Part 2 of 4. Khon Kaen, Sai Ngam, Bang Song Silk village, Ban Kok Turtle Village, Koo Kaew Mat Weaving Village, Ban Chiang, Udon Thani, Kamchanod, the home of the Great Naga

1. Thailand's Isan
Region
Part 2 of 4
Unique Villages, Ban Chiang
and the Naga Temple
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2. Near Khon Kaen - the Sai Ngam Banyan Tree and Shrine

3. Sai Ngam is the largest banyan grove in Thailand, spanning an area of some 1,350 square
metres. The Buddha is believed to have become enlightened under a type of banyan
known as “sacred fig” or “Bodhi tree”.

4. Sai Ngam is considered sacred by locals, and thought to be occupied by a powerful spirit.
They regularly offer incense sticks and colourful streams of flower garlands to the spirit
house near Sai Ngam’s original 350-year-old trunk.

5. A family celebrates at one of the shrines at Sai Ngam

6. A small market sells statuettes of holy men and good-luck
spirits for home alters and spirit houses

7. Bang Song Silk Village

8. Silk worm cocoons are boiled to allow the threads to be extracted

9. There are 80 families in the village.
Silk production is a family affair

10. The start of the process--silk worms munch on a diet of mulberry leaves.

11. Weaving the silk...this is one of Isan's most important cottage industries.

13. Silk production takes place in the cool of
the ground level--near the kitchen and
daytime 'relaxing' areas

14. Ban Kok Turtle Village.
When we arrived at 5:30 pm, the turtles had not yet emerged.
We fed a few that wandered around on the main street.s.

15. The Tao Pek, or elongated turtles embody holy spirits
that have protected the village for the past 250 years.

16. A few very helpful locals searched their yards and storehouses to
find sleeping turtles. This woman brought one out for us to see!

17. Villagers set out mangoes, melons, jackfruit,
grapes and other fruits. The turtles smell them
and then clamour out of the bushes (left) to
take in the feast.

19. Turtles will be turtles. They make loud hissing noises during courtship. After the
eating frenzy, just as the sun starts to set, you can hear the turtles.

20. Dinner at the Khon Kaen Night Market

21. We sat in front of the Pad Thai stall

22. Fresh, tasty Pad Thai and Singha Beer for dinner

23. After the silk and turtle villages, we heard
about the cobra village (Kok Sanga) so
we decided to explore. It was very hokey,
touristy and expensive so we left after a
few minutes.

24. Traffic Congestion

25. Heading in thew direction of Udon Thani we stopped to
appreciate the scenery and visit a roadside market. The
temperature was in the mid-30's C (90F) so this dog obviously
had the right idea, in between guarding the cows.

26. Water Lotus--you can snack on the seeds

27. Fresh, juicy mango

28. Mitsuru hanging out with the
bunch

29. Cow and Water Buffalo Skin--just like eating beef jerky

30. Mother chicken offers a ride to one of her chicks

31. Koo Kaew --The Mat Weaving Village

32. Storehouse for weaving materials

35. The village has a temple. The side roads lead to rice fields and beautiful scenery.

36. Lunch at
Nam Sau
(Clear
Water)
Restaurant.
Lemon Tea,
chicken,
papaya
salad,
sticky rice
and fried
rice
Papaya Salad

37. Ban Chiang
Archeological Site is
on the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
Known for its red
pottery, the site
covers the time
period from 2100
BCE to 200 CE

38. Wat Pho Sri Temple in Ban Chiang

39. Kamchanot
The Buddhist
and Naga
Forest Temple
Udon Thani

40. Kamchanod is believed to be the home and entrance to the underground world of a mythical
Nāga, a giant serpent who legend says breathed fireballs into the sky to form steps for
Buddha to descend to heaven.

41. The great Nāga lives deep in the waters of the lake which surround a densely forested island called
Wang Nakhin (Nāga Palace) which is connected to the temple grounds by a 100 metre bridge guarded
on each side by two seven-headed serpents.

42. Shrines on the island, where visitors pray to the Great Naga and to Buddha

43. Flower garlands around the Chanot trees pay homage to the
Naga and carry blessings of good fortune

44. Visitors rub their hands quickly in circles on the gongs to make them 'sing';
a sound that appeases the Great Naga and brings good fortune

45. Veneration at one of the
statues of a holy man

46. Auspicious markings on the chanot trees. Families gather to 'interpret' the markings
which reveal numbers that may correspond to winning lottery tickets!

48. Morning scene in Nakhon Phanom
End o Part 2—Next we visit Sakon Nakorn and Nakhon Phanom.