"I'm a Buddhist, and the scriptures that are being tattooed on my back will give me some protection," he said as he prepared to go under a needle wielded by a visiting Thai expert. The sak yant form of tattooing originated in Thailand and is gaining popularity in Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese city-state with a strong Buddhist and Taoist tradition.

Sak yant tattoos, mainly inscriptions of religious texts and animals as well as deity figures, are believed by Buddhists to bring good fortune, courage and self-confidence.

Tattooists said Singapore also attracted believers from other countries who fly in for sak yant tattoos. Badr Fyrkree, a banker and amateur muay Thai boxing practitioner from the United Arab Emirates, travelled to Singapore specially to have two tattoos inked onto the back of his hands by Thong.