on view

STRIKING IMAGES FROM AROUND ASIA

Flying colours – a villager stands below prayer flags during a religious ceremony in the Qinghai province of China.

Whale of a time – trainers perform water ballet with four
whales during a show at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, in Japan.

Strike a note – about 100 pianists tinkle the ivories together
at Shanghai’s Zhongshan Park on the 197th anniversary of Chopin’s birth.

Fi re blossoms – Buddhists prepare platters of candles for
a requiem mass at the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.

On the face of it – revellers don ceremonial masks
during Pi Mai, the traditional new year celebrations in Luang Prabang.

Red hot – overseas fans in traditional Chinese cheong-sams add
sizzle to the Hong Kong Sevens 2007.

A charmed life – six-year-old Cambodian boy, Sambath Uon plays
with his pet python Chamreun (the snake’s name means “lucky”).