Myanmar

1 Yangon street market book shop Look at the Shwedagon book - you'll be seeing Fred's pictures of this pagoda later.	2 Butchery Open air shop. Sarongs are the typical clothing.	3 Senior monk studying Buddhism threaded its way through our trip, partially because the countries visited are heavily Buddhist. Also, some of our guides had been monks and we visited many monasteries, temples, and shrines. This and the next two images are from our first monastery visit.	4 Young monk studying I closed my eyes and meditated briefly to the students droning their lessons. Great beginning to the Buddhist bent of the trip.	5 Young monks studying
6 The largest Buddha in Myanmar This used to be in the open air. Recently, a housing was built to protect it.	7 Ferry boats on the Yangon River	8 Rice sacks	9 Rickshaw driver	10 Cinching up a laden truck
11 Razor clam vendor Thanaka, from ground tree bark, has been used for facial ornamentation for millenia. Its scent is similar to sandalwood.	12 Women preparing fish A stall at the major fish market along the Yangon River.	13 Fish	14 Ice truck at the fish market	15 Crushed ice for the fish stalls
16 Yangon River harbor	17 Sunset behind a boat ramp	18 Flower vendor	19 Produce	20 Butchery
21 Shwedagon Buddhas The Shwedagon Pagoda and its many surrounding smaller pagodas, stupas, and shrines form the most sacred place for Myanmar Buddhists. This is a room of large Budda figures.	22 Refurbishment The Shwedagon pagodas and shrines are continually repaired. New gold leaf is applied as the old wears away. The central pagoda is covered in gold plates.	23 Shrine	24 Guarded shrine in Shwedagon	25 Another shrine Note the modern touches - light show in the center and the monitor to the side.
26 Initiates Young children get initiated as monks and nuns. The ceremony commemerates the Buddha's origins as a prince. The first monk experience is typically a week. Many spend weeks a year throughout their lives.	27 Initiate surrounded by family Before and behind the boy is a procession of extended family and freinds.	28 Group shot of the initiates' family I was fortunate to be there as the event photographer was setting up the group shot.	29 Ritual sweeping of the temple	30 Bathing the Buddha From a Hindu custom, Buddhists poor water over the statue of the Buddha to gain karma favor.
31 Repair work	32 Bell	33 Shrine in a pagoda This is in a pagoda in the Myanmar countryside.	34 Old shrine walls	35 Girl with thanaka
36 Beggars at a monastery	37 Begging family	38 Bathing	39 Motorcycles at a market	40 Poultry stall The fan keeps the flies away.
41 Dried fish	42 Spice stall	43 Coils of wire	44 Brass ornaments	45 Sculpted stone Buddhas
46 Sculpting Buddhas	47 Touching up a Buddha	48 Emerging brass reclining Buddha at a foundry	49 Brass dragons at a foundry	50 Bamboo on the Yangon River The local people, among the poorest in the area, split and weave the bamboo to make room partitions.
51 Construction worker Pipes are laid down to the Yangon River edge for sand extraction.	52 River fishing with traditional nets	53 Making paper with flower and leaf inclusions	54 The dried result	55 Parasols at the paper factory shop
56 Traditional fisherman on Inle Lake The fishermen beat the water with their oars to stun the fish, then lower their conical nets to capture them. They poke tridents into the end to catch the fish.	57 A fisherman raising his net at sunset	58 Conical net fishing on Inle Lake	59 Fire stick juggling	60 Long-necked woman weaving
61 Another long-necked woman	62 Heddle loom	63 Town on stilts in Lake Inle	64 Tour mates at the final dinner The “MYSTICAL MYANMAR” PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR 7-17TH MARCH 2013 was organized by Denis Glennon, third from right, leader of Iconic Images International. Personal comment: it was fabulous. I highly recommend Denis's tours, but be prepared to work hard.