It was 6 weeks ago, when were wandering in a small village in the periphery of Inle Lake. It was as idyllic as a rural setup could get. There was a stream flowing by. Paddy fields dominated the landscape with their lush-green colour. The vista of the landscape ended in distant hills decorated by rain bearing clouds. Water buffaloes wandered the open fields, grazing quietly. Sun shined occasionally through the clouds. Row-boats passed through the stream once-in-a-while. Children frolicked by the house-verandas and on the streets. Life moved slowly, gently and unassumingly.
I was lost in this happiness and had completely ignored this monastery, and the monk who stood by the window, watching the same spectacle as I did. I turned around in a moment of unawareness, and suddenly awakened by the beauty of the place. Camera shutter released in an instant.
Also see: Our photography tour to Myanmar
Yangon’s circular train serves local commuters by connecting the city with its surroundings. The passengers on board are usually workers who travel to the city from their homes in the suburbs or traders who sell farm produce in the markets. Much of Myanmar’s railway system is fairly old and the age shows in the coaches and the tracks. Until last year, the coaches with bench-style seating were very dated, but some of them are now replaced by new carriages. The atmosphere inside, however hasn’t changed much, making the ride still worth it.
The stations inside the city see urban population commuting on work, which slowly gets replaced by vegetable traders from the villages as the train approaches suburban wholesale markets. Occasional non-homo-sapience passengers are known to hop on board, mostly the harmless white winged variety rendered even less harmless by tying their legs. Other vendors walk in and out, often selling beetle nut leaves, quail eggs and cut fruits. The insides of the train gain a lot of colour in the suburbs, especially at a busy market that is so crowded that even the train tracks are occupied by sellers, briefly emptied for the passing train.
Apparently they now have air-con trains targeted at tourists, but taking one of those defeats the purpose of being there.
Here is a collection of images from Yangon’s Circular Train.
Trains begin and end at Yangon Central station, although strictly speaking, being a circular train there is no beginning and end. The train stops only a few minutes at Yangon Central before continuing to make another circle. In other stations, it stops barely long enough for the passengers to quickly alight and board.
A young boy looks through the window during a journey on the circular train, Yangon, Myanmar.
