There are about 270 women Buddhist monks in Thailand and about 250,000 male monks.The Sangha Supreme Council, Thailand's governing body of Buddhist monks, bans the ordination of female monks, but hundreds of Thai women have gone abroad, mostly to Sri Lanka and India, to be ordained. There are 7 monks and 6 novices at Wat Songdhammakalyani in Nakhon Pathom. It was the first temple in Thailand to have female monks. The temple opened 60 years ago and has always been a temple of women monks. Women can be ordained as novices in Thailand, but to be ordained as a full monk would require the participation of 10 female monks and 10 male monks, and male monks in Thailand are barred from participating in women's ordination ceremonies.

Chantaburi is a community in eastern Thailand, near the Cambodian border. It's home to a large Catholic community. Chantaburi's Catholics originally came from Vietnam. The Vietnamese married into Thai families and now the community is mostly Thai. The cathedral in Chataburi is the largest Catholic cathedral in Thailand. Christmas is widely celebrated in Chantaburi. People come from throughout Thailand to participate in the mass, the caroling, and all of the traditional Christmas festivities.

Pom Mahakan, the old fort in central Bangkok, was abandoned by the Siamese military in the 1860s when Bangkok expanded beyond the city walls. Families, some related to the military, some drawn to the Siamese capital for economic opportunities, and some artisans moved into the fort and established a community. They weren't quite squatters - the military gave them unofficial permission to stay - but neither were they legal tenants. Their presence was condoned by the city. In the 1950s, the Thai military gave title of the land to the city of Bangkok. In the mid 1960s, Bangkok officials announced plans to close the fort, evict the families and turn the land into a park. The residents stayed in the fort. The community in the fort grew and soon it was an eclectic mix of gamblers (cock fighting was a big part of life in the old fort), artists (traditional Thai crafts like pottery supported several families), performers (families of musicians and Likay performers lived in the fort) and fireworks venders. The city never gave them permission to stay and over time, their status changed from tenants to squatters. They lived with the constant threat of eviction hanging over their heads, but with Bangkok growing increasingly expensive to poor people, there was nowhere for them to go. In 2016, Bangkok officials announced that time was up and said evictions would start that year. I started photographing in the fort in April, 2016. In September, 2016, the city made its first move against the fort. Hundreds of city officials, supported by police and soldiers, fought residents and their supporters for hours before taking over the fort, evicting about 12 of 60 families and tearing down their homes. After that the demise of the community became death by a thousand cuts. There were no mass evictions. But city officials would show up, sometimes unannounced, evict a family and tear down their home. As homes were cleared, city landscapers started building the park. In April, 2018, the city announced that the remaining families would have to leave and the homes torn down by April, 25, 2018. The last families moved out on April 22.

Mahakan Fort was built in 1783 during the reign of Siamese King Rama I. It was one of 14 fortresses designed to protect Bangkok from foreign invaders, and only of two remaining, the others have been torn down. A community developed in the fort when people started building houses and moving into it during the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910). The land was expropriated by Bangkok city government in 1992, but the people living in the fort refused to move. In 2004 courts ruled against the residents and said the city could take the land. The final eviction notices were posted last week and the residents given until April 30 to move out. After that their homes, some of which are nearly 200 years old, will be destroyed.

Kudicheen is the Thai Catholic community around Santa Cruz, one of the oldest Catholic churches in Bangkok. It was founded in the late 18th century by Portuguese mercenaries fighting for King Taksin the Great, the Siamese (Thai) king battling Burmese who invaded the Siamese Kingdom.

Every Thursday night, starting just after sunset and peaking at 21.30, hundreds of Bangkok single people, or couples seeking guidance and validation, come to the Trimurti Shrine at the northeast corner of Central World, a large Bangkok shopping mall, to pray to Lord Trimurti, who represents the trinity of Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Worshippers normally bring an offering of red flowers, fruits, one red candle and nine incense sticks. It's believed that Lord Trimurti descends from the heavens at 21.30 on Thursday to listen to people's prayers. Although most Thais are Buddhists, several Hindu traditions have been incorporated into modern Thai Buddhism, including reverance for Trimurti.

Likay is a form of popular folk theatre that includes exposition, singing and dancing in Thailand. It uses a combination of extravagant costumes and minimally equipped stages. Intentionally vague storylines means performances rely on actors' skills of improvisation. Like the better known Chinese Opera, which it resembles, Likay is performed mostly at temple fairs and privately sponsored events, especially in rural areas.

An evolving gallery of photos related to the 2016 drought and impact of climate change in Thailand.

Bang Chak Market is a small market on Sukhumvit Soi 93. It's not famous or historic. It's a market, like so many in Bangkok, that meets the needs of people in the neighborhoods around the market. There are butchers and fishmongers, fruit and vegetable sellers, bakers, clothes and kitchen ware sellers. There are a couple of barbers. It's not famous but it fills a vital role in the local economy. Bang Chak Market, like so many Bangkok markets, also has a date with the wrecking ball. City officials are closing the market, tearing it down and building a new condominium project on the land. The market's last day was supposed to be December 31, 2015, but vendors say they'll stay under demolition workers show up, probably the first week of January 2106. The market like other, better known markets: the food stalls at Soi 38, the Saphan Lek Market, the Amulet Market and Banglamphu is gone.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, is revered by Thais. His birthday, December 5, is a national holiday and is also celebrated as "Father's Day" in Thailand. The King turned 88 this year and his health is fading. He's lived in Siriraj Hospital since 2009. Thousands of people came to the hospital to pray for the King and wish him happy birthday in the morning. Thousands more jammed into Sanam Luang, the royal ceremony ground, near the Grand Palace for the annual candle lighting ceremony to mark His Majesty's birthday.

The amulet vendors who line Maharat Road, near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, were evicted by city officials. It's a part of a city wide plan to clean up Bangkok. Officials are forcing street vendors to move to new locations far outside of the city center. With the loss of the amulet market Bangkok also lost a landmark that was popular with Thais and tourists alike.

One week after the terror attack at Erawan Shrine, Thai police are still searching for the perpetrators. Monday night, exactly one week after the blast ripped through central Bangkok, a large group of people led by five or six Buddhist monks walked to the shrine in a candlelight procession from Amarin Plaza. They offered prayers for the souls of the departed and made merit at the shrine.

Erawan Shrine reopened Wednesday after a bomb killed 20 people and injured more than 100 Monday night. There were small memorial services for people who died in the bombing throughout the day at the shrine.

An explosion at Erawan Shrine, a popular tourist attraction and important religious shrine, in the heart of the Bangkok shopping district killed more than 20 people and injured more than 120 others, many foreign tourists, during the Monday evening rush hour. Twelve of the dead were killed at the scene. Thai police said an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated just before 7PM. Police said the bomb was made of more than six pounds of explosives stuffed in a pipe and wrapped with white cloth. Its destructive radius was estimated at 100 meters.

The first night of Ramadan observances at Pattani Central Mosque, in Pattani, Thailand.

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. It's celebrated as a three day holiday throughout the country. This year, the first day of Songkran falls on a Monday, so most people were able to start their holiday on Saturday and the three day holiday became a five day holiday. Hundreds of thousands of people hit the road to go home or vacation during the holiday. These pictures of holiday travelers were made at Hua Lamphong train station in central Bangkok.

Thailand is a Buddhist country, officially about 90% of the country is Buddhist. But the unseen is all around you here. There is tremendous religious diversity in Thailand, with very active Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh communities. I've been photographing spirituality in all its forms in Thailand for years. These are a few of the photos. I'll add more photos to this gallery as I work on new stories about religion in Thailand.

