Saffron Buses

If you look closely inside the twelve buses that go streaming by in this clip from Yangon, you'll notice that they are all filled with saffron-robed Theravadan monks on their way to attend the funeral of a prominent local Sayadaw, or teacher. Several dozen of these buses passed by as we waited in traffic. Encouraging to see that monks are allowed to congregate to some degree now [NOTE: You can pause the video to get a closer look inside the buses]. 

Kayin Buddha

This weathered concrete Buddha is sitting in a field at the base of a limestone mountain in Kayin State, Myanmar (see Bayin Nyi Monastery and Caves and Before the Rain).  The feet and hands have been weathered smooth. The face, albeit soiled and smudged, continues to maintain the calm, mindful countenance of an awakened being. A beautiful piece of Buddhist iconography.

Pit Sawing

If you don't have a chainsaw or access to a local sawmill, a pit saw is a pretty good way to turn logs into boards.  Two guys, a saw, a pit, and a log.  There is a tight choreography here. Always pull - never push - the saw. The sawyer on the bottom has to work a little less because he has gravity on his side.  But all the sawdust falls right into his face. [NOTE: This pit saw was located outside of Tanai (see Tanai and Tologyi Tour of Tanai) in Kachin State, Myanmar.

Moving the Collections Down the Ledo Road

You first collect the specimens (see Herbarium Specimens), and then you have to take them someplace where they can be dried and labeled. The transport phase of plant collecting can involve many different vectors. In this case, a skinny mule loaded down with a bunch of other stuff was used to carry some of our plants out of the Hukaung Valley. [NOTE: That's Andrew Henderson, NYBG palm systematist, in front with the yellow raincoat].     

Myitkyina Pagoda

A simple pan of seven large paintings and the altar in the main pagoda in Myitkyina, Myanmar (see Signage and Bo Tree III). The paintings depict auspicious events during the life of Buddha, but I am not sure what all of them are supposed to represent.  I don't remember, for example, a story about a little girl on the back of an elephant talking to Buddha and a line of Bodhisattvas (Painting No. 5). [NOTE: I find it interesting that the first painting shows Buddha sitting on a lotus surrounded by a group of Nats (see Nat Worship and Beautiful Nats). I don't remember that story, either...]

Signage

At the entrance to the main pagoda in Myitkyina (see Reclining Buddha II). I assume that what they meant to say was "take off your shoes".   

Beautiful Nats

This exquisite carving of a nat spirit adorns one of the main doors to the Mahapasana Cave (see Examination Hall) in Yangon. The blending of nat worship and Buddhism is ubiquitous in Myanmar (see Nat Worship), and nat iconography can be extremely well developed. The image below shows three beautifully rendered nats at the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (see Kyauktawgyi Buddha).  

 

Making Flip Charts

Making flip charts for community meetings is always a bit tedious.  What is the best way to explain obscure scientific concepts to a group of subsistence farmers in northern Myanmar?  Things take a turn toward the artistic, however, when the charts have to be written in Burmese script.  Beautiful calligraphy. The sound of the Sharpie on the course paper (turn up the volume).  The text is about the medicinal plants to be included in the inventory of the Shinlonga Management Area (see The Last Stake). [NOTE: Saw Htun, the WCS director of the Northern Forest Complex, is doing the writing (thx, Saw Htun)]. 

Kachin Guides

Video snapshot of Naw Aung (see Naw Aung and His Sagawa and Tool Repair) and Naw Sein (see Naw Sein), two Kachin villagers who helped layout the management area baseline and do the inventory work at Shinlonga.  It was great fun to work with these guys. 

Indigenous Knowledge

This is a follow-up on the previous post about Naw Aung (see Tool Repair). A lot of people at the base camp were watching when Naw Aung fixed his machete. The next day in the field, he stopped clearing line long enough to teach one of the younger crew members how to do this. [NOTE: Naw Aung's handiwork is clearly visible on the handle of his machete].