![TOPSHOTS-KYRGYZSTAN-CATS-FEATURE TOPSHOTS-KYRGYZSTAN-CATS-FEATURE](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-372.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By Phil Bicker
![TOPSHOTS-BRAZIL-CARNIVAL-SAO PAULO-PARADE-NENE DE VILA MATILDE Revelers of the Nene de Vila Matilde samba school perform during the second night of the carnival parade in Sao Paulo on March 1, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-011.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Inside Indonesia's Snake Slaughter House Inside Indonesia's Snake Slaughter House](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![India Horse Rescue India Horse Rescue](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-031.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A partially frozen Niagara Falls is seen on American side lit by lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls A partially frozen Niagara Falls is seen on American side lit by lights during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-041.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Marta Llorente, 28, a contestant, poses backstage before taking part in a body paint pageant during Expobelleza Andalucia (Expobeauty Andalusia) in the Andalusian capital of Seville Marta Llorente, 28, a contestant, poses backstage before taking part in a body paint pageant during Expobelleza Andalucia (Expobeauty Andalusia) in the Andalusian capital of Seville](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Justin Savidis dogs await lineup in the musher lot before the official restart of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska Justin Savidis dogs await lineup in the musher lot before the official restart of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Iditarod Martin Buser mushes across the virtually snowless Farewell Burn during the 2014 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 3, 2014 in Finger Lake, Ala.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-071.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Chanel - Runway - Paris Fashion Week Ready to Wear F/W 2014/15 Models present creations from the Fall/Winter 2014/15 Ready to Wear Collection by German designer Karl Lagerfeld for French label Chanel in Paris March 4, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-081.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BESTPIX - Rio Carnival 2014 - Day 2 A member of the Uniao da Ilha samba school performs during its parade during the 2014 Brazilian Carnival at on March 3, 2014, in Rio de Janeiro.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-091.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BRAZIL-CARNIVAL-RIO-PARADE-IMPERATRIZ Revelers of the Imperatriz samba school perform during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro March 4, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-101.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-GERMANY-IT-TELECOM-INTERNET Robots perform a pole dance at the booth of the Tobit Software company on the eve of the start of the 2014 CeBIT technology trade fair on March 9, 2014 in Hanover, central Germany.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Miley Cyrus With Icona Pop In Concert - St Paul, Minnesota Miley Cyrus performs at the Xcel Energy Center on March 10, 2014 in St. Paul, Minn.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BANGLADESH-FISHING-TRADITION-OTTER Bangladeshi fisherman feed their otters as they catch fish in Narail some 208kms from Dhaka on March 11, 2014. The fishermen are using a rare technique that relies on coordination between man and trained otters, a centuries-old fishing partnership that has already long died out in other parts of Asia.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Nic Moore, Peruna Former President George W. Bush gets a hug from SMU mascot Peruna during a break in the first of an NCAA college basketball game between SMU and Louisville on March 5, 2014, in Dallas.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-141.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Oscar Pistorius murder trial South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is seen leaning back after applying eye drops as he prepares himself for another day in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria, South Africa, March 14, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-151.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A sardine is carried in a coffin during the Entierro de la Sardina (The Funeral Of The Sardine) in the Basque port town of Portugalete A sardine is carried in a coffin during the Entierro de la Sardina (The Funeral Of The Sardine) in the Basque port town of Portugalete, March 5, 2014. The ceremonial funeral and burning of a sardine figurine, representative of the excesses of the carnival season, coincides with Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![19th Biennale Of Sydney - Media Preview Artist XX's sculpture 'XX' is displayed during a media preview as part of the 19th Biennale of Sydney at Cockatoo Island on March 18, 2014 in Sydney.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-171.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Mideast Israel Purim An ultra-Orthodox Jewish girl wearing a costume, sits in a cage, marking the Purim festival in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv March 16, 2014. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther which is read in synagogues. Other customs include sending food parcels and giving charity, dressing up in masks and costumes, eating a festive meal and public celebration.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Members of the IUNA Ballet perform during a rehearsal of their show "Dressed by Grace" at a public square, ahead of the Ciudanza Dance Festival, in Buenos Aires Members of the IUNA Ballet perform during a rehearsal of their show, "Dressed by Grace," at a public square ahead of the Ciudanza Dance Festival in Buenos Aires March 5, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-191.