15 MARCH 2009 -- LUANG PRABANG, LAOS: Buddhist Monks in Luang Prabang, Laos, go about their "Tak Bat," Lao for "monks morning rounds." The monks collect alms in the form of food from people who line their route. For the monks, it is the only food they get that day, for the people it's a chance to "make merit." Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the spiritual capital of Laos. There are dozens of "wats" or temples and thousands of monks in the city. It is still the center of Buddhist education in Laos. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