilities. Is this how the Thai Government sets the example for its' citizens? It certainly appears to be the case.

nok ten still impacting isaan

The small rivers are still filling and washing away vegetation in the region

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On Beung Kaen Nakhon, Khon Kaen, The Isaan Mobile photos 30.07011

I of the things  that I really enjoy showing people are the statuary displays of Isaan Life that are placed around the Lake.
Another thing most people want a picture of the kids on a bicycle built for 3

Kumphawapi Police Shrine in Isaan

This shrine was pointed out to me as I passed through Kumphapawi the other day. It was pointed out that he has not had his tail bobbed, which I was told is a modern affectation.
He has the special Thai traffic police pockets on his trousers. They provide more room for the "gifts" the drivers like to bestow on him. As you can see he also wears the modern style shirt that helps display his high standard of fitness. A true example of those who ...

The Mekhong River, Nong Khai Province, Isaan

It appears to be about 4 more meters to the top

And the races go on in khon kaen, isaan

 

mobile race shots from khon kaen isaan morning trails

hard to see the race with all these monks in the way. You wouldn't think they would gamble, would you?

Okay, so the bog blog has been a bit backed up here in Isaan

Saturday Larry of Khon Kaen Retirement fame and I were having a very important meeting with Mr. Leo at the Krua Sri Sa-ard Restaurant. Larry needing a pause from the technical discussion retired to"momentary meditation Suite" aka the bog.
On his return he reminded me of an unique facility offered and I remembered the backed up bog blog, so I rushed in and took this picture of the bog plus as you can see on the right the portable bath tub. Now I have never seen this particular tub in use, but can imagine it on the back of a pick-up truck or on someones terrace in the summertime being just the ticket to beat the heat.

PTT Service Center, Mancha Kiri, Khon Kaen

This facility is conveniently located in a rural tourist area and on one of the routes to Chaiaphum Province.
Clean with plenty of parking and a cold Amazon coffee if you want one. Click here  to see on the bog map

bus bog

Pay extra for first class

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Menu Neua Restaurant Bog

While  larry, amongst other things, wordpress genius did his magic to isaan live.. I had an extended lunch yesterday at my local, to numb the enjoyment of his hard work. A few trips to recycle the beverage of the day were in order. The urinal is conveniently situated around a corner, there is sit down services for men and women, 1 each. Perhaps not the most modern, but clean and tidy.

porta potties and bathing facilities wat pa baan tad

there are 100s of these set up around the area to provide relief and or a quick wash to the 100s of 1000s of the people who are visiting the wat to pay respects on the occasion of the death of luangta maha bua

Wanon Niwat Sakon Nakhon

if you are traveling along road 222 between sakon nakhon and nong khai their are few service centers. this one lacks sit down toilets but is clean and has a large 7-11

the square bums are back

oh no i thought they were extinct

 

Sakon Nakhon bog

This Bog at the PTT service station on highway 22 near Phok Noi is so clean they don't want you wearing your dirty shoes in it, so provide clean flip-flops fo your bogging pleasure

Baan Phon Silk Center Bog Kalasin, isaan

While some of the place might be in decay the bogs at the sales and display office are modern and clean
even louvered doors and artwork on the walls

Really clean bog sakonnakhon

Service station bogs have moved forward leaps and bounds here in isaan thailand.
Most chain stations now have what are classified as bogs for the handicapped, pregnant and feeble and I guess geezers, as well as pictured on the door sign. This bog is located at the PTT just inside the ring road (aka Highway 12) Maliwan Road at this point as you come into khonkaen from the west. It was clean  just after 0600h which is a good sign. Also remember to BYOB (bring your own bogroll).