Wat Lam Rong, Korat

One of the things I like about where I live is that while we're only a few minutes by car from The Mall, Lotus and downtown Korat, I can ride my bicycle a kilometer north and be in deepest, darkest rural Isaan. This area is not likely to be developed very soon as it straddles Lam Takhong, a tributary of the Mun River. In this area Lam Takhong's basin is quite wide and swampy. Great for growing rice but that's about it.

For the last few months I've been concentrating on the garden at the new house so haven't been on any long bicycle rides. We've had some rain lately so I figured I'd take a day off from watering and hit the road.

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This is the pond at Wat La Lom Po which is four or five kilometers north of where we live.

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The monks at this wat are not very friendly and always seem to be anxious for me to leave. But, yesterday, no one was around so I snapped these photos of their pond.

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Just a few flowers in this lotus pond.

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Although this charcoal pit probably isn't on the Green Peace Approved list I love the smell of the charcoal cooking as I drive by.

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You can see how wet it is in this area.

Wat Lam Rong is off highway 2168 about four or five kilometers from the intersection with highway 205 which runs between Korat and Chaiyapum. I rode to that intersection and turned around. I saw the signs for Wat Lam Rong on the way back so thought I'd stop in and have a look.

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Like many rural wats this one has built a new fancy viharn and let the old one (with the tin roof on the right) go to ruin.

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Even though it's a mess, the inside is quite fascinating.

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Although the Buddha image is still shown respect, the building itself has just become a storage area.

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On the way home I came across what looks like someone's next meal. I'd guess there are crabs or fish or eels in the basket along side some pak bung and a banana flower.

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I waited quite a while to see if the owner would show up, but no one ever did.

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If I'm in the vicinity I always stop off at Wat Prang Torng. It's one of my favorite wats because it has this old Khmer Prang. I always take a photo because I figure next time I'm there it might be just a pile of stones.

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It's the end of onion growing season and you see onions drying in every possible place. These on bamboo poles under a porch.

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These ladies are braiding the onions for drying. I asked them if I could take a photo and they agreed. At the same time they sent for a translator. It turned out to be a young boy about twelve years old who spoke excellent English:

"Sir, would you like to take a photograph?"
"Yes."
"Who would you like to photograph?"
"Everyone."
"OK, please go ahead."

He then proceeded to ask the usual questions. Where are you from? Do you have children in Thailand? Have you come alone? What is your profession? And so on.

Finally, he looked me straight in the face and asked, "Would you like to have a Thai wife?"

I almost lost it right there and had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. I'm very sorry I failed to get his photograph.

Bike ride to Wat Lam Rong over. 48K and about two and a half hours of fun.

Can't green ya- got to spread some rep first.
But great stuff BH.:)