I found out about the 40th National Games of Thailand, being held in Khon Kaen from 3-13 March 2012, from an email from Tom at Isaan-live – not from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Tom got the information from a tweet with a link to TAN news.

Now, both Tom and I live in Khon Kaen and neither of us had heard about this sporting event.  Thanks Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Thailand National Games

Tom got some additional information from a bunch of signs around Bueng Kaen Nakorn, but they are all in Thai and he blogged about it -  Is it Racism or just Ignorance in Thailand.   It appears that us Farangs aren’t invited and the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t care.

I had never heard of the Thai National Games and Google wasn’t much of a help either.  Aside from a crappy Wikipedia page, there is very little information about the Thai National Games.

So, I wanted to see what the Tourism Authority of Thailand had put out in previous years by googling – “national games” thailand site:.tourismthailand.org – this way I would only search at the main Tourism Authority of Thailand web site.

Here are the results:

 No results found for “national games” thailand site:.tourismthailand.org.

So, not only are all the signs in Khon Kaen for the 40th National Games in the Thai language, it appears that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has never, ever posted anything online about them.

I did find an article on the 39th Thai National Games in the Pattaya Times, The 39th Chonburi Games Comes To An End, but it calls the games the “Chonburi Games” and states that the Khon Kaen 40th National Games (or maybe known as the Khon Kaen Games or, if the Tourism Authority of Thailand does promote it, will perhaps call it the Miracle National Games) will be held in November – wrong.

The National Games in Chonburi attracted 13,000 athletes and they participated in 39 sporting events.  Khon Kaen will have 32 events but I have no idea what they are, which of two venues (the Khon Kaen Administration Stadium and the Khon Kaen University Stadium) they will be played at, and what the dates and times of the competitions are.

With that many athletes, and maybe family and friends, that is a lot of people and a lot of revenue for Khon Kaen.  But, it could be more if the Tourism Authority of Thailand (main office in Bangkok) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Khon Kaen Office) would promote it on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and on the main Tourism Authority of Thailand web site – thailandtourism.org.

Promoting it in the English language would also get foreigners from many countries to also go to Khon Kaen to watch the athletes.

But, the Tourism Authority of Thailand chooses to take food out of the mouths of those in Isaan by NOT promoting events that locals and foreigners would both enjoy seeing.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand would prefer to promote the World’s Biggest Outdoor Water Fight (Songkran) and the Miss Tiffany Transvestite Beauty Contest.

Another case of the Tourism Authority of Thailand not knowing what the are doing.

40th National Games In Khon Kaen But Tourism Authority Of Thailand Not Promoting is a post from: Khon Kaen

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Spent the day and night at Tom from Isaan-Live’s place to take in Chinese New Year in Khon Kaen.

This is becoming an annual event for us as we have now celebrated Chinese New Year two years in row in Khon Kaen.

Tom picked my at about 0930 and we headed out to Tukcom first to find a power supply for Tom’s wireless router and then to Tom’s house to goof around for a bit before heading out to the Chinese Shrine for the Year of the Dragon Chinese New Year celebration.

We mainly visited the Chinese shrine early to see what time the goings-on were going to be at and were told to come back about 1800.

Took a few photos of the early birds making merit and offering food and drink.

So, it was time to eat and have some daytime adult beverages.

Napped a bit, and then headed back to the Chinese Shrine on Bueng Kaen Nakorn to check out the Chinese New Year festivities.  Lots of people, food, drink, and joss sticks.

Then it was time for some more food and drink at Menu Nuea.

Got back to Tom’s place about 2200 and both of us were up and at ‘em at 0500.  We waited a bit for it to get somewhat lighter outside and headed for the City Pillar/Gate/Shrine – Lak Muang.  Lots of folks making merit for Chinese New Year at 0530 and lots of beggars waiting for handouts.

All in all, we had a great time eating, drinking, and observing Chinese New Year at the local shrines.

Chinese New Year In Khon Kaen Thailand is a post from: Khon Kaen

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Today is 10 January, 2012 and I see from the Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Provincial Office that there was a silk festival in Chonnabot from 9-12 January 2012.

This is just another in the long list of fails for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Chonnabot SIlk Festival Parade

This is what the Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Office posted today (10 Jan) on their Facebook page:

Chonlabot Madmee Silk Festival

9th – 12th January, 2012

in front of The Chonnabot District Office, Chonnabot, Khon Kaen : )

Too bad the Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Office can’t spell Chonnabot consistently and the type of silk is usually referred to as mudmee or mudmii – not madmee.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Office  included an album of photos of the Chonnabot Silk Festival Parade which I am sure they hired someone else to do.

