People of Burma

I don't have a telephoto lens and in addition, I hate to be intrusive with the camera—always thinking that I would not like having a tourist take my picture while doing my laundry or walking down the street. So the following photos aren't necessarily unposed but I think they do convey something about the nature of the wonderful Burmese people we saw.

Buddhist Celebration, Mandalay

Many Burmese boys and girls spend a period of time in a monastery. It could be for several months or several years, with some of them eventually becoming monks. These children are preparing to take their vows and as you can see, this is a momentous event for them and their families.

Yangon (Rangoon)

Businessman walking down the street wearing the traditional longhi wrap. It was so hot there that I resorted to carrying an umbrella and it really did help. Check out this YouTube video on tying the longhi and in the background you'll see the marvelous area of Bagan. This man appears to be a guide.

Streetside betel nut vendor, Yangon

You can always tell a Betel nut chewer because they have red lips and teeth. These stands are everywhere and the results of the chewing are too...red stains all over the streets.

Sugar cane juice street merchant, Yangon

Books of every sort, sort of. Yangon.

Books for sale are only those not blacklisted. Don't expect to find George Orwell's 1984, a book that some believe is based on the repressive Burmese military regime. Book and their currency is recycled to the point of no return.

Lunchtime, Mandalay

Taken during the serving of lunch at a monastery. This little guy is with his mom. Families consider it good merit to contribute food to these Buddhist centers of learning. These centers provide education to many young men and women.

Street urchin, Yangon

 Cute little guy who really wanted his picture taken. This was taken along the waterfront where much of the business of Yangon takes place.

Laborer, Yangon

The loads these people carry is unbelievable. We saw huge TV's being loaded onto the boats at the end of this walkway, along with people and goods of all kinds. 

Street Food, Yangon

 Look at this clever, compact, and portable food stall. This is the real fast food. It looks like he can put everything into the basket and head home at day's end.

Cloth merchant, Bagan

This is SO posed but I loved this lady. I was walking through the local market and she put a silk garment in front of me. I'm sure she knew I was a fabric lover the minute she saw me. Well, I hate bargaining. Turkey and Mexico drove me nuts—to the point where I refused to buy anything. But I decided to "get over it" and started negotiating for a silk outfit and ended up laughing because she was persistent without being too aggressive and I ended up with a beautiful silk skirt, top, and shawl. This lady is going places.

Peanut farmer, outside of Mandalay

 Talking to this woman and her husband was the highlight of the Burma trip for many of us. I've never met such happy and friendly people. They told us all about their village and children, showed us how they farmed with their oxen, put out their luncheon display so that we could see what they eat, and this women untied her headpiece revealing waist length hair. She is just over fifty and although her skin is wrinkled from exposure to the sun her abdominal muscles were like rock from racking peanut plants day in and out. They work very hard so that they can provide education for their children and they also take care of their parents.

Mother and child outside Mandalay

 Mother and daughter have Thanaka bark sunscreen on their faces. Using water the stem of the plant is rubbed on stone and this paste results. It has the added advantage of being cool on the skin.

Cheroot cigar, outside Mandalay

 This cigar, a Burmese stogie, is big, long, and smoked by women. It's easy to make because it isn't rolled at the ends. She is holding a coconut shell underneath to catch the ashes.

Village girls across the river from Bagan

 These young girls were quite the entrepreneurs. They met us at the boat and continued to follow us throughout the afternoon; they were selling bracelets. They are both wearing the thanaka bark sunscreen. This photo was taken from the back of a moving cart pulled by a horse. I admired their persistence and physical endurance and ended up buying five bracelets.

Laundry on the Irrawaddy River

 This woman is not young and she squatted like this for several hours doing her laundry on the banks of the river across from Bagan. I can get down in the position, even get back up, but to stay there for hours is more than I'm able to do.

Husband and monk sightseeing, Mandalay

 I am very fond of this picture. We drove outside of Mandalay and took an escalator (barefoot! Yikes) to the top of the hill to visit this monastery with a wonderful view of the plains.

Children playing, outside Bagan

This child is one of the most active I've ever seen. When we arrived at the temple grounds he was climbing the intricate metal enclosures. Then these two older children gave me a ride on what appears to be a discarded monk's robe. The little guy was screaming in delight as he tumbled off and climbed back on again.

Next: Books of Burma