I was hoping to capture some good photos of the monks during their alms in Pattaya this morning, I never managed, the opportunity was there but my trusty friend Mr Self Conscious prevented me yet again. I deposited a grand sum of 20 baht in to the alms bowl of the monk pictured below, then duly took his photo, Mr Self Conscious had no grounds to object under these circumstances.
While we are on the subject of Buddhist Monks and money, whilst it may be acceptable to give money, it is not acceptable for a monk to ask for money. A monk who asks you to donate money whilst doing his alms is most likely taking a liberty, it is even possible he is actually just masquerading as a monk to scam a few unwitting tourists. In 2013 a group of Cambodian monks were visiting touristy areas of Pattaya and asking tourists for money, they were duly rounded up and escorted back to Cambodia, after receiving a ticking off by a head monk at Wat Chaimongkol in South Pattaya.
Buddhist Monk in Pattaya, Thailand.