Woman relaxing and suntanning on the beach at Similan Island no 4, Ko Miang (เกาะเมียง) in Phang Na Province, Thailand

Woman relaxing and suntanning on the beach at Similan Island no 4, Ko Miang (เกาะเมียง) in  Phang Na Province, Thailand in May 2016

Tan is my life t-shirt for sale in a shopping centre in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Tan is my life t-shirt for sale in a shopping centre in Chiang Rai, Thailand in May 2016

Man sunbathing in Ao Nang, Krabi district, Thailand

Man sunbathing in Ao Nang, Krabi district, Thailand in May 2016

Tanning advert in a beauty salon window in Civic, Canberra

Tanning advert in a beauty salon window in Civic, Canberra in September 2013

Sunbathers in Sydney, NSW

Sunbathers in Sydney, NSW in November 2013

Spray on Tan

Spray on tan posters in a shop window in Baylis St, Wagga Wagga in June 2013

Naked tan

Naked tan poster in a shop window in Randwick, Sydney in November 2010

Sydney suntan

Sunbathing at Coogee Beach, Sydney in December 2011

Naked tan

Naked tan poster in a shop window in Baylis street, Wagga Wagga in June 2013

Sunbathing at Phi Phi island

Woman sunbathing at Phi Phi Island, Thailand in February 2012

Naked tan

A naked tan poster in a shop window in Randwick, Sydney in November 2010

Topless suntanning

Topless woman sunbathing on Maya Beach, Thailand in February 2012

Tanning

Woman relaxing at Bondi Beach, Sydney in November 2010

Bondi Beach

Soaking up the sun on Bondi Beach, Sydney in November 2010

Cover up or burn?

Contrast between a western tourist trying to get as tanned as possible and Vietnamese women trying to stay as fair and as light-skinned as possible by covering up when outside in the sun. Such different perceptions of what is beautiful and desirable. Photo taken in Hoi An, Vietnam, taken in March 2008