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  • Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. 22 karat yellow gold is the most commonly used.  Layering gold leaf over a surface is called gilding. It has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years and is still done by hand.
    gold-leaf-3.jpg
  • Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. 22 karat yellow gold is the most commonly used.  Layering gold leaf over a surface is called gilding. It has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years and is still done by hand.
    gold-leaf-2.jpg
  • Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. 22 karat yellow gold is the most commonly used.  Layering gold leaf over a surface is called gilding. It has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years and is still done by hand.
    gold-leaf-1.jpg
  • Burmese Gold Leaf Workers Pounding and Thinning Leaf - Pounding Gold leaf is hard work - hammered into extremely thin sheets and is then used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of quality, karats and various shades though 22 karat yellow gold is most commonly used.  Layering gold leaf over a surface is called gilding. The practice has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years and is still done by hand.
    gold-leaf-4.jpg
  • Yokan is a Japanese jellied dessert made of red bean paste and sugar. It is usually sold in a block form and eaten in slices. Yokan also contain chopped chestnuts, persimmons, figs, sweet potato among other seasonal additions.  This version of yokan is from Kanazawa with tiny flecks of real gold embedded in the confection.
    gold-sweets-1.jpg
  • Gold Toilet at Robot Restaurant in Kabukicho Shinjuku, where robotic women and demons stage mock battles in this steroid heavy attraction with neon, mirrors and huge video screens. There are four 90-minute shows each night, in which the staff take to the floor on giant robots, including a neon tank and female borgs sometimes powered with with pneumatic bursts and puffs of steam. Do not task what the dances mean or the shows or costumes are supposed to represent, if anything, it is all about color, choreography, madness and overkill.
    robot-restaurant-26.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    doi-suthep-2.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-13.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-12.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-7.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-6.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-5.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-10.jpg
  • The magnificent statue of Hase Kannon is housed here for all to see and worship. It is 9 meters pr 30 feet tall and has eleven heads in addition to its main one - three in front, three to the left and three to the right, plus one at the top and another on the back. Each face has a different expression, signifying that the deity listens to the wishes of all types of people. Gold leaf was applied to the statue in 1342 and in 1392 the halo was added. Although Kannon is usually described in English as "the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy" strictly speaking it is neither masculine nor feminine and represents compassion, mercy, and love.
    hase-dera-kannon-1.jpg
  • The magnificent statue of Hase Kannon is housed here for all to see and worship. It is 9 meters pr 30 feet tall and has eleven heads in addition to its main one - three in front, three to the left and three to the right, plus one at the top and another on the back. Each face has a different expression, signifying that the deity listens to the wishes of all types of people. Gold leaf was applied to the statue in 1342 and in 1392 the halo was added. Although Kannon is usually described in English as "the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy" strictly speaking it is neither masculine nor feminine and represents compassion, mercy, and love.
    hase-dera-kannon-3.jpg
  • The magnificent statue of Hase Kannon is 9 meters pr 30 feet tall and has eleven heads in addition to its main one - three in front, three to the left and three to the right, plus one at the top and another on the back. Each face has a different expression, signifying that the deity listens to the wishes of all types of people. Gold leaf was applied to the statue in 1342 and in 1392 the halo was added. Although Kannon is usually described in English as "the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy" strictly speaking it is neither masculine nor feminine and represents compassion, mercy, and love.
    hase-dera-kannon-4.jpg
  • The magnificent statue of Hase Kannon is housed here for all to see and worship. It is 9 meters pr 30 feet tall and has eleven heads in addition to its main one - three in front, three to the left and three to the right, plus one at the top and another on the back. Each face has a different expression, signifying that the deity listens to the wishes of all types of people. Gold leaf was applied to the statue in 1342 and in 1392 the halo was added. Although Kannon is usually described in English as "the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy" strictly speaking it is neither masculine nor feminine and represents compassion, mercy, and love.
    hase-dera-kannon-2.jpg
  • Bodie Ghost Town - Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California. The ghost town has been administered by California State Parks since becoming a state historic park in 1962, and receives about 200,000 visitors yearly. During its heyday as a bustling gold mining center, Bodie had the amenities of larger towns, including two banks, a railroad, miners unions, several daily newspapers and a jail. At its peak, 65 saloons lined Main Street, which was only  a mile long.  Murders, shootouts, barroom brawls and stagecoach holdups were regular occurrences until the town fizzled out with discoveries of silver and gold elsewhere.
