Sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda. As the sun dips, this most famous of Buddhist sites in Yangon, Myanmar, begins to glow as if illuminated from within. The 325-foot high pagoda is said to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas. It sits on a base of gold bricks and is entirely covered with gold plates. Additionally, … Read more
Chilies and spices of all kinds are sold at the Dala market, located across the river from downtown Yangon, Myanmar. The village of Dala is accessed by a pair of ferries that run continuously throughout the day, with the trip taking about 15 minutes. Upon arrival, any of the dozens of rickshaw drivers will be … Read more
All manner of goods carried on the head are sold to passengers of the ferry that continually crosses between Yangon and the small village of Dala in Myanmar. In addition to this watermelon, I saw vendors with giant stacks of oranges, baskets of steamed pigeon eggs, trays of candy and cigarettes, and much much more, … Read more
Our guide, Mu Mu, wrinkled up her nose when she learned I planned to take the Circular Train in Yangon. “It is not very comfortable,” she said. “Hard to go to the bathroom and takes a long time.” It sounded perfect to me. Later that morning, I traipsed through the mud to a dilapidated ticket … Read more
Afternoon break for tea and Checkers in Myanmar. Squatting on low plastic stools that are set out on the streets around Scott Market in Yangon, these men seemed oblivious to the cars and motorcycles that sped by with only inches to spare. The game is played with bottle caps rather than true markers, which most … Read more
