In this photo taken on May 25, 2017, Buddhist monk novices hold their alms bowls at a Buddhist temple where devotees seeking to make merit hand out food in Bagan. Buddhist tradition in Myanmar requires everyone to spend some time in a monastery or nunnery before the age of 18 in what is viewed as an important coming of age ritual. Others, however, are there for the long-term, destined for a monastic life. / AFP PHOTO / Ye Aung THU