Inside the Cave
Pak Ou, Laos

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Most of the 4,000+ Buddha statues in the limestone caves of Pak Ou are classic Luang Prabang standing Buddhas. It is thought that people first climbed into the caves overlooking the Mekong River some two thousand years ago. Originally used for the worship of river spirits, the caves were gradually filled with Buddha images following Buddhism's ascent as the religion of choice in Laos.

Here's a second shot of the Buddhas inside the cave, this one providing a broader perspective of the scene. Both of these photographs were taken with the aid of a tripod, as the caves are lit solely by ambient light filtering through their openings.

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