    bodie-ghost-town.jpg
  • Pha That Luang stupa is the symbol of the city of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It's a huge golden stupa, built in the year 1566. Its golden color is not painting but it is literally covered in gold. Pha That Luang Temple is considered to be a monument of national pride in Laos. Its central stupa is covered in 500 kilos of gold leaf and is surrounded by a cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings. The stupa is built on three levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level perfections of Buddhism and the third level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven.  Pha That Luang literally means great golden stupa was built in 1566.  According to popular belief, the temple housed a rib of Buddha brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
    phra-that-luang-11.jpg
  • The Mahamuni Buddha Temple is a Buddhist temple and major pilgrimage site in Mandalay, Burma.  The Mahamuni Buddha image is deified in this temple and originally came from Arakan and is highly venerated in Burma and central to many people's lives, as it is seen as an expression of representing the Buddha's life.
    mahamuni-temple-2.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    mine-1.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-1.jpg
  • Wat Intharawihan or Wat Intharavihan is a temple located in the Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was built at the beginning of the Ayutthaya period and was originally called Wat Rai Phrik.  One of the main features is a 32-meter high standing Buddha referred to as Luang Pho To or Phra Si Ariyamettrai  It took over 60 years to complete and is decorated in glass mosaics and 24-carat gold. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.
    Wat-Intharavihan-3.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-8.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-7.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-5.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-4.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-3.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-2.jpg
  • Praying at Wat Intharavihan or Wat Intharavihan is a temple located in the Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was built at the beginning of the Ayutthaya period and was originally called Wat Rai Phrik.  One of the main features is a 32-meter high standing Buddha referred to as Luang Pho To or Phra Si Ariyamettrai  It took over 60 years to complete and is decorated in glass mosaics and 24-carat gold. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.
    Wat-Intharavihan-2.jpg
  • Tsuchikura Mine once had the nickname the Pawnbroker Mine.  This abandoned mine in in a remote mountainous district of Kinomoto, Shiga Prefecture. Tsuchikura Mine was opened in 1907 by a company called Tanaka Mining and produced mostly copper and iron sulfide as well as small amounts of gold, silver and lead. In 1934 the Nitchitsu Mining Corporation bought and modernized the mine, but a series of accidents caused by heavy snowfalls in the area cost many lives.  The mine was expanded, but a few years later the plant stopped to be profitable due to cheap ore from overseas came in and so the mine closed in 1965.  In its heyday about 1,500 people worked at Tsuchikura Mine, though sadly there is nothing left of the mining town surrounding it. 
    Tsuchikura-Mine-6.jpg
  • Wat Intharawihan or Wat Intharavihan is a temple located in the Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was built at the beginning of the Ayutthaya period and was originally called Wat Rai Phrik.  One of the main features is a 32-meter high standing Buddha referred to as Luang Pho To or Phra Si Ariyamettrai  It took over 60 years to complete and is decorated in glass mosaics and 24-carat gold. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.
    Wat-Intharavihan-1.jpg
  • Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham, often called Wat Mai is a Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang.  It is the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in Luang Prabang. Built in the 18th century it is located near the Royal Palace Museum.  An emerald Buddha statue sits inside the red-gold interior
    wat-souvannapumaram.jpg
  • Sunset at Alona Beach on Panglao is famous for its sparkly white sand and is the most developed beach in Bohol one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines renowned for its diving, seafood and sunsets.
    alona-beach-sunset-2.jpg
  • Alona Beach in Panglao Bohol is famous for its coral white sand that stretches one and a half kilometers and ends in rocky cliffs at both sides. It is the most developed beach in Bohol and now one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines.
    alona-beach-sunset.jpg
  • In almost all Japanese homes, temples and restaurants, one can find fusuma, which slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, and also act as doors. They typically measure about the same size as a tatami mat, and are two or three centimeters thick. They consist of a wooden frame, covered in cardboard and a layer of paper. They typically have a black lacquer border and an indented door handle. Historically, fusuma were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals.
    tatami-room-5.jpg
  • Naga at Wat Doi Suthep - its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    naga-doi-suthep-0001.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    doi-suthep-chedi-0001.jpg
  • Lighting Votive Candles at Wat Doi Suthep - its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    doi-suthep-votive-0001.jpg
  • Lighting Votive Candles at Wat Doi Suthep - its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    doi-suthep-votive-0002.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    wat-doi-suthep-21.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    wat-doi-suthep-24.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    wat-doi-suthep-23.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    wat-doi-suthep-20.jpg
  • Yaksha Guardians at Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace.
