Modern motor launch cruises past ancient style dhows. Al Khar Creek, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Copyright TROPIX (V. and M. Birley) Crabs grilled over wood burning stove; energy-saving jiko (R); seafood restaurant, Surat Thani town, S.Thailand. Copyright TROPIX (V. and M. Birley) Spices: open bags of ground turmeric, ginger, chilli, paprika; cinnamon bark, coffee beans. Tabant souk, Azilal, Morocco Copyright TROPIX (V. and M. Birley) Young girl with nose stud and lipstick peeps between drying strands of red dyed cotton yarn. East of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Copyright TROPIX (V. and M. Birley) Big Wild Goose Pagoda 64m wood and brick tower (Dayan Ta / Da Ci’en Buddhist temple). Xian city, Shaanxi, China. Copyright TROPIX (V. and M. Birley)