Thousands people, like small ants, take every day the ferry connecting Yangon with Dala Township, most of them vendors, crossing the river to sell their goods. They arrive at the jetty with baskets and trays, their faces tired, wrinkled by the sun and the hard work. Once aboard, they sit on one of the many colourful...
Smiling kids, women at the market or working in the fields, craftsmen making lacquerware objects, monks in the streets and the temples: the people of Burma are usually gentle, often shy, still rooted to their traditions although rapidly changing, perhaps not for the better.They live in difficult conditions and often they work very hard, included the...
I had been looking forward to seeing the Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset with a strong sense of anticipation. My expectations were mostly driven by the wonderful images of the pagoda I had admired many times, but apart from that, I did not have a clear idea of how Yangon - the capital city of Burma...
The daily life in Burma was - at least to me - the best part of my trip in a country that left me with mixed feelings.I wrote a few months ago about how I felt rather uncomfortable in Burma, failing to feel the 'WOW' factor I was expecting and apparently unlike many other people...
A few places are as fascinating as a Burmese market, with its bustling traditional life.Markets are ubiquitous in Burma but the ones taking place at Inle Lake are likely among the most interesting to spot the locals attending their daily business and people from different ethnic groups, coming down from their villages to sell their...
The largest of Bagan temples, Dhammayangyi is also one of the most beautiful, for its architecture and decorations as well as the paintings inside.Built in the second half of the 12th Century (approx. 1167-1170), Dhammayangyi temple displays an exquisite brickwork, by many considered one of the best in Bagan.Certainly, it was one of my favourite Bagan...
The green lush forest, a Burmese woman unravelling a fishing net and delicately taking off the small fishes caught in the narrow weave. It was one of the scenes which to me represent a perfect instant of daily life and harmony.I was fascinated by this Burmese woman, the graceful gestures of her hands, the beauty...
Concentrated on their game and regardless of the surrounding buzz, I couldn't help but looking at these two men playing chequers amidst Mingalar market, at the heart of the town giving access to Inle Lake.My eyes were fixed on the home-made wooden checkerboard and the pawns gathered from bottle caps. All around, vendors were busy...
There's probably no better way to visit the many temples of Bagan than hiring a horse-drawn carriage. The driver slowly led me through the many pagodas, some of which were really impressive not only outside but also inside, showcasing beautiful paintings, like the reclining Buddha at the Sulamani Temple. [pullquote]Often overlooked, Nat Taung Kyaung wooden Monastery...
With their bright-colored headscarves, Pa-O (or Pa-Oh) women are easy to spot at one of the many markets taking place every day in a different spot around Inle Lake, one of the highlights of Burma. [pullquote]With their heads covered by bright orange or red headscarves, beautifully arranged, Pa-O women are an unexpected touch of color.[/pullquote] They sell...
