[ Michel ]'s photostream

Blijdorp, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Close-up of a pelican, and wow what are those birds big!
They look a little prehistoric too.

Pa O Don Chai, Chiang Rai, Thailand

The second day after we've arrived in Chiang Rai we went on a bike trip. It was a beautiful trip through the rural countryside of Chiang Rai.
Before we arrived at the famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) in Chiang Rai I noticed these woven cages at the side of the road with roosters in it. I found it very fascinating and I thought "Wow I must go and take some pictures of these roosters", and so I did.
When I was shooting the pictures this guy came out of his house and took one of the roosters out of his cage (the rooster was in a cage with 3 or 4 other roosters) and put it in another empty cage.
I asked him why he did that, but he couldn't explain it to me in English unfortunately. He walked to another cage to get a rooster. When I asked him if it was okay to take a picture of him holding the rooster he nodded an posed for me like his rooster had just won the Champions League of cockfights ;-)

Unfortunately I still don't know why he took the rooster out of the cage with the other roosters and put him all alone in another cage...

This picture is #6 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com

Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (The official name is Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn), is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is home to more Buddha images than any other Bangkok temple and it shelters the largest Buddha in Thailand.

The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds, bisected north-south by Sanamchai Road running east-west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found.

The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school.

Wat Pho is the largest and oldest wat in Bangkok and is home to more than 1,000 Buddha images, more than any other temple in the country.

It also shelters the largest Buddha image in Thailand: the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas). Created as part of Rama III's restoration (1824-51), the Reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

His body is covered in gold plating and he is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay on his eyes and the soles of his feet. The bottoms of the Buddha's feet are intricately decorated with 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles.

Taling Chan Floating Market, Bangkok, Thailand

Laura enjoying her fresh young coconut at the Taling Chan Floating Market and like every drink in Thailand this also came in a plastic bag, with a straw ;-)

Thai Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Walking within the walls of the Thai Grand Palace I noticed this young Palace guard, wearing this beautiful white uniform. He was standing in front of his cabin and he didn't move a muscle, but when I asked him if I could take a picture of him, for my 100 strangers project, he nodded. I also asked him his name, but he wasn't alowed to talk to me while he was standing guard (that's what I'd heard at the information desk afterwards).

Anyway, thanks for posing Mr Palace guard.

This picture is #5 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at www.100Strangers.com