Workers mix wheat flour, food coloring and salt water at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers mix wheat flour, food coloring and salt water at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker pours wheat flour into a mixer at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers make longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker walks past longevity noodles drying in the sun at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers hang longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers hang longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers hang longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers hang longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges units of stretched dough at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges units of stretched dough at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges units of stretched dough at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker stretches and wraps dough around bamboo sticks at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers stretch and wrap dough around bamboo sticks at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers stretch and wrap dough around bamboo sticks at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker stretches and wraps dough around bamboo sticks at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Longevity noodles sit in a box at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A machine seals a bag of longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker packages longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers prepare longevity noodles for a sterilization tank at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Longevity noodles sit at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers hang and arrange longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers prepare to move dough on flat baskets at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers arrange lines of dough at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers arrange lines of dough at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

A worker arranges a line of dough on a flat basket at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.

Workers flatten and cut dough to prepare longevity noodles at the Tiatiamhenghuad noodle factory in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province, Thailand. A handful of companies have been making longevity noodles in the Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province since 1960. Longevity noodles (or Shou Mian) were thought to have originated in China but in fact have roots in Japan in a type of noodle called Somen. Japan had a military base near Ban Pong during their WWII occupation in Thailand when they were building the Kwai bridge in nearby Kanchanburi. It's believed that the Japanese introduced this technique for making longevity noodles to Thais who in turn made the noodles to cater to the Japanese troops. Longevity noodles are different from normal noodles which are straight like spaghetti. The main difference is that they are handmade and workers start kneading them with their hands starting at midnight in a process that takes 14 hours. The noodles - made from wheat flour, food coloring and salt water - are cut into thinner noodles and stretched between 2 bamboo sticks to make them as thin as possible. Noodles are stretched horizontally into a figure 8 shape like the infinity symbol. The bamboo sticks contain one long strand of noodle which conveys the message of longevity. People like eating the noodles because they symbolize long life and good fortune.