Skyscrapers mix with more modest buildings in skyline view along the Chao Phaya River in Bangkok. Thailand

Motorized canoe carrying three people zips past wharf on the Chao Phaya River in Bangkok. Thailand

Motorized canoe carrying people & goods passes Wat Pho & Pepsi sign on Chao Phaya Rivr; Bangkok Thailand

Pepsi sign mingles with the ornate roofs and spires of Wat Pho on the Chao Phaya River; Bangkok Thailand

Ornate roofs and spires of Wat Pho's Buddhist architecture blend with neighborhood homes; Bangkok Thailand

Woman holding baby stands in door of her home on a canal linked to the Chao Phaya River; Bangkok Thailand

Vendors in straw hats cook aboard boat from which they sell food on Chao Phaya River canal;Bangkk Thailand

Woman in straw hat cooks aboard boat from which she sells food on Chao Phaya River canal;Bangkk Thailand

People enter Grand Palace, built late 1700s by King Rama I, below the Main Golden Stupa; Bangkok. Thailand

Topiary bushes frame two of Grand Palace's throne halls: Chakri (left) & Dusit (center); Bangkok Thailand

High atop the Dusit Throne Hall, a garuda (mythical bird) guards roof; (h) Grand Palace, Bangkok. Thailand

Necklaces of garlands and orchids adorn stone Buddhist statues in Grand Palace compound;Bangkok Thailand

Gilt demon guards door to Repository of the Canon of Buddhism, Phra Mondop;Grand Palace/Bangkok Thailand

Small gilt statues adorn the ornate facade of the Phra Mondop Repository; Grand Palace/Bangkok Thailand

Royal demons & monkeys of Ramakian epic adorn bases of the Twin Golden Stupas;Grand Palace/Bngkk Thailand

Mural is one in series of panels lining courtyard walls of Royal Chapel; Grand Palace, Bangkok. Thailand

Man prays before Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailandand's most sacred sites;Grnd Palce,Bkk Thail

Buddhist monk takes photo of Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace compound; Bangkok. Thailand

Typical green and orange tile roofs create an abstract design @ the Wat Suthat compound; Bangkok Thailand

Green & orange tile roofs overlap against blue afternoon sky at the Wat Suthat compound; Bangkok Thailand

Life-size golden Buddhas line the open-air courtyard gallery of the Wat Suthat compound; Bangkok Thailand

Bearded stone man sits at base of 79m-high Phra Prang pagoda at Temple of Dawn, Wat Arun;Bangkok Thailand

Colorful puppets of Thai dancers hang for sale at a street vendor's booth in Bangkok. Thailand

Religious dancers perform at Erawan Shrine where believers hire them to thank the gods; Bangkok. Thailand

Religious dancers perform at Erawan Shrine where believers hire them to thank the gods; Bangkok. Thailand

Religious dancers perform at Erawan Shrine where believers hire them to thank the gods; Bangkok. Thailand

Religious dancers perform at Erawan Shrine where believers hire them to thank the gods; Bangkok. Thailand

Religious dancer wears ornate golden hat as she performs at the Errawan Shrine in Bangkok. Thailand

Woman makes offering of incense after praying at Erawan Shrine famous for good luck; Bangkok. Thailand

Necklaces of garlands and mums pile up as offerings to the gods at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. Thailand

Woman holds incense sticks as she prays at Erawan Shrine, famous for bringing good luck; Bangkok. Thailand

Man holds incense sticks as she prays at Erawan Shrine, famous for bringing good luck; Bangkok. Thailand

Buddhist monks in saffron robes walk across the grounds of Wat Chalong near town of Phuket. Thailand

Buddhist monks leave their porch carrying prayer books to attend funeral; Wat Chalong, Phuket. Thailand

People pray and press gold leaf on statues of three famous monks; Wat Chalong temple, Phuket Islnd Thailand

Lotus bud offerings sit in bronze bowl in the Wat Chalong temple on Phuket Island. Thailand

Man presses gold leaf on idol of revered Buddhist monk to pray for luck at Wat Chalong; Phuket. Thailand

