When one says kung-fu monks, the usual image conjured in Western minds is that of an antiquated, mystical Chinese man who bows and prays, and then flies and kicks in calculated martial arts techniques.  But lately, a delegation of Shaolin kung-fu monks beamed themselves into the future, or rather, the present - right into Google territory.

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A group of Shaolin kung-fu monks recently went to the Google headquarters in California for a rare cultural exchange between one iconic image of the past with another from the present.

Current abbot, master Shi Yongxin, wearing the traditional orange robe, led the Shaolin kung-fu delegation to meet with Google's Laszlo Bock, currently the Senior Vice President of People Operations.

Abbot Shi has been instrumental in making kung-fu a modern day brand since his installation ten years ago.

Shi and his fellow monks got to try on the Google virtual glasses and later had the chance to show Google employees the art of kung-fu.

The visit produced a rare photo of Abbot Shi, a monk wearing Google glasses, showing how the past can hook up with the present.

In the same event, it was announced at the Google headquarters that a partnership deal was signed with Luxottica, the makers of Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses.

Luxottica was awarded the task to design and market new Google Glass styles. The partnership aims to mix "high-end technology with avant-garde design."

That said, it may now be just a matter of time before we see Shaolin kung-fu monks wearing virtual Google glasses styled ala Ray-Ban.