Burma

Bagan, earlier this year, during the rainy season

If you click on this one, you'll see the crinkly edges 

of the leaves, they echo the tin roof ~

probably Yangon, but I don't use the camera's gps.

a great panorama of Bagan & other sites

goldleafed

From Thailand & Burma.

Sometimes the statues have so much gold leaf

you can barely see the original form.

oh to be in Paris, big shows of Gerhard Richter

at both the Louvre & Centre Pompidou

simply

These 3 are all out of focus, yet I like them,

because I can see how I might paint each figure in a few

simple strokes.

Can see how I could use this laser gear too..

Not enough time for everything.

irawaddy

The photos from the boat trip down river from

Mandalay were the least successful, due to rain, low light,

& the distant banks were a big stretch for

both cameras..

..neither are SLR's - but nor are they too heavy to carry.

I really do like to be on big rivers that are important to

the people living beside them.

do yourself a favour & watch murmuration

old & new

It's only now that I am putting certain photos together,

while in Burma I just took everything that

interested or surprised me

In the interiors I glimpsed,

there was really only the essentials,

though in the markets are very bright patterns.

louis montrose

contrasts

As in many parts of Asia, there are striking

contrasts in Burma. Mostly I prefer the look of

older solutions, with houses & hotels, for example.

of course it might be different if I had to live in them

guesthouse & internet places are quite often in old premises.

nina tikari ~ great photos in india

lotus pond

There was a large lotus pond behind the guesthouse in

Mandalay, such big water drops after rain.

That was the lovable Peacock Lodge

highly recommended.

questions

There was no one to ask what these children were doing.

They were perhaps having lessons at the monastery.

Have a stack of photos where I saw some thing/

person briefly, & have wondered for many

years since, how it is now for them.

Does that happen to you too?

hallucination study

moving

There's a full range of transport in Mandalay, as in

other parts of Burma. The horse & carts are not

so comfortable, but I liked using them.

bruce jensen's alien menagerie

loaded

It's only while walking that I can get photos of loads,

it doesn't often work out a vehicle window

The most amazing load I've seen is this one

on flickr from ayashok

bells

Temple bells. The British helped themselves (as they did in

colonial times); one particularly large bell sank in the river,

as they were trying to load it on a ship.

They failed to raise it. Later the Burmese figured out a way

using bamboo, its now at the Shwedagon,

Tibetan singing bowls with didgeridoo

quiet

Posting a few more days of Burma, this time from Mandalay.

Quiet moments.

really pleased to read this the joy of quiet

markets

Boat trips on Inle Lake like to stop at some craft places,

silver, weaving, etc. It's good to see that quite a lot is still

hand crafted in Burma, possibly from necessity..

though, like everywhere else, there's large quantities of

mass produced stuff.

If only they could get the idea of not using plastic bags ~

& tourists not buy plastic bottles of water.

a treasure story ~ & it's outcome

windows

I love looking out the plane window, though photos never

really work out. Many houses on Inle lake

had some interesting details.

The woven bamboo ones were striking, would like to

know how long they can last, & whether the panels are made

on the shore, or the house is made like a basket, in situ.

I like these collaged images

water

The water of Inle lake.

I stayed at the Princess Garden hotel, Nyaungshwe,

charming hosts, 7 separate cottages, a really pleasant place.

oh yes, a happy year to you!

boats

Still going through my Burma photos while staying quietly

at home, town is too busy with tourists.

These are from Inle Lake, went out while it was still dark,

gradually everything began to appear,

the fishermen balance at the end of their skiffs, & twist one

leg around the oar to row. I like the over-exposed shot,

it looks like he's walking on water.

friends sent this link to an eskimo hallelujuh, it's fun

all that

All that glitters is probably gold, at Shwedagon pagoda,

there are lots of shiny & reflective surfaces as well.

The halo has flashing neon spot lights, for instance.

& the mirrors are cut with subtle angle changes.

Sunrise & sunset work their magic.

I think the place can be enjoyed on so many levels,

& doesn't demand a religious mind set.

Wouldn't you like to go as gently as a dandelion, into 2012

?

happy holiday

There seem to be several kinds of devotional practices

at Burmese temples

apart from sitting, meditating, praying, chanting..

It also looked like there were people who truly enjoyed just

being there, in a beautiful temple where this aspect of

consciousness had been the focus for ages.

The polished marble floors reflect it all, there are multiple

perspectives: everything adds to the experience.

Enjoy the holidays wherever you find your self!

eat some chocolate

photos

At some temples in Burma there were professional

photographers; groups & families would line up, clearly not

used to the idea. I love to get them too.. innocent.

Cameras & mobile phones are not as

widespread as elsewhere.

hearts

tons of gold

They say there is 5 tons of gold in the very large

central pagoda at Shwedagon .

It's so strong.

Could be the relics it's said to contain.

Adyashanti on the concept of spiritual awakening