BURMA 2006

I have visited Burma twice in 2006, from February to March and from October to December. I travelled either inside, as a tourist and going the route, that every foreigner is permitted to go.

On the other hand I have visited some refugee camps in Thailand and on the Thai / Burma border. I also went to some military camps of revolutionary ethnic armed forces to document both sides of this beautiful country under a brutal military dictatorship.

During my travel in October 2006 I have met a Danish couple, who travelled with me to Taunggyi. We had a nice talk, but unfortunately I have lost your email. If you might ever read this, please write me at my email contact and I would be very happy to go on with our discussions.

Fishermen on the Kaladan River in the remote Arakan State near Bangladesh.

The famous balloon festival in Taunggyi. The festival is taking place at the end of the Buddhist lent around October / November to remember Buddha's way down from Thavathisma heaven.

The impressive ruins of the Mingun pagoda on the river banks of the Irrawaddy near Mandalay.

Thousands of Buddha statues rest below the Zwekabin mountain near Hpa An in Karen State.

The Moustache Brothers and an Israeli tourist inside the Brother's home in Mandalay.

A crying Shan refugee boy in Loi Tai Leng.

A patient in a hospital of the ceasefire-group DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) in Pa Kho Khu.

A Shan farmer, who stepped on a landmine, that was laid by the Burmese army, on his way to plow his field.

Revolutionary Shan State Army (SSA) soldiers overlooking the Shan mountains.

SSA soldier on watch-out position during a patrol.