Miss Tiffany's Universe is a beauty contest for transgender contestants; all of the contestants were born biologically male. The final round will be held on May 8 in the beach resort of Pattaya. The final round is televised of the Miss Tiffany’s Universe contest is broadcast live on Thai television with an average of 15 million viewers.

Thailand's vast rail system reaches most parts of the Kingdom. Although it's the longest rail system in mainland Southeast Asia, it's showing its age. Trains are frequently late, mishaps occur with depressing frequency and infrastructure is crumbling. Still, the third class trains, with hard wooden seats and no air conditioning, provide an important way for Thais to travel through their country.

2015 is the Year of Goat in the Chinese zodiac. The Goat is the eighth sign in Chinese astrology and “8” is considered to be a lucky number. It symbolizes wisdom, fortune and prosperity. Ethnic Chinese make up nearly 15% of the Thai population. Chinese New Year (also called Tet or Lunar New Year) is widely celebrated in Thailand, especially in urban areas that have large Chinese populations.

A huge undersea earthquake jolted the waters off Indonesia on the morning of December 26, 2004. The earthquake roiled the ocean and spawned a huge tsunami which spread death and destruction across the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea. This weekend was the 10th anniversary of the tsunami. There were somber memorial services throughout the region. I went to services in Mae Khao, north of the Phuket airport and Patong.

In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 45 Baht per kilo (about $1.20 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). Prices have plunged 5 percent since September, when rubber was about 52Baht per kilo. Thailand is the second leading rubber exporter in the world.

Pajonglak Maneeprasit Bakery in Bangkok bakes thousands of cakes every day. The cakes are called "Kanom Farang Kudeejeen" or "Chinese Monk Candy." The tradition of baking the cakes, about the size of a cupcake or muffin, started in Siam (now Thailand) in the 17th century AD when Portuguese Catholic priests accompanied Portuguese soldiers who assisted the Siamese in their wars with Burma. Several hundred Siamese (Thai) Buddhists converted to Catholicism and started baking the cakes. When the Siamese Empire in Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese the Portuguese and Thai Catholics fled to Thonburi, in what is now Bangkok. The Portuguese established a Catholic church near the new Siamese capital. Now just three families bake the cakes, using a recipe that is 400 years old and contains eggs, wheat flour, sugar, water and raisins. The same family has been baking the cakes at the Pajonglak Maneeprasit Bakery, near Santa Cruz Church, for more than 245 years.

Saphan Taksin, one of the busiest stations on the BTS system is scheduled to be closed. While there are two train tracks for most stretches of the Skytrain system, the portion on the Saphan Taksin Bridge spanning the Chao Phraya River has just one track due to limited space, causing a bottleneck when an outbound train and inbound train arrive at the bridge at the same time. The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) had sought permission from the Department of Rural Roads to expand the Taksin Bridge in order to make way for an additional track, but the department had said it was not possible. The Saphan Taksin station is a connecting station for the Chao Phraya River boats used by Thai commuters coming into the city from neighboring provinces and tourists who use the boats to go upriver into the old parts of Bangkok from the central business district. More than 4,000 commuters a day use the station. The BMA plans to build an elevated moving sidewalk to the river from Surasak BTS station about one kilometer away. Surasak is the nearest station to Saphan Taksin.

Thousands of Thais go to Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok every day to pray for the swift recovery of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, who is in the hospital recovering from emergency gall bladder surgery.

The 2800 foot long (850 meters) Saphan Mon (Mon Bridge) spans the Song Kalia River. It is reportedly second longest wooden bridge in the world. The bridge was severely damaged during heavy rainfall in July 2013 when its 230 foot middle section (70 meters) collapsed during flooding. Officially known as Uttamanusorn Bridge, the bridge has been used by people in Sangkhla Buri (also known as Sangkhlaburi) for 20 years. The bridge was was conceived by Luang Pho Uttama, the late abbot of of Wat Wang Wiwekaram, and was built by hand by Mon refugees from Myanmar (then Burma). The wooden bridge is one of the leading tourist attractions in Kanchanaburi province. The loss of the bridge has hurt the economy of the Mon community opposite Sangkhla Buri. The repair has taken far longer than expected. Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered an engineer unit of the Royal Thai Army to help the local Mon population repair the bridge.

Thailand is the leading rubber exporter in the world. In the last two years, the price paid to rubber farmers has plunged from approximately 190 Baht per kilo (about $6.10 US) to 52 Baht per kilo (about $1.60 US). It costs about 65 Baht per kilo to produce rubber ($2.05 US). Rubber farmers have taken jobs in the construction trade or in Bangkok to provide for their families during the slump.

Krishna Janmashtami is the annual celebration of the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna, the eighth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. It is celebrated by Hindus in Thailand. There are about 53,000 Hindus in Thailand, most originally from India, but many Hindu deities are highly revered by Thai Buddhists and Hindu holy days are observed by many Thai Buddhists.

Many Chinese shrines and temples distribute food and toys to people in their communities at this time of year. It's a Thai twist on the Chinese "Hungry Ghost" festival, which is also known as Ghost Month. It's the month when the Gates of Hell are opened. Food and "Hell Money" are left as offerings to please the ghosts.

Seventy-seven men from 18 countries were ordained as Buddhist monks and novices at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Buddhist temple north of Bangkok, Saturday. It is the center of the Dhammakaya Movement, a Buddhist sect founded in the 1970s and led by Phra Dhammachayo (Phrathepyanmahamuni). It is the largest temple in Thailand. The Dhammakaya sect has an active outreach program that attracts visitors from around the world.

More than 200,000 Cambodian migrant workers, most undocumented, fled Thailand in early June fearing a crackdown by Thai authorities after a coup unseated the elected government. Employers have been unable to fill the vacancies created by the Cambodian exodus and the Thai government has allowed the migrants to return. The Cambodian workers have to have a job and their employers have to vouch for them. The Thai government is issuing temporary ID cards to allow them to travel openly to their jobs. About 800 Cambodian workers came back to Thailand through the Aranyaprathet border crossing Wednesday. The Thai government has opened similar service centers at three other crossing points on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Phi Ta Khon (also spelled Pee Ta Khon) is the Ghost Festival. Over three days, the town's residents invite protection from Phra U-pakut, the spirit that lives in the Mun River, which runs through Dan Sai. People in the town and surrounding villages wear costumes made of patchwork and ornate masks and are thought be ghosts who were awoken from the dead when Vessantra Jataka (one of the Buddhas) came out of the forest.

The United States Department of State downgraded Thailand to the lowest rank in its Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report. Thailand is now ranked with North Korea, Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia in the way it treats workers and protects them from abuse. I've been photographing immigration in Thailand since 2009. These are some of the photos.

Villagers in the Wang Nua district of Lampang province in northern Thailand found gold in the Mae Wang (Wang River) in 2011 after excavation crews dug out sand for a construction project. Now every year when the river level drops, farmers from the district come to the river to pan for gold. Some have been able to add to their family income by 2,000 to 3,000 Baht (about $65 to $100 US) every month. The gold miners work the river bed starting in mid-February and finish up by mid-May depending on the weather. They stop panning when the river level rises from the rains. This year the Thai government is predicting a serious drought which may allow miners to work longer into the summer.

Kao Seng is a small fishing village in Songkhla province in southern Thailand. Only a few hundred people live in the community, which is next to the provincial capital of Songkhla. The people on Kao Seng earn their living from the sea, going out every morning in their small boats to fish the waters of the Gulf of Siam.

