Understated Details At Wat Luang Sunthraram

If you don't have a giant, gold, reclining Buddha to bring the crowds, your Wat, temple complex, may take on more of an understated, local feel. Which is nice, smaller details delight.

Wat Luang Sunthraram, empty.

Old monk sculpture, gold leaf and probably the monk's original eyeglasses. Royal icons.

Beauty in junk out back.

Grave memorial and small shrine.
The patina is present, from temples to trees.

Stormy Skies, Noir Night In Ang Thong, Thailand

The stormy skies roll in quick in Southeast Asia, usually buffering the impending night. Time to check out a perfect example in Ang Thong, a few hours north of Bangkok.

Late afternoon, clouds ominously gathering.

Lights forced on early. The night market stays open, despite the uneasy sky. No rain, no close.

Antennas, unsettled.

Slices of night. A hairdresser window and power lines.

The closed clothes shop.

The Picnic Table Set Fantasy

Someone in Ang Thong, Thailand has a concrete mold factory and really loves creating fantastical picnic table sets. Time to shop and sit.

A typical selection, this group, fruit themed. You wanna sit on a strawberry, watermelon or pineapple?

Then there's the animal kingdom and motor scooters.

Even rough shops like tire places need some happy picnic bling.

More animals. You want to sit lamb or rubber duckie?
Ooh, the source. How does one decide?

Pyramid Power At Wat Tha Ittharam

Buddhist temple complexes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Old and traditional, new and funky. At Wat Tha Ittharam in Ang Thong, Thailand, they believe in the power of the pyramid.

The main stupa, chedi, a triangle monolith.

At the bottom of the pyramid, the usual wax monk assortment with gold leaf bling attached.

Heading up in the pyramid. The Buddhists seemed more interested in building the structure than stuffing it with icons. Each floor gets a centerpiece and thats about it. This floor, theme in blue.

More floors, a red carpet for Buddha.

The top floor, getting blue crystal themed.

Buddhist Hoe-Down At The Wat In Thailand

You think a Buddhist temple is just for praying, chanting, hanging out in your orange robe? Nope. Based on billboards placed around Ang Thong, the local Wats host some impressive singing, high costumed parties. Think Vegas at the temple.

Dancing with the Stars? Belting for Buddha.

All sorts of folks get to entertain. Just make sure you have enough sequins.

There must be a wide variety of performers. The black graffiti markings are original, not drawn on the billboard.

Thai cowboy and more singers.

Back to the eccentric section.

A Mural For Everyone At Wat Khun Inthapramun

Frequently Buddhist temple complexes have elaborate murals that depict various religious legends, tales, fables. At Wat Khun Inthapramun, they're busy painting a different kind of mural. Call it hyper realism for their own community.

The mural, partially finished.

Alright, taking inclusivity seriously. The mural is a combination of painted versions of photographs from the congregation. Fun stuff, nothing is edited away. Taking pics, selfie sticks, sunglasses, jeans, sure!

A little shout out to the folks building and restoring the complex.

Your dog, dorky camera gear, it's all good.

The cops get their space. And are seen doing their cop things with cell phones. It should look great in 50 years, a real time capsule.

Relaxing At Wat Khun Inthapramun

The nice thing about Thailand is that you're never far from a Buddha. City or country, there's always a wat nearby. The fun part is seeing which style of Buddha is hanging out.

A few hours north of Bangkok is Wat Khun Inthapramun. The complex is surrounded by fields and you'll find few visitors during the week.  Laid back.

Their Buddha gets it.

The impressive feature? The bright orange robe. We're talking a major piece of fabric. On a big Buddha, outside, in the tropics. The dry cleaning bill!

More orange, strung all over some trees. An old, brick stupa.

Buddha on Buddha. A smaller sculpture, also relaxing, in front of the big boy.

Temple details, various small icons and a colorful Naga, multi-headed snake.

The Buddha backside, in case you were wondering. You were. You're welcome.

Hell Garden At Wat Muang

The best collection of figures at Wat Muang is reserved for the Hell Garden, a special section devoted to themes of torture and horrible misery. The scenes serve as a warning to those folks who stray from the divine ways of Buddhism. Or the figures are artisans run amok.

The Hell ambassadors, all sunken chested and long tongued.

The most hellish thing? Busloads of school kids are shuffled through the place. Never too early to scare 'em straight. Dogs are in on the pain delivery.

Oh, the variety of hell punishment. Mere stabbing and puncturing are so vanilla hell. Tie your hands up, saw your arms off, now we're talking a good recipe for abuse.

Let the punishment fit the crime. Squeezing your belly, probably for pregnancy. Getting meta. After your head is chopped off, you gotta walk around with it on display. Tricky.

Looking down at pure hell. Lesson learned!