Woman prays at the Wat Chalong temple near the town of Phuket. Thailand

Woman prays and shakes cup of joss sticks to learn about her future; Wat Chalong, Phuket. Thailand

Cup of joss sticks, used like a horoscope by Buddhists, sits on rug in Wat Chalong temple;Phuket Thailand

Pine tree frames quiet waters of Ao Phra Nang Beach on the Andaman Sea near town of Krabi. Thailand

Boats dot waters of Phra Nang Bay amid monolithic limestone isles of Andaman Sea near Krabi. Thailand

Monolithic limestone isles jut from Phra Nang Bay in the Andaman Sea near town of Krabi. Thailand

Two jungle-draped mounts of limestone tower hundreds of feet above forests of Krabi province. Thailand

Woman uses hoe to remove weeds from around fruit tree at farm outside town of Krabi. Thailand

Woman wearing carbide lamp taps rubber tree @ night when sap runs heaviest; plantation near Krabi. Thailand

Young female rubber tapper named Pasuk (Happiness) smiles broadly as she pauses from work; Krabi. Thailand

Latex sap drips from cut in rubber tree trunk on plantation in southern province of Krabi. (h) Thailand

Woman leaves rubber tree plantation carrying buckets of fresh latex hanging from pole; Krabi. Thailand

Two boys cart milk can of fresh latex on wagon along road to processing station near Krabi. Thailand

Workers force water out of freshly-hardened rubber by stomping it in their bare feet; Krabi. Thailand

Man's calloused feet stomp water from freshly-hardened rubber mat at processing station; Krabi. Thailand

As girl cranks wheel, man feeds rubber mats into wringer to squeeze water out; Krabi. Thailand

Young couple stacks rubber mats after stomping and wringing water from the fresh rubber; Krabi. Thailand

Foreman checks rubber mats hung out to dry on rubber tree estate in southern province of Krabi. Thailand

Man carries freshly-made rubber mats on way home with family from processing station; Krabi. Thailand

Man walks home thru forest of rubber trees carrying freshly-made rubber mats on bamboo pole;Krabi Thailand

Rubber farmer's house, nestled in rubber tree forest, is mix of primitive and modern; Krabi. Thailand

Baby in one arm, rubber farmer's wife flips rubber mats as they dry outside house; Krabi. Thailand

Three people on motorbike carry fresh rubber mats, hung on rear rack of bike, to market; Krabi. Thailand

Farmer talks with guests on his veranda where chalkboard lists current rubber prices; Krabi. Thailand

Rows of amber rubber mats hang from ceiling racks for drying and storage at rubber store; Krabi. Thailand

Boys stack new shipment of rubber mats at rubber merchant's shop near Surat Thani. Thailand

Workers stand in tanks of water washing & scrubbing rubber mats before smoking them; Krabi. Thailand

Freshly-washed rubber mats hang on bamboo poles before entering smokeroom for final drying;Krabi Thailand

Man operates electric door on smokeroom where rubber mats hang on racks for final drying; Krabi. Thailand

Rubber mats hang on bamboo poles in smokeroom to undergo final drying before export; Krabi. Thailand

Woman holds rubber mat up to outside light to spot and snip out impurities before export; Krabi Thailand

Woman holds rubber mat in air to spot any impurities she must snip out before export; Krabi. Thailand

Women in sarongs inspect rubber mats with scissors to cut out impurities before export; Krabi. Thailand

Women roll cart of rubber mats from inspection tables to press at United Krabi Rubber Company. Thailand

Schoolkids with bookbags clutch lunchboxes as they walk home in afternoon near Surat Thani. Thailand

Women in colorful straw work hats walk home for lunch along highway on Phuket Island. (h) Thailand

Spirit houses for sale: Phra Phum, Lord of the Land, lives in each, bringing owners good luck. Thailand

Buddhist crematorium looms against distant mountains of limestone in southern province of Krabi. Thailand

Fly-covered trio of water buffalos strikes a family pose while bathing in lagoon; Phuket. Thailand