If the rainy season brings great precipitation, fields surrounding the Mun (sounds like 'moon') River in southern Isaan will be flooded and transformed into vast lakes.

Above the dam at Rasi Salai, a farmer becomes boatman.

The dam on the Mun River at Rasi Salai

Fields above the dam become gigantic mirrors, reflecting the sky above.

View downriver from the dam at Rasi Salai

Fishermen tending to their nets on the Mun River

These farmers have brought their cattle to forage along the banks of the Mun River at Rasi Salai, lower Isaan.

Rice farmer preparing his field for planting. Tractors and motorized tillers are widely used today, but water buffalo are still used by many farmers.

A small plot of angled loofah on a rice farm in Khon Kaen Province, north-central Isaan

Rice farmer preparing his field, Khon Kaen

Khon Kaen rice farmer

Rice plants, Khon Kaen

Transplanting young rice shoots from their seed beds, Khon Kaen

Transplanted rice shoots, Khon Kaen

Isaan rice field

A typical landscape in Sisaket Province, lower Isaan

Harvesting second-growth rice grains with scythe in hand

Rice-harvesting machines are increasingly in use today, but much rice is still harvested by hand, a less-expensive method but also one that is more suited for fields where the terrain is uneven or trees are numerous.

Rice-harvesting machinery at work

Water buffalo enjoying a cooling dip in the water

Still dripping wet after their 'swim'

A lone rice harvester

Another harvested rice field

Lone harvester in a sea of rice

The season's crop harvested, a rice farmer gathers stalks for feed for his livestock.

Curious but cautious

The mighty Mekong River, which defines the northern and eastern borders of Isaan, becomes less than mighty in the dry season. Taken at Nakhon Phanom, towards the north of Isaan.

A lone boatman in early-morning fog and mist on the Mekong at Mukdahan

Tana Rapids, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Flowers to greet visitors at a hotel on the Mekong

Grounds at a resort hotel on the Mekong at Khongjiam

Another view from the hotel's grounds, with the Mekong in the background

Royal Poinciana above the Mekong at Khongjiam, where the Mun River joins the Mekong—the two of them, however, flowing in opposite directions.

The view from high above the Mekong at Pha Taem, with Laos in the background

Sheer rock cliff face at Pha Taem National Park in Ubon Ratchathani Province

High above the Mekong River, rock paintings at Pha Taem are the work of a long-forgotten prehistoric culture, dating back an estimated 3,000 years or more. They depict what appear to be the enormous Mekong River catfish as well as elephants, water buffalo, stylized human figures, and geometric designs.

Detail of the rock paintings at Pha Taem

Rock face at Pha Taem

Mini-waterfall above Saeng Chan waterfall, Pha Taem National Park

Saeng Chan Waterfall, where the flowing water has cut a hole through the surrounding rock enclosure. The photo was taken in the dry season, with only a minimal flow of water at the time.