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Most viewed - 2006: Myanmar |
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loading cabbage24 views
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we felt so lucky to be in Inle on this day. we hadn't planned our trip to Burma to coincide with this festival, but once there & we'd heard about it of course we had to experience it. what amazing timing24 views
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24 views
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24 views
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barge carries 4 buddhas, even though there are 5. the story goes that in 1965 the barge, which was carrying all 5, capsized & sank in a storm. only 4 were recovered but back at the pagoda 5th was sitting there covered in weeds; so now he never leaves24 views
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24 views
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Inle is the 2nd largest lake in Burma. it's about 4400 feet above sea-level, so the temperature is really pleasant (doesn't get scorching hot, unlike Mandalay). it's surrounded by these blue mist shrouded mountains. stunning place!24 views
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the Phaung Daw U Pagoda on Inle lake. thousands of people thronged here to pray to the 5th Buddha who stays in the pagoda while the the other 4 travel to the monasteries on the lake to bless them during the festival period24 views
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this pagoda on the lake is quite big surprisingly24 views
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24 views
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dimensions of the reclining Buddha, supposedly the biggest in the world (longer than the one in Bangkok). this temple is about an hour's drive from Yangon23 views
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sign in Burmese - one of the most incomprehensible scripts we've seen, all squiggles23 views
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we were able to get pretty authentic tasting caipirinhas at this little place in the town of Nyaung Shwe. some tourist had taught the owner how to make them. we were so happy!23 views
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birds all hanging out23 views
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flying off as our boat approaches23 views
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protecting myself from the rain with my parasol23 views
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really pretty silk; it was interesting watching the process of making fabric like this23 views
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22 views
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lunch at a small charming Nepalese restaurant in Kalaw. we ordered a bottle of local "wine"22 views
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22 views
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women lined up on the roadside to collect alms, just before entering Inle22 views
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walking through the town of Nyaung Shwe at dawn. already lost of people around, everyone is going to Inle Lake for the festival22 views
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Chuck happy on our boat. we're not morning-people and getting up before dawn is anathema to us. but this was definitely worth it22 views
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Intha fisherman on Inle lake rowing standing up with one leg22 views
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doing laundry. there are many of these villages on the lake. since the lake isn't deep (although it's big), houses are built on stilts and people have floating vegetable plots and gardens22 views
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all kinds of stalls had been set up on the pagoda grounds in the lake for the festival. there were thousands of tribal people here22 views
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how many people can you fit on a truck?21 views
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21 views
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21 views
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Inle Lake filling up with boatloads of people. thousands of people & the many tribes of Shan State come for pilgrimage at this time (the town of Nyaung Shwe was packed for the festival with fairs, food stalls - excitement was in the air everywhere)21 views
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