Dana Anjali Photography

While exploring a local temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I discovered this nun who had been sweeping the temple grounds the previous day.  She invited me inside the temple where we chanted together. These were precious moments. 

In a small town, Champasak, in southern Laos, early in the morning  these two novices were on their morning alms round, receiving food offered by the local townspeople. What impressed me about these novices is how young they were. 

Laotian monks wander through the streets with their bowls ready to receive the generously given offerings of food from local townspeople.  This beautiful, ancient ritual happens each morning in Laos and other Buddhist countries. 

Each morning, as these monks go on alms round, local people offer food to them to sustain them for the day. This ritual of generosity, whereby the monks offer their spiritual support and receive sustenance from the lay community has survived since the days that the Buddha walked on the earth. 

While visiting a local temple in Bagan, Myanmar,  I enountered this young novice carrying his bowl after alms round. There was a seriousness in this young boy that belied his age. 

While exploring a temple in the Angkor Wat complex, I encountered this woman, a renunciate, who was offering blessing strings to temple visitors for a small donation. I was struck by her beautiful presence. 

While visiting this gorgeous temple, Bantaey Srie, one of the temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, I encountered this monk who was also visiting. I was struck by his serene presence.

This photograph was taken at the UBein’s Bridge located near Amarapura in central Myanmar (Burma).  It is a 1300-foot-long teak bridge that crosses Taungthaman Lake.  The bridge is named for an ogre who supposedly came here looking for the Buddha. The bridge is known as the longest teak span and has so far lasted two hundred years, though you can see there are definitely signs of wear! All day long, monks and nuns cross back and forth between the monasteries on each side of the bridge.  There are also endless townspeople, many on bicycles, crossing to and fro. It is a fascinating sight.  At the time I took this photo, it was in the late afternoon.  I was in a boat on the lake feasting on the changing play of life on the bridge. These two monks captured my attention very powerfully.  I was struck by the simplicity of their just walking their path.

As I watched the sunset over U Bien's Bridge in Amarapura, Myanmar, this lone wanderer appeared. I was struck by his silhouette in the sunset. 

In Luang Prabang in northern Laos there is a constant stream of people crossing this bamboo bridge. Late one afternoon, this group of young monks caught my eye when they were returning to their temple.