It has been a busy and silent month on the blog, thanks to an extensive travel calendar in South East Asia and the time that went in preparing for the journeys. In the first ten days of this month, I was in Cambodia, leading a photography tour across the country. Subsequently, I arrived in Myanmar and spent a few days strolling the streets of Yangon and visiting a few beautiful places nearby. Today is rest-day, and gives me some time to write this post.
Next week, I will be leading a photography tour through Myanmar before returning home. Another month later, I am out again on photography tours in Varanasi, North-East India and Rajasthan, ending my usual long streak of photo-journeys in winter.
Here is an image I made in Bago, Myanmar, two days ago – Mya Tha Lyaung sleeping Buddha.
Ali is a washerman who spends his morning hours washing clothes near Prabhu Ghat and letting them dry on an open ground on the bluff nearby. Strolling through the lanes of Varanasi, I saw him resting under the ficus tree after finishing the day’s work.
U Bein Bridge, Taungthaman Lake, Mandalay.
The evening wouldn’t get better than this. U Bein bridge bears a festiva atmosphere as the sun moves towards the horizon. Young couples from Mandaly come here to spend time holding hands and chat up with a slice of watermelon or a fried crab. Monks walk back and forth – to or from their monastery in Amarapura. Cyclists, not permitted to ride on the bridge, trudge slowly pushing the two wheels. Tourists flock to see all this, decorated by a golden sun in the backdrop.
It is said to be the world’ longest wooden bridge. To me, the lake and U Bein bridge are more charming thanks to a feel-good factor, festive atmosphere and a picnic-like mood that the people of Mandalay bring to it.
Shot during my annual photography tour to Myanmar.