All through East and Southeast Asia, people obtain fresh-cooked food on the streets or in small, open-air restaurants, such as this.
Signboard commemorating late king Bhumibol Adulyadej
King Bhumibol Adulyadej reigned from 1946 until 2016, an almost-unparalleled period of 70 years on the throne. He provided a symbol of unity in Thailand, particularly when military coups d'etator shaky transitions to democracy occurred.
Due to the close connection between the Thai monarchy and Buddhism, several temples throughout the kingdom have been financed directly by the royal family, such as this example from Phuket.
Buddhism in Thailand has followed a distinctive path for many centuries, linked to the royal family. They may spend several years or a lifetime as a monastic. Monks often beg for alms while young. They traditionally remain unmarried and live in monasteries.
Child-oriented height chart outside Thai children's museum
Parents and kids alike can easily determine how much they must pay - or not - to enter this museum.
Well over 90% of Thailand's population follows Buddhism [Theravada branch]. Shops, whether catering to nationals or tourists, feature Buddhist-themed objects.
To express their reverence for family and others, persons all around the world may seek solace in religious settings. These women use votive candles as part of the proceses.
Penang was one of four 'Straits Settlements' administered by the British, distinct from nominally autonomous Malay sultanates. Penang had a long, pre-British history of serving as a trade entrepot, including with the Arabs, Portuguese, Chinese and others.
City authorities carefully placed these recycling bins near a major apartment complex. They are decorated to encourage utilization.
Protective figures at a Thai Buddhist temple
Many of the Buddhists living in Penang have ancestral roots in Myanmar, Thailand or other countries. The protective figures here show Thai influence.
Municipal authorities in Penang have encouraged local artists to paint public service messages along major roads. This set encourages good behavior at school.
Visitors to the temple usually purchase incense sticks to honor the deceased.
According to the 2010 census, more than 60% of the Malaysian populace is Muslim. Islam and the Malay population are closely linked politically. Other major groups - the perhaps 13% Buddhist derive from China and other SE Asian countries, and six percent Hindus come from India.
This woman is wearing typical Peranakan attire, blending in both Chinese and Malaysian elements.
Beautifully-carved screens like this divide the ground floor of the mansion into discrete areas. They also a degree of family privacy when business negotiations were occurring in the public spaces.
Ganesha ranks as perhaps the most-beloved image in Hinduism. He is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the god of intellect and wisdom. Ganesha is also honored as the patron of letters and learning.
Elaborate decoration just off the entrance hall of this Peranankan mansion was psychologically designed to impress visitors with the wealth and hence power of the head of the household, almost invariably a merchant with keep historical roots in the community.
This elaborately carved lion stands by the door of this Peranakan mansion. It serves symbolizes wealth and power for the family.
In English, the sign reads: "Visitors are strictly not allowed to roll the granite balls in the lions' mouths"
Chinese-style formal dining room in a Peranakan mansion
Houses of well-off Peranakan merchants often featured two dining rooms, designed for interacting with different groups. This more intimate English-style room was used for family meals.
English-style dining room in a Peranakan mansion
Houses of well-off Peranakan merchants often featured two dining rooms, designed for interacting with different groups. This more elaborate Chinese-style room was used forlarge-scale entertaining and business negotiations.
Many merchants from SE China settled in coastal Southeast Asia, notably in current-day Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Intermarriage with indigenous residents became widespread, leading what is called Peranakan culture. Wealthy members of this group built clan temples and personal homes, often designed to impress others by their displays of opulence.
Subtle differences exist among SE Asian Buddhist-dominated cultures, in terms of how altars are decorated. This temple caters to persons of Burmese origin.
Parinirvana is the term used for the bodily death of The Buddha or, more broadly, an individual who has achieved nirvana during their lifetime. Such a person has achieved release from the cycle of endless rebirth, deeds and and cyclic change.
Baskets,roofs and siding for shelters are among the many products that can be produced from palm fronds.
In English, the sign reads: Warning Danger to Drowning, Do not Bathing Number of Death Reported Disaster Management Center
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of Cinnamonum trees, found naturally in a few SE Asian countries. It remains prized for flavoring. Extracting cinnamon requires delicate hand labor in peeling the back.
