Ball Games in Bagan

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Our eyes met and the clouds parted.

Like a choreographed dance, she moved towards me and I took a step back, our bodies in perfect unison. She reached for my breast but I turned away, not tonight. This one wasn't going to have me easily this night.

A cry from the crowd and my gaze was averted. She stepped in and pinned the paper butterfly to my shirt "for good luck."
"I give you present, now you give me present", she cried triumphantly, "500 kyat".

Sighing, I picked up the soccerball and returned to the game...

This is life in Myanmar, where people are still Beckham crazy.

BAGAN is incredible. After Mandalay, I instantly felt calm and at home here, it's really pleasurable cycling around. It's hard to comprehend - over 2000 temples and stupas and other religious sites spread over a massive plain. I also met some incredibly wonderful people at the house I was staying in; they would stay up all hours to let me in, and wake up at 5 am to let me out.

Bus Rides in Myanmar...

are torture on the knees. I'm not a big man by any means but the seats are made for hobbits. The lengthy delays and the average 40 km/hour travelling speed affords one plenty of time to reflect, however. "What were all those things my mother said that I'd understand when I got older?"

Happy Birthday Angela.

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Photos

Not the game they play in heaven...
but still followed with religious fervour in Myanmar, a country improving quickly in its soccer standing. I watched these kids play a hard but good-humoured game in the grounds outside the revered Shwezigon Paya complex and they soon invited me to join in.

Looking westwards over Bagan
The first time I climbed Shwe-San-Daw Paya and looked over the Bagan plain, my heart took a little leap.

Ananda Temple
Make your way past the souvenir gatekeepers, and the interior of this temple is awesome.

Chinlon or Caneball
is an amazing game - think volleyball with your feet. The dexterity and skill required to 'spike' using upside-down backwards kicks has to be seen to be believed.

As evening falls...
all eyes are on the ball for the last play of the day.

Shwe-zi-gon Paya
became a virtual template for subsequent stupas in Myanmar

Bagan in the early morning
Enjoying being alone....(except for the two kids following me trying to sell paintings).

Comments

[a]

nice
Did you make it to Mandalay for the puppet show?

[anonymous]

Excellent capture of movement and light.