Bullfighting is a popular past time in southern Thailand. In Thai bullfights, two bulls are placed in an arena and they fight, usually by head butting each other, until one runs away or time is called. Huge amounts of mony are wagered on Thai bullfights

The Thai rice industry is in crisis. Farmers complained they couldn't cover costs and make a decent living so the government implemented a "rice pledging scheme" to drive up the price. Under the scheme (the term the government used), the government would buy rice crops at above market prices, warehouse the rice until prices went up and then sell the rice for a profit. It seemed like a good idea except it didn't go according to plan. The government took possession of the rice but couldn't pay farmers. Then India and Vietnam brought huge new rice crops to market and the price of rice fell, limiting the government's ability to sell the warehoused rice. Rice farmers, who still haven't been paid, are furious with the government and threatening to blockade highways in rural Thailand. (This is separate from the anti-government protests in Bangkok.) The government is struggling to meet its obligations to farmers. Contracts that had been signed to sell the rice (to China) have been cancelled. Numerous allegations of corruption have caused investigators and law enforcement to launch investigations into the legality and mechanics of the rice pledging scheme. The rice crisis is separate from the anti-government protests in Bangkok, but it poses an even bigger threat to the government because the rice farmers, especially in northern Thailand, make up the base of the Pheu Thai party. If the rice farmers desert the party it could bring down the government.

Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in Thailand. Ethnic Chinese make up about 14% of Thailand and play a very important role in the Thai business class. Bangkok's "Chinatown" district is a densely populated sprawling neighborhood of tiny lanes and narrow alleys along the Chao Phraya River. There's always an energy in Chinatown. But during the Lunar New Year (also called Tet or Chinese New Year) there's a frenetic pace to Chinatown. The temples are packed, Yaowarat Rd, the main thoroughfare, is closed to cars and becomes a walking street lined with food stalls, Lion and Dragon dance troupes snake through the crowd going from shop to shop to chase away the evil spirits and bring a prosperous New Year.

Chinese opera was once very popular in Thailand, where it is called “Ngiew.” It is usually performed in the Teochew language. Millions of Teochew speaking Chinese emigrated to Thailand (then Siam) in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought their cultural practices with them. Recently the popularity of ngiew has faded as people turn to performances of opera on DVD or movies.

Chinese opera has long been a staple of life in the Thai-Chinese community (about 14% of Thais are of Chinese descent). As Chinese emigrated to Thailand they brought the opera with them. Chinese opera though is a dying art form - more and more people are going to the local movie theaters or online for their entertainment and forsaking the opera. Opera performers live an itinerant life, traveling from temple to temple for performances. They sleep in tents in the temple courtyards or hammocks slung beneath the stage. A performance can last anywhere from three to four hours. Sometimes just two or three people will be in the audience. But the show must go on.

Christmas services at Holy Redeemer Church in Bangkok. Thailand is predominantly Buddhist but Christmas is widely celebrated throughout the country. Buddhists mark the day with secular gift giving but there are about 300,000 Catholics in Thailand who celebrate religious Christmas. Catholics first came to Thailand (then Siam) in 1567 as chaplain for Portuguese mercenaries in the employ of the Siamese monarchy. There has been a continuous Catholic presence in Thailand since then.

December 5 is the birthday of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand. It is both Fathers' Day in Thailand and the country's national holiday. The King is widely revered by the Thai people and frequently seen as a unifying force in Thailand's fractured political landscape. This year the King celebrated his 86th birthday. There was a large gathering and candlelight service for the King on Sanam Luang, the large parade ground north of the Grand Palace.

Mor Lam is a musical style unique to Isan, the rural, largely agricultural region of northeastern Thailand and Laos. It's been called the "country music" of Thailand. Mor Lam shows have evolved from simple concerts to elaborately staged extravaganzas. Some Mor Lam troupes have more then 250 performers - singers, dancers, musicians and comedians. A show can go more than four hours. These pictures were made at a Mor Lam show in Bangkok.

The iPhone 5s and its less expensive sibling, the 5c, won't officially go on sale in Thailand until sometime later this year. But the entrepreneurs who operate in MBK aren't waiting for Apple's latest device to reach Thailand through official channels. On Saturday morning (still Friday night on the west coast of the US), hours after the phone's release in the US, hundreds of "grey market" iPhones were available at MBK. Early adapters will have to pay for the privilege of owning Apple's latest though. A 64 gigabyte iPhone 5s will set you back about 38,000 Baht, or $1,200 US.

Ten thousand Buddhist monks participated in a mass alms giving ceremony on Rajadamri Road in front of Central World shopping mall in Bangkok. The alms giving was to benefit disaster victims in Thailand and assist Buddhist temples in the insurgency wracked southern provinces of Thailand.

Thailand, especially Bangkok, has a booming construction industry. Many of the workers in the construction industry are migrant workers, drawn to Bangkok by the lure of high salaries. Most come from Isaan, the impoverished rural region of northeastern Thailand along the Cambodian and Lao borders, but many also come from Cambodia (so many, in fact, that there’s now a shortage of construction workers in Phnom Penh) and some from Myanmar. Workers have had a difficult time finding affordable housing close to their construction projects, which are frequently in the most expensive parts of town. Many construction firms have built dormitory housing units in vacant lots close to their job sites, others house workers on the site, in leaky corrugated metal huts. Workers live on the site until it’s nearly finished or their work is done. Then they move on to the next site. It’s a life in motion, powering the expansion of a global metropolis.

The sport of elephant polo started in Nepal in 1982. Proceeds from the King’s Cup tournament goes to help rehabilitate elephants rescued from abuse. Each team has three players and three elephants. Matches take place on a pitch (field) 80 meters by 48 meters using standard polo balls. The game is divided into two 7 minute “chukkas” or halves. There are 16 teams in this year’s tournament, including one team of transgendered “ladyboys.”

The seventh lunar month (August - September in 2013) is when the Chinese community believes that hell’s gate will open to allow spirits to roam freely in the human world for a month. Many households and temples will hold prayer ceremonies throughout the month-long Hungry Ghost Festival (Phor Thor) to appease the spirits. During the festival, believers will also worship the Tai Su Yeah (King of Hades) in the form of paper effigies which will be “sent back” to hell after the effigies are burnt.

Thailand entered a technical recession this month after the economy shrank by 0.3% in the second quarter of the year. The 0.3% contraction in gross domestic product between April and June followed a previous fall of 1.7% during the first quarter of 2013. The contraction is being blamed on a drop in demand for exports, a drop in domestic demand and a loss of consumer confidence. At the same time, the value of the Thai Baht against the US Dollar has dropped significantly, from a high of about 28Baht to $1 in April to 32THB to 1USD in August.

These are photos I made of New Friars ministering to people in the Bangkok slums. New Friars live in the communities they serve, while they evangelize for Christianity, they provide services to anyone in need and conversion to Christianity is not a precursor to receiving help. Although the term “friar” is generally thought to be a male word, the New Friars are an equal mix of men and women. In the scope of the work it is a gender free word. These photos were made while I was on assignment for Christianity Today magazine.

The Chinese Dragon Dance began during the Han Dynasty which lasted from 206 BC to 24 AD. In those ancient days it was performed by the people of China specifically to please their ancestors and to insure sufficient rain for a plentiful crop. In this way they hoped to protect against hunger and sickness. These dancers were performing at the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok.

Eid al-Fitr is the Muslim holy day that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, left Siriraj Hospital for an extended time for the first time since 2009 on Thursday. He and his wife, Queen Sirikit, who is also in the hospital, went to the Royal palace in Hua Hin, a seaside community about three hours from Bangkok. Thousands of people lined the road near the hospital hoping to catch a glimpse of their revered King.

