More Burmese Humor!

The Longyi

White Knuckle Ride to Golden Rock!

Chillin' in Pyin Oo Lwin

Rocking the Boat

Say-Ta-Na Paya, Bagan click on pic to enlarge.

Human Powered Ferris Wheels

Burmese Humor

How many Buddhas Can you Cram into a Cave?

Raising of the Craft. Taungyii Balloon Festival. Burma.

After unfolding the Balloon, these dudes run inside and while some guy props it up with a stick, other people come in with torches and start filling it up with Hot Air. The Women in the foreground light the votive candles that will eventually be attached to the sides of balloon in a decorative pattern.

Rocket Shield

When a Balloon goes Bonkers and crashes onto the Crowd, you're lucky if one of these shield guys are nearby. They'll take the brunt of the outcoming blasts to protect the public. The Non stop Blitz of the entire payload can last a good 10 minutes!

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Balloon Fest Crash!

An ill timed gust of wind can spell instant Disaster by causing the craft to come crashing down in Flames into the Crowd. Worse even is the entire Payload of explosive Fireworks blasting full force into the spectators. Most years claim a Life, the Deadliest 2001 claimed Seven. Dangerous, but it's a Blast!

Bagan: Planet of 4000 Pagodas!

Click on Pic to enlarge The result of a Building Frenzy that began in the mid 1100's, following conversion to Theravada Buddhism. This lasted for roughly 200 years under a succession of rulers disposing of a steady and willing supply of skilled "Crafts People". Covering an area of 25 sq. miles, the sheer scale of the temple ruins is mind blowing and Beautiful! Droool... Feels like a gigantic abandoned Hollywood film set...CINEMASCOPE... Perched as I am high on a temple ledge I have the spectacle of Sunset all to myself, aaaaahhh... That is until that fast approaching dust cloud reveals itself to be a Tourist bus packed to the gills!

Baoom fest!

Click on pic to enlarge. My depiction of the Taungyii (Burma) Balloon festival. Hundreds of thousands of people, Man powered ferris wheels, Balloons, Fireworks. Cheap excellent Whiskey. Dubious sanitary conditions. Loads of Fun!

Balloon Fireworks fest in Taungyii, Burma. On the First Full Moon after the rainy Season Hundreds of ballons loaded with fireworks are launched towards the sky, amazing!

Burma Travel Tip!

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Burma Money $cam!

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Myitkyina to Sinbo Ferry

Myitkyina's main draw as a destination is its being the launching point for a boat journey down the mighty Ayerwaddy river.
The vessel we board on the first leg of our trip is a sort of floating bus.Long , narrow and low, with a tarp draped over an aluminum tubing frame to protect passengers from the scorching sun or the pounding rain, depending on the season.
The seats are narrow and offer very little legroom.Definitely not designed with my long legs in mind! That explains why foreigners are routinely charged double as we inevitably end up needing two seats!
First come, first served, so grab the seats closest to the front as the rear ones are drowned in the deafening roar of the motors!
Note*-As of June 2011 this area is off-limits to foreigners as a result of armed clashes between Kachin Independance Army and the Burmese military.
For the complete story click on this link.

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Gullible's Travels...

In the entrails of the Giant Buddha...
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Audio Time Warp!

Burma Lo-Fi...

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