    wat-phra-kaew-guardian-04.jpg
  • Yaksha Guardians at Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace.
    wat-phra-kaew-guardian-02.jpg
  • Yaksha Guardians at Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace.
    wat-phra-kaew-guardian-03.jpg
  • Wat Phra Kaew,  Temple of the Emerald Buddha, its full official name is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram.  The temple is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.located within the grounds of the Grand Palace.
    wat-phra-kaew-15.jpg
  • Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    wat-pho-guardian-2.jpg
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    reclining-buddha-04.jpg
  • Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    wat-pho-7.jpg
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    reclining-buddha-02.jpg
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    reclining-buddha-01.jpg
  • Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok is a Buddhist monastery situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan Province on the edge of Bangkok.  One of the highlights of the temple, besides it's giant gong, is the large outdoor seated fat buddha with his large navel exposed.  "Navel gazing" is considered a type of meditation, as the navel is a powerful chakra of the body.  Never mind that the phrase "navel gazing" or "contemplating your navel" is used in a joking fashion to refer to selfish or self absorbed pursuits.
    buddha-navel-3.jpg
  • Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok is a Buddhist monastery situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan Province on the edge of Bangkok.  One of the highlights of the temple, besides it's giant gong, is the large outdoor seated fat buddha with his large navel exposed.  "Navel gazing" is considered a type of meditation, as the navel is a powerful chakra of the body.  Never mind that the phrase "navel gazing" or "contemplating your navel" is used in a joking fashion to refer to selfish or self absorbed pursuits.
    buddha-navel-2.jpg
  • The large reclining Buddha at Wat Lokkayasutha in Ayutthya, named Phra Budhasaiyart, is made of brick and covered with plaster, and is approximately 29 meters long. The ruins of large hexagonal pillars near the image are believed to be the ruins of the Ubosot.
    Wat-Lokayasutharam-3.jpg
  • Located in the center of the city with a history of more than 400 years, Golden Horse Gate and Jade Chicken Gate together are the symbol and pride of Kunming. According to the fairy tale - a golden horse flying out of the sun and a jade cock from the moon descended on Kunming. Whenever they went, lush grass and tall trees would blossom. The gates are considered to be lucky and auspicious to the residents of Kunming.
    Horse-Gate-kunming.jpg
  • Yaksha Guardians at Wat Phra Kaew, regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand located inside the grounds of the Grand Palace. The guardians surround this particular stupa.
    wat-phra-kaew-7.jpg
  • Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok,  located in the Rattanakosin Island, directly adjacent to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    wat-pho-5.jpg
  • Sands Casino, one of the new breed of gaming centers in Macau.  Visitors to the casinos should note the sign at each entrance urging players to chance only what they can afford - a warning that is seldom heeded. Casinos in Macau operate 24 hours a day.
    sands-macau.jpg
  • The Maneki Neko literally "Beckoning Cat" is also known as Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money cat or Fortune Cat.  They are common Japanese decorations, made of porcelain or ceramic,  which is believed to bring good luck to the owner. The sculpture depicts a cat usually  a Japanese Bobtail beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed at the entrance of shops, restaurants  and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric and have a slow moving paw beckoning. In the design of the sculptures, a raised right paw supposedly attracts money, while a raised left paw attracts customers.
    lucky-cats.jpg
  • In almost all Japanese homes, temples and restaurants, one can find fusuma, which slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, and also act as doors. They typically measure about the same size as a tatami mat, and are two or three centimeters thick. They consist of a wooden frame, covered in cardboard and a layer of paper. They typically have a black lacquer border and an indented door handle. Historically, fusuma were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals.
    tatami-room-5.jpg
  • In almost all Japanese homes, temples and restaurants, one can find fusuma, which slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, and also act as doors. They typically measure about the same size as a tatami mat, and are two or three centimeters thick. They consist of a wooden frame, covered in cardboard and a layer of paper. They typically have a black lacquer border and an indented door handle. Historically, fusuma were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals.
    fusuma-5.jpg
  • In almost all Japanese homes, temples and restaurants, one can find fusuma, which slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, and also act as doors. They typically measure about the same size as a tatami mat, and are two or three centimeters thick. They consist of a wooden frame, covered in cardboard and a layer of paper. They typically have a black lacquer border and an indented door handle. Historically, fusuma were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals.