Koh Samet (also spelled Koh Samed) has some of the nicest white sand beaches in Thailand and it's only about 2.5 hours from Bangkok, making it a very popular weekend hang out for people who live in Thailand's teeming capital city. On Saturday, July 27, an underwater oil pipeline owned by PTT, the state oil company, released at least 50,000 liters of crude oil in the Golf of Thailand. PTT and Thai environmental officials at first said the leak was contained and that the oil spill would not make land or pose a threat to the beaches. But by Monday July 29 oil was washing up on Ao Prao and officials were racing to contain a growing oil slick on the Gulf of Thailand and save the beaches of Ao Prao on Koh Samet. Even though Ao Prao was covered in oil, the other beaches on Koh Samet were untouched and the island remained open for tourists. By Tuesday, July 30, the slick was larger than the island of Koh Samet and threatening the Thai mainland.

Iftar the meal Muslim's take at sunset during Ramadan. It's the meal that breaks the day long fast. It's a very social event and at many mosques in Bangkok it serves as a community event. These photos were made at iftar in mosques in Bangkok.

Thousands of people come to Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province, about 90 minutes from Bangkok, for the first day of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet.

On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) many Buddhists visit their temples to "make merit." During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed. Muslims believe that the Quran was sent down during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by Jibraeel (Gabriel) to the Prophet Muhammad. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Bobae Market is a sprawling wholesale clothing market in central Bangkok. What started more than 30 years ago as a local market for Thais has grown into a wholesale market that draws buyers from around the world interested in buying Thai designed and made clothes.

Shrimp farmers in Southeast Asia are in an existential crisis. Early Mortality Syndrome - EMS - is killing their baby shrimp before they reach market size. Shrimp production in China, Vietnam and Malaysia plunged up to 80% after EMS decimated their shrimp farms. EMS hit Thailand's shrimp farms in early 2013. The number of shrimp killed isn't known yet, but stores that sell supplies to shrimp farmers report that their business is off by about 80%. Shrimp ponds are normally full of water are dry and roadside stalls that sell shrimp and prawns to motorists are empty. The United Nations' FAO has determined that the die off is caused by a strain of a bacterium commonly found in brackish coastal waters around the globe, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. A team of researchers at the University of Arizona were able to isolate the strain and use it to infect healthy shrimp with EMS/AHPNS — a scientific method known as Koch's Postulate and the epidemiologist's equivalent of a smoking gun. EMS poses no threat to humans, whether they eat the shrimp or work with them, but there is no known care for EMS, so the shrimp die offs will likely continue until a cure can be found. International officials hope to prevent EMS' spread to shrimp farms in Africa and Latin America.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony has been a part of Thai culture for hundreds of years - it reportedly goes back to the Sukothai period around 1300AD. In ancient times the court's Brahmin priests used it to presage the coming rice harvest. In modern times, it marks the beginning of Thailand's rice planting season, but the ancient traditions are still observed.

Chinese opera was once very popular in Thailand and is usually performed in the Teochew language. Millions of Chinese emigrated to Thailand (then Siam) in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought their cultural practices with them. Recently its popularity has faded as people turn to performances of opera on DVD or movies. There are as many 30 Chinese opera troupes left in Bangkok. They travel from Chinese temple to Chinese temple performing on stages they put up in streets near the temple, sometimes sleeping on hammocks they sling under their stage. The opera troupes are paid by the temple, usually $700 to $1000 a night.

The 2013 salt harvest in Thailand and Cambodia has been impacted by unseasonably heavy rains. Normally, the salt fields are prepped in December, January and February, when they're leveled and flooded with sea water. Salt is harvested from the fields from late February through May, as the water evaporates leaving salt behind. This year rains in December and January limited access to the fields and rain again in March and April has reduced the amount of salt available in the fields. Thai salt farmers are finishing the harvest as best they can, but the harvest in neighboring Cambodia ended about 6 weeks early because of rain.

UNESCO named Bangkok as the World Book Capitol 2013. To mark the occasion, there was a special alms ceremony at Sanam Luang, near the Grand Palace, on Tuesday morning. Hundreds of monks walked through a sea of people, who instead of presenting the monks with food (as is normally done) presented the monks with books, which will in turn will be donated to literacy projects in Bangkok.

Most Asian currencies, but especially the Thai Baht, have increased in value vs the US Dollar, the Euro and Pound Sterling. This year, the Baht's performance has outpaced other Southeast Asian currencies like the Singapore Dollar, the Malaysian Ringit and the Philippine Peso. For Thais it means imported goods are cheaper than they would otherwise be. Thailand relies on exports and tourism to drive its economy so the Baht's record setting rise is not good news. It means Thai exports are more expensive than they otherwise would be and tourists don't have as much money to spend as they otherwise would have. These pictures were made at currency exchanges in Bangkok's tourist areas.

As gold prices continue to drop, people who have been priced out of the market are taking advantage of the lower prices to buy in. Gold shops in Bangkok's Chinatown, closed for almost a week because of Songkran, reopened Wednesday to long lines and crowds of people wanting to buy gold before prices start going back up.

Some photos from the 2013 Songkran party. Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year's celebration. It lasts for four days, April 13 - 16. Songkran is in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season and provides an excuse for people to cool off in friendly water fights that take place throughout the country. Songkran has been a national holiday since 1940, when Thailand moved the first day of the year to January 1.

March and April are the months of the "Burning Season" in northern Thailand. The rainy season ends in November, and the land is dry, reservoirs are at their lowest points of the year. A thick haze covers much of the northern countryside and many people wear masks because of the pollutants in the air. Farmers are preparing their fields for planting, which starts in May. Traditionally, they prepare their fields by burning out the stubble from last years' crops. It's cheaper than plowing it under and they use the ash as a fertilizer. But pollution generated by the smoke sends people to local hospitals with breathing ailments and covers everything with a fine layer of soot. In some cases, the smoke is so thick commercial airports have to close or restrict operations. The Thai government it trying to prohibit burning but it's been a difficult campaign to win. Farmers here have been burning out their fields for thousands of years and see no reason to stop now.

Wat Bang Phra is the best known "Sak Yant" tattoo temple in Thailand. It's located in Nakhon Pathom province, about 40 miles from Bangkok. The tattoos, which are given by either Buddhist monks or "wicha" (practitioners of magic), are popular with soldiers, policeman and gangsters, people who generally live in harm's way. The tattoo must be activated to remain powerful and the annual Wai Khru Ceremony (tattoo festival) at the temple draws thousands of devotees who come to the temple to activate or renew their tattoos. People go into trance like states and then assume the personality of their tattoo, so people with tiger tattoos assume the personality of a tiger, people with monkey tattoos take on the personality of a monkey and so on. They rush the stage in their trance. Volunteer medics catch the people and return them to a conscious state and they return to their place in the crowd. At the end of the festival, monks spray the crowd with holy water from a fire hose.

The Chuchok Shrine is in suburban Bangkok. More than 100 people a week come to the shrine to pray for good fortune or good health. People whose prayers are answered return to the shrine with "coyote dancers" to make merit and thank Chuchok. Coyote dancing is a Thai phenomenon created after the US movie "Coyote Ugly" where attractive young women dance in a sexually suggestive way, usually for pay. Coyote dancing is common at bars and festivals, not so common in temples or shrines. Coyote dancers perform at the Chuchok shrine because according to Buddhist literature Chuchok was an old hermit and Brahmin priest who was cared for by a young woman after he made her family's wishes come true.

Makha Bucha Day marks the day that 1,250 Arahata spontaneously came to see the Buddha. The Buddha in turn outlined the principles his teachings. In Thailand, this teaching has been dubbed the "Heart of Buddhism." In Thailand, people flock to the temples to chant and participate in prayers. At the end of the service they participate in candle light processions led by monks around the temple. These photos were made at Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram in the Dusit neighborhood of Bangkok.

Bangkok has a large Chinese emigrant population and Chinese New Year (or Lunar, New Year) is celebrated with great gusto. There are fireworks and parades in Chinese communities throughout Thailand. The coming year will be the "Year of the Snake" in the Chinese zodiac.

Chinese opera is an art form that's been practiced for centuries. In a time before movie theaters, cable television or the internet, roaming opera companies crossed the Chinese countryside putting on shows in villages and cities. Thailand, which is home to millions of Teochew Chinese emigrants, has an active community of Chinese opera performers. Their busiest times of the year are during Chinese holidays, like the Vegetarian Festival in October and, of course, Chinese New Year. This Chinese opera was performed in a mall off the tourists' path in the Bangkok suburbs.

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (Jan/Feb). Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both the birthday of the Hindu god Murugan, son of Shiva and Parvati, and the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (a lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. The holy day is celebrated by Brahmins in Thailand. Brahmanism was the court religion before Buddhism came to Thailand and before the foundation of Sukhothai. Both religions are combined in the Thai way of life and its customs and ceremonies.

1,128 Buddhist monks from the Dhammakaya movement took part in a 25-day pilgrimage walk through Bangkok and several provinces in central Thailand. The pilgrimage ended Sunday, January 27 at Wat Phra Dhammakaya near Bangkok. Along the way Thai Buddhists laid marigolds along the monks' path and greeted them for merit making. The Dhammakaya is the fastest growing Buddhist movement in Thailand. The pilgrimage is reported to be the largest pilgrimage in Thailand and organizers hope to get it placed in the Guiness World Records book.

The Lunar (Chinese) New Year is February 10. The Chinese community in Bangkok celebrates the New Year with gusto. Merchants all over Chinatown are getting ready for the New Year celebration. The New Year will be the Year of the Snake.

The market in Samut Songkhram, south of Bangkok, sits on the train tracks that lead into town. Eight times a day trains leave and come into town and each time the market vendors pick up their stalls, move them off the tracks and then move back to the track after the train passes. It's become a well practiced ballet for the market vendors.

The Bang Luang neighborhood lines Khlong (Canal) Bang Luang in the Thonburi section of Bangkok on the west side of Chao Phraya River. It was established in the late 18th Century by King Taksin the Great after the Burmese sacked the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya. The neighborhood, like most of Thonburi, is relatively undeveloped and still criss crossed by the canals which once made Bangkok famous. It's now a popular day trip from central Bangkok and offers a glimpse into what the city used to be like.

Bangkok is a very diverse city. Although mostly Buddhist, there are neighborhoods with Christian and Muslim populations. And of course there are ex-patriot neighborhoods where most of the residents are foreigners. Ban Krua was the city's first Muslim neighborhood, settled by Cham Muslims from what is now Cambodia and Vietnam in the very early years of the 19th century. The Cham Muslims received a land grant from Rama I, the King of Siam, in exchange for their service on the side of Siam against the Khmers (now Cambodia) during one of Siam's wars with the then fading Khmer empire.

A relic of the Buddha, a single strand of his hair, has been on display in Bangkok for the last few years, a gift on loan to Thai Buddhists from Buddhists in Sri Lanka. On January 9, the hair left Bangkok to go on display in the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya. There was a special, very formal, prayer service for the relic before it traveled upcountry.

Wat Mahabut is an old, well established Buddhist temple in eastern Bangkok. It was built in the time of the Siamese empire in Ayutthaya. The temple houses the Mae Nak Shrine, the most popular ghost shrine in Thailand. Many fortune tellers and numerologists work on the temple's grounds. The temple is surrounded by lottery shops, who sell tickets to people who have their fortunes read at the temple. The temple is on Khlong (canal) Phra Khanong and offers a peak into what life in Bangkok must have been like 70 or more years ago, before the canals were paved over and turned into roads. People still use longtailed boats and canoes to get around.

Although the holiday Songkran, celebrated in April, is the traditional Thai New Year, Thais also celebrate the Gregorian calendar New Year. It's a big holiday - banks and many other businesses are closed (but the malls are open, the malls are always open) and people go home for most of the week. On New Year's morning temples are packed with people "making merit" for the coming year. These pictures are from the merit making ceremony at Bangkok's City Hall and Wat Sathut, a large temple in the old part of Bangkok.

The Ratchaprasong intersection, in central Bangkok, is the heart of Bangkok's shopping and tourism district. Every year, on New Year's Eve, they shut the intersection to traffic, the malls stay open late and people party to ring in the New Year. The evening culminates in a large fireworks show. These photos are from the 2012/2013 party.

Washington Square used to be an infamous "adult entertainment" district in Bangkok. It was shut down in early 2012. The demolition of the buildings started later in the year. In Thailand, demolition workers live on the job site while they tear down the buildings around them. In Washington Square, a new, temporary, community has sprung up in the shadow of the old Red Light district. When the demolition of the buildings is complete the workers will move on to their new homes at the next job site.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, is by far the most revered figure in Thailand. He is unifying figure in a country riven by political and social fault lines. Thais celebrate his birthday with a gusto that's hard to imagine to people in the United States. It's a combination of Christmas, New Year and the 4th of July all rolled into one. These photos were made on the King's 85th birthday in 2012.

The King's Birthday is Dec. 5 and it's a national holiday in Thailand. Bangkok will be a sea of yellow since most Thais will be wearing yellow, the color of the Monarchy, to show their support for the King. Over 100,000 people are expected to line the streets near the palace to hear the King speak Wednesday morning. These are a few of the photos of people in Bangkok, in the area around the palace, getting ready for the King's birthday.

Loy Krathong is a Thai holiday. It takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, usually November in the western calendar. Loy means 'to float', while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. A krathong is decorated with elaborately folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so.

Wat Saket, popularly known as the Golden Mount or "Phu Khao Thong," is one of the most popular and oldest Buddhist temples in Bangkok. The temple's chedi used to be the highest point in Bangkok, but it lost the title the city's numerous skyscrapers decades ago. The temple holds an annual fair in November, the week of the full moon. It's one of the most popular temple fairs in Bangkok. The fair draws people from across Bangkok and spills out in the streets around the temple.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, has lived at Siriraj Hospital since 2009. A steady line of Thais come to the hospital every day to pray for his recovery, sign get well cards and drop off flowers for their revered ailing monarch. The King's birthday is Dec. 5. As the day draws closer, the number of people coming to pay respects to the King increases.

The Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has launched an expansive price support "scheme" for rice farmers. The government is buying rice from farmers and warehousing it until world rice prices increase. Rice farmers, the backbone of rural Thailand, like the plan, but exporters do not because they are afraid Thailand is losing its position as the world's #1 rice exporter to Vietnam, which has significantly improved the quality and quantity of its rice. India is also exporting more of its rice. The stockpiling of rice is also leading to a shortage of suitable warehouse space. The Prime Minister and her government face a censure debate and possible no confidence vote later this month over the rice price scheme.

Thanon Bamrung Muang (Thanon is Thai for Road or Street) is Bangkok's "Street of Many Buddhas." Like many ancient cities, Bangkok was once a city of artisan's neighborhoods and Bamrung Muang Road, near Bangkok's present day city hall, was once the street where all the country's Buddha statues were made. Now they made in factories on the edge of Bangkok, but Bamrung Muang Road is still where the statues are finished and sold. Once an elephant trail, it was one of the first streets paved in Bangkok. It is the largest center of Buddhist supplies in Thailand. Not just statues but also monk's robes, candles, alms bowls, and pre-configured alms baskets are for sale along both sides of the street.

The volunteer medics of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation work the streets of Bangkok after dark saving lives and helping people. They respond to traffic accidents, crime scenes and medical calls, combatting the city's notorious traffic, racing to help strangers. The medics provide all of their own equipment. They even buy their own gas to fuel their ambulances.

The US Embassy sponsored an election watch function at a hotel near the embassy. A couple of thousand people showed up. A lot of students from Bangkok schools, a class of police cadets and a large contingent of Bangkok media.

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession has both religious and royal significance. The tradition is nearly 700 years old. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most important cultural and religious events. During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 60 years, the Procession has only occurred 16 times. The Royal Barge Procession consists of 52 barges: 51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Bangkok, passes the Grand Palace complex and ends at Wat Arun. Tuesday's dress rehearsal was the final practice for the 2012 Royal Barge Procession, which takes place November 9.

Bullfighting is a popular past time in southern Thailand. Hat Yai is the center of Thailand's bullfighting culture. In Thai bullfights, two bulls are placed in an arena and they fight, usually by head butting each other until one runs away or time is called. Huge amounts of mony are wagered on Thai bullfights - sometimes as much as 2,000,000 Thai Baht ($65,000 US) on one fight.

Ok Phansa marks the end of the Buddhist 'Lent.' It's a day of joyful celebration and merit-making. For the members of Wat Kohwai, in Yarang District of Pattani, Ok Phansa was special this year because it was the first time in eight years they've been able to celebrate the holiday. The Buddhist community is surrounded by Muslim villages and it's been too dangerous to hold the boisterous celebration because of the Muslim insurgency that is very active in this area. This year, the Thai army sent a unit of soldiers to secure the village and accompany the villagers on their procession to Yala, a city about 20 miles away.

The Bukit Kong home opened 27 years ago as a Pondo School, or traditional Islamic school, in the Mayo district of Pattani. Shortly after it opened, people asked the headmaster to look after individuals with mental illness. The headmaster took them in and soon the school was a home for the mentally ill. Thailand has limited mental health facilities and most are in Bangkok, more than 1,100 kilometers (650 miles) away. The home filled a huge need in the community. The founder died suddenly in 2006 and now his widow, Nuriah Jeteh, struggles to keep the home open. Facilities are crude by western standards but the people who live here have nowhere else to go. Some were brought here by family, others dropped off by the military or police. The home relies on donations and gets no official government support, although soldiers occasionally drop off food. There are only six patients, three of whom are kept chained in their rooms. Jeteh says she relies on traditional Muslim prayers, holy water and herbal medicines to treat the residents. Western style drugs are not available to the residents.

Eid al-Adha, also called Feast of the Sacrifice, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honor the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his firstborn son Ishmael as an act of submission to God, and his son's acceptance of the sacrifice before God intervened to provide Abraham with a ram to sacrifice instead. I photographed Eid in the small community of Pulasaiz in Narathiwat province, Thailand.

The Vegetarian Festival is celebrated in Thai-Chinese communities throughout Thailand. It is the Thai Buddhist version of the The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a nine-day Taoist celebration celebrated in the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. For nine days, those who are participating in the festival dress all in white and abstain from eating meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Vendors and proprietors of restaurants indicate that vegetarian food is for sale at their establishments by putting a yellow flag out with Thai characters for meatless written on it in red. In Hat Yai, a town settled by Chinese traders and sailors, the festival is celebrated with special ceremonies in the temples.

More than 2,600 Buddhist Monks from across Bangkok and thousands of devout Thai Buddhists attended the mass alms giving ceremony in Benjasiri Park in Bangkok. The ceremony was to raise food and cash donations for Buddhist temples in Thailand's violence plagued southern provinces. Because of an ongoing long running insurgency by Muslim separatists many Buddhist monks in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three Muslim majority provinces, can't leave their temples without military escorts.

The Vegetarian Festival is celebrated throughout Thailand. It's the Thai version of the The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. For nine days, those who are participating in the festival dress all in white and abstain from eating meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products. Vendors and restaurateurs indicate that vegetarian food is for sale by putting a yellow flag out with Thai characters for meatless written on it in red. These photos were made during the Vegetarian Festival in Bangkok.

Making "merit" is a concept in Buddhism (and Hinduism) that your good deeds, thoughts and acts accumulate over time and help ease your path into the next life. Not unlike the idea that if do good things and good things happen. It's not unusual to see people throughout the Buddhist world making merit at temples (by praying or donating time or material) or on the streets (giving alms to monks in the morning or during the Tak Bat). These photos were in temples made during a recent trip to Nakhon Pathom province south of Bangkok. Buddhism arrived in what is now Thailand from India in the town that is now known as Nakhon Pathom in the province with the same name. Even in a country dotted with temples, like Thailand is, Nakhon Pathom stands out for the sheer number of Wats (temples) and their importance in Thai life.

Bangkok is a city defined by water. It sits on the Chao Phraya River delta, slowly sinking. Parts of the city flood several times a year - whenever heavy rains or unusually high tides strike. The city used to be crisscrossed by a network of canals and served by boats, much like Venice. But the canals have been filled in, paved and turned into roads. Now those roads flood and turn into unintentional, unusable, canals when it rains. This is a collection of photos related to Bangkok's aquatic life. This is a project in progress. I'll be adding to it as I make the pictures.

Bangkok Flower Market (Pak Klong Talad) is the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in Bangkok. The market has all kinds of popular flowers and flora-related items, including roses, forget me nots, orchids, lilies and more. Most are sold in bulk packs of 50 or 100 flowers in each. Part of the Old City, Bangkok Flower market is located on Chak Phet Road near Saphan Phut or the Memorial Bridge. Shops and vendors are housed inside two to three-storey shop-houses on both sides of the main road. The market lies just south of Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and has access to a river pier.

People flock to Lumphini Park in Bangkok, Thailand, in the morning to participate in exercise classes and clubs, to jog and jazzercise and practice yoga.

The amulet market near Wat Maharat in Bangkok, Thailand is a rabbit's warren of small sois (lanes) and paths that connect stands and shops selling Buddhist amulets and iconography. It's in the area north of the Grand Palace near Wat Maharat and extends from Th Maha Rat to the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

Thailand is well known for its "street food," prepared food bought, and sometimes consumed, at small stands on the street. They're common throughout the country, but Bangkok, in particular, is awash in street food stands. The International Labor Organization says that some 500,000 people work in the street food sector in Bangkok alone (with a citywide population of 12 - 14 million, that's 3 - 4% of the population of Bangkok, which seems like a lot). Thai street food is tasty, fresh and stunningly inexpensive. Most meals are less than $2 (US) not including drinks or extras. I will be adding pictures to this gallery when I make photos that fit the theme.

Don Mueang Airport is one of the oldest continuously operated airfields in the world. It opened as a Royal Thai Air Force Base in 1914. It served as Bangkok's main airport until 2006 when Suvarnabhumi, the new airport east of town opened. It was closed for about a year and reopened as a low cost airline airport in 2007. It was closed again in 2011 because of the historic flooding that hit Thailand. It reopened in a limited capacity late last year and now is reopened in its former glory. Suvarnabhumi, only six years old, is already over capacity so all of the low cost airlines have moved to Don Mueang. This are photos from the grand opening.

The Ganesh Festival in Nakorn Nayok, Thailand, celebrates the rebirth of Lord Ganesha, a Hindu deity also worshipped in Buddhism and Jainism. Ganesha is revered by many in Thailand and the festival was a mix of Thai Buddhist rites and Indian Hindu rites.

There was a rehearsal of the Thai Royal Barge Procession Thursday. It is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance that goes back almost 700 years. This year there will be a procession on November 9 to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. There have been only 16 full processions during the 60 year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The barges are rowed by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Po and arrives at Wat Arun (the Temple of the Dawn).

Khlong Toey (also called Khlong Toei) is one of the largest wet markets in Southeast Asia. The sprawling warren of alleys and narrow streets is next to Khlong Toey slum, one of Bangkok's most infamous neighborhoods. Although many Thais are starting to shop in Western style grocery stores, Khlong Toey market still serves as the main shopping destination for hundreds of thousands of Bangkokians.

