Myanmar
In late 2019, I decided to pack my camera gear and leave for an 8-day adventure in Myanmar. As usual, very little planning preceded this given my preference for the spontaneous. The contrast I found in relation to Vietnam was immense reminding me of a Saigon from 20 years ago. I decided to embark on a backpacker travel adventure that I find tends to lead to a more authentic and local experience (and better picture). Forty long and backbreaking hours of public bus travel allowed me to explore the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake.
Brat Pack
Thanaka is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark and has been used for more than 2000 years. It is a distinctive feature of the culture of Myanmar, commonly applied to the face and sometimes the arms mostly of women and girls. It has a fragrant scent somewhat similar to sandalwood. Apart from cosmetic beauty, thanaka also gives a cooling sensation and provides protection from sunburn. It is believed to help remove acne and promote smooth skin.
#Yangon #Myanmar #Sony
Innocent Prayer
As night fell in Shwedagon Pagoda, oil lamps were lit in front of hundreds of statues of Buddha. A young devotee pays respect.
#Yangon #Myanmar #Sony
In the Shadow of Buddha
Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, 4,446 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of 3822 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.
#Bagan #Myanmar #Sony
Ghost Amongst the Ruins
During sunrises and sunsets, locals “offer” to show tourists specific temple ruins that they are permitted to climb onto to take the best photographs- for a small fee of course. As UNESCO World Heritage sites many of the temples are off limits to foot traffic. Here is one ruin that I found on my own.
#Bagan #Myanmar #Sony
Son of the Lake
The Intha (“Sons of the Lake”) are members of a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group. They often live on Inle Lake and support themselves through the tending of vegetable farms on floating gardens. The Intha are also well known for their unusual one-leg-rowing techniques.
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Wade
Taken from U Bein Bridge – a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake. The 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teak wood bridge in the world.
#Mandalay #Myanmar #Sony
Homeroom
The Buddhist monastic school system in Myanmar dates back to the 11th century. Nowadays, the monastic schools assist in providing basic education needs of the country especially for children from needy families and orphans. Some operate similarly as boarding schools and some as day schools depending on the situation and support of the public.
#Inle #Myanmar #Sony
Detention
A head monk paces the room as students study the scripture.
#Inle #Myanmar #Sony
Born Again
A rare witnessing of a young student monk getting his head shaved. To be a Buddhist monk means to accept an ascetic lifestyle. Therefore, Buddhist monks shave their heads as a symbol of giving up worldly attachments.
#Inle #Myanmar #Sony
Recess
During their rare moments of freedom from their monastic studies, young Buddhist students take turns driving around the yard on a motor scooter.
#Inle #Myanmar #Sony
Black Widow
The birth of lotus weaving in Inle Lake is said to date back to more than a century ago. When lotus stems are cut and pulled apart gently, thread appears. It takes at least 20,000 lotus stems and 40 days to produce a square meter of lotus fabric.
#Inle #Myanmar #Sony
