Photos from Myanmar: Myitkyina, Inle Lake, Mandalay and More

I’ve posted some photoessays from my time in Myanmar already – an adventurous train trip up to Myitkyina (now off limits and increasingly violent as ethnic war between Myanmar’s army and the Kachin continues), a solar eclipse by slow boat plying the waters between Bhamo and Mandalay, and a remarkable morning at Thiri Mingalar market in Yangon, wedged between green bananas and piles of ginger. There was also a grumpier post, about the ridiculous bus rides in the country, going from worse to worse-er.

Though I’d written the specific posts, I hadn’t put up all of the corresponding photos. So I wanted to share a photoessay here.

Myanmar in Photos: Myitkyina, Inle Lake, Mandalay, and More

From Yangon.

Myanmar Photos: Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar

From Mandalay:

Nepali food in Mandalay
Nepali food in Mandalay
Shan-style bags in Mandalay
Shan-style bags in Mandalay
Shwe In Bin team monastery, Mandalay
Shwe In Bin team monastery, Mandalay

From Inle Lake:

Myanmar Photos: Fisherman on Inle Lake
Fisherman on Inle Lake

From Bagan:

Myanmar Photos: bagan balloons at dawn
Balloon rising over Htilminlo Paho at dawn in Bagan, Burma.

From Myitkyina:

Kachin child with her family in Myitkyina
Kachin child with her family in Myitkyina
Kachin woman in Myitkyina

From the long (disastrous) boat ride from Myitkyina to Sinbo to Bhamo:

The Irawaddy near Bhamo, Myanmar
The Irawaddy near Bhamo

From Moulmein:

Overlooking the Nwa Le Bo Pagoda, Moulmein
Overlooking the Nwa Le Bo Pagoda

From Hpa-An:

Hpa-An's Saddar Caves
Hpa-An’s Saddar Caves

And from the Golden Rock:

Prayers at the Golden Rock
Prayers at the Golden Rock
Nuns atop the Golden Rock - all smiles until someone took out a camera!
Nuns atop the Golden Rock – all smiles until someone took out a camera!

Brought back some wonderful memories to compile this photoessay!

I’m about to leave England after a great few months with my brother, Sarah and their friends. Today I’ll be in Turkey for just a few days, then on the move again – to Jordan for a short work contract, then to Thailand for a few months of writing and eating – and my friend Greg’s wedding to the lovely Aom. I actually don’t need to be in Istanbul again, but my $60 visa (Canada’s visa entry is the highest of all countries) is multi-entry, the food is great, the price was the same as flying LHR to Amman via a Gulf State, and I really need a haircut. My brother has enjoyed telling his friends at work “Oh, my sister’s going to Istanbul for a haircut and some kebap.”

This may be the life a long-term traveller, but I concede it sounds ridiculous. Hilarious, but ridiculous.

I’ve got a bunch of announcements coming up, but for starters I’ll be putting together a newsletter in the coming weeks, to be sent out a few times a month. The content will be mostly links I’ve curated from around the internet, much of which ends up on my Twitter stream. Those of you who follow me there know that I post primarily tech, science and hard news, with a smattering of cute animals in between. Curating the internets is something I used to do as a lawyer too, sending out daily links emails at the end of each day. So I thought it would be fun to bridge the Twitter stream and the blog. It will also give me a chance to share the other projects I’m involved with that aren’t posted here at Legal Nomads.

More to come soon! I’ve still got some service-y posts – where to eat, stay and what to do in Marrakesh, and the same for Istanbul. Then, a series of photoessays from Turkey, most of which will involved food.

-Jodi

35 thoughts on “Photos from Myanmar: Myitkyina, Inle Lake, Mandalay and More”

  1. I didn’t know about the SD card’s bold escape from kidnapping! A bit of good news.

    Raise a glass for me (raki, ayran, sour cherry juice, your call) in Istanbul! See you in Thailand!

  2. Safe travels J!. Beautiful and moving photos. Thanks for sharing. Hope you continue to eat well, and I await a photo of the new “do”…hair do that is. Newsletter will be eagerly awaited. Don’t know if I told you, I also had my camera stolen. @ Mandalay hill at a festival…it was a really…strange …night….
    J2

  3. It’s unfortunate that your things were stolen, but I’m glad these pictures were saved! I especially love that photo of the fisherman! Makes me want to travel around SE Asia more!!

    1. Thank you Erica. The technique of the fishermen on Inle are different from everything I’ve seen elsewhere. We tried our hand at paddling with our feet but I fell into the middle of the boat and my friend fell into the water – not as elegant as it looks!

  4. And this is why Myanmar is top of our list to visit after Thailand. Beautiful photos Jodi. Can’t wait to pick your brain when you get to Chiang Mai ;)

  5. Stunning. I was in Myanmar in early January (that now feels like forever ago) and I absolutely fell in love with it. By far one of my favourite countries to date. Wonderful pictures! It brings back all the good memories.

  6. Looking through these photos and photo essays brought back such good memories. Even more emotional as I think of how much has changed in Burma since the time of our visit in terms of opening up…and hopefully continuing on this path.

    I can completely get stopping off in Istanbul for a few days for a good hair cut (they are hard to find!) and some good food! Safe travels and enjoy!

    1. I’ve been itching to get back and see some of those changes firsthand, as I’m sure you both are as well. Hard to believe how much has progressed (and how some parts are still quite mired in ethnic clashes in comparison). It’ll be an interesting place to watch in the coming year, that’s for sure. Hope you two are stuffing your faces with great food in Oaxaca!

  7. That fisherman looks like he knows every inch of his boat and how far he can really push it, pretty amazing. Not too many skilled professions like that anymore beyond how many words you can type per minute. Awesome photos.

  8. Jodi
    I’m really enjoying your beautiful stories and photos of Myanmar. They’ve been really helpful in planning my trip.
    Thank you.
    Claudine

  9. Wow! This is so magical and other-worldly! I love the way they’re dressed in bright colors!!! And the golden rock – is that real gold?

  10. Journeys and Travels

    I loved the photos you took. Super! I am an amateur photographer who does travel blogging too from the Philippines. I wished I can meet you down the road and exchange some insights about how traveling changed our perspectives of the world.

    Great post!

  11. I really appreciate your honesty in sharing your journey. I’m currently posting anonymously because I’m still working 9-5. I have being inspired by people like you to start my online business in offering services in language translation and proofreading.

    Thank You!

  12. Love your Myanmar descriptions and photos. We are planning a three week trip there next January. What month were you there..Pick ups and buses seem to be our planned transport..I will be prepared!

  13. I’ve heard about Myanmar but never expected it to be this beautiful. Your pictures are really great. Thanks for sharing a great experience there.

    1. Thank you – happy to hear you enjoyed the photos. It’s a beautiful country with some incredible people, but of course it’s important to learn about the history too, since it’s such a complicated one. Safe travels to you!

  14. Thank you very much to Jodi for sharing our country’s beautiful scene and also thanks to you all for good views to our country. Please visit again to our country of glamor.

  15. Hi Jodi
    Great pictures and thanks for sharing them.
    Thinking of going to Burma next march for 10 days! Won’t be able to see all places but where would you recommend to go, I love taking photographs and thought Cambodia was great. Thanks Rick.

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