Loy Krathong Lantern on Aïn Beïda River at Night

A small, folded paper boat drifts across the dark, glassy surface of a river flowing through a temple courtyard in Aïn Beïda. Warm, yellow tungsten light spills from a nearby window, casting a soft glow on the lantern's intricate floral decorations and the ripples it leaves behind. The water reflects the muted orange flame and the deep shadows of the surrounding architecture. Layers of stone walls and distant arches fade into the darkness, showing quiet depth. A faint shadow stretches across the wet pavement beside the water's edge, at the base of the floating vessel in the stillness of the late summer night.