    fusuma-2.jpg
  • Naga at Wat Doi Suthep - its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    naga-doi-suthep-0002.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    wat-doi-suthep-22.jpg
  • Mary Magdelene at Notre Dame des Doms - The Palace of the Popes stands as a symbol of the church’s influence throughout the catholic world in the 14th century.  Construction was organized by two popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. Palais des Papes is one of the largest medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. The Palais became obsolete when the papacy returned to Rome. The visitor can view scenes of historic events, the pope’s private chambers and the frescoes painted by the Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti.  The Popes’ Palace is in the top ten most visited attractions of France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Mary-Palais-Papes.jpg
  • Tatami originally means "folded and piled" and are a traditional type of Japanese flooring. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core though nowadays sometimes the core is composed of compressed wood chips or polystyrene foam, with a covering of woven rush straw. Usually, on the long sides, they have edging of brocade.  In almost all Japanese homes, temples and restaurants, one can find fusuma, which slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, and also act as doors. They typically measure about the same size as a tatami mat, and are two or three centimeters thick. They consist of a wooden frame, covered in cardboard and a layer of paper. They typically have a black lacquer border and an indented door handle. Historically, fusuma were painted, often with scenes from nature such as mountains, forests or animals.
    fusuma-tatami-1.jpg
  • Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    wat-pho-guardian-1.jpg
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha - Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in  Bangkok right next to to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    reclining-buddha-03.jpg
  • The large reclining Buddha at Wat Lokkayasutha in Ayutthya, named Phra Budhasaiyart, is made of brick and covered with plaster, and is approximately 29 meters long. The ruins of large hexagonal pillars near the image are believed to be the ruins of the Ubosot.
    Wat-Lokayasutharam-1.jpg
  • Santa Prisca Cathedral, Taxco - The Parish of Santa Prisca y San Sebastían, commonly referred to as the Santa Prisca Church, is located in Taxco, and is one of the few Baroque buildings in the state of Guerrero. It was built between 1751 and 1758 by José de la Borda. It is built with pink stone, flanked by two towers which are plain in the lower half but highly decorated in the upper bell portions.
    santa-prisca-taxco-3.jpg
  • Wat Doi Suthep - or its official name Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as simply "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is a sacred site to many Thai people.
    doi-suthep-7.jpg
  • Golden chedi is illuminated at night at Wat Sareerikatart Sirirak in Chiang Mai's old city.
    golden-chedi-sareerikatatart.jpg
  • Wat Phra Kaew Yaksha Guardians - Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or by its full official name Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. It is located in the historic center of Bangkok the Phra Nakhon district, within the grounds of the Grand Palace.
    wat-phra-kaew-4.jpg
  • Wat Pho also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok,  located in the Rattanakosin Island, directly adjacent to the Grand Palace.  Its official full name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
    wat-pho-4.jpg
  • Fashion Accessories Handbag Display
    fashion-accessories.jpg
  • 17. Kinkakuji 金閣寺 Temple of the Golden Pavilion was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.  He intended to cover the entire exterior of the pavilion with gold, but only managed to coat the third floor with gold leaf before his death.  After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.  He also managed to get the first and second stories covered in gold leaf as it stands today.  This architectural treasure, reflecting in its surrounding pond, is a masterpiece of Japanese aesthetics
    17.KYOTO-KINKAKUJI-01.jpg
  • 17. Kinkakuji 金閣寺 Temple of the Golden Pavilion was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.  He intended to cover the entire exterior of the pavilion with gold, but only managed to coat the third floor with gold leaf before his death.  After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.  He also managed to get the first and second stories covered in gold leaf as it stands today.  This architectural treasure, reflecting in its surrounding pond, is a masterpiece of Japanese aesthetics
    17.KYOTO-KINKAKUJI-02.jpg
  • Kinkakuji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.  He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the third floor with gold leaf before his death.  After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-3.jpg
  • Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the the ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-4.jpg
  • Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the the ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-1.jpg
  • Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.  He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the the ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death.  After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-5.jpg
  • Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the the ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-2.jpg
  • Lotta Crabtree Fountain -The miners in the Sierra of Northern California were used to the loneliness, dirt and disappointments that came with the search for Gold, but Gold of another sort appeared in 1853 to ease this routine and her name was Lotta Crabtree. The tiny, red-haired, six-year-old jigged and danced to their clapping hands, while they showered her with nuggets and coins which her mother hastily collected in her apron. Later, Lotta became the most famous "madame" of San Francisco to which this fountain is dedicated.
