Photos from my trip to Thailand in April 2023.
All photos with depictions of the Buddha are presented in respect.
Click on a photo for a larger view.

Temples

This is the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok. This was a real "oh wow" moment. The statue is 150 feet long and 50 feet high. It is difficult to capture the entire statue with a single photo.

At Wat Pho

Wat Phra That Tha Uthen near the Mekong river

Wat Phrathat Phanom

This is an important temple (Wat) in Buddhism. The breast bones of the Buddha are here. This is a popular pilgrimage destination.
I rented a van with a driver and travelled with 10 others (11 total with the driver) from Roi Et to Nakon Phanon. We stayed overnight in Nakhon Phanon at a hotel with a view overlooking the Mekong River.

Road leading to Wat Phrathat Phanom

Wat Pho Si Muang Lat
This is the temple in the Muang Lat village.

In Roi Et there is an enormous statue of the Buddha at
Wat Burapha Phiram.

The statue is 194 feet tall and is the tallest statue of a standing Buddha in Thailand.

Big Buddha in Pattaya

Wat Phra That Choeng Chum Worawihan

Songkran

Songkran is a traditional celebration in Thailand marking the start of the Thai new year. It starts on April 13 and runs for three days. All banks, government offices, some transportation, and many businesses shut down for Songkran.
It is one of the world's greatest celebrations.

Songkran is a water festival. Spraying / splashing others with water and painting faces with "powder" is a big part of the festivites.
In Roi Et, Songkran is a bit more mobile than the tourist areas in Bangkok and the beach destinations. People ride around in the back of pickup trucks and splash water on others in vehicles and occasional pedestrians.

Morlam

While I was in Muang Lat, Roi Et, I attended a "Morlam" concert. The word Morlam refers to a Lao/Issan style of song, but in context of the concert, it is much more. It is a performance of traditional and modern songs in a concert / stage show. The Morlam started around 9 pm and ended around 4 am. The Morlam I attended was headlined by Ann Oradee. Ann is popular in Thailand and gained popularity by appearing on a TV talent show in Thailand.

The Morlam concert was set up on a soccer field at the local school.
Nearly everyone from the Muang Lat village and surrounding area attended.

This is reserved seating.

Preparing the concessions.
100% of the concessions sold out.

The words above the stage loosely translate to "over 100 performers" and there were
over 100 performers. At one point I counted 60 dancers and singers on stage at one time. The performers continually changed costume with each act that took the stage.
It was an extraordinary production.

Markets

At Pattaya Floating Market

Market in Muang Lat, Roi Et

Thung Charoen Fresh Market in Roi Et

Market stalls line the street leading to Wat Phrathat Phanom

Market stalls at Tao Ngoi

Food

This is squid/calamari.

I did not eat this dish.

I had never seen it served this way.

The black color is from squid ink (really).

I had the ข้าวผัดไก่ for 50 baht. (About $1.45 USD)

Coffee shops are popular in Thailand.
There are a number of Starbucks (especially in the Metro areas)
Thailand has several coffee chains of its own.

Assorted Places / Photos

Outside of MBK Mall in Bangkok

View from the room at Jomtien Beach

Rice near Muang Lat, Roi Et

This is the Chi River at Muang Lat

The 2nd and 3rd photos show the water level markers.
The top of the marker nearest where I took the photos is 14 meters (~45 feet) above the river bed.

This past fall, the top of that marker was several meters underwater when the entire area saw historic flooding.

This is an a side street in Muang Lat. They are drying rice.

At Nakhon Phanon there is a giant Naga statue that faces the Mekong River.
It is a popular destination for Thai.

Mekong River
(border between Thailand and Laos)

This is across the street from Wat Phra That Tha Uthen

My best shot at translating this is, "Like this place very much at Tha Uthen."

The last part of the first line refers to the region we were in (near Laos).
The words are written in Thai-Issan which in not the same as the
traditional Thai language.
Thai-Issan is derived from Laotian but is not the same.

The Roi Et Tower is in the distance.

The tower is shaped like a traditional Isaan flute called a "Wot."

The second photo is looking out from the viewing deck in the tower.

Tao Ngoi

Nearly Random

No trip to Thailand is complete
without a ride in a Tuk Tuk

Tamarind

Papaya

Eats ants...

I took this photo because it remided me of a nearly
identical picture I took in the Philippines.
The rice is sold per kilogram. The prices equate to about
75 cents USD per kilogram or about 35 cents per pound.