Down beside the main road, endless bright-green rice fields cover rural lowland areas of the red ancient giant.

Framed by the iconic karst hills of Guilin, and under a threatening loaded sky, aged farmers devote their lives hand-sowing drawn artificial pools with tiny rice plants, during the wet season.

Neither weekends nor holidays are an option in this subsistence farming method.

Time seems to stand still, down beside the main road.

Yangshuo, Guilin, China.

Waiting for the start of a new day, this Nepali woman finds an ownerless spot to settle and receive her first buyers. No rush seems to be present in each of her movements, like foreseeing it won't last for long.

Few minutes later, people from every corner would emerge bargaining for food and relics, at the bustling Bhaktapur's market. 

Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Bare foot, this edge walking farmer heads inside Bali's terraces looking for his first rice load of the day. 

Tegalalang's rice terraces, Bali, Indonesia.

Beside the cycling path a small rock-made settlement, in the middle of nowhere, trapped me driven by curiosity. Behind a wooden door, an old man setting fire, blowing air through a long pipe-like, drew my postcard... It's a pity not to be able to share the scents wrapped in the air.

I took this only one shot, sat on the floor and enjoyed silence.

Yangshuo, China.

Like ever-working ghosts, aged locals quietly roam the narrow alleys of Yangshuo rural villages. Carrying impressive loads in laden baskets with laggard pace, they ignore time, as weekends don't represent a resting day for them.  

Unfortunately only their bodies can evidence such arduous work when they finally download, but their backs remain curved with them still facing the path they have just walked.

Yangshuo, China.

Countless pigeons, as a symbol of peace, overfly old Nepali's Kingdom, where several holy buildings used to embellish the main, and UNESCO World Heritage, square of Kathmandu.

On April 2015, the earth trembled with a magnitud of 7,9 (Wm) buring more than 7800 souls under tons of demolished and unvaluable history. 

It's hard to belive that this image will never be seen again.

Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Om Mani Padme Hum is the sacred mantra, written in Sanskrit, engraved on these old cylindrical metal-made hollow wheel's surface. Inside, a rolled manuscript repeats this same mantra countless times.

Tibetan buddhists believe in Karma, as the transcendence energy that derives from people's acts, and may last for future lives. By spinning these wheels clockwise - (direction in which the mantras are written, and path of the sun across the sky) - while praying, devotees purify and accumulate wisdom and merit, as well as protection for their souls.

By words of Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, this powerful mantra has a special messege on each of it's six syllables, meaning:

"[...] in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha [...] "

Annapurna's circuit, Manang, Nepal.

In their way to enlightenment, Buddhists submerge in long meditations and praying hours, developing an intimate connection of mind, soul and sacredness.

Through this divine and wordless communication, devotees believe in the purification from karmic defilements, especially pride; helping them to realize that there is something more meaningful than ourselves.

Accumulated Karma, from past-lifes is the major source of suffering and problems. Prayers, as well as other holy rituals, dissolve all impurities, regardless of their kind, that helped by full confidence and devotion, allow us to get rid of everything we have gathered because of pride.

Xining, China.

Hanging around Asia you may see people serving right from their places. The doorway-line barely divides life from work; while family members, no matter how old they are, help to minimize costs and turn it profitable.

Right after an arduos day, nearby workers randomly meet in narrow alleys for a warm rice based dish and small talk, that may probably end up in shouts due to several beers.

Beijing, China.

Inside the crater of the Ijen volcano, in East Java, miners hammer out a living in the noxious sulphur fumes which expose them to breath death, just for few, but indispensable, Rupiahs.

Facing one to three daily trips, up and down the 3.5km slope of the volcano, these unprotected rock-workers carry almost 90 kgs sulphur-laden baskets over their skinny shoulders, up from the blue-hell-like crater floor.

A blue flame, from ignited sulphuric gas, that emerges from cracks at temperatures up to 600°, lights up and allows miners to work during long freezing nights. When these toxic gas clouds approach you, you cease to breathe, your lungs and mouth burn with a sour taste, and so do your eyes. Paradoxically, when safe away from the gas, they light a cigarette.

In a country where the average daily income is about u$s13, many work overnight to supplement their income. 680 Indonesian rupiahs per kilogram - barely six cents of US Dollar - is what their lives seems to worth for the market.

Kawah Ijen volcano (2.799m), east Java, Indonesia.

Long tough working hours in Cambodia do not recognise gender. Women work as hard as men, just for few Riels* to get some food for their families. Unfortunately, this may be the only food infants get, even during breastfeeding days.

Bakkot Village, Cambodia.

* Cambodia's local currency

Early night. It's dark already, but silence is not yet present. Unblinking vendors await to persuade their first possible customers, aware that a missed attempt will be a victory for their neighbors.

The intense mixture of spices, wrapped in low massala and curry odor clouds, filter from behind colorful silk vestments, offering much more than products, but a delight for senses.

Finally, blinds go down while lights fade out.

Kathmandu, Nepal.

Looking for answers to early existential questions, this young hindu devotee raises her sight and silently asks.

Batu Caves - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.