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Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
These are the Sino-Burma pipelines. The oil & gas pipelines stretch from western Myanmar to southern China, traversing areas of Myanmar that either have electricity just a few hours a day, or not at all. Construction began in western Rakhine State in 2011 and by March 2012 had already covered much of northern Shan State.
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x@400
Smoking and weaving baskets in front of just possibly enough firewood to cook the next few meals.
Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 400
Tea from Palaung regions is one of the most popular types in Myanmar.
Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 400
Tea from Palaung regions is one of the most popular types in Myanmar.
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
She had been wanting to reach her brother all day, to ask him his Thingyan plans, and when we rode by and she recognized my friend, she finally had her chance. And proceeded to chat on his phone for about 20 minutes, which my friend didn't even seem to notice. The lack of time-consciousness among Burmese can be frustrating, but their level of patience is admirable.
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
The tea plantation's large staff includes several impoverished Burmese laborers all the way from Mandalay, who live on the Shan owner's property in a separate house. They seem to be treated like family, and when the owner insisted on running the generator at night for his special guests (us), they flocked to the main house to enjoy lights, radio, and TV. Back to work (mostly) bright and early in the morning...
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Plus-x
Man Kong was a resting point for the Palaung army in the 90s, while soldiers moved from one place to another to fight and spy on the Burmese military. This woman--who hasn't been treated kindly by time--provided a comforting shelter and still recognized my friend 20 years later.
Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 1600@3200
Olympus OM-2N | Fuji Neopan 1600@3200
Traditionally, Palaung women shave their heads after marriage, but the less-traditional woman on the left just covered her hair with the headdress for this special occasion.
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Three visits to Kyaukme, three times on the damn stupid cargo bus. I don't understand how this keeps happening! The first year I transferred directly from another bus, without a ticket, was the last one on, and that seemed to make sense. Both subsequent times I bought my ticket a day in advance. Why, I ask you? Yet each time when returning to Mandalay, I could book a ticket on the totally normal passengers-only bus.
2008--it was transporting tomatoes in crates along the extra-deep floor, so the bus could only crawl at snail's pace.
2011--it was transporting hard plums, so the bus could move normally, but we still had to walk across crates to get to the seats.
2012--this bus had fewer rows of seats so most of the rice sacks were in the back, so we could dangle our feet in the still-extra-deep floor.
Olympus OM-2N | Kodak Tri-x
Pyin Oo Lwin is the only "hill station"—a scenic, temperate town built in colonial times—that I've visited in Myanmar, but it definitely made me want to visit more. This lovely town also contains two of the largest military academies in the country, the biggest nationwide school for taking the 10 Standard year (with 100% success rate), and the best internet access in the country. I'm not quite techie enough to remember the reason for the last one...something like... the whole country's server is housed there :).