150th from Myanmar! Photo

Photographer’s Note

my 150th post from Myanmar
First light in Bagan
The Nann Myint Tower, known unofficially as the Bagan Tower and Than Shwe’s Tower. This controversial tower has been open to public since April 2005.
The entrance fee is 10 USD per pax. When you consider that it costs 10 USD per pax to enter the Bagan Archeological Zone and that this one off fee then allows you to stay as for many days as you like, by comparison, the tower’s entrance fee seems excessive.

The tower fee ends up going straight to the military junta the locals know this and are rightly unwilling to take anyone there. This simple boycott means that hardly anyone has ever been to this ‘white elephant.’ The tower is unsurprisingly not the ‘cash cow’ that the regime hoped it would be.

However, all this could change if the junta became serious about enforced the policy of banning visitors from climbing the monuments. The junta says,

“the 198-foot tower, will give tourists a bird's-eye view of Bagan and they (tourists) will be barred from clambering over ancient pagodas that are being damaged by thousands of invading feet every day.”

The director general of hotels and tourism, Khin Maung Latt, says the tower will help preserve the world-famous archaeological site and will keep tourists from climbing on ancient temples to get a better view.

Whilst it is true that since 1990 climbing up to the terraces of the major sites has been restricted, all are not as inaccessible as the junta would have you believe. In reality, some sites are locked, but a key master is usually nearby and willing to show you in and up for a little ‘tea money.

I have not been there and no horsecartdriver offer or reccommend at tour to the tower.
10$ entrance fee!!!!!!!!!
The average income for a doctor is 30 $ a month,and in Bagan I had a clean room with hot shower and breakfast for 5 $ per night.
Have a great sunday!

BennyV, InasiaJones, Deepforest, Budapestman, Floydian, Kielia, josepmarin, carper, ricochet, Emile, gracious, ALIRIZA, ramesh_lalwani, siolaw, IgorDeleze, mark_mk, axiotea, Philippe, delkoo, clio, Vato_Law, patdeph, trekks, jaywalker, gary91, manada, Cricri, DzULA, pablominto, bapun1, chrisnet has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

rgarrigus (0) 2008-06-15 4:52

Hi Leo,

Very nice juxtaposition of that interesting silhouette and the last gasp of the sun before it slipped behind the horizon. Simple compositions like this are always the best for me. That sky is perfect and really lets you know if you have any sensor dust at all. This one is pristine. Great craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Cheers!

Bob G.

BennyV (4512) 2008-06-15 4:55

Hi Leo,

I didn't recognize this tower, your note explains why: it hadn't been built when I visited Bagan! Tourism in Myanmar is bound to be controversial and although the junta might have a shadow of a point in claiming that the monuments could be better protected, I firmly agree with you on this issue and give the tower a wide berth.

I almost forgot: yes, this is another good picture, typical sunset colours & congratulations on the whole of your Burma series.

Benny

InasiaJones (19860) 2008-06-15 5:06

Hi Andreas,

150 post from Myanmar, that's a respectable milestone!

Graphic shot with beautiful tones and bold composition. The distinctive shape of the tower provides all the impact and seems to be so isolated, which complements perfectly the sense of your note.

Well done!

André

Deepforest (8813) 2008-06-15 5:22

Hi Leo!
Your 150th post from Myanmar?! Incredible!
Fantastic composition and beautiful colours. Great shot!
Best regards,
Andrzej

polpo56 (7806) 2008-06-15 6:27

Hi Leo,
this is an amazing shot of a beautiful sunset.
Nice colors and great composition.
simple and well done.
Bravo!
ciao
Ludo

Budapestman (41086) 2008-06-15 7:57

Hi Andreas,
Fantastic! 150th post from Myanmar? Well that's something!
It's an amazing impression with fabled colours. The atmosphere is marvellous. Have a nice Sunday
George

Graal (57312) 2008-06-15 8:12

Hi Andreas,
great serie from Myanmar, very nice composition here. Good idea and realization. Fine panoramic format. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

dkeus31 (26010) 2008-06-15 8:26

Hi Andreas,
150 from a single country, that's huge!
a nice moody one to celebrate this, even if i feel the two subject somehow too far in the composition.
regards,didier

Floydian (30970) 2008-06-15 8:51

Hallo Andreas,
A classic scene, but always a pleasure to see. 150 images from Myanmar is a lot, but in a photographic way the country has a lot to offer.
The sharpness is a bit off on the tower, but the peaking sun above the horizon looks great...
Regards, Henk

