Amazing photos of Myanmar
Myanmar Photography
As I leave the country backwards, I can only feel that I will be back soon. Really soon.
Myanmar is one of the most amazing countries I’ve visited so far, and it shares with India, a really kind and smiling people.
These pictures of Myanmar show the essence of this recently opened country, which deserves a long (long long) stay. The 28 days limited tourist VISA will make you feel with an extremely lack of time as you would probably wish to stay longer in every single place you visit. So be prepared to feel like abandoning places before you take all of its juice. The only good thing about that? That your next stop would be probably even better…
Welcome to Myanmar!
All photos by Jaume Vaquer, April 2017.
If you want to read about the pictures, just scroll down.
If you want to see the visual gallery, just click on this button!
I met this woman in Chin State of Myanmar. It was an old tradition that young girls were tattooed in their faces. This tradition is not followed anymore, so this sight would probably last only a few years.
As these old women die, no more will replace this image. I felt really lucky to be able to see such a nice and photogenic signs in their faces, that I spent a few days just walking across villages taking a few photos of them.
Chin State of Myanmar is a remote area that can only be reached with determination: long bus rides and roughly comfortable accomodation is there, so seeing this images, just take effort. But I think it’s totally worth it… what do you think?
Here, just a few examples of those pictures I took there.
Monks, monks, monks…Myanmar is full of monks.
Specially novices are really photogenic, as they put together the photogenic characters and the innocence of a kid.
I shot a lot of pictures of monks because I love the color of their dresses, the exotic appearance of their faces…to say it simply: I just felt in love photographically with monks!
I’m sure that you’d feel something similar if you visit this country for first time. If not..let me know!
This young novice budhist monk lives in a monastery of Inle Lake. It was really strange that I preferred to spend more time in the monasteries than in the lake itself. The lake is nice, sure it is. But it’s almost all fake.
So sorry to say that, but it’s the truth about that place. It’s just a zoo for tourists. Fake fishermen who aren’t fishing anything (just posing for the tourist instagram pictures…)…
But I managed to see some real fishermen as well. If you want to see the real Inle Lake, just say ‘Hey! I want to see the real fishermen!’ to the boat driver. He’ll take you there. It’s not that photogenic, but it’s real, which I like for my pictures.
Monasteries are real. And monks living on them are amazingly courious and kind. So spending time with them was something simply natural for me.
Exotic market scenes are something usual in Myanmar as well.
Go there early and you’ll find local crowds of both buyers and sellers. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to see such authentic sight: an old smoking woman just ‘being there’.
Go there late and you’ll only find tourists looking for locals that have just gone a few hours ago…
I love this picture because it defines this country so well. People is just there, kind of waiting for nothing, just seeing life go by, happily. I didn’t find such scenes anywhere else in South East Asia so far. These kind of distracted behaviors are unique to Myanmar. And they are gold for a photography portfolio.
This photo was taken in a market of Inle Lake, during a nice ‘all-day’ trip with a boat.
Usually these trips will take you to see the sunrise in the lake (amazing) and after that will take you anywhere you ask for. So be sure to ask to see something authentic instead of the touristic jewels and textiles shops…
Just a tip!
Yes, I did it on purpose… this is not Bagan!
This is Mrauk-U. Why I show you this place before the famous Bagan temples? Well, these are not that famous or beauty, but again, they are real…
Mrauk-U is located in the Rakhaine State, in the South Western part of Myanmar. It’s not that easy to reach compared to Bagan Temples, but believe me, it’s worth the trip.
Its temples are made of stone, not brick as Bagan’s are, and this place is definitely not that crowded. So for me, it was simply better than Bagan. Just my opinion. You’ll tell me when you go there!
Mrauk-U is a foggy place where interesting sunrise-sunset photo can be taken. It has lots of interesting temples to discover and amazing people to talk with.
So just try to escape the beaten track and spend a few days there. Is an interesting place.
Okay…it’s time for Bagan!
Bagan is impressive. Sure it is. This plain full of temples will make you feel like having no time to discover all, and every single sunrise or sunset is simply amazing.
If you are one of those that like baloons in the sky (or maybe jumping on one of them!), this is a nice place to do it.
The always foggy atmosphere put something special in every single day begin or end. Expect crowds on every single big temple so if you like to be on your own, just rent one of those e-bikes available and explore the area to find a nice small temple to enjoy the seeing!
Welcome to the amazing Hpa-An.
Hpa-An is situated Central-East of Myanmar, and it’s easily reachable from Inle Lake by bus.
This is a place of countless caves, lakes and rice fields. This is a place of real countryside fields and rural life. For me, perfect!
Motorbikes can be rented for just a few dollars and exploring the place is really interesting and fullfilling (if you like countryside spots of course!). Sunrises and sunsets are specially beautiful as the landscape is stunning. So choose a place (or maybe a few of them) and just enjoy the sights!
Yes, this is not that Inle Lake’s fisherman you saw in an Instagram picture… But it’s here for a reason: this one is real.
As you arrive by boat to the fishermen area, you’ll notice (if you arrive early), that those famous and perfectly and clean dressed men are just waiting for tourists to come. Do you think that wearing a sun-protector hat at 4.45 AM in the morning has any sense…?
I don’t think so. And as you arrive, if you are the first tourist to come, you’ll see them just starting their day posing endless for fake pictures that will be posted on Instagram within a minutes (if wifi connection available of course…).
I’m sorry if I just ruined your expectations. Don’t be sad. They are awesome and beautiful. And the shot will be nice. But they are simply not fishing anything more than the bucks the Government gives to them to do so.
So after that…just try to spend some time exploring the real Inle Lake. Ask your boat driver to take you to the real places, with real people. I can swear you that they are there, just waiting for you to be seen! The best of it? That they are justnot waiting for you: they are fishing, and you see them…so simple (and beautifully real).
And down here… the full gallery!
Hope you enjoy these amazing pictures of Myanmar.
