A Bit of Background

There is usually a back story to the images that I post. Like the one above. So, yes, I was pausing to catch my breath near 7 mile camp on the Ledo Road when I heard the rumble of a truck coming, and then I saw it was a rattan truck loaded with people, and packages, and lots of cane, so I got out my camera and took a picture.

And then I flipped the camera and took a landscape image (above) as the truck got closer. And I remember thinking, "What a great truck". And so I waited a bit, until it was right on top of me and I could see the faces of the driver and the passengers–and then took this. Which is one of my all-time favorite "people and plants–in a hurry" shots.  

Other Week: Day 5

Original Post: Kachin Portrait
Date: October 15, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Not much to say about this image.  Its early afternoon on the Ledo Road and this Kachin woman is carrying a huge basket of firewood. She is also shyly tickled that I am taking her picture. [NOTE: I really like this shot]. 

[NOTE2: Happy Memorial Day to everyone. I will probably continue my "Other Week" posts next week. Still so much great stuff to re-visit].

U Tin Maung Ohn and the Monkey

The rhesus monkey (Maca mulatta) at Mile 7 basecamp (see Macaque) checks out the zipper on the pocket of U Tin Maung Ohn's jacket. U Tin Maung Ohn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Yangon, and during the rattan survey (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey) he did general collecting, helped with the specimen pressing and drying, and was a key member of the right side of the transect crew. Really nice man. 

Tension in Kachin

In spite of all the positive developments in Myanmar and the recent cease fire with the Karen (see More Good News From Myanmar), the Myanmar military continues to do horrible things to the Kachin people in the northern part of the country. Hope President Thein Sein steps up and does something about this. These are the folks that are collaborating with my community forestry project (see Naw Aung and His Sagawa). [NOTE: Image shows Kachin family stopping to rest along the side of the Ledo Road north of Shimbweyeng].  

Movies from Myanmar III

Today's post is entitled That Truck. This noble vehicle has been hauling gasoline up and down the Ledo Road for over 50 years. [NOTE: Music by Radiohead].

Myanmar Sunset III

Lot of beautiful sunsets in northern Myanmar. This one was taken standing up in the back of a large truck as we moved up the Ledo Road through the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey) on the way to Namyun (see Driver Needs a Drink of Water) to pick up the elephants. [NOTE: Over half of the remaing forests in Southeast Asia are found in northern Myanmar]. 

Checking The Bridge

Drivers checking the bridge at Mile 15 on the Ledo Road in the Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. They straightened some boards, added a few more, pounded in some nails, and then drove their rattan trucks over it on the way Myitkyina. [NOTE: I just found a treasure trove of images from the 2005 Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey and Tea Break) on a CD in one of my filing cabinets. Stay tuned].

Postcards From The Ledo Road

There is always something interesting (and photogenic) around the bend on this old, World War II-vintage road.  [NOTE: If I remember correctly, we were on the way to Takhet (see CBNRM 2009) when I took this.]

Mauk Chee Kyein

Close-up of the fruits of Calamus flagellum var. flagellum collected along the Ledo Road in Kachin State, Myanmar (see Hukaung Valley Rattan Survey). The species, which is rarely used, is known locally as mauk chee kyein, or monkey poop rattan. The dried fruits, apparently, look like monkey scat.

Macaque

This rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) monkey was kept as a pet at the military post up the hill from Mile 7 camp (see Myanmar 2005) on the Ledo Road in Kachin, Myanmar. He was, apparently, always ready to eat, and I never saw him without the spoon.