Thai spirit houses

Walking along the streets of Bangkok or any other Thai town you can't help but notice small doll-like houses here and there. They can be seen in the compound of nearly every house, business office, restaurant or hotel. These are so called spirit shrines - the symbolic residences of the guardian spirits. The structures perch of wood or cement pillars and receive daily offerings of rice, fruit, flowers, candles and incense sticks.

Sometimes there is a collection of ceramic or plastic figurines inside the house representing the property's guardian spirits. Larger shrines may contain even bronze images of Brahma or Shiva.