Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Nanda waits at the gate of Phaung Daw Oo monastic school to give alms to monks.

Nanda usually wakes up at around 5AM to collect alms in the neighborhood surrounding Phaung Daw Oo. Today was different--it was his 22nd birthday. In gratitude for his young life, despite its overwhelming hardship, the orphaned monk gave alms of rice and vegetables to monks passing by the school's gates during their morning rounds, with some help from his friends.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Mandalay, Myanmar
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Copyright: © Adam Trunell