Travel photography Myanmar

Myanmar

Man fishing on Inle Lake in Myanmar

I had always heard of Myanmar (formerly Burma) being a remote country and very little was known about it. Most tourists visit neighboring countries like India and Thailand and end up skipping Myanmar. But it turns out that Myanmar has a lot to offer in terms of beauty and culture and the friendly locals are more than happy to welcome you to their undiscovered gem.

Being one of the least known countries in the world can have its benefits. There is much to explore and discover and places are not yet bombarded with tourists. Myanmar is becoming increasingly popular since the country opened its doors to tourists a few years back, causing an influx of visitors every year. Yet Myanmar still feels quaint compared to other Asian nations. This quaintness is what gives Myanmar its charm and made me fall in love with it even more.

I began my journey in Mandalay where I got my first glimpse of golden temples piercing the deep blue sky. Novice monks in red gowns would get up at the crack of dawn to do their choirs and I would encounter them as they commuted across town. Occasionally they would glance over at me to acknowledge my presence and sometimes even return a smile. I followed them to the nearby U Bein Bridge, the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world, where I met local fishermen and farmers. At Inle Lake, I hopped on a local fisherman’s boat for a glimpse of their daily life. Fishermen here are known to have great balance while fishing as they use one leg to row the boat while keeping their hands free for catching fish using a cone-shape net. Also at the lake live the Kayan women who are known for wearing neck rings which over time, elongates their necks.

Last but certainly not least is the ancient city of Bagan. Here is where the magic unfolds before your eyes. This enchanting place can only be appreciated in person and to truly experience the raw beauty of it, you need to spend a fews days exploring some of the thousands of Buddhist temples that are scattered on the open plains the size of Manhattan. Arriving at dawn (when it’s still pitch black) is part of the fun since I had to find a temple to climb in order to catch the sunrise over the horizon (not always an easy feat). The first rays of sunlight appear, revealing the colorful temples all glittering in the dawn sunlight. I sat there, quietly, taking it all in and catching myself smiling. Myanmar is truly a magical place and should be on any travel photographers list.

Young monks on the U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar Sunset over the U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar Local woman on a boat in Mandalay, Myanmar Woman harvesting corn in a field in Myanmar Woman on a local train in Myanmar Young boy on the canals around Inle Lake, Myanmar Hsinbyume Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar Old monk at the U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar Golden temples of Shwe Indein in Myanmar Sunset over U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, Myanmar Young boy with a baby in Myanmar Young monk at a wooden temple of Shan State in Myanmar Hot air balloons over Bagan temples in Myanmar Giant buddha in Old Bagan, Myanmar Monks at a white temple in Bagan, Myanmar Young boy at U Bein Bridge, Myanmar Misty sunrise over the temples of Bagan in Myanmar Local people washing clothes at Inle Lake, Myanmar Young Kayan Long neck trail tribe girl in Myanmar Inle Lake fishing in Myanmar Sunset over U Bein Bridge, Mandalay, Myanmar Fishermen on Inle Lake, Myanmar Old man biking over a wooden bridge in Myanmar Hsinbyume Pagoda in Myanmar Sunrise over Inle Lake, Myanmar Young monks at the wooden monastery of Shan State in Myanmar Young monks praying in Bagan, Myanmar Sunrise over the temples of Bagan in Myanmar Old Kayan Long Neck Hill tribe woman in Myanmar Woman weaving cloth in Myanmar Monk praying at a temple in Old Bagan, Myanmar Sunset over a temple in Old Bagan, Myanmar Young monks at a temple complext in Bagan, Myanmar Young monks lined-up in Myanmar Young monks praying at a school in Myanmar Old man on a train in Myamar Young boy swimming in the Inle Lake in Myanmar Old woman walking on a wooden bridge in Myanmar White temple of Hsinbyume Pagoda in Mandalay, Myanmar Bagan sunrise with beautiful temples Sunrise from a temple of Bagan, Myanmar Fisherman at work at Inle Lake, Myanmar Fishermen at sunrise on Inle Lake in Myanmar Inle Lake at sunrise in Myanmar Sunrise over Inle Lake in Myanmar