Temple doors, Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest and most important Hokkien temple in Singapore, known as the Temple of the Goddess of the Sea, Singapore

Parasols in Pura Taman Pule Hindu temple on Koningan Day, Bali's second most important holiday when the holy souls of the ancestors are revered, Gianyar district, Bali, Indonesia

Ceremonial Plaza and the unique elliptical structure of the Temple of the Sun, which exhibits classic Inca mortar-less stonework, at Ecuador's most important Inca site, Ingapirca, Canar Province, Southern Highlands, Ecuador, South America

Architecture in the Piazza Castello, a prominent rectangular city square, site of several important architectural complexes, with a perimeter of elegant porticoes and facades, Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

View of Piazza Castello, a prominent square with several important architectural complexes and perimeter of elegant porticoes and facades, Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

View of Piazza Castello, a prominent square with several important architectural complexes and perimeter of elegant porticoes and facades, Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

Architecture in the Piazza Castello, a prominent rectangular city square, site of several important architectural complexes, with its perimeter of elegant porticoes and facades, Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

Architecture in the Piazza Castello, a prominent rectangular city square, site of several important architectural complexes, with its perimeter of elegant porticoes and facades, Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

Teenage girl praying in traditional costume, for Santa Lucia Day 13, marking the shortest day of the year, a very important Swedish day, Gothenburg, Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe

Dongola, once an important centre of power in ancient Nubia, Sudan, Africa

Regata Storica di Venezia, the most important traditional event in Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Regata Storica di Venezia, the most important traditional event in Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Regata Storica di Venezia, the most important traditional event in Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Regata Storica di Venezia, the most important traditional event in Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Smoked fish hanging at stall in the Psar Chas Old Market in the centre of this important NW tourist town, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Stalls of tourist souvenirs in the Art Center Night Market in the centre of this important NW tourist town, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Fruit stall in the Psar Chas Old Market in the centre of Siem Reap, the important north west tourist town, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Batak woman at funeral of important local woman near Tuk Tuk on Samosir Island, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Workers and tractor in field of tobacco plants in an important growing region in the north west, Condega, Nicaragua, Central America

Grocery stall in the Psar Chas Old Market in the centre of Siem Reap, the important north west tourist town, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks and nuns in a Franciscan procession along the Via Dolorosa, an important street in Christianity, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

An IDP camp (internally displaced people) in Te-Tugu district of Northern Uganda has been created to accommodate the mass of Ugandan refugees fleeing the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) who are fighting the Ugandan government and its people. With all attempts to be self-sufficient in these camps, Yams are an important vegetable for survival. The tubers can be stored up to six months without refrigeration, which makes them a valuable resource for the yearly period of food scarcity at the beginning of the wet season. Te-Tugu, Uganda, East Africa

Kong?bu-ji is the ecclesiastic head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, located on Mount K?ya, Wakayama prefecture, Japan

Kong?bu-ji is the ecclesiastic head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, located on Mount K?ya, Wakayama prefecture, Japan

Olivier Cussenot

Olivier Cussenot

Laurent Lantieri

Six day cycle race in Berlin's Velodrom, Europe's largest steel roof, important concert venue for popstars

Tibetan Buddhism, religious Cham mask dance at the important Gelugpa monastery of Kumbum, Huangzhong, Xinning, Qinghai province, formerly known as Kokonur, Tibet, China, Asia

Tibetan Buddhism, religious masked Cham dance, at the important Kumbum Monastery, Gelug or Gelug-pa yellow hat sect, Ta'er Monastery, Huangzhong, Xinning, Qinghai, formerly Amdo, Tibet, China, Asia

A huge Lama figure is carried over the Plaza de Armas square in Qusco, parade of the Inti Raymi festival, winter solstice festival, important festival of the Inca, Qusco, Peru, South America

Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day or Magha Puja Day, Theravada Buddhists, monks sitting around the Chedi Mahadhammakaya Cetiya, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia *** IMPORTANT: Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day or Magha Puja Day, Theravada Buddhists, monks sitting around the Chedi Mahadhammakaya Cetiya, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand ***

