Patrick Love Photography » Travel Photography

Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, retains many of  its colonial-era buildings and wide streets.  A wonderful place for a few days of exploring.  (below) If they have to call it modern, it’s probably not. (Below) Street food for the strong-of-stomach.  (below) Deep-fried goodness. Eating low on the food chain is good for your, right? (below) Telephones, especially cell phones, are rare in Myanmar. Impromptu payphones are set up on the street, so people can make calls.  They are disappearing quickly, as the government has lifted restrictions and insanely high taxes on SIM cards.  (below) Local butcher.  (below) At the night market, Anne and I bought some amazing spices from this gentleman.

Share on Facebook

A grapefruit shaped boulder, balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. Wait, it’s actually not balancing, it’s floating! You heared me right, I said defying-the-laws-of-physics-floating-like-a-Jedi-warrior, floating. Word on the street is that you can easily pass a rope under the rock, from one side to the other. Legend has it that back in the day, when people weren’t sinning so much and making Buddha mad/sad, the boulder would float higher, and chickens could easily walk underneath it. Do you believe in miracles? Monks do.

   (above) off-camera flash camera right, balancing the sunset light.     

(below) A pilgrim who had probably been praying at the rock for most of the day.  As other pilgrims put sheets of gold on the rock, flecks would fall down and collect in his hair.

Share on Facebook

To mark the end of Buddhist Lent, people light millions of candles throughout temples and houses in Myanmar.  Many people told me that it is their most significant holiday of the year.

   An elephant paraded through the street and dance to some fantastic music.  It was so much fun to see it.     

 Elephant Dancing Music (youtube link)

When darkness fell, everyone went to the temple.

Share on Facebook

It was a real joy to hike for a couple of days in the hills above Lake Inle.  The trekking itself was not all that amazing.  However the places we visited were quite unique and interesting.  I expected the trail to be ‘well-worn’ by the all the travelers who had gone before us, but instead I found out that this was not so.  People would come up to us, kind of puzzled, and ask how we had gotten there, and where we were going to sleep.  We hiked with a guide from Two Thumbs Up Travel Services.  They can be found across the street from the Mingalar Inn, or reached at kankaung2008@gmail.com.  Good prices too.

Below – rice paper, I think. 

Below – We stayed the night with a family our guide was friends with.  She cooked on an open fire that was inside of the home.  There was no electricity or running water, but things were actually comfortable and clean.

Once we got back to the lake, we took a boat back to where we started.  There are entire villages on Lake Inle that are put up on stilts.

Share on Facebook

Nyaung Shwe is an interesting place.  It is the main city on the edge of Lake Inle, so most visitors to the lake spend some time here.  Now on our second visit, Anne and I knew that we could expect to enjoy a great market and our favorite tea shop in Myanmar.  Neither one let us down.  We stayed at the PYI Guesthouse and Restaurant, which would definitely be our first choice, if we go again.  Book early, because if fills up fast.

The market is always a great place to meet new people, and find some amazing deals.   (below) Donuts, Myanmar style.  They are quite good.

(below) Tomatoes are the main crop in this area.  They are grown hydroponically on Lake Inle.  On the lake, fishermen use cone shaped nets.

Share on Facebook