Kielia (8201) 2008-06-15 8:54

Hallo Andreas,
dieses Photo ist mindestens so perfekt wie das Bild mit der Sonnenblume. Unglaublich diese glühenden Farben und trotzdem geht von diesem Bild eine meditative Kraft aus.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!
Einen schönen Sonntagabend wünscht
Harriet

carper (64194) 2008-06-15 10:38

you made a lot good photo's there my friend.
the land must be fantastic for a photographer.This another stuning backlight shot of yours, good composition and a super quality, congratiolation, have a nice eening.
gr. jaap

Gerrit (35499) 2008-06-15 10:43

Hi Leo,
fine compo and format. It sure is your favourite country. Excellent colouring.
Regards, Gerrit

japiey (9471) 2008-06-15 10:55

Hi Andreas,

Marvellous capture.
Magical lights and tones.
The beauty of composition !!!!

jp

vincz (19039) 2008-06-15 11:20

Very spectacular. This tower is a weird thing there. But you find greta photographic use for it.

Emile (19811) 2008-06-15 19:29

Hola Leo.
First I want to congratulate you for your 150th shot posted in TE from Myanmar.
Second I also want to congratulate you for your superb sunrise shot captured with beautiful sky colors and the Nann Myint Tower silhouette. Interesting and instructive note.
Well done.
Best regards and wish you a nice week ahead.

gracious (20017) 2008-06-15 19:57

Hello LEO,
Heartiest congratulation on your 150th posting with such a awesome image! many thanks!
great silhouette of the tower over the awesome sun and light!
simply beautiful!
well done
cheers
Tony

ALIRIZA (16195) 2008-06-15 22:27

Hi Leo,
Congratulations for the 150th post from Myanmar. Wonderful sunrise shot with beautiful sky colours and the tower silhouette. Great work my dear friend...
Best wishes...
Ali Rıza

rbcy1974 (20742) 2008-06-16 3:36

Hello Andreas
This is like the start of an epic hollywood movie,
the silhuetes and colours are simply spectacular
Regards
Daniel

Gustaw (21670) 2008-06-16 7:52

Hi, my friend!
It is very beautiful photo. I like your oryginal composition. I like your beautiful colours. Nice sun and architecture.
Well done.
Marek

ramesh_lalwani (3209) 2008-06-16 8:07

Great shot and note Andreas.Congratulations on 150th.

Paolo (40655) 2008-06-16 9:39

Great one Leo, colorful, fantastic timing, impact and composition.
great shot.
thnaks, ciao

siolaw (25702) 2008-06-16 10:03

Hi Leo
I saw the tower but mostly we were quite far from it... i will not be customer of this facility! You got nice orange sunset colors and male the tower look good in this minimalistic compo.
Greetings
Laurent

IgorDeleze (9247) 2008-06-16 10:43

Hello Andreas,
Congratulations for this nice 150th of your favorite country!
One more fantastic shot!
Greetings.
Igor

mark_mk (246) 2008-06-16 11:00

Hallo Andreas,
toller Sonnenuntergang, diese riesige Sonne am Horizont und dieser unglaubliche Himmel, wunderschön!
Den Turm als Silhouette zu benutzen, gefällt mir gut, ein tolles Bild!

Beste Grüße
Mark

PS: Gratulation zum 150. aus Myanmar, muss ja wirklich ein tolles Land sein, wenn du so viele Bilder mitgebracht hast!

axiotea (15933) 2008-06-16 11:20

Hallo Leo
I'm normally not going to certain places(not only in Burma)if I have the feeling it is a trap for tourists...
Here, the intense sunset colors are fantastic and underligned nicely the silhouetted tower with the sun and its glare giving the impression of an UFO!
I look forward to see more of yor great pictures ;)
Cheers
Marilyn

claudeD (11168) 2008-06-16 11:40

Hello Leo,

Your 150th post from Myanmar an amazing shot .My congratulations!
Fantastic composition and very beautiful colours. Great fotojob.

With regards from Luxembourg

Jean-Claude

jafadabret (39033) 2008-06-16 12:00

Bonjour Leo.
C'est une photo d'une très grande beauté avec une composition des plus simple mais combien efficace. J'aime la belle couleur du ciel et le temple en contre-jour qui s'en détache. Le soleil se montre juste un peu comme pour ne pas rompre le charme.
Jacques

Philippe (11687) 2008-06-16 12:10

Hi, Leo. A well-balanced composition with two well-placed centres of interest. The silhouette of the tower stands well out against the glowing sky. The sun just appearing above the horizon is an amazing sight.
Have a nice evening,
Philippe

delkoo (33988) 2008-06-16 13:19

hi andreas
A simple shot of a simple subject,but so effective.It`s an excellent exposure with fantastic colors and contrast.
with a skilful use of light.

