Goerwitz

Most Thais haven't ever seen snow, and are fascinated by it. We, on the other hand (coming from the northern US, Minnesota), are fascinated by backyard tamarind, banana, and other (often very large-leaved) topical trees, such as the ones you see here.

Incidentally, Amy and Jariya are wearing pink here, the color of the King, at least for 2007.

While on a several-day stay in Mahasarakham, we were taken to Wat Phu Khao, in Kalasin province. There are a number of interesting things there, such as a large, beautiful sala ('place to rest') constructed of wood made available when the local Lam Pao reservoir was constructed. There is also a 17th-century Buddha statue there,

Thais typically will wai (i.e., put their hands together in a prayerful gesture of respect towards) images of Lord Buddha, but in cases like this Buddha-lined street, the images weren't necessarily meant for individual reverence the way, say, the large Buddha in a main temple structure typically is.

Jariya, who lives in the US, was happy to find people in Thailand who knew how to do really interesting things with her hair. Jariya's hair is straight, thick, shiny, and black (like that of many Asian people).

People in the United States don't always have a clear idea of what to do with hair like this.

Ayutthaya (the capital of Thailand before Bangkok) was sacked and destroyed in 1767 when the Burmese invaded, and looted the city. What you see in this picture are the ruins that were left, along with my daughter and, in the corner, my wife, Amy's, hand and cell phone.