Traditional Dancers, South Korea

Family at window to watch festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal

A man in a traditional hat in the city of Mary, Turkmenistan

Veiled dancer at a festival in Nalu Village, Rajasthan, India

Musicians of the royal procession in a parade at Tashichho Dzong in Thimpu, Bhutan

Chiefs at a Durbar in Maidugari, Nigeria

Holy woman sitting on the ground at the Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Musicians lead royal procession to King's palace, Tashichho Dzong, Thimpu, Bhutan

Mosque of Sultan Hassan in Cairo, Egypt

Traditional Irish set dancing at a Ceilidh at Vaughan's Bar in Kilfenora, County Clare, West of Ireland

Policewoman on duty in Nauru, South Pacific

Cree Indian child, First Nation Canadian, in traditional costume with face painted at heritage display in Regina, Canada

The Presidential Guard at the President's Palace at Rashtrapati Bhavan, India

Folk festival to chase away winter in Switzerland

Boy washing at handpump, street scene, Delhi, India

Dancers in costumes re-enact Elizabethan Days in Middle England, United Kingdom

Maori warriors in war canoes during cultural display in New Zealand

Nigerian locals at tribal gathering cultural event at Port Harcourt in Nigeria, West Africa

Musicians playing accordians in Egypt, North Africa

Traditional English Morris Men in costume at a Morris dancing festival in Cambridge, UK

Veiled dancer at a festival in Nalu Village, Rajasthan, India.

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Bhutanese man removes his shoes as he leans in the open carved window of the Shoe Shop in Paro, Bhutan

Man with local Pekinese dog in Zi Zhong Road, old French Quarter in Shanghai, China

Historical performers in costume in re-created colonial fort, Jamestown, Virginia, United States of America

Sydney Opera House and tourists walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway, Australia

Folk festival to chase away winter in Switzerland

Tribal dancer at a festival in Cameroon, Africa

Woman dancer in painted mask,Bhaktapur, Nepal

Military parade at the Pardo Palace, the King's Palace, in Madrid

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Local women sitting out in Piazza Cavovr in Montalcino, Val D'Orcia,Tuscany, Italy

Facade do Obradoiro of the Baroque style Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Musicians entertaining at a traditional cultural performance in Almaty, Kazakstan

Young Chinese students with red flags at cultural display in Lintong, China

Dancers performing in the Tang Dance Show, Shaanxi Grand Opera House, Xian, China

Young girl at village festival at Hagud, India

Ceremonial guard at the Pardo Palace, the King's Palace, in Madrid

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

Dancers performing in the Tang Dance Show, Shaanxi Grand Opera House, Xian, China

Japanese horseman and traditional dancers in costume at the japanese exhibition ' matsuri japan in the park ' in hyde park, london.

Dancer, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Vinho do Porto wine experts at a cultural event in Portugal

Nightlight in Laguardia in the Rioja-Alavesa province of Northern Spain

Musicians performing in the Tang Dance Show, Shaanxi Grand Opera House, Xian, China

Chinese students posing for a group photograph in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing, China

Chinese children attending a cultural display in Canton, China in the 1980s

Traditional Dancers, South Korea

Early morning wash , Delhi, India

Musicians and spectators at dance and archery festival, Paro, Bhutan

Boy on a bike wearing uniform in Beijing, China

Women queuing with their children at the rural hospital at Basse in Gambia

Nepalese locals gathering in the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal

View from Praza da Obradoiro Baroque style cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Tourists taking photographings in Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Musician at cultural festival in Bamenda, Cameroon, West Africa

Girls, Shanghai, China.

Sydney Opera House and city, Sydney, Australia

Chinese women performing dance display at Kunming, China

Children with flag, Jakarta, Indonesia

Tourists in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Dancers in costumes re-enact Elizabethan days and traditional dance in Middle England, United Kingdom

Royal palace processional musicians at |Tashichho Dzong,Thimpu, Bhutan

Tourists in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China

A decorated horse in a parade at the Royal Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia

Rollers making hand-rolled cigars of long leaf tobacco in cigar factory, Decatur Street, French Quarter of New Orleans, USA

Stack of hand-rolled cigars of long leaf tobacco in traditional cigar factory, Decatur Street, New Orleans, USA

Shopper chats to roller at work on hand-rolled cigars of long leaf tobacco in cigar factory, Decatur Street, New Orleans, USA

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

Burundi local drum and dance group, gitera.

Burundi local drum and dance group, gitera.

Burundi local drum and dance group, gitera.

Burundi local drum and dance group, gitera.

Brazil photo relates to the work of apaeb (association of small farmers of the state of bahia) who help improve the local economy and culture of valente, bahia, in the dry northeastern sertao region of brazil. sisal is the main crop grown in the semi-arid climate, and is seen drying on the farm of jose elias lima lopes

Brazil photo relates to the work of apaeb (association of small farmers of the state of bahia) who help improve the local economy and culture of valente, bahia, in the dry northeastern sertao region of brazil. sisal is the main crop grown in the semi-arid climate, and is seen drying on the farm of jose elias lima lopes

2008; Port of Provideniya. harbour side, local inuit woman sing and dance in traditional clothes. City of Provideniya (Chukotskiy Peninsular ) Russia, Asia

Two local girls, traditional inuit dress, town center of Nikolskoye Village, Bearing Sea, Russia, Asia

Dusun local children dancing. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo, Asia

23/06/2008 Two local girls, traditional inuit dress, town center of Nikolskoye Village, Bearing Sea, Russia, Asia

2008; Inuit Settlement with local girl in traditional clothes, Lorino Village (Chukotskiy Peninsular) Russia, Asia.

2008; Local Russian girl in traditional clothes, City of Provideniya (Chukotskiy Peninsular ) Russia, Asia

Dusun local children dancing. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo, Asia

Tourists under Eiffel Tower, Paris, Ile-de-France, France,

Dancing show of polynesian dances on Paul Gauguin cruise ship. France, French Polynesia, Polynesian, South Pacific.

Portrait of a old woman in Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific.

Entertainment group singing in the Paul Gauguin cruise ship. France, French Polynesia, Polynesian, South Pacific.

Portrait of a old women in Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific.

Dancing show of polynesian dances on Paul Gauguin cruise ship. France, French Polynesia, Polynesian, South Pacific.

Oozells Square, in background Ikon gallery, Birmingham, England

Local people inside a house in Gyantse village or Gyangze town, Tibet, China. Located in the northeast of Gyantse at 3900 meters above sea level. Pelkor Chode Monastery, or rather Palcho Monastery in Tibetan language means auspicious monastery. It was first built in early 15th century and took 10 years to complete. Because it was built when different religious sectors conflicted neck and neck in Tibet, Sakyapa, Kadampa and Gelukpa of Tibetan Buddhism coexist in it. Each religious sector has five to six Dratsang schools in the monastery.

Tui Talili preparing kava for guests at Bulou's Eco Lodge, Navala Village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Fijian man in Naveyago Village on the Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Village elder in her bure; Navala Village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Drummer welcoming visitors to Misminay village; Sacred Vally, Peru.

Statue Commemorating the End of Slavery, Goree Island, near Dakar, Senegal

Fijian woman in village of Naveyago on the Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Sunday service at Maria Tubu Imakulata Church in Navala Village, northern highlands of Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Fijian man in Naveyago village, Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Entertainment group singing in the Paul Gauguin cruise ship. France, French Polynesia, Polynesian, South Pacific.

Local people in a narrow street of Lamu town in Lamu Island, Kenya.