Sunday, March 25, 2012

Burmese People


Hi and welcome. Hope you enjoy these photos of Burmese people, children and a few of the photographer at work
I seem to be a little heavier than the twigs!
I'm going to be a hot air balloon pilot when I grow up!
We so love our photo being taken
Who's looking at the photo, and who at the photographer? This photo was taken by Daniela, my wife
A fashion statement. Love the tie
This chap really wanted his photo taken. Thanks to my dear friend John who took this picture.........
......And here he is!
Smoking, the Burmese way
and proud of it!
Friendly, happy young lady we met one evening by the river Ayer Yarwaddy in Bagan
Big monks and little monks
A fine silhouette
Daniela with a young girl who was selling artifacts outside the temple
Very proud of her home. When she isn't making some money she studies at university
This man was a delight. He showed me all the best places to take photographs of the temple where he works and clearly delighted in my pleasure at the beauty of it. I love this photo
Isn't she lovely?
Young'uns showing me how it's done
This was supposed to be a photo of Daniela, but then.......
Beautiful face
I'm having fun!
I wish I knew what that finger meant
They start young!
A bit older, climbing the temple to see the sunset
Ancient temples are great playgrounds
Time to go home after a hard morning at the market
Oh, go on, give us a lick! Daniela catching me trying to steal ice cream from a child.....
Me, doing what I love


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Bagan, Burma - part 1

Welcome to enchanting Bagan. One of my most favourite places that I have visited 
These first two photos were taken at our hotel, the Aureum Palace
Thatbyinnyu Phaya. It is just inside the south eastern corner of the Old Bagan city wall. It takes its name from the "Omniscience" of the Buddha
Beautifully framed
Pagodas-in-a-row
The plains of Bagan are dotted with thousands of Pagodas
Shwezigon Pagoda, ရွှေစည်းခုံဘုရား
The pagoda's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later pagodas throughout Myanmar
It is near the village of Nyaung-U and the Aye Yarwaddy river
Built in 1076 it is one of the most important temples and home to one of the four tooth replicas of the Buddhas tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka
If you visit all four temples that enshrine the replicas it will bring you luck and prosperity. Unfortunately we weren't that organised!
Just one of the thousands!
All shapes and sizes
Thatbyinnyu Phaya as it is getting close to sunset. It stands above the other pagodas in Bagan
Stretching into the distance
How lovely is this!
One of the entrances of the Thatbyinnyu Temple
Ananda Temple
It is known as the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples
After the construction of the temple, the king, Kyanzittha, executed the architects just to make the style of the temple unique. Blimey, these Kings!
In 1990, on the 900th anniversary of the temple's construction, the temple spires were gilded
Beautiful arches and porch ways
And what's above
Temple dog. The Burmese seem to have a kinder disposition towards dogs than many Asian Buddhist societies
Dhammayangyi Temple was built by King Narathu when he ascended the throne after killng his father. Nice chap!
Now it is time to make our way to the sunset temple, the Shwesandaw Paya. This and the remaining photos were taken from there as the sun was setting
The colour was turning golden
Adding more magic, to this most magical land
Is this really the 21st Century?
Or have I unknowingly travelled back in time to the 12th century?
Dhammayangyi glowing
And here I leave you to enjoy the last few photos of the sunset. There are many like these on the Internet, but I am so fortunate to have my own, because I was there!