Yangoon first class Photo

Photographer’s Note

One of Yangoon trains has a circular loop through the suburbs. The loop takes about 3 hours to complete and it is a nice way to see the life around the tracks.

Included in the foreigners tickets, we are guaranteed a first class seat in the wagon...on this side of the line.

RGatward, ngythanh has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

scalerman (25733) 2004-12-12 21:30

provocative focus here. I think this would be something Luko would like. i like your work here; what you've left unfocused.

WALTERito (351) 2004-12-12 23:48

The great divide.
Well seen, shot and commented Thien.
Your fellow-travellers all seem very at ease.

RGatward (19737) 2004-12-12 23:59

Mmm interesting note, and a good idea to focus on the line, which in the context is clearly the most significant aspect of this image. Presumably the foreigner's first class area also provides a convenient excuse to separate you from any negative opinions you might get from the locals. That's one long suburban route!

Luko (13894) 2004-12-13 18:04

Yes, Caleb's right, I like it... the line is the undoubtely the real interest of both your story and pic, you had to put it in focus however I can't help but see the old fashioned way of doing it, with a Blad and brand gelatin... see my Ws ;)...

It's sometimes fun to be awarded distinctive yet surreal privileges : I had this kind too in M'sia, we had a business class ticket for a very short domestic flight, not a rope but a bus ride...
Though we had already embarked the bus driving halfway through the tarmac to the plane, it was recalled to the departure gate because we had to take the business bus (patron VIP size clim) once some people thought we were then happier freezing alