Wat Phu Khao
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, in which Lord Buddha is reclining on his left side (not his right, as usual).
I had a splitting headache, I suspect from the anti-malarial medicine I thought I was supposed to take. (Which is a funny story in and of itself. We understood that there were some issues with malaria along the Mekhong river, where we would head soon afterwards. But while in this particular region we had the pleasure of staying with the government official responsible for the health of Mahasarakham province. He said that malaria wasn't an issue in the areas we were headed. But by then it was too late. I'd suffered through days of dull, aching headaches.)
Anyway, while at Wat Phu Khao, which, incidentally, is situated on a hill in a beautiful wooded area, we had the privilege of speaking with a monk, who took pity on my daughter, who was scratching herself from all the mosquito bites she was taking, and (from his meditative perch) rolled us a bottle of balm, which when applied to my daugher's skin took much of the itch away.
I'd have taken a picture of the monk, but he asked us politely not to. Instead I took this picture of my wife and daughter, Amy and Jariya, in a little side building filled with images, mainly (I gather) of famous monks. Perhaps there are amulets here as well. These typically contain a famous spiritual person or being.
By the way, when you speak to monks, make sure to wai them (put your hands together as if praying). It should be a "high" wai up around your nose. Don't touch them, particularly if you are a woman or girl. Part of their discipline is not to touch a woman.
By the way, the signs that some of the images are holding in the above picture say "don't touch."