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The Chicago River is dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day in Chicago The Chicago River is dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, March 15, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-201.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Whole cooked alligators are displayed before being served at the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York Whole cooked alligators are displayed before being served at the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sochi Paralympic Torch Is Lit At Stoke Mandeville Sochi Paralympic Torch Is Lit At Stoke Mandeville](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Polish-French film director Polanski takes part in the presentation of the musical "Le Bal des Vampires" (Dance of the Vampires) in Paris Polish-French film director Roman Polanski stands in a coffin as he takes part in the presentation of the musical "Le Bal des Vampires" (Dance of the Vampires) at the Mogador theatre in Paris March 17, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-231.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A boy sits in a plastic container filled with coloured water during Holi celebrations in Chennai A boy sits in a plastic container filled with coloured water during Holi celebrations in the southern Indian city of Chennai March 16, 2014. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, heralds the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over India.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-241.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BATHING IN POLLUTED WATERS OF YAMUNA A man tries to get rid of a thick layer of flowing foam as he takes a bath in river Yamuna on March 19, 2014 in New Delhi. Yamuna is the largest tributary of the holy river, Ganges, and has often been described as the most polluted water body in northern India. The extreme pollution levels cause deposition of foam on the top surface of the river.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-25.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-GYMNASTICS-RHYTMIC-HUN-WORLD-CUP Bronze medalist Katsiaryna Halkina of Belarus performs her exercise with a ball at the individual final during the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary on March 16, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-26-e1395859899289.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Juventus' Caceres jumps for the ball as AC Milan's Pazzini looks at him during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan Juventus' Martin Caceres, left, jumps for the ball as AC Milan's Giampaolo Pazzini looks at him during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the San Siro stadium in Milan March 2, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-27-e1395859962296.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Trainees watch their instructor use a scarf to cover a student's head at a special course on flight safety on the outskirts of Beijing Trainees watch their instructor use a scarf to cover a student's head at a special course on flight safety on the outskirts of Beijing](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-282.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Mideast Egypt Museum APTOPIX Mideast Egypt Museum](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-292.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-EGYPT-GAZA-SIEGE-RALLY Palestinian children lie in the sand with their hands clasped next to their national flags during a rally against the siege on the impoverished Hamas-run Gaza Strip in the coastal town of Rafah on March 7, 2014. Egypt controls the only border crossing with Gaza that bypasses Israel, and is accused of colluding with the Jewish state to blockade the Hamas-ruled territory.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-30.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![PROTESTS IN CARACAS Demonstrators clash with members of the Bolivarian National Police after a mass meeting called by opposition students in Caracas March 20, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-31.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![German pensioner Kraft decorates an apple tree with Easter eggs in the garden of his summerhouse in the eastern German town of Saalfeld German pensioner Kraft decorates an apple tree with Easter eggs in the garden of his summerhouse in the eastern German town of Saalfeld](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-322.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A baby gorilla suffering from pneumonia is seen in San Diego, California A baby gorilla born in a rare Caesarian section at the San Diego Zoo is suffering from pneumonia March 13, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-33.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-AFGHANISTAN-UNREST TOPSHOTS-AFGHANISTAN-UNREST](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-342.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![NASCAR 2014 - Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 Driver Carl Edwards does a back flip off of the Roush Fenway Racing #99 Ford Fusion after winning the Sprint Cup series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-35.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![APTOPIX Mideast Israel Fashion Week An Israeli model, who serves in the military, wears her uniform in the makeup chair before her turn on the catwalk at a show by Israeli designer Dorin Frankfurt during the Tel Aviv fashion week in Israel March 11, 2014.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-36.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TOPSHOTS-KYRGYZSTAN-CATS-FEATURE TOPSHOTS-KYRGYZSTAN-CATS-FEATURE](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/surprising-photos-march-372.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Contact us at letters@time.com