The Grand Palace and Temple complex, Bangkok, Thailand

Mythical gryphons guard The Grand Palace and Temple complex, Bangkok, Thailand

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, India

Decorated prows of the royal barges, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Detail from the golden Eggenberg carriage, the Castle, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, Europe

Church interior, St. John, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Timber-framed houses in the Rue Gros Horloge, Rouen, Haute Normandie (Normandy), France, Europe

Interior of Wawel Catherdral, Royal Castle area, Krakow (Cracow), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poland, Europe

Thanboddhay (That-boddhay) Pagoda, Monywa, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

That Luang (That Louang) stupa, 45m high, main Buddhist temple and national symbol of Laos, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Asia

Interior, Palais Lascaris des comtes de Vintimille, 17th century, Old Town, Nice, Alpes Maritimes, Provence, France, Europe

Royal Court of Justice, Klungkung, island of Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Unique decoration of houses based on patterns used in traditional embroidery in village of Cicmany, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zilina region, Slovakia, Europe

Kakusandha Adoration Hall, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Shiva Hindu temple and Ahilya Fort Complex on banks of the Narmada River, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh state, India, Asia

Beautiful frescoes on walls of the Juna Mahal Fort, Dungarpur, Rajasthan state, India, Asia

Window boxes and painted walls, St. Wolfgang, Austria, Europe

Church interior, Quito, Ecuador, South America

Detail, Archbishops's Palace, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Ornate bridge, Songpan, Sichuan Province, China, Asia

French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, North America

Church of St. Anne's, one of Poland's most beautiful Baroque churches, Old Town District (Stare Miasto), Krakow (Cracow), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poland, Europe

Interior of Wawel Catherdral, Royal Castle area, Krakow (Cracow), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Poland, Europe

Nave of the baroque church of St. James, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Church interior, Quito, Ecuador, South America

Bronze fountains, Monument to the Girondins, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France, Europe

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, Asia

Interior, Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit, Dominikonu Street, Vilnius, Lithuania, Baltic States, Europe

Gable with murals, Rathaus, Lindau, Bavaria, Lake Constance, Germany, Europe

Interior of the dome, St. Peter's basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Music room at the Residenzmuseum, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Paseo de Marti, colonial quarter of Prado, Havana, Cuba, West Indies, Central America

Suwa shrine, Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan, Asia

The 12th century Keshava temple, Mysore, Karnataka, India, Asia

Piazza Navona, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Doorway, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia, North Africa, Africa

The conference chamber at the Residenzmuseum, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Interior, Sayyida Ruqayya mosque, Damascus, Syria, Middle East

Church interior, Quito, Ecuador, South America

Weskirche, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Ornate bridge, Songpan, Sichuan Province, China, Asia

Metropolis building, Gran Via, Madrid, Spain, Europe

Gable with murals, Rathaus, Lindau, Bavaria, Lake Constance, Germany, Europe

Portrait of a person dressed in mask and costume taking part in Carnival, Venice Carnival, Venice, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Close-up of the Muiredach Cross, Monasterboice, County Louth, Leinster, Eire (Republic of Ireland), Europe

Detail of town hall, Tubingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, Europe

Trevi fountain, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK, Europe

Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Moulding on villa near Old Town, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

Honduras Fountain, Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain, Europe

St. Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia, Europe

Victoria Railway Terminus (station), Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra State, India, Asia

Inlaid doors of Ben Ezra Synagogue, Old Cairo, Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

The ceiling of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Mosque minarets at sunset, Cairo, Egypt, North Africa

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Priests holding elaborate ethiopian crosses during the event

Ethiopia the maryam feast, feast of mary, at axum. Priests holding elaborate ethiopian crosses during the event

