Myanmar 2001 - The Country Side

Out of Yangon and escape into the countryside. There's so much to catch the attention of the camera lens.

Driving along shady tree-lined roads

passing cheerful road workers

A small hut, pots of cool drinking water, cups and ladle ready, a sight I find all over Myanmar. A respite from the heat, a place for the thirsty, to rest the weary feet and perhaps to catch forty winks before toiling on in the fields or push on with one's journey. 

A smaller version

In 2001, it's common to see people walking every where. The work day here starts early as it gets hot by late morning. These ladies are ready for the day, long sleeves, hats and lunch in tiffin carriers.

Balancing act using the head - bales of grass for the cows

Using the kandar stick to balance baskets 

Another kandar stick user

Might as well enjoy a bovine-go-round ride while milling rice.

Common transportation in villages and small towns in 2001 : walk, cycle, horse cart or bullock cart

or jump onto passing lorry and hang on for dear life!

I love these little village shops. Choc-a-bloc with stuff. A veritable mini mini-mart

See the roll of cloth coiled into a flat shape to help with balancing - still an amazing skill!

Tanaka, Myanmar's beauty secret. It must be nature's answer to pimples and a natural sunblock. I never saw anyone with pimples or bad facial pigmentation. It's not very scientific data but I may be right!

Tanaka use start at very young age

for everyone, including boys too

A man selling water from a pushcart. Such a scene probably is a thing of the past now. 

A village school

The ubiquitous toddy palm

Toddy palm is to Myanmar what coconut palm is to India

Silhouettes, silhouettes

Toddy palm silhouettes to behold

Ladder to tap the toddy flowers. The owner of this tree will bring the rest of the ladder here when he taps the flowers. This is to prevent passers-by from helping themselves to the pots of sap

Pots to collect the toddy sap

Quite cool in this shed, thanks to the cool toddy sap drink

The useful toddy palm...jaggery and toddy drink from the sap, 

roofing and baskets from the fronds

 Freshly tapped toddy sap on a hot afternoon is so good!

River of life, life by the river

morning rush on the Ayeryarwady

commuters crossing the river

massive raft of logs being floated downriver

Tea break at roadside food stall.....yu char kuih!

                                  Banana fritters, fried tofu etc served on lotus leaf

Overnight stop to visit Taungkalat Shrine near Mt Popa. The temple is on the top of a tower which is the remains of a volcanic plug.

The 800 m high monastery is reached by a strenuous climb up 777 steps, besides enduring the attentions of souvenir sellers and cheeky macaques!

Taungkalat Shrine is devoted to the worship nats or spirits which is still practised by many Myanmar people

A young novice monk we met on the way