Mass event at Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple, followers holding pictures with Buddha images, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia *** IMPORTANT: Image must not be used in a negative context with the Dhammakaya temple ***

Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day or Magha Puja Day, Theravada Buddhists, monks sitting around the Chedi Mahadhammakaya Cetiya, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia *** IMPORTANT: Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day or Magha Puja Day, Theravada Buddhists, monks sitting around the Chedi Mahadhammakaya Cetiya, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand ***

Wat Phra Dhammakaya temple on Makha Bucha Day or Magha Puja Day, Theravada Buddhists, monks sitting around the Chedi Mahadhammakaya Cetiya, Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia *** IMPORTANT: Image may not be used in a negative context with the Dhammakaya temple ***

A young tourist in a red dress at the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser at sunset, Saqqara. Egypt. The most important necropolis in Memphis. The first pyramid in the world

A young girl in a red dress walking in the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara. Egypt. The most important necropolis in Memphis. The first pyramid in the world

Spectators in the stands, largest and most important religious festival of the Cham, Po Nagar Temple, Vietnam, Southeast Asia

Thiksey, one of the most important monasteries in Ladakh, Thiksey Gompa, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

The Old Gate, Altpoertel, former western gate of the city of Speyer, one of the largest and most important town gates in Germany, Speyer, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Still life of Negroni Sbagliato with olives, chips and some appetizer. Negroni Sbagliato is one of the most important cocktail invented at Bar Basso, Milano, Lombardy, Italy, Europe

Cagliari, Ramadura, Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

Sant'Efisio traditional event, the most important religious feast in Sardinia, Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy, Europe

One of the most important Orthodox holidays in Ethiopia is Timkat. It is a three day celebration. It reminds the people of John the Baptists blessing of Christ in the River Jordan. Salamago district, South Ethiopia, Omo Valley, 2010

Crowds of boys and men, holding posters of Ahmad Shah Masood and Afghan president Hamid Karzai, line the roofs of buildings during a ceremony in the Panjshir Valley on the one year anniversary of Masoods assasination, September 9, 2002. Thousands of people from all over Afghanistan and the world, including many important dignitaries, arrived in the Panjshir Valley for ceremonies honoring Masood, a revered mujahedin leader who also was one of the leaders of the Northern Alliance which opposed the Taliban and helped the US Military in their defeat. Masood was assasinated by what are thought to be Al Queda operatives on Sept. 9, 2001. The shrine to honor this latest of Afghan war heros was built in the Panjshir Valley as that is from where Masood led much popular resistance against both the Soviets and the Taliban forces.

Two climbers dig out their tent after a snowstorm covered them in 14k camp on Mount McKinley, Alaska. Climbers are advised to spare no expense on a expedition-quality tent as it can mean the difference between life and death during a ferocious storm on Denali. Extra poles and repair materials are important in case of damage caused by storms. Plan to take extra pickets, wands or deadmen for tent anchors. Never leave a tent without anchoring it securely. Tents are lost each year due to sudden gusts of wind while the tent was left unattended or drying. Every climbing season High Mountain Rangers of the Denali National Park Service are called to help climbers in need. If possible the patient is brought down to base camp on foot, only in life threatening conditions a helicopter is called to evacuate the patient to a hospital in Anchorage.

A mountain ranger is digging out tents after a snowstorm covered them during the night in 14k camp on Mount McKinley, Alaska. Climbers are advised to spare no expense on a expedition-quality tent as it can mean the difference between life and death during a ferocious storm on Denali. Extra poles and repair materials are important in case of damage caused by storms. Plan to take extra pickets, wands or deadmen for tent anchors. Never leave a tent without anchoring it securely. Tents are lost each year due to sudden gusts of wind while the tent was left unattended or drying. Every climbing season High Mountain Rangers of the Denali National Park Service are called to help climbers in need. If possible the patient is brought down to base camp on foot, only in life threatening conditions a helicopter is called to evacuate the patient to a hospital in Anchorage.

INDIA Karnataka Sravanabelagola Jain puja at feet of seventeen metre high naked statue of Bahubali the Gomateshvara. One of the oldest and most important Jain pilgrimage centres in India. Shravan Belgola