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Tim May | profile | all galleries >> :Asian Journeys:: A Collection of Galleries :: >> GALLERY ::Impressions of Laos and Thailand —a collection of galleries— >> GALLERY:: Monk's Gallery ::2005 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

GALLERY:: Laos and Thailand ::2005 | GALLERY:: Monk's Gallery ::2005 | GALLERY:: Asian "Tim-esques" ::January 2005

GALLERY:: Monk's Gallery ::2005

Buddhism is very strong in both countries I visited. I found myself wondering about the monks. It is common in both countries for the boys to spend time in a monastery. The amount of time varies from boy to boy. All of our guides said that they had spent time as a monk. There is so much I don't understand about the role of Buddhism in the Thai and Laotian cultures, but as a first time visitor to the culture I was forced to remove a stereotype from my frame of reference. I pictured monks as serene, meditating types - aloof and spiritual. What I discovered was teenagers spending time in a monastery. There were life time monks who were in charge but the kids, seemed to be regular kids. Almost every wat (temple) I visited had at least one monk who would speak to me in English in an attempt to get some practice. I also heard them speaking French to some other visitors. They had a smoke, listened to cd's and played on the beach. They were also great to photograph because of their striking orange clothes.
Receiving Tourist
Receiving Tourist		 Formal Pose
Formal Pose		 Morning Blessing
Morning Blessing		 Morning Blessing - Huay Xai
Morning Blessing - Huay Xai		 Lunch along the Mekong
Lunch along the Mekong
Luang Prabang - Night Market
Luang Prabang - Night Market		 Messy Room
Messy Room		 Resting after the morning walk
Resting after the morning walk		 Luang Prabang Afternoon
Luang Prabang Afternoon		 Time Off
Time Off
Monk Laundry
Monk Laundry		 Checking it Out
Checking it Out		 Saturday Conversation
Saturday Conversation		 Checking the Books
Checking the Books		 Monk Pin-up
Monk Pin-up
Hangin'
Hangin'		 Playing on the Riverbank
Playing on the Riverbank		 An English Speaker
An English Speaker		 Cell Phone Shopping
Cell Phone Shopping		 Vientiane Morning Rest
Vientiane Morning Rest
Crematorium Cleaning
Crematorium Cleaning		 Drumming
Drumming		 Coconut Bench
Coconut Bench		 Waterfall Swim 1
Waterfall Swim 1		 Cool Shower
Cool Shower
Waterfall Swim 2
Waterfall Swim 2		 Waterfall Swim 3
Waterfall Swim 3		 Waterfall Dance
Waterfall Dance		 Play
Play		 Relaxing
Relaxing
Meditation
Meditation		 Re-wrapping
Re-wrapping		 Boating with a Bike
Boating with a Bike		 Aged Monk
Aged Monk		 Conversation
Conversation

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Jean Ray25-Nov-2007 08:24
What a delightful gallery, Tim. You captured a wonderful variety of emotion, gesture, and activity. Good job of portraying monks as 'just people'.
flowsnow02-Jun-2007 16:20
Tim, I also fancy taking shots of monks. Just that we seldom see them in the city except for countries like Thailand, Burma, SR or even .....you know! They are very interesting to observe. I have managed to capture a few shots some of which are funny! Love this gallery......well done Tim!
Guest 24-Apr-2006 00:57
Thank you for sharing these thoughtful and beautiful pictures.
Kal Khogali05-Jun-2005 00:15
Hi Tim! Thanks for the comment on the Gallery. I have already been here and admired these images. I came accross you through some of your comments on Phil Douglis's galleries. I gather from that you were together on this particular trip. I particularly love the picture of the playing monks on the riverbank and the waterfall series, as you say, they show monks as humans, something I desp[erately try to capture in my images. I am doing alot of work with Phil at the moment (a great teacher) on expressive photography in my Transition Gallery herehttp://www.pbase.com/shangheye/transition. I am always looking for people to give feedback on my progress as a way of learning and I hope others will learn from my mistakes. Look forward to more communication between us. Rgds, Kal
Tim May20-May-2005 19:50
I am not aware that, at least in Laos, there is significance in the shade of the cloth. Perhaps other visitors to the gallery might know and can let us know.
laoupdate.com 12-May-2005 14:23
Nice photos, two thumbs up!
Dave Wyman26-Mar-2005 19:53
What a great gallery, Tim.
judy sidonie tillinger18-Mar-2005 17:00
this gallery is a delight. your insight, both
verbal and visual, is profound. thanks,
judy
Liz 04-Mar-2005 02:55
Your pictures of the waterfall monks made me feel as if I had seen them too.
thanks,
Liz
Phil Douglis03-Mar-2005 20:59
A delightful gallery, Tim. Full of surprises, often confounding our notions of what Monks are supposed to do and be. You give us a rounded, rich, and varied picture of them here, all with your unique way of seeing. The scenes of them frolicking in the waterfall are remarkable, and so, too, is the entire cumulative effort.
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