Makha Bucha is an important Buddhist holiday celebrated in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month usually February, this year March. Makha Bucha is a public holiday in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia - and is an occasion when Buddhists tend to go to the temple to perform merit-making activities. These pictures were made at a small Buddhist tempe in Kanchanaburi province during a visit to Thailand a few years ago.

This is the first day of Vassa, the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and nuns, at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province in Thailand. On the first day of Vassa (or Buddhist Lent) people come to the temple to "make merit" and present the monks there with dancing lady ginger flowers, which only bloom in the weeks leading up Vassa and only around this temple. They also present monks with candles and wash their feet. During Vassa, monks and nuns remain inside monasteries and temple grounds, devoting their time to intensive meditation and study. Laypeople support the monastic sangha by bringing food, candles and other offerings to temples. Laypeople also often observe Vassa by giving up something, such as smoking or eating meat. For this reason, westerners sometimes call Vassa the "Buddhist Lent."

Bangkok has a great light rail system that runs for about 30 miles along two lines - the Silom line, which runs through the Central Business District and the Sukhumvit line which runs down Sukhumvit out to Mo Chit. The two lines meet and passengers transfer at the Siam station, conveniently in the heart of Bangkok's upscale shopping district. The most expensive ticket is 40 Baht, about $1.30 US. The least expensive is 15 Baht. The trains are clean, cheap, air conditioned and faster than a car on surface streets. The perfect way to get around Bangkok.

Hua Lamphong Grand Central Railway Station, is officially known as the Bangkok Grand Central Terminal Railway Station. It's the main railway station in Bangkok. The station was opened on 25 June 1916. The station is built in an Italian Neo-Renaissance style. The architecture is attributed to Turin born Mario Tamagno, who, with countryman Annibale Rigotti made a mark on early 20th century public buildings in Bangkok.There are 14 platforms and 26 ticket booths. Hua Lamphong serves over 130 trains and approximately 60,000 passengers each day. Thailand has the most advanced rail system in Southeast Asia and trains from Hua Lamphong serve all corners of the Kingdom.

The Thai countryside south of Bangkok is crisscrossed with canals, some large enough to accommodate small commercial boats and small barges, some barely large enough for a small canoe. People who live near the canals use them for everything from domestic water to transportation and fishing. Some, like the canals in Amphawa and nearby Damnoen Saduak are also famous for their "floating markets" where vendors set up their canoes and boats as floating shops.

Soi Arab used to be an alley in Bangkok (Soi is the Thai word for alley or small street) near the Nana area that first became popular with Saudi labor brokers who came to Thailand looking for cheap workers in the early 1980's. What started as an alley has now grown into a neighborhood that encompasses several blocks of restaurants, hotels and money exchanges that cater to Middle Eastern visitors to Thailand. The official name of the street is Sukhumvit Soi 3/1, located in North Nana between Sukhumvit Soi 3 and Sukhumvit Soi 5, not far from the Nana Plaza night-life area. It's a fascinating place where Arabic is more widely spoken than English, signs are in Arabic, Thai and, to a lesser degree English. Uniquely for this part of Bangkok, there's a real family atmosphere - with none of the tawdriness that marks the Nana Entertainment Complex just two blocks away.

Lumphini Park (also spelled Lumpini or Lumpinee) is a 142-acre park in Bangkok. The park offers open public space, trees and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent a variety of boats. Paths around the park totalling approximately 2.5 km in length are a popular area for evening joggers. Lumpini Park was created in the 1920s by King Rama VI on royal property. A statue of the king stands at the southwestern entrance to the park. It was named for Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal, and at the time of its creation stood on the outskirts of the city. Today it lies in the heart of the main business district and is in the Lumphini sub-district, on the north side of Rama IV Road, between Ratchadamri Road and Witthayu (Wireless) Road. The park comes alive while most people in Bangkok are still dead asleep. Starting about 5:30AM and going until about 8:00AM thousands of people come down to the park, some to jog, some to meditate, some to practice karaoke (seriously!) but most to practice the ancient Chinese fitness ritual of tai-chi. I photographed a couple of groups, including one that used enormous swords, doing tai-chi during a recent visit to the park.

Thanon Bamrung Muang is Bangkok's "Street of Many Buddhas." Like many ancient cities, Bangkok was once a city of artisan's neighborhoods and Bamrung Muang Road, near Bangkok's present day city hall, used to be the street where all the country's Buddha statues were made. Now they made in factories on the edge of Bangkok, but Bamrung Muang Road is still where the statues are sold. Once an elephant trail, it was one of the first streets paved in Bangkok and is the largest center of Buddhist supplies in Thailand. Not just statues but also monk's robes, candles, alms bowls, and pre-configured alms baskets are for sale along both sides of the street.

Chiang Mai is Thailand's second city. Set in a valley about 500 miles north of the Thai capital, it was established in the 12th century and used to be the Lanna Kingdom, with its own flourishing culture and history. Chiang Mai and the north weren't fully integrated into modern Thailand until the railroads reached it in the early 20th century. Chiang Mai's culture and history live on within the ancient walls of the city.

This is a collection of photos I made at a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. I stopped there to make some photos in the temple and came upon an ordination ceremony for two men. Most Thai males enter the Buddhist clergy, called the Sangha, at least once in their lives. Their stay in the monastery can be as short as one week or a lifetime committment, depending on the man. For these young men, it would be a relatively short stay - they planned to stay in the monastery for only nine days.

The Sanpatong buffalo market is about 30 miles from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Every Saturday hundreds of farmers come to buy and sell buffalo and cattle. A lively wet market has sprung up next to the buffalo market where you can get everything from fish sauce to the clothes.

Wednesday was Coronation Day in Thailand, marking the 60th anniversary of the coronation of the Thai King, also known as Rama IX. He is the world's longest serving current head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history. He has reigned since June 9, 1946 and his coronation was on May 5, 1950, after he finished his studies. The King is revered by the Thai people. Thousands lined the streets around the Grand Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of the King as his motorcade pulled into the palace. The King has been hospitalized since September 2009, making only infrequent trips out of the hospital for official functions, like today's ceremonies.

Thai soldiers moved into the Silom Rd area in Bangkok Monday. Silom is the heart of Thailand's financial services industry - the Wall Street of Thailand as it were. The government has not been able to dislodge the Red Shirts from Ratchaprasong Intersection, the heart of Thailand's retail industry, so they hope to prevent a similar problem in Silom by preventing the Red Shirts from ever getting there. The soldiers were brought in early this morning. They put up barricades in Sala Daeng intersection to prevent the Reds from driving their trucks into Silom and the area was flooded with thousands of soldiers. Workers in the area, most of who don't support the Reds, greeted the soldiers as conquering heros and brought them food and water. Spontaneous patriotic demonstrations broke out along Silom Rd. The Thai government has said now that they will rely more on the soldiers to control the crowds and relegate the police to a support role. The soldiers seem to be better equipped. This morning they were armed with a mix of assault rifles and shotguns. At previous demonstrations the police have been unarmed or had handguns only.

Thailand, and Isan in particular, is in the midst of a drought unlike any ever experienced in this country, the world's leading rice exporter. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is warning consumers that the rice harvest in Thailand will be cut by up to 16% this year because of the drought. Across the Kingdom, the Thai meteorological agency is predicting drier than normal conditions through the year. Fifty three of Thailand's 76 provinces have been declared drought disaster areas and farmers have been urged to forego their rice and plant less water dependent crops, like potatoes. Adding to the problem is the Mekong River, which is at its lowest point in memory. The Mekong is one of the world's great rivers. Some 250,000,000 people depend on it for everything from water for farming and consumption to transportation for barges and boats to protein in the form of the fish pulled from the river. This year the Mekong is a shadow of its former self. The river, which at the height of the wet season, is more than a mile wide in Nakhon Phanom and hundreds of feet deep, is so shallow you can walk across it in parts. There are more photos in my archive. Do a search on Climate Change. This work is also available with an extended story from ZUMA Press.

