Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 1:29PM 
The Kachin (see Roof Aesthetics 2) fix a leaky roof by adding fresh palm leaves. The entire roof is replaced every three to four years.
The Miao (see Roof Aesthetics) fix leaks by periodically replacing cracked or broken tiles, but the roofs of their houses can last for decades.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 9:01AM The entrance to the main temple at Myitkyina in Kachin State has a line of statues representing the Buddhist lineage in Myanmar, i.e. Gautama Buddha followed by dozens of bodhisattvas. [NOTE: Each statue is subtly different].
The temple grounds contain 1000's of statues of bodhisattvas and reknown Buddhist teachers. The base of each statue has a plaque with the person's name and temple affiliation. You could spend hours here.
Bodhisattvas, Buddhist temple, Myitkyina in Dharma | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 3:44PM 
Kachin villagers in northern Myanmar (see Shinlonga) make their roofs out of bamboo poles and palm thatch (Livistonia jenkinsiana) lashed together with rattan. [NOTE: The thatch lasts for about three years.]
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 5:15AM 
Detail of clay tiles and wedges used for making roofs by the Miao people in Guizhou Province, China. [NOTE: This is clearly not a region with high winds; the tiles are simply laid in place].
Monday, June 15, 2009 at 12:51AM 
The Miao people of Guizhou, China produce beautiful terraced rice fields. They are also accomplished vegetable farmers and are undoubtedly very skilled at managing forest resources, as well. The latter is the focus of a project that I have recently initiated in collaboration with Minzu University and the Forestry Department of Guizhou University in Guiyang. [NOTE: I am posting this from a hotel in Singapore on my way back from Beijing and Guizhou Province].
Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 10:34PM Heading north from Tanai (see Tanai and Tolagyi Tour of Tanai), you have to cross the Taron River to get into the Hukaung Tiger Reserve. During the dry season you can usually drive across the river in a four-wheel drive truck. After the rains start, you have to use the local ferry. [NOTE: The trip usually costs about 15,000 kyat, but sometimes the ferry isn't there, or the crew isn't there, or the motor is broken, or there's no gasoline, and no amount of money will get you across the river].
Hukaung Tiger Reserve, Myanmar, Taron River in Science | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 12:39AM 
I spent the last five days in Shinlonga, a small Kachin village of 40 households inside the Hukaung Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar. We ran 2.5 kilometers of inventory transects through local forests and did extended resource needs assessment interviews in the evenings with selected villagers. In spite of the leeches, the rattan spines, and the rain, it was a very productive and memorable stay. There is much potential and a great need for community forestry here, and I hope my visit has somehow helped to push things in this direction. Warm thanks to the WCS Yangon office, Saw Htun, Rob Tizard, and all the lovely folks in Shinlonga for making this happen. [NOTE: That's the Ledo Road shown in the foreground. The tall pole with the plaited bamboo, fly-swatter type thing on top is for slapping out fires on the palm-thatched roof].