Cashews grow on trees. Preparing them for consumption requires numerous steps, including roasting and removal of outer layers. The entire process could be automated. However, readily available, cheap labor in rural areas make hand labor preferable.
Bidis are inexpensive, hand-rolled cigarettes. Often made by women in rural areas, they provide employment at quiet times in the agricultural cycle
or, in cities, in situations of underemployment.
This musicion is a playing a nadaswaram, a double-reed wind instrument.
Guan Shi Yin (观世音), called “Guan Yin” (观音) for short, is the Bodhisattva of Compassion. (http://thianhockkeng.com.sg/site/our-faith-deities-2/)
Incense burning in the Thian Hock Keng temple
Statue of General Xie in the Thian Hock Keng temple
One of the generals of hell, along with General Fan, Xie hanged himself after finding his sworn brother, Fan, dead. After their death, they were immortalized as the Black and White Guards of Impermanence. (see http://thetempletrail.com/thian-hock-keng/)
Statue of Confucius and other figures with offering in Thian Hock Keng temple
Painted temple door panel in the Thian Hock Keng Temple, Chinatown, Singapore
These elaborately decorated figures typify South Indian Hindu temples.
This temple was the first built by and for Singapore's Chinese community. Altars are guarded by spirits, good and evil, on the flanks.
Particularly in Tamil culture, Hindu services are accompanied with loud music, performed on drums and woodwinds.
With greater wealth and quicker transportation, Omani vendors offer an increasing selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Prior to the oil boom that transformed the Emirates, Muscat residents earned their livings by fishing, diving for pearls and the like. Fish are still caught for sale in the local market.
Traditional greeting area in a large home
Well-off rural families would reserve large rooms of this sort to greet male visitors. They would be served coffee and items to eat before talking informally.
The oil wealth passed to the Oman government has allowed construction of six different royal palaces (as of early 2017). This is the Al Alam ("the flag") Palace, used for official functions but not as a royal residence.
The souk in the middle of Muscat is filled with small shops primarily featuring imported goods.
The mosque was constructed from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandston. Its symmetrical design includes a main minaret 90 meters high, and and four flanking minarets 45.5 meters high.
Minor variations in how men and women tie scarfs over their hair can be seen in different Islamic societies.
Opened in 2001, this opulent place of worship can accommodate 750 women and 6,500 men during Friday services. Especially noteworthy is the world's second largest hand-woven carpet and chandelier.
This woman has prepared a special dessert, using spices drawn from the East Indies and South Asia, areas with which Muscat maintained extensive commerce.
The 'traditional' market in Muscat has a very high ceiling, ~20 feet above the floor, to reduce heat. This elaborate ceiling demonstrates the city-state's prosperity, based both on oil wealth and long-standing trade significance.
Wealthy families in pre-oil days built homes with thick walls and high ceilings, to keep them cool.
Poverty means many Indians lack basic shelter.
A highly efficient pick-up and delivery food industry has developed in Mumbai and some other Indian cities. Freshly-prepared lunches ("tiffin") are brought by train or truck to central distribution points, where carriers on bicycle ("tiffin wallahs") distribute them to individuals. The process is reversed during the afternoon.
The Shiv Sena, or "Army of Shiva," stands at the far right of India's political and social spectrum. It has its strongest support in the state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is the largest city. Shiva Sena's strong pro-Hindu ideology has led to many allegations of involvement in communal violence and chauvinist belie
Cashews, brought to India for cultivation from Brazil, require multiple steps, particularly roasting and removal of outer layers, prior to human consumption. Although the manual process could be automated, widespread surplus labor in India's rural areas makes the employment of these women economically far more rational.
Known as the "monkey god," Hanuman is celebrated in the Ramayana for joining Lord Krishna in his war against the demon king Ravana.
Prayers being offered, Mangalore Hindu temple
Two Brahmin priests, wearing white shawls, provide blessings at this shrine inside the new (2014) Mangalore temple. It was built with strong support from the Congress Party and its leader, Sonia Gandhi.
This temple was endowed with the objective of being open to persons of all backgrounds and castes. This contrasts with the usual practice in India, in which Hindu temples are dedicated to individual gods and may cater to persons of distinct castes.
Nandi the bull serves as a protector of Krishna. Shiva also uses Nandi for transportation.