Young monks being tutored at Ywama Monastery, Inle Lake Region, Myanmar.
Myanmar has a large population of monks, which often surprises visitors even from the neighbouring Buddhist country of Thailand. One possible reason being, monasteries are not only religious institutions, but they also offer shelter to anyone who is needy. Any person without a means of living can walk into a monastery and expect to get fed in return for serving the institution. In winter 2012, a high-season for travellers, a large number of backpacking tourists who were travelling without reservations spent nights in monasteries when the hotels and guesthouses were running packed.
Ywama Monastery is one of the many such institutions in Inle Lake Area. It is adjoining the more well-known Ywama Market in the middle of the lake, approached only by boats!
