text: 06 FEBRUARY 2014 - HAT YAI, SONGKHLA, THAILAND: A member of a traditional folk dance troupe waits to perform for Lunar New Year at the Chinese New Year Festival at the Tong Sia Siang Tueng Shrine in Hat Yai. Hat Yai was originally settled by Chinese immigrants and still has a large ethnic Chinese population. Chinese holidays, especially Lunar New Year (Tet) and the Vegetarian Festival are important citywide holidays. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