in december 2011 I was in Birma. A land of faded glory, everything mixed up (tradition & modernisation, different religions, different people, different means of transportation), and the most friendly, honest, helpfull people I've ever met!! :) |  Yangon. Many people in Birma wear a longyi. |  Yangon. The man behind the little table is making packages of something glue-like and betelnuts wrapped in leafs, that everybody chews on all day (and spits out...) |  Ngwe Saun. One of the resorts destroyed during cyclone Nargis in 2007. The owner and the man who rented & ran the place are still arguing about who has to pay for the repairs. |  Fisherman near Ngwe Saun |  Coconut-break |  Kyauk Kalap, temple/pagoda near Hpa-An. This used to be a pilgrimage site, where many people came to see the body of a deceased monk. He was anti-government/pro Aung San and was getting very 'popular', too much maybe...? So one night his body dissappeared, to be never found again. |  Renovating. Every buddha is from another family, so you have to make sure yours is looking good. Our guide (whose family also has one) mumbled that in a few years they will probably all have a nice roof like this one. Yes, trends in buddha-appearance. - near Hpa-An |  Boys doing cool moves for the camera |  rickshaw |  Many many many stray dogs... |  Hpa-An |  These boys were literally trying to look over my shoulder while I was making photos with my old camera, and then posing themselves |  Many many many many many many many many many many many many many fluorescent tubes |  Kalaw |  This girl came runnig at me, but stopped immediately to pose for my strange, old camera |  Cigar woman |  Morning fog |  Medicineman |  |  Inle Lake |  Dirt road |  This guy is a 'keyman' for one of the temples in Bagan, which means he lives in a hut near the temple. This is an area with 2000-3000 temples, big and small. We were cycling around there, visited a temple with nobody there, when this guy showed up, and opened 2 more small temples for us. Inside was just the same as elsewhere (BIG Buddha!) but he was very proud. When I asked him (with hands, no english!) if I could take his picture, he took on a very serious pose. When I told him it was OK to smile (by doing that myself), his whole face opened up, and mine too! :) |  Buddha under construction |  Bagan by fluorescent light |
Many many many buddhas, many many many fluorescent lights! |  |