Monks in Bangkok, Visakha Bucha Day, Thailand

Novice monks gather in Bangkok for Visakha Bucha Day. Bangkok, Thailand. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

When there are 12,600 Buddhist monks from southern Thailand in one street of Bangkok at once, where, as a photographer, do you start trying to document the mass alms-giving that was Visakha Bucha Day? The answer, of course, is to not panic and keep it simple. Wide shot, mid shot, close-up. That’s what I was taught … Read more

Meeting the Mask Makers of Dan Sai, Isaan, Thailand

Exploring the Isaan: the Mask Makers of Dan Sai, Thailand. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Located in a lovely valley amid gently undulating hills, Dan Sai, in the Loie Province of Thailand’s Isaan region, is a town of dilapidated wooden houses that is famous for Phi Ta Kon, a boisterous three-day rainmaking festival, also known as the Ghost Festival, which coincides with a grand merit-making event known as Boon Luang. At … Read more

Exploring the Isaan Region and the Khmer Temple of Prasat Phanom Rung

Exploring the Isaan Region of Northeast Thailand and the Khmer Temple of Prasat Phanom Rung. Temple of Prasat Phanom Rung, Isaan, Thailand. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

The spectacular ruins of the Khmer temple sanctuary of Prasat Phanom Rung and nearby Prasat Muang Tam are just a two-hour drive from Nakhon Ratchasima, more commonly known as Korat, in the southernmost part of the Isaan, Thailand’s large north-eastern region. It was the first stop on our road trip through the off the beaten … Read more

Making Merit En Masse: Giving Alms to 12,600 Monks in Bangkok

Making Merit En Masse: Giving Alms to 12,600 Monks in Bangkok on Visakha Bucha Day. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Shades of saffron, mustard and tangerine stretched as far as our eyes could see – the robes of some 12,600 Buddhist monks from southern Thailand who travelled by bus to Bangkok to attend the mass alms giving to commemorate Visakha Bucha Day*. The sun may still have been low in the sky when we got … Read more