• A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangko. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangko. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai woman carves a vegetable into the form of a rose during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. It is a royal tradition that has proved bountiful through the ages and one that Thailand's fruit carvers are determined to keep alive - even as young people peel away from the unique art form. Roberto Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai woman carves a vegetable into the form of a rose during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. It is a royal tradition that has proved bountiful through the ages and one that Thailand's fruit carvers are determined to keep alive - even as young people peel away from the unique art form. Roberto Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • Thai girls carve floral patterns into fruits during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    Thai girls carve floral patterns into fruits during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai boy carves floral patterns into a watermelon during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai boy carves floral patterns into a watermelon during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved papaya is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved papaya is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved pumpkin is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved pumpkin is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A painting depicting Thailand's Queen Sirikit adorns an elaborate fruit and vegetable decoration during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A painting depicting Thailand's Queen Sirikit adorns an elaborate fruit and vegetable decoration during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration with carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration with carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration display with carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration display with carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • Thai children carve elaborate designs into fruit and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    Thai children carve elaborate designs into fruit and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration with carved fruits and vegetables adorned with images of Thai Queen Sirikit, during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration with carved fruits and vegetables adorned with images of Thai Queen Sirikit, during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • An elaborate display of carved fruits and vegetables is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    An elaborate display of carved fruits and vegetables is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • Two Buddhist monks look at an elaborate display of carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    Two Buddhist monks look at an elaborate display of carved fruits and vegetables during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai girl carves floral patterns into a melon during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai girl carves floral patterns into a melon during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A man adds a pumpkin carved in the shape of a fish to an elaborate display during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A man adds a pumpkin carved in the shape of a fish to an elaborate display during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A girl sleeps on a chair as others put together elaborate fruit and vegetable displays during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A girl sleeps on a chair as others put together elaborate fruit and vegetable displays during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai woman puts together the background to a decoration that will include different vegetable and fruit decorations during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai woman puts together the background to a decoration that will include different vegetable and fruit decorations during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A worker sprays water on an elaborate fruit and vegetable decoration adorned with the photograph of Thailand's Queen Sirikit during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A worker sprays water on an elaborate fruit and vegetable decoration adorned with the photograph of Thailand's Queen Sirikit during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai woman holds a tray with carved fruit and vegetable decorations during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai woman holds a tray with carved fruit and vegetable decorations during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai man helps put together an elaborate decoration during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A Thai girl carves floral patterns into a papaya during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A Thai girl carves floral patterns into a papaya during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
  • A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP
    A carved watermelon is displayed during a fruit and vegetable carving competition in Bangkok. Robert Schmidt / AFP

Asia

Food art: Appetite still strong for Thailand's royal tradition - in pictures

It is a royal tradition that has proved bountiful through the ages and one that Thailand's fruit carvers are determined to keep alive -- even as young people peel away from the unique art form.

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