I survived the Countdown to 2011 at Central Plaza, Khon Kaen, by not attending.

Decided it was more prudent to just spend the day at my wife’s uncle’s house eating some BBQ and drinking some Singha beers. The mini-party started at about 1300 and by 2000 I was ready to head home and get some sleep.  I had plans for the early morning of 1 January 2011.

The plan was to meet Tom from Isaan-Live at the same location as the Countdown – Central Plaza, Khon Kaen, at about 0600 to photograph the annual New Year’s Buddhist Ceremony.

This would be a gathering of hundreds of Buddhist monks and even more devotees to make some merit for the New Year by donating food, money, and sundry items to the Buddhist monks.

Khon Kaen City Gate New Years Day

They rolled out the red carpet plastic and lined the closed-off street to listen to the senior monks words of wisdom, pray, and pass out their donations.

Senior Monks

Monks from all over Khon Kaen came by the busloads to get the people of Khon Kaen off to a good year.

Buddhist Monks

Khon Kaen dignitaries gave their speeches telling what a wonderful job they did during the past year and how 2011 will be even better.

Khon Kaen New Years Day Speakers

Then it was time for the head monks to lead the Khon Kaen congregation in prayer.

Buddhist Monk Prayer

After prayers and chants, it was time for all the Khon Kaen Buddhist Monks to walk around among the people and receive their alms.

Khon Kaen Buddhist Monks Alms

Khon Kaen Merit Making

Here is a short video:

A great way to start the New Year in Khon Kaen.

Happy New Year – Khon Kaen is a post from: Khon Kaen

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Noticed a lot of activity at Central Plaza this morning as a crew was setting up some kind of exposition for Canon. Apparently there is some sort of Photo competition for photographers that use Canon cameras.  Since I had a Canon EOS Rebel slung around my neck, I decided to stop and take a few pictures.

Canon Photo Marathon 2010

It was just past 0630 when I stopped and the place was a flurry of activity with speakers being set up and sound tested, the stage area being tidied up, and a van load of Canon reps disembarking.

Canon Photo Marathon 2010 Khon Kaen

Canon Photo Marathon 2010 Khon Kaen Stage

I cannot read Thai but I am guessing that the Canon Photo Marathon Thailand 2010 is some sort of competition at various locations around the country.  I will try to find out more from my wife.

Canon Photo Marathon Thailand 2010 is a post from: Khon Kaen

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Went to the Khon Kaen Central Plaza yesterday to have lunch with a buddy of mine.  I have been helping him with his KKETP web site and he wanted to treat me to lunch. KKETP (Khon Kaen Education and Travel Programs) is a new  concept for the Isaan region and a great opportunity for gap year students.  It is just starting out, but I am sure it will be a success due to the devoted people running it.

Anyhow, back to Central Plaza.

Central Plaza Events

Ronald McDonald at Central Plaza

I got there a little early and walked around taking pictures (breaking the law) and enjoying the eye candy.  I met up with Scott at the Sante Fe restaurant and was treated to Cordon Bleu with cheesy toast and a good size salad.  All for 99 Baht.  I also got some hash browns on the side.

Santa Fe Restaurant

Scott had to go back to work so I went downstairs to Tops to do some grocery shopping.  Imported food prices are sky high but I just had to get some Parmesan cheese, Polish sausage, and peanut butter and jelly – a little bit of home.  The Kraft Parmesan cheese was a bit pricey (almost $14 US dollars) – so I settled for a local Thai brand.

Kraft Parmesan Cheese

I was looking for some sausages and came across one pack that I will never buy.  Not sure what the German maker was thinking.  I did manage to pick up some Polish sausage and smoked sausage.

Beat Meat and Sausage

Today, I was hunting for a web site template for some other sites that I am working on and came across this one for WordPress (along with 2 others).  I settled on this template and then further decided to go with black (there are 2 choices – white or black).

I haven’t decided on whether to keep the comment numbers next to the posts or not.  I haven’t played around with it enough to know where to make the change – will see if I get any comments on the new layout – that will decide it.

Central Plaza + New Design is a post from: Khon Kaen

Rainy days and nights have kept the road around Lake Nong Khot too muddy to ride around. So, today, I headed for the park across the street from Central Plaza shopping mall.  Aerobics class was in session.

Aerobics Class

The dinosaurs were standing by waiting for the kids to play on them.

Dinosaur Playground

Dinosaur Playground

A nice day with no dogs chasing me.

Bike Ride 15 September 2010 is a post from: Khon Kaen

After being home from a 3-week holiday in Jomtien, I am getting back to the normal routine. Up at about 0500 and check email.  Then it is time for the morning bike ride for about 45 minutes.  And, then back to the house for the daily chores (Internet web sites updating).

In between all of that is feeding and playing around with the dogs, eating a couple times a day, catching a nap, and reading news items on the web.

Today’s bike ride was a slightly different route as the road around Lake Nong Khot is too muddy and wet to navigate.  So, I headed towards Central Plaza shopping mall and went to the outside of a temple I had see on previous rides.

Entrance to Temple in Khon Kaen

Temple Dragon

Making Merit

So, life goes on in Khon Kaen.  About the only difference I see is the housing construction that is going on all over the place.  No recession or lower prices on housing here.

Housing Project

If anything, prices for houses and for construction material keep going up, up, up.

Back in Rhythm is a post from: Khon Kaen

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