Trip to the Hong Mun Mung

Two weeks ago I was watching the morning talkshow “Jaew” and saw this Khon Kaen musuem featured. On the spur of the moment I decided to visit the musuem that very day. Thankfully I was not disappointed! I must have spent close to two hours in the museum, taking pictures and taking in the fact that Khon Kaen was very much deeply entrenched in Buddhism..

At any rate I highly recommend all new visitors to Khon Kaen to visit this place- trust me, it’s rewarding to be in the place! Located by the lake Buen Kaen Nakorn.

The Issan name is a real mouthful

Entrance to the musuem

Scaled-down model of Khon Kaen in the past

Life-sized wax figure (slightly scary)

The full "Hod Song" display

Early 1900s photos of Khon Kaen dwellers

The local shaman cures the sick

Seeking to change bad luck/ retain good luck via the shaman

A herb physician

Praying to the deity for blessings on the harvest

Early beginnings of the city

Offerings+ lucky elephant= double auspicions?

Shrine at the entrance to village

Example of city pillar (the ribbons indicate reverence and worship)

Madam Tussards' section- Shop and herb seller

Early Protestant missionary presence in KK

Chinese merchants who brought their way of living over

Shopfront cum house

Very Peranakan cabinet

Room with a view

Ol' skool wall decor

View of the room

Ceremony for monks to confess their sins, supported by locals

Get good kharma by listening to the story of Buddha's enlightenment for 1 entire day!

1st day of Songkran- time to pay homage to the dead and cleanse images of Buddha

Buddhist Lent- monks stay in the monastery for 3 mths to avoid damaging crops

Binding of soul ties- criteria is for both to be born in same year and month

Scaled model of Khon Kaen (near the lake)

Old road sign

More recent version of road sign (with Roman letters)