Today is Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, everywhere people are trying to get you soaking wet (Water Festival)

Even here at Big Buddha, which is still a work in progress

I guess pouring water over Buddha is all part of the water festival

Lots of bells everywhere

And they say money doesn’t grow on trees…

Buddha galore

Lots of incense sticks burning

You can see why the call it Big Buddha

I mean, it’s Buddha, and it’s big

Buddha will be very pleased with everyone touching the gong

As I said, bells everywhere, and I must say they do sound nice

Inside the (hollow) Big Buddha

As if he’s saying “thou shalt not pass”

Yet another Buddha

View from Big Buddha towards Kata Village

You guessed it, it’s Buddha

I wish I understood what they are doing, to me it looks like baptising Buddha

Yes, he really is wearing a plastic pot on his head

Rawai Beach

More Rawai Beach, as seen from Rawai Pier

Rawai Seafood Market, this made me very sad, I’m used to seeing all these wonderful creatures while diving, and here they are in a plastic bucket, away from their natural habitat, awaiting a tragic death

Seeing these beauties under water would be one of the highlights of a dive, and here they are in a plastic bucket wondering where they are and what happened to them

Poor souls

Such beautiful colours, they don’t deserve to end this way, they should be in the ocean, enjoying life

As usual, things might look beautiful and pristine

But turn around and see what an incredible mess the Thai are making of their country

More Buddha things at Praphakhan Kanchanaphisek

This is a statue of an Indian elephant, not an African one, but how can you tell them apart?

Admiral His Royal Highness Prince Abhakara Kiartiwonges – Prince of Jumborn