    lotta-crabtree-fountain.jpg
  • Kinkakuji was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.  He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the third floor with gold leaf before his death.  After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    AMBER-2022-120.jpg
  • Butsuokuji the The Temple of the Buddha’s Tree is temple No. 42 of the 88 of the Shikoku pilgrimage. The temple appears as a fascinating variety of roofs rising out of the trees. One of these roofs is the unusual thatched roof of the temple bell house covered in moss.  The Hondo or Main Hall is topped with a flaming gold ball representing the teachings of the Buddha, which stands in stark contrast to the dark trees behind it. The grounds of the temple are planted with many beautiful trees including magnolia, maple and camphor. 
    temple-42-butsumokuji-1.jpg
  • Parc Monceau Bridge - Parc Monceau was built in the 17th century by order of the Duke of Chartres. Today it is one of the most elegant gardens in Paris entering through a large wrought-iron gate embellished with gold visitors find many surprises: statues, a renaissance arch that once belonged to Paris City Hall, trees, a wide variety of birds and a large pond surrounded by collonades - and is well known by residents of the 18th arrondissement as a pleasant park.
    parc-monceau-3.jpg
  • Bugaku traditional dance has been performed has long been performed for the most part to Japanese imperial court audiences and the elite for more than twelve hundred years. After World War II the dance began to be performed to the public and has even toured around the world.  The dance is known for its slow and exact movements. The dancers wear intricate traditional costumes, which often include headgear and masks.   The helmets are of gold, brilliantly decorated cloisonné.   The music and dance pattern is repeated several times, giving it a somewhat monotonous quality. It is performed on a square platform.  Some bugaku dances show legendary battles, others enact encounters with divine personages or mythical beasts - natural metaphors describe how their movement should be"like a tree swaying in a cool breeze”. When Buddhist culture came to Japan via Korea and China in the seventh century, it brought dance traditions along with it.  Bugaku draws heavily from Buddhist culture, and incorporates many traditional Shinto factors into the dance. These influences eventually mixed together and over the years were refined into something uniquely Japanese.  When considering modern Japanese culture it is surprising that such a slow and ancient tradition has survived.
    bugaku-05.jpg
  • Bugaku traditional dance has been performed has long been performed for the most part to Japanese imperial court audiences and the elite for more than twelve hundred years. After World War II the dance began to be performed to the public and has even toured around the world.  The dance is known for its slow and exact movements. The dancers wear intricate traditional costumes, which often include headgear and masks.   The helmets are of gold, brilliantly decorated cloisonné.   The music and dance pattern is repeated several times, giving it a somewhat monotonous quality. It is performed on a square platform.  Some bugaku dances show legendary battles, others enact encounters with divine personages or mythical beasts - natural metaphors describe how their movement should be"like a tree swaying in a cool breeze”. When Buddhist culture came to Japan via Korea and China in the seventh century, it brought dance traditions along with it.  Bugaku draws heavily from Buddhist culture, and incorporates many traditional Shinto factors into the dance. These influences eventually mixed together and over the years were refined into something uniquely Japanese.  When considering modern Japanese culture it is surprising that such a slow and ancient tradition has survived.
    bugaku-02.jpg
  • Roussillon is one of the most famous sites in the Luberon thanks to its geological wonders. Ochre quarries streaked with red and gold ochre sand have made.  Besides the village itself, <br />
the Ochre Trail or Sentier des Ocres is an enjoyable hiking trail through a former ochre quarry. Sometimes referred to as the Giants' Causeway or Chaussée des Géants is an easy and dramatic mini hike near town.  It is not clearly known why the pigments in soil have produced geological changes here and not elsewhere.  Jean-Étienne Astier, a local who studied the properties of ochre, started extracting it from sand on an industrial scale during the 18th century.
    ochre-trail-2.jpg
  • Linh Son Pagoda took two years to build from 1938 -1940.  The temple was funded by lay Buddhists and the Dalat public. The temple is built in a classical Asian style of architecture, and is of a simple layout and model. At the two corners of the temples, are dragon statues, staring at the roof of the temple.  The Board of the Buddhist Association of Lam Dong Province is headquartered at the temple.  The large bell is said to be made from bronze alloyed with gold.  This makes it too heavy for anyone to carry away, including thieves, so it is left unprotected.  Several monks and novices monks live at the temple.
