Lake of a Thousand Reflections

You gradually open your eyes and begin to soak in the dreamlike scenery that surrounds you. Glimmering water that mirrors dazzling blue skies and all-enveloping mountains. Dozens of silhouettes in the distance which acrobatically row canoes using one leg while deftly manipulating fishnets with free hands. Children smiling and waving from cherry-stained wooden houses comfortably perched on top of  still waters. Farmers harvesting crops which have miraculously sprouted from floating soil. And everywhere you look, mesmerizing reflections which intensify the surreal beauty of it all. This is Inle Lake, Burma. And even the most imaginative of minds could hardly dream up a place like this.

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One Fine Day in Mandalay

I awoke at sunrise, had a quick breakfast, and stepped into the already bustling streets of Mandalay in search of a trishaw to taxi me to my destination. After haggling with a driver for a reasonable price, we began our slow journey through the concrete, traffic, and smog of the city. Bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and pickups whizzed past in a frenetic whirlwind of movement. As we approached the river, our surroundings gradually became leafier and more peaceful. Monks soon outnumbered ordinary residents, and we arrived in a neighborhood where monasteries lie in wait behind every corner.

The Lost Kingdom of Burma

Some one thousand years ago, one of the greatest cities in the ancient Buddhist world arose in a large plain near the center of modern day Burma. The city was called Bagan, and became the capital of the first Burmese Empire. By the time Bagan fell to Mongol invaders in the 13th century, it was home to an astonishing five thousand temples. In the present, little of the city remains, except for the ruins of many of these pagodas. Even now, Bagan contains more temples in an area the size of Manhattan than there are medieval cathedrals in all of Europe. I spent three days touring this magnificent place by bicycle. Many of the pagodas are beautiful up close, but the real majesty of Bagan can only be appreciated from up high, where the full scope of the site comes into perspective. Ancient temples dot the earth for as far as the eye can see, and from this vantage it's easy to forget that inventions such as the car, airplane, and internet even exist. I hope that these photos capture a little bit of the sense of awe that Bagan inspires.  I'd never heard of this lost kingdom before coming to Burma. But after visiting, I will never forget it.

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A Kick in the Longyi

No, it's not hacky sack; it's Chinlone. No visitor to Burma can go long before observing a group of men enjoying a round of the country's national sport. The game is especially popular at sunset, which is when I captured this video in the historic town of Pyay. The sumptuous view from Pyay's Shwesendaw Pagoda was just to good to keep for myself. So, enjoy the clip, grab yourself a ball, and start warming up those feet. You'll need plenty of practice if you hope to keep up with the Burmese!