Burma

Burma: a land of betel nut stained smiles, rich resources, British colonial-era buildings, maroon robed monks, Aung San Suu Kyi, water buffalos and hope. I have been to Burma three times, twice for travel and once for a softball tournament. This time, I noticed a change in the atmosphere. Positivity, joy and promise danced from stilt homes on Inle Lake to markets in Yangon to pagodas in Bagan. Aung San Suu Kyi, the most influential democracy advocate in society, was recently freed from house arrest. With her chances of success in the upcoming elections, real change could transform Burma into a nation with stronger healthcare and education systems. Importantly, people will enjoy freedom of speech, something taken away from them many years ago. Fortunately, I was able to be in Burma at the beginning of this encouraging transformation. 

A fisherman scares the fish into his net. 

Bartering for oranges. 

Inle Lake

Inle Lake stilt houses. 

A Burmese woman, with yellow face powder smeared on her cheeks, sits at her market stall. 

Betel nut stained teeth. 

Betel quid (betel leaf, slaked lime and areca nut). 

Smoking a cheroot (local cigar). 

Market children, Inle Lake. 

Inle Lake

Traditional Burmese canoe paddling by leg.

Children fishing in the lake. 

Burmese market vendor. 

Hat seller!

With the local children.

Eighty-five years old and still full of life and vigor.

The local seamstress. 

Sunset at Inle Lake. 

Sunset at Inle Lake. 

Morning trip to the market. 

Local Burmese school. 

Crying toddler. 

Eccentric woman on her tricycle. 

Rusty sunset in Yangon. 

Stormy weather and pigeons in Yangon.