thanks a lot for your fantastic work on Myanmar.

didier

clio (22438) 2008-06-16 13:41

Fantastic Andreas!
A simple and magnificent composition which emit all the charm of this country which you like and which you present us in so extraordinary a way.
Images which sometimes occupy my insomnias at night so much they are printed in my head!!!
Merci!
Diane

Vato_Law (11642) 2008-06-16 13:58

Hello Andreas,
I like this approach with only the tower and the sun rising above the dark horizon line, leaving the rest of the space to the beautiful tones of sunrise.
By its look I would say (without reading your note) that this was a sunset.
But either way this is a beautiful photo.
Cheers.
Paulo

ricochet (4670) 2008-06-16 16:12

Bonjour Leo
Félicitations pour ta 150ème!
Une bien jolie composition minimaliste que tu nous présentes là et ce ciel tout orangé est vraiment du plus bel effet, bravo à toi pour cette parfaite maitrise!
Amicalement
Eric

Juntas (3065) 2008-06-16 16:47

Hi Andreas. Wonderful composition with great colors and light well managed. Beautiful and simple. Regards. Paulo

patdeph (17462) 2008-06-16 22:14

hello Andreas
we can see trough your photos how you love this country!This one offers something magic,an oriental atmosphere like in my dreams!Your note is very instructive and I understand you!I am reading a superb book,"Birmane" from Christophe Ono-Dit-Biot,I don't know if you can find a traduction,but if yes,I warmly recommand it to you!That speak about the Myanmar,the people,the junta....
Regards.
Pascale

jaywalker (12186) 2008-06-17 9:53

Hi Andreas, An amazing sky so warm in colour &, nice timing to catch the sun as it was just disappearing over the horizon, very well composed & the silhouette of the tower is the perfect finishing touch, kind regards Wilson.

trekks (14262) 2008-06-18 1:51

hi Andreas

Congrats on your 150th!

Very fine post for this milestone and you have really captured a great colorful sky to make a good silhouette of the tower. Great work. i like the color tone.

tfs, bill
later

sacavem (8102) 2008-06-18 3:58

Olá Leo,
What a stunning spectacle. Congratulations for 150 captures and a thanks for 150 shared moments from Myanmar.
Greetings,
I wish you an excellent day
Filipe

izmirli (2935) 2008-06-18 7:52

merhaba dear andreas
wonderful colours and excellent interesting silhouettes.wonderful composition.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

[2]

jemaflor (38911) 2008-06-18 12:56

Hi Leo,
Great light capture with this sun, well balanced your composition an,d so lovely tone for this sky, bravo !

bracasha75 (21707) 2008-06-18 12:57

Halo andreas
Das arme Myanmar ist schwer betrofen wie von mench so auch von got aber trotz alles schones morgen scene
Prima arbeit
Bratislav

gary91 (15319) 2008-06-18 21:19

Hello Leo,
I love this king of image... very simple composition but such a wonderful picture.
You have chosen a nice "cinemascope type" format which is giving the scene a wider view.
The silhouette of the tower balancing the sun is perfect.
Interesting note, when will this country and these poor people come out of all this?
Have a nice day.
Best regards, Christian

manada (6237) 2008-06-19 21:39

Gute Morgen Leo
excellent silhouette-sunset and an important achieved goal for you.
Achieved goal for your national team too.... compliments!
May be your invitation will happen..... (final)

Freddy

Cricri (42894) 2008-06-21 11:26

Hi Andréas
Un grand moment de douceur pour célébré cette 150éme image de Myanmar, belle prise au beau et bon moment, félicitation
Have a nice weekend
cricri

DzULA (838) 2008-06-22 3:21

This is simply amazing photo, very good catch of the rising sun, the colors are amazing too, I like the silhuette of that temple too

Greetings
DzULA

pablominto (40056) 2008-06-25 3:16

Hello Leo,

Excellent simplicity!
No more to say...

Greetings,
Pablo -

bapun1 (801) 2008-06-29 4:20

Congratulations on the landmark achieved.

Wish you many more.

Regards,
Bishnu.

fkokol (1614) 2008-07-02 7:15

Amazing shot. Wonderful composition with superb colours and silhuettes. greetings,

figen

chrisnet (20354) 2008-07-20 12:11

Hello Andreas,
Minimalist and superb! Very good capture of this amazing sunset, I like the silhouette and the fantastic colors, well done!
Regards

Sanderson-Brown (1697) 2008-07-21 13:57