N month of november 7 days before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They bring their precious herbs, minerals special animal glands to be blessed. A selected amount of herbs is placed in a copper vessel placed on monastery alter. 7 days amchis go through an elaborate potenization of these medicines through prayer other practices. Seen here is of amchis holding a dorje (sacred object used cutting through obscurations) which is lined from a vessel containing various herbs sitting on monastery alter to heart chakra. Chang tang nyee, ladakh, indi

Eiffel Tower viewed from Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France, Europe

Basilica of San Marco (St. Mark's), San Marco Square, Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Interior of Ben Ezra Synagogue, Old Cairo, Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Alcoy,Alicante,Spain - a quartet of Moors wearing the elaborate costumes,newly made each year, during the annual Moors and Christians celebrations

Great golden dome and spires, Shwedagon Paya (Shwe Dagon pagoda), Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Elevated view of the Sule Paya (Sula pagoda) at dusk, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Stare Mesto Square towards gothic Tyn Church, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Bell tower at night, Bruges, Belgium

Phaung Daw U Kyaung, Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Alcoy,Alicante,Spain - One of the elaborate costumes, newly made each year, during the Moors and Christians parades

San Sebastian, Pais Vasco, Spain, Europe

Alcoy,Alicante,Spain - One of the elaborate costumes, newly made each year, during the Moors and Christians parades

Triumphal arch, Barcelona, Catalonia (Cataluna) (Catalunya), Spain, Europe

Seville, Andalusia (Andalucia), Spain, Europe

Close up of the dome of St. Blaise Church, with a statue and elaborate stone work, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Europe

Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto, Japan

House facade, Cheb, West Bohemia, Czech Republic, Europe

Stone facade, San Francisco Christian church, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, South America

The ceiling of St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Veneto, Italy, Europe

An elaborate mask for sale in Venice, Italy

On a building site in Kigali City, an elaborate lattice of wooden planks create the scaffolding on the exterior of the building. Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa

Multi-ethnic friends at restaurant

Asian female server bringing food to table

Elaborate sand castle on beach

Cardiff Castle, The roof garden, Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff Castle, detail, mosaic in The roof garden, Cardiff, Wales

Ceiling of mosque, in Tilla-Kari Madrasa, Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Mosque of Tilla-Kari Madrasa, Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

New Ireland Malagan funerary statue in at the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum, New York, USA. New Ireland is part of the Bismarck Archipelago, situated north of New Guinea, and has an estimated population of 100,000. The Dutch first encountered the island in 1616, and today New Ireland is a province of Papua New Guinea. Nineteen different languages are spoken on the island, and it is divided by a chain of mountains into three distinct regions: northern, central, and southeastern. The art of New Ireland traditionally centered on mortuary ceremonies and feasts to honor the dead. In northern New Ireland, the name given to these elaborate ceremonies is malagan, which is also the term used for the carved and painted sculptures associated with the ceremonies.

White herons painted on ceiling tiles in the throne room of the Palace of Supreme Harmony. Forbidden City, Beijing, China.

An attractive young woman in traditional ethnic Tujia dress poses for a portrait in Furong, China. Bundles of colored onions hang from the eaves as decoration.

An attractive young woman in traditional ethnic Tujia dress poses for a portrait in Furong, China. Bundles of colored onions hang from the eaves as decoration.

Inside the dome of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing, China.

An attractive young woman in traditional ethnic Tujia dress poses for a portrait in Furong, China. Bundles of colored onions hang from the eaves as decoration.

A young woman poses in the traditional ceremonial dress of the MIao ethnic minority in Fenghuang, China.

A young woman poses in the traditional ceremonial dress of the MIao ethnic minority in Fenghuang, China.

A mother and child pose in the traditional ceremonial dress of the Miao ethnic minority in Fenghuang, China.

Top of Ulugh Beg Minaret at Memorial Complex of Al Gijduvani, Gijduvan, near Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Sulamani Temple, on left, taken from Pyathatgyi Temple which is also known as Pyathadar Temple, Bagan, Myanmar, (Burma)

Replica of Mahabodhi Paya, at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)