Reclining Buddha

Another exquisite statue from Myanmar. This one, a 50 - 60 foot long reclining Buddha of the "Paung Laung" style, is in Myitkyina, Kachin State.  I was with my friend, Dr. Brian Horne from the San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research, and I was supposed to be looking for turtles in temple ponds.  We did find a lot of turtles - but I took a picture of this. [NOTE: It was great fun traveling with Brian. He knew the name (the Latin name) and conservation status of every animal we saw...]. 

Morning Mist

 

An early morning walk in the village of Shinlonga (see Shinlonga) produced this image.  Lot of plant products visible here.  The fencing and the walls and the floor are made out of bamboo; the roof is palm thatch.  

Takhet

Takhet is a Naga village inside the Hukaung Tiger Reserve of Myanmar.  I spent a couple of days here in late May doing some community forestry work, and had a very nice lunch in this house. Couple of points. First, note the firebox sitting on top of the bamboo floor. Second, the Naga family that lives here was out working in their rice field the day we dropped by to make lunch. The village head said, "No problem, make yourself at home". We did.  [NOTE: We met the family later that evening and they were very gracious.  No problem, indeed. And yes, the firebox eventually will burn through the floor.]   

For Gruber

Daring Fireball does resource inventories in northern Myanmar.  In spite of the leeches, the rattan spines, and the pouring rain, the t-shirt performed beautifully throughout the whole transect. [NOTE: Rob Tizard had the foresight to take this picture (thx, Rob)].

That Truck

This World War II vintage truck hauling 55 gallon drums of gasoline up and down the Ledo Road caught my eye. Clearly a "no-frills" work truck.  The upholstery and dashboard are especially noteworthy. The owners told me that the vehicle had been in continual service for over 50 years. [NOTE: The truck was waiting for the ferry - as was I - when I filmed this (see Crossing the Taron)]. 

Roof Aesthetics 2

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.]  

Crossing the Taron

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]. 

Shinlonga

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].

Driver Needs a Drink of Water

One of the elephant handlers stops on the outskirts of Namyun to get a drink of water before heading down the Ledo Road with our bags (see Hukuang Valley Rattan Survey, Shopping for Supplies, A Bridge to Far, and Myanmar 2005). [NOTE: Watch for the geese walking across the road in front of the elephants].

Checkpoint on the Road to Namyun

The general ambiance at the checkpoint before the bridge on the road to Namyun in Sagaing Division, Myanmar (see Myanmar Journal 2005 for an explanation of what I was doing here). The look on the commander's face when he sees that I am filming pretty much says it all. Beautiful forest loaded with rattan everywhere you look.