Gauntlet - Episode 5: Bagan

Bagan province, Myanmar - July 10-12, 2014 - Bagan is perhaps what Siem Reap was like twenty years ago, but with horsecarts. I did not care much for the town itself, it was already a tourist area. It is bizarre walking in from the dust into a gourmet Italian restaurant. The place was thronging as it was a Buddhist event.

Burmese coconut curry. Nothing else like it.

The ingenuity of Burmese bottle openers.

Over 3000 ruins are clustered in the area of Bagan.

Wax sits on an altar before the image of Buddha.

Can you see the animal? And can you tell me what it is?

Betel nut spatter.

The Irrawaddy River.

I don't really recommend the Winner Duest House.

Mt. Popa

Food used to....

....protect you from these vicious bastards.

The town around Mt. Popa has many monasteries.

A temple glows on a hilltop at night.

See the rest of the our Cambodia/Thailand/Burma/Laos trip:
Episode 1: Pailin, Cambodia
Episode 2: Bangkok, Thailand
Episode 3: Mae Sot, Thailand
Episode 4: Yangon, Myanmar
Episode 6: Mandalay, Myanmar
Episode 7: Vientiane and Vang Vieng, Laos
Coda: Sihanoukville, Cambodia

The Prasats of Battambang, Part II - Snung

Cambodia, Battambang province - January 30, 2014 - Prasat Snung is a small 12th century ruin, making it just post-Angkorian. It lies about forty-five minutes Southwest of Battambang.

Me...

Three stupas behind the pagoda are made of red brick.

My gorgeous sister and some obligatory temple kids.

The ruin at the front of the temple sits directly on the street. It's made out of larger red bricks.

The Prasats of Battambang, Part I - Phnom Banon

Battambang province, Cambodia - February 14, 2014 - This little series is not really to document the prasats, but rather just my trips to them. They can be seen in their full splendour in Cambodia.

Neng.

Small children follow people around with fans for 500 - 1000 riel.

What many people don't know about Phnom Banon is how dangerous it is.

A boy's reaction to my mum doing a drawing up there.

My mother's drawing.

It is on this tree, that by Cambodian legend, you shall ever climb naked if you commit adultery.