In the Therevada Buddhist tradition a person is cremated upon death, it follows the tradition of cremation in India and the example of the Buddha, who was himself cremated. Cremation usually takes place shortly after death, however it can be delayed to allow for a long mourning period at the request of the family. That is what's happening right now in Bangkok. After the street fighting Saturday hundreds of people were hospitalized. Many with critical injuries are still in intensive care. One died today and more are expected to die in coming days. Many of the families are cooperating with the Red Shirts leaders and delaying the cremation until the end of a lengthy mourning process (a few may have been cremated in their villages already). No one has said yet when the funerals will take place. During the mourning period, monks meet daily with the family to chant the Abhidharma. Tonight's chanting was the first in a temple (the bodies, which are in chilled coffins, have been lying in repose at Democracy Monument, they were moved to a temple early today). It's a private ceremony - only about 50 Thais were there.

Songkran is the Thai New Year's holiday, celebrated from April 13 - 15. This year's official celebrations were cancelled because of the Red Shirt protests but Thais are still marking the holiday. It's one of the most popular holidays in Thailand. Songkran originally was celebrated only in the north of Thailand, and was adapted from the Indian Holi festival. Except the Thais throw water instead of colored powder. The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring water on the shoulder. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles. The water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner.

Cockfighting is enormously popular in rural Thailand. A big fight can bring the ring operator as much as 200,000 Thai Baht (about $6,000 US), a large sum of money in rural Thailand. Fighting cocks live for about 10 years and only fight for 2nd and 3rd years of their lives. Most have only four fights per year. Fighting cocks in Thailand do not wear the spurs or razor blades that they do in some countries and most times the winner is based on which rooster stops fighting or tires first rather than which is the most severely injured. Although gambling is illegal in Thailand, many times fight promoters are able to get an exemption to the gambling laws and a lot of money is wagered on the fights. Many small rural communities have at least one cockfighting arena. There are more photos from the cockfighting pits in my archive. Do a search on "cockfight."

The Moon Bar and Vertigo Restaurant in Bangkok have one of the best views of the city. Even though you're 63 floors above the city you're not able to get above the pollution that blankets Bangkok.

Wat Bang Phra in Nakhon Pathom province today is famous for its Sak Yant tattoos. These are powerful tattoos said to impart special protective powers to those who have them. They are very popular with people who live in a dangerous world - mobsters, soldiers, and police are frequently covered in these tattoos. The tattoos originated in the ancient Khmer (present day Cambodia) kingdoms and the tattoos still use Khmer script. The process of getting the tattoo is nothing like getting a tattoo in the US. People bring offerings for the monk doing the tattooing (some money, but more likely flowers and cigarettes) sit in a line to the side of the monk. While one person is being tattooed, the person who was just tattooed and the person who is next in the queue hold the tatoo recipient still while he (or she) rests his head in a pillow in his lap. The monk works quickly and silently tattooing the persons back. He starts by using a stencil of the pattern he is going to use. The tattoo needle is sharpened on a piece of rough sandpaper and the monk quickly dips the needle into the ink and then pierces the skin. The ink is a mixture of oil (usually palm oil), Chinese charcoal ink and, occasionally, snake venom. A typical tattoo requires about 3,000 strikes to complete and the monk replenishes the ink in the needle every 30 seconds or so. Needles are rinsed off in cleaning solution between clients. Tattoo parlors in the US are pretty noisy places. There's frequently some music playing and the tattoo gun makes a buzzing sound. Tattooing at Wat Bang Phra is done in silence. A few whispered words might pass between the monk and the person getting the tattoo but normally the room is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. This is a religious experience for the people getting the tattoos.

The Erawan Shrine is one of my favorite places in Bangkok. It's a Hindu shrine dedicated to the Hindu creation God Brahma. Thai Buddhism blends Hindu deities with Buddhist theology. The shrine was built in 1956 to appease Gods who were displeased with construction of a large hotel on the site (the Erawan, now Grand Hyatt Erawan). The project was plagued by cost overruns and injured workers. Once the shrine was completed the project was finished without further mishap. The Erawan Shrine is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand. All day long Thais come and go, praying and making offerings hoping to improve their lot in life or make merit and improve their karma. Tourists frequently find their way to the shrine, but surprisingly it's not mobbed like many of the temples in the old part of Bangkok. The horrible traffic and congested roads in the area probably keep the busses away. The shrine's importance in Thai life was made horribly clear in 2006 when a mentally deranged man destroyed the statue with a hammer. The crowd at the shrine beat him to death, in broad daylight, before authorities could intervene. These pictures were made during an afternoon at the shrine. There are more photos of the Erawan Shrine in my archive. Search on "Erawan."

It's not quite war and it's not quite peace in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, Thailand's three southernmost provinces. Thailand is combatting an insurgency between the region's Muslim majority and forces representing Thailand's Buddhist central government. It's a bloody campaign being fought in the shadows. Insurgents use bombs and targeted assassinations. The Thai government has responded by sending ten of thousands of regular soldiers to the region and arming a militia of tens of thousands. The roots of the conflict go back centuries, to when the region was an independent Muslim kingdom. A part of Thailand since just 1902, Muslims chafe against Buddhist control and fear the loss of their culture. These pictures were made during trips to the region. There are more photos in my archive.

The 39 women in the 44th Army Ranger Regiment are the only Thai women seeing front line active duty against Moslem insurgents in Thailand's deep south provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. All of the other women who work in Thailand's security and law enforcement agencies serve in unarmed, office and clerical positions. The women Rangers are based near Sai Buri in Pattani province. Many joined the Rangers after men in their family - brothers, fathers or husbands - were killed in the Muslim insurgency that grips Thailand's deep south. At least one of the women has been killed by insurgents - assassinated by insurgents while she was home on leave.

Ladyboys or "kathoeys" are Thailand's third gender. Born biologically male, they realize early in life that they are female and start living their lives as women. As they enter adulthood many start the difficult, painful and expensive process of gender reassignment to become women (this has made Thailand the leading center of gender reassignment surgery in the world). Ladyboys are widely accepted in Thai culture with little of the prejudice that transgendered people in the west encounter. Many schools and public buildings have three sets of public bathrooms - men, women and ladyboy. The Mambo Cabaret is a Ladyboy revue in Bangkok. All of the performers are Ladyboys.

The Mahachai Shortline runs from the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Samut Sakhon. From Samut Sakhon travelers cross a river and walk to a tiny crossing to continue on to Samut Sangkhram. The whole journey, about 70 miles, takes a little over three hours. Not many tourists ride the train. Most of the passengers are going to the markets to buy fresh seafood or coming into Bangkok for their jobs.

Salt. Tip the shaker and sprinkle it on our eggs. But gathering salt is a back breaking process. Just ask the people who work the salt flats near Samut Songkhram, south of Bangkok, Thailand. Most of them are migrant workers from the Isaan region in northeast Thailand. They travel hundreds of miles during the dry season to work the salt flats. Then, when the rainy season makes gathering salt impossible, they go back to Isaan to work their farms. There are a lot more photos from the salt flats, please search my entire archive the using keyword: salt.

I've relocated to Bangkok, Thailand. Most of the photos I've made here are in this gallery. You'l find travel features, social issues (immigration from Burma) and news photos (the Red Shirts UDD protests, the southern insurgency and 2011 elections) in this gallery. To see the full gallery, click on any photo, which will take you to all of the photos in the gallery.