    linh-son-dalat-6.jpg
  • Red Dunes Mui Ne is a top attraction at Mui Ne, after the beach itself. The massive, saharan dunes range from gold to pure white There are also red dunes further south near Mui Ne village.
    mui-ne-red-dunes-2.jpg
  • Vientiane Morning Market is a large collection of indoor and outdoor stalls selling, well, pretty much anything. There are two floors - the first floor sells mostly textiles, electronics, and watches; the second floor has clothing, gold, and jewelery. Expect to pay about one third or one quarter of the first price you are offered. Despite the name it is still struggling into operation at 8:00 and remains open until around 16:00.
    vientiane-morning-market-5.jpg
  • Vientiane Morning Market is a large collection of indoor and outdoor stalls selling pretty much everything. There are two floors - the first floor sells mostly textiles, electronics, and watches; the second floor has clothing, gold, and jewelery. Expect to pay about one third or one quarter of the first price you are offered. Despite the name it is still struggling into operation at 8:00 and remains open until around 16:00.
    vientiane-morning-market-4.jpg
  • Phnom Penh's Phsar Thom Thmei also known as Phnom Penh Central Market, is a large market constructed in 1937 in the shape of a dome with four arms branching out into vast hallways with countless stalls of goods. When it first opened in 1937, it was said to be the biggest market in Asia, and today it still operates as a market. The four wings of this gigantic yellow-coloured dome, Phsar Thom Thmei, are teeming with numerous stalls that sell goods ranging from gold and silver, antique coins, money exchange, men's and women's apparel, clocks, books, flowers, food, fabrics, shoes, souvenirs, fish, seafood, dessert, luggage, and countless other products. This unique Art Deco building is a Phnom Penh landmark.
    psar-thmei-4.jpg
  • Nankobo is temple No. 55 with a magnificent gate facing the main road, with four fierce guardians decorated with gold leaf.  The daishido is large and impressive. It’s the only temple of the 88 to be called “bo” instead of the typical “ji”. “Bo” means “small Buddhist temple”, which is ironic because Nankobo is one of the biggest of the 88. It stands in what is in effect a religious agglomeration, a complex of sandy plazas dotted with temple and shrine buildings that stretches for three city blocks.  Although it isn’t immediately obvious, the main hall of Nankobo is made of concrete. The original building was destroyed in the bombing of Imabari during WWII. The wooden gate at the entrance to the temple is of recent construction too, although its style is old. The temple guardians housed in the gate, front and back, are magnificently ferocious and expressive with their wooden and gilt highlights.
    temple-55-nankobo-4.jpg
  • Temple Gate at Butsumokuji - The Temple of the Buddha’s Tree is temple No. 42 of the 88 of the Shikoku pilgrimage. The temple appears as a fascinating variety of roofs rising out of the trees. One of these roofs is the unusual thatched roof of the temple bell house covered in moss.  The Hondo or Main Hall is topped with a flaming gold ball representing the teachings of the Buddha, which stands in stark contrast to the dark trees behind it. The grounds of the temple are planted with many beautiful trees including magnolia, maple and camphor. 
    temple-42-butsumokuji-5.jpg
  • Temple Gate at Butsumokuji - The Temple of the Buddha’s Tree is temple No. 42 of the 88 of the Shikoku pilgrimage. The temple appears as a fascinating variety of roofs rising out of the trees. One of these roofs is the unusual thatched roof of the temple bell house covered in moss.  The Hondo or Main Hall is topped with a flaming gold ball representing the teachings of the Buddha, which stands in stark contrast to the dark trees behind it. The grounds of the temple are planted with many beautiful trees including magnolia, maple and camphor. 
    temple-42-butsumokuji-3.jpg
  • Butsumokuji the The Temple of the Buddha’s Tree is temple No. 42 of the 88 of the Shikoku pilgrimage. The temple appears as a fascinating variety of roofs rising out of the trees. One of these roofs is the unusual thatched roof of the temple bell house covered in moss.  The Hondo or Main Hall is topped with a flaming gold ball representing the teachings of the Buddha, which stands in stark contrast to the dark trees behind it. The grounds of the temple are planted with many beautiful trees including magnolia, maple and camphor. 
    temple-42-butsumokuji-2.jpg
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