Now here is the problem.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Office did not notify via Facebook ahead of time with an EVENT. This would have allowed people in the area to go to Chonnabot and see the parade.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Office also did not notify the Tourism Authority of Thailand Amazing Thailand Facebook page ahead of time so that they could inform their 200,000 friends.

And, the Tourism Authority of Thailand main web site, tourismthailand.org does not have the Chonnabot Silk Festival or the Parade listed at all for an event in Thailand during the month of January.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand continues to think that Facebook is just another web site and has no idea what Social Media is or how to use it to their advantage.  With the floods throughout Thailand during October, November, and December 2011, one would think that the Tourism Authority of Thailand would be trying to get tourists to come to Thailand to experience its unique culture.

But, no, the Tourism Authority of Thailand only has two items listed on their main web site for the entire year of 2012 – the International Khon Kaen Marathon and a Bike Rally in Pattaya.  Two whole events in the entire Kingdom for an entire year.  Amazing Thailand indeed!

This was an opportunity missed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  People from Thailand and around the world would have loved to see the Chonnabot Silk Festival Parade, the ladies sitting at their old, wooden looms, spinning silk.  But, by not notifying anyone, the only ones who were on hand to see the silk festival parade were locals from Chonnabot.

Just another FAIL for the Tourism Authority of Thailand Khon Kaen Provincial Office.

Tourism Authority Of Thailand Khon Kaen Facebook Fail is a post from: Khon Kaen

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With 3G now available in some areas of Isaan, Isaan-Live is now broadcasting live.

Tom, at Isaan-Live, got his Android phone, wireless, 3g, mobile apps, and Ustream.tv all synched and working yesterday for a live broadcast from his favorite eatery and watering hole, Menu Nuea in Khon Kaen.

Dinosaur

This was quite an accomplishment for Tom at Isaan-Live considering he is one of the first to utilize 3G in Isaan and, unlike most Thais, actually knows how to use a smart phone for things other than playing games or showing off a new phone.

Isaan-Live has, in the past, gone out and Geo-tagged Khmer ruins, Isaan temples, the Mekong River, the 2011 floods in Isaan, and other sites that have been incorrectly identified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Isaan-Live also does a weekly Podcast on various and sundry Northeast Thailand subjects.  Isaan-Live also photographs and videos anything and everything Isaan.

So, it was just a matter of time before Isaan-Live went Live.  Tom’s first attempt was using justin.tv, but I had a problem viewing the site because the Thai Internet Police have blocked it at my ISP – True.  So, Tom tried another venue, Ustream.tv, and all is good.

The very first attempt at a live transmission took place at Menu Nuea last night at 1700 hours, and went off without a hitch.  The broadcast streamed live without breaking up and continued for close to an hour.  We got to see the patrons of the restaurant, listen to some live music, see the traffic on the street, and check out Bueng Kaen Nakorn.

While Tom was broadcasting live, I went to work to get the embed code and put it at Isaan-Live and that was easy as could be.  Now, I could either watch it at ustream.tv or straight from Tom’s web site, Isaan-Live.

Since Tom does a lot of traveling throughout Isaan, and posts photos and videos of his journeys, this opens up a whole bunch of new possibilities for live broadcasts.  Anyone online will now be able to travel along with Tom and see what he sees at Isaan-Live in most areas of Isaan.  Hopefully, more and more WiFi hotspots are set up in Isaan, offering more and more opportunities for anyone to see temples, markets, museums, rivers, waterfalls, and anything else here in Isaan.

The Internet can be spotty here in Thailand and really spotty in Isan, so bear with us as we work to broadcast live events, festivals, and sights in Isaan.  Weather, lack of signal, rural locations, and charged batteries may contribute to limited broadcasts but should improve over the year (hopefully).

Both of us are still learning what we can and cannot do with ustream.tv and may find alternative means for live broadcasts.  Right now, this is a new venture for us and we look forward to sharing our part of Thailand.

Isaan-Live will continue to promote Isaan and provide honest, accurate, timely, and real Isaan information – unlike some travel bloggers.

You will need to follow Isaan-Live on Twitter – @isaanlife – to receive notifications of upcoming live broadcasts.

Isaan-Live Is Really Live! is a post from: Khon Kaen

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I survived my first full calendar year of retirement in Thailand and, I have to say, it was a pretty darned good year.

The Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts kept from rioting this year, the weather wasn’t as hot as 2010, but there were some heavy rains during monsoon season that had a major effect on tourism in Thailand.

Thailand Buddhist Monk Alms Bowl

The year started out with a visit to the Khon Kaen City gate to view the annual New Year Merit making.  There were the traditional countdowns in Bangkok, Pattaya and in Khon Kaen.  I avoided them all because of the Seven Dangerous Days.  I did get to see the Annual Khon Kaen International Marathon in late January along with Tom from Isaan-Live.

February continued with us in the middle of having our house built.  There were some complications with our contractor that sent the process into mediation and caused a couple week work stoppage.  In the end, we sacked the guy for breach of contract, didn’t make the final 20% payment and hired new crews to finish up.  I went with Tom to observe Chinese New Year in Khon Kaen and spend the day.

March showed up and my brother-in-law invited me to a festival in Roi-et called Boon Phawate.  We were a little late for the parade but my brother-in-law made sure that the day wasn’t wasted.  He made an excellent tour guide on the road trip and took me to Bueng Palanchai, Wat Pa Kung, ancient Khmer ruins at Ku Santarat and Phrathat Nadoon in Maha Sarakham and lastly to another Khmer temple ruins at Ku Ban Daeng.

The house was moving along and after consulting with the local soothsayer, it was decided that 1 April would be the magic day.  But, first, I had to get my one-year visa extension at the Thai Immigration Office in Khon Kaen since I would hit my one-year retired in Thailand date on 25 March.  I also managed to get in some relax time with Tom.

April Fool’s Day was the day for the house warming party and blessing, lots of food and drink, and finally move in to the new house in Khon Kaen. Our two dogs, Milo and Soda enjoyed moving to a much roomier yard.  My wife, the civil engineer, supervised the construction of the house and then used her good taste to get the furnishings.

April in Thailand also means Thai New Year – Songkran.  There is the traditional Songkran, honoring elders, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand Songkran, insane water throwing for 3 days 3 weeks.  There are also way too many road deaths during the Seven Dangerous Days of Songkran.

Immediately after Songkran, it was off to Hua Hin for some metal detecting.  I stayed at Jing’s Guest House and had a great time at the beach.

In May, the house front and back yards got some additional landscaping – plants and trees.  And, the big event of the month was my brother-in-law getting married in Roi-et.

The year is zooming along and it is June already. My family even remembered and surprised me on my birthday.  One more year to wait for my US Army Reserves Retirement.

My wife kept busy and opened up her own business – The Healthy Smoothie Bar.  She was a success, but has since sold it.

Not much happened on the home front in Khon Kaen during July.  There were major elections that saw the first female Prime Minister elected in Thailand – of course it helped that her fugitive from the law brother used to be the Prime Minister.

August was the start of monsoon season in Thailand and it would turn out the be the worst in 50 70 100 many years.  The storms that hit the North and Northeast eventually hit Central Thailand flooding Bangkok.  Currently the storms are hitting the South.

Her Majesty the Queen celebrated her birthday on August 12th and we celebrated Mother’s Day with family.

September 5th marked my 39th anniversary of joining the US Army and what would be the start of a long career as a solider, weekend warrior, government contractor and civil servant.  September was also time for me to visit Thai Immigration for my 90-day check-in.

And, with the monsoons continuing, we had an uninvited guest.

October was nice in that I received my US Army Reserve retirement orders – meaning the Army Reserves is on top of things and I will get a paycheck come June/July 2012.

It was also time for another metal detecting trip – this time to Cha-am – where I stayed at the My House Cha-am Guest House.  It was a good place to stay and get away from the rains that were continuing in Khon Kaen.  I would just miss the floods in Bangkok.

November in Thailand, no matter where your are, means Loy Krathong.  And, it was a time for me to get off my lazy ass and get back to doing some exercise.

November is also the time for the Khon Kaen Silk Festival Parade.

December and it was time for another 90-day check-in with Thai Immigration and the celebration of His Majesty the King’s 84th Birthday.

Christmas isn’t celebrated except in the touristy areas, but New Year’s Eve is a biggie with every city in Thailand – Khon Kaen was promoting “Sparkling Fantasy World” with their Countdown and entertainment by Bodyslam.  We did have a small celebration with family on Christmas Eve Eve.

Lastly, was New Year’s Eve spent at home with family.  BBQ, beer, and no chance of being a Seven Dangerous Days statistic.

Now, we just hope that we have a great 2012/2555 in Khon Kaen Thailand.

2011 – A Look Back is a post from: Khon Kaen

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