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Well there's a big downpour going on, so it's a great time to upload some more pics! (takes a bit of pasting and clicking to get them all uploaded and presented!). (if you want to see the previous set of pictures, follow the 'reply' to this message, I'm going to link all pictures as replies to the original picture post)

So here goes:

1. Temple porch near the Big Buddha. This is the porch of the temple that is beside the Big Buddha. You can see BB there in the distance.

2. The Big Buddha. Here is the Big Buddha in Bangkok. He's rather large isn't he? See the people at his feet? There's also the famous reclining Buddha, but I didn't have time to go and see him. Maybe next time I'm in Bangkok. That big contraption above his head is a stylized umbrella. Such umbrellas have regal and religious significance around South East Asia and parts of India.

3. Ceramic People at the Good Luck Temple. Here is an eye catching little piece of ceramic people standing around a water pot. Just jumped out at me because it's only about 4 feet tall and I suddenly turned and thought I saw little people standing there! I don't know anything about its history or significance.

4. Funeral Cart. Ashes to ashes, dust to dragons. This appears to be a cart for carrying bodies. What a way to go!

5. Queen's Birthday Preparations. That weekend was the Queen's birthday. Here they are preparing all the festivities, but alas, I was up in the north of the country before they had the party! This area is huge, I could have walked backwards about 5 times the distance you see to the stage. Behind the stage is the special ceremonial city owned by the King, it has loads of exotic buildings in it, but they wouldn't let me come in because I was wearing shorts (have to wear long pants). Oh well, something to look forward to next time!

Great photos, I haven't been to this Wat for ages. I have a photo of a pair of Karen girls walking near the building the funeral cart is being decorated for the birthday celebration. At that time (several years ago, they had not yet paved the grounds. The oldest part of the Wat was a sacred well (women not admitted for some reason). I greatly enjoy your photos.

Previous Thailand picture posts:
Post 805
Post 851

1. Fan Dance: Here are some young girls practicing a fan dance in preparation for the Queen's birthday party, which was two weeks ago!

2. Monument to the King: The King is bigger than Elvis in Thailand (in fact, there is an old picture of the King of Thailand sitting with Elvis many years ago). He really is a great man, and has been King of Thailand for sixty years, this year was his sixtieth year. Alas, I'm worried what Thailand will be like when the King passes away, he is often the rock of stability in otherwise unpredictable times. He's 78 now, so it could be 20 years before we see how Thailand gets on without him. They could use all 20, IMO.

3. Street Near Khao Sarn Tourist Area: This didn't come out too great. This is simply a street near the tourist area. The three headed elephant (marble column in the very center), which looked bigger from there in real life, is a legendary creature in Thai history. From what I understand, Thais controlled most of what is Thailand, then for a few centuries some Cambodian and Burmese tribes pushed the Thais south, then the Thais pushed back and took back Northern Thailand. I think the triple headed elephant is ascribed to the Thai king who took the territory back. Otherwise, this is just a typical Bangkok street.

4. Small Market Inside Khao Sarn Wat Grounds: This is inside the grounds of the Wat which is surrounded by the uber-tourist area of Khao Sarn road. As a result of the numerous tourists, they sell lots of stuff here. As you can see this is one of the grainier pictures.

5. Mysterious Temple Path: Here's a tree lined pathway inside the temple. Where does it lead? Stay tuned, and find out next week, with the next installment of exotic pictures from South East Asia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!