BURMA

Superstar

  • Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as Golden Rock (star)

    Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as Golden Rock (star)

  • Offerings of all kinds--candles, incense, fruit, candy-- for the Buddha at Golden Rock.

    Offerings of all kinds--candles, incense, fruit, candy-- for the Buddha at Golden Rock.

  • Sunrise at Golden Rock

    Sunrise at Golden Rock

  • Buddha in Bagan. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed - over 2200 remain today.

    Buddha in Bagan. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed - over 2200 remain today.

  • Mohinga, a traditional Burmese rice noodle and fish soup, for breakfast.

    Mohinga, a traditional Burmese rice noodle and fish soup, for breakfast.

  • Burning offerings for Buddha, Golden Rock.

    Burning offerings for Buddha, Golden Rock.

  • Aung San Suu Kyi, on the cover of Ladies. Currently a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma, she was previously a political prisoner, kept under house arrest in Burma for almost 15 years from July 1989 until her most recent release on 13 November 2010.

    Aung San Suu Kyi, on the cover of Ladies. Currently a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma, she was previously a political prisoner, kept under house arrest in Burma for almost 15 years from July 1989 until her most recent release on 13 November 2010.

  • Sunrise over Bagan

    Sunrise over Bagan

  • A Ganesh, remover of obstacles, at the pilgrimage site of Mount Popa.

    A Ganesh, remover of obstacles, at the pilgrimage site of Mount Popa.

  • Traditional Burmese lunch at Inle Lake. Rice with toasted garlic, fish and vegetables.

    Traditional Burmese lunch at Inle Lake. Rice with toasted garlic, fish and vegetables.

  • Room with a view at Inle Lake, where most everything is built above water.

    Room with a view at Inle Lake, where most everything is built above water.

  • Wearing the traditional women's Pa'O headdress, crafted to look like a dragon. As the Pa'O origin story goes, that they are derived from a Burmese shaman, Zawgyi (male) and a dragon (female). Face is smeared with thanaka, a paste made from bark that cools the face when the breeze comes.

    Wearing the traditional women's Pa'O headdress, crafted to look like a dragon. As the Pa'O origin story goes, that they are derived from a Burmese shaman, Zawgyi (male) and a dragon (female). Face is smeared with thanaka, a paste made from bark that cools the face when the breeze comes.

  • Fishing in traditional style at the entrance to Inle Lake. Word on the lake is that this is performed primarily for tourists, as they now fish with more modern gear.

    Fishing in traditional style at the entrance to Inle Lake. Word on the lake is that this is performed primarily for tourists, as they now fish with more modern gear.

  • Sunset over Inle Lake

    Sunset over Inle Lake

  • A beautiful Pa-O mama and her baby.

    A beautiful Pa-O mama and her baby.

  • Bagan temples galore

    Bagan temples galore

  • Sleeping Buddhas at Pindaya Cave, home to hundreds of Buddha statues.

    Sleeping Buddhas at Pindaya Cave, home to hundreds of Buddha statues.

  • Burmese noodle soup. For breakfast.

    Burmese noodle soup. For breakfast.

  • Burma punks, celebrating Pa-O National Day to remember ancestors, such as King Thuriyasanda, whose birthday is also celebrated on National Day, and past leaders.

    Burma punks, celebrating Pa-O National Day to remember ancestors, such as King Thuriyasanda, whose birthday is also celebrated on National Day, and past leaders.

  • Grand parade on Pa-O National Day

    Grand parade on Pa-O National Day

Myanmar (Burma)– What consumes most days:
Rising around 4am, to the sounds of chanting monks metallically over loudspeakers, much like the call to prayer.

Lying awake marveling at both the vastness and universality of the world (in spite of sub par internet, our guide recently deleted his Facebook page after he and his gf split and she married someone else. He couldn’t handle seeing pictures of them together, happy) wait for the sun to rise.

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