From Mandalay we traveled to Bagan, a 30 square-mile plain, part-covered in palm trees and tamarind with the mighty Irrawaddy river slicing through it; framed by distant mountains. Rising from the plain are more than 2000 temples that were built by the kings of Bagan between 1057 and 1287. In addition to the opportunity to […]
Archive | 2013
Myanmar Photo Tour Sept 2013: Post #4 Mandalay & Around
Mandalay was established by the highly admired King named Mindon, for his new capital and the focal point for Buddhist teachings, in 1857AD to fulfill an ancient Buddhist prophecy. There were only two kings ruled over on this last Burmese Capital, King Mindon (1852 to 1878) and King Thibaw (1879 to 1885). When the British […]
Myanmar Photo Tour 2013: Post #3 Mostly Monks
Buddhism in Burma (Myanmar) is predominantly of the Theravada tradition, practiced by 89% of the country’s population. It is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion. Adherents are most likely found among the dominant ethnic Bamar (or Burmans), Shan, Rakhine […]
Myanmar Photo Tour 2013: Post #2 Mandalay
Sorry for the delay, I’m still struggling with the internet connections here in Myanmar. Now, back in Yangon, the internet connection is fast enough for me to post some images. The following images are from Mandalay. Mandalay is the modern center of Buddhism and Myanmar arts, but was once the old royal city. Mandalay, 670 […]
Myanmar Photo Tour Sept 2013
The 2013 Amazing Myanmar tour is off to a great start, but now, into our ninth day, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to post images. The internet has been slower than ever before. Perhaps it is due to the fact that changes in Myanmar are happening so fast. Never before have I seen […]
Battambang: Cambodia’s Second City
Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city and the capital city of Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia. Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is well known for being the leading rice-producing province of the country. ‘Dambang’ means ‘stick’, and ‘bat’ means ‘to lose’ – so, translated literally, Battambang means “town of the […]
Cambodia Opposition Leader Returns From Exile
I’m in Phnom Pehn Cambodia today, having just finished a photo shoot for The Asia Foundation. There’s quite a buzz in the country because election day is July 28th. The big news for today was the arrival of Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy who’s been living in exile until he was recently pardoned by King Norodom […]
Angkor Wat: The Last To Leave
Every day, just before sunset the Apsara Authority personnel make a final sweep from east to west through Angkor Wat. Since 2001, I’ve been coming to Angkor and whether I’m alone or with workshop and photo tour participants, I always visit Angkor Wat in the late afternoon and then linger until asked to leave. The […]
Philippines Photo Tour 2013: Wrapping Things Up
It’s been over two weeks since I left the Philippines and I still have some nagging, unanswered questions…. can someone please explain to me how it is that just about everywhere, San Miguels are served at the exact temperature at which ice forms in the neck of the bottle after you take the first sip? […]
Thoughts On Being An Innovator
Do you remember your first girlfriend/boyfriend, your first car, motorcycle or camera? I’m guessing you do. Now try to remember your second, third or fourth? Hmmm….not so easy, eh? Now, think about all the brands that have become synonymous with their function: Scotch tape, Kleenex, Xerox. It’s no accident they were also the first. When […]
