With years of economic sanctions imposed upon the Burmese by Western nations, when I visited last fall, I had expected to feel a sense of desperation and an eagerness from them to leave their country. Instead, I found the people of Burma to be sophisticated and excited about the impending changes. I also discovered that they are kind, gentle and eager to help rebuild their country, not leave it.
Most Burmese are Buddhist and there are temples, pagodas and monasteries throughout the country. Above, monks wait in line before receiving their second and final meal of the day, lunch. Monks in Burma cannot eat after 12 p.m. and at this monastery in Mandalay, they wait patiently in a line of more than 1,000 to receive rice, which is the staple of their simple meals.
Inle Lake is a popular spot for travelers. Located in the mountains in the eastern part of the country, the temperature can easily be 15 – 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the country – a welcome relief from the heat. Boating on the river means you’ve got a steady stream of air cooling you off, too.
Above, a young fisherman uses his leg to row the boat. This way of rowing is typical on Inle Lake. It’s really quite odd to see but is the preferred method. (I still can’t sort out how this could possibly be more efficient than sitting and rowing with your arms but far be it from me…)
Around Inle Lake, markets are set up in small villages on the water. While most goods are sold to locals, there are a fair bit of souvenirs for the tourists (one look at my earring tree and you’ll see many silver jewels that came home with me). I most enjoyed the larger section of the market that was meant for the locals. There I found all sorts of interesting foods and household items. Above, a woman from a local tribe sells her goods. Her lips and teeth are stained red from chewing betel, a very common practice for men and women.
Burma is a developing country for sure. But somehow the small amount of money that people do make, they put back into their local temples. Here, men are seen putting gold leaf on Buddha statues. YES, those are statues of Buddha that have, over time, been so covered in gold leaf that they are now unrecognizable as Buddha statues – they just look like balls of gold.
If you’re interested in experiencing Burma for yourself, you can join me on our women-only tour to Burma in the fall. It’s selling out quickly so don’t hesitate in sending in your deposit.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Burma Photos (Part I – Temples)
Burma Photos (Part III – Food)
Women-only Tour to Burma (Myanmar)
Burma Photo Gallery
the BackpackingGirl says
Thank you for these pics. I am OBSESSED–want my next big trip to be to Burma!!