Hands clapsed, a Hindu woman takes a ritual bath during the festival of Thaipusam in Singapore.

Getting drenched is nothing compared to what the men have to endure - they get their bodies pierces with spikes, hooks and needles!

Burmese women colour their faces pretty with Thanaka Bark.

This mildy fragrant bark, actually the entire stem of a plant, is ground into a powder. mixed with water and applied onto the face, usually in two circles on the cheeks.

Thanaka protects the skin against the sun and improves the complexion.

Incidentally, I did not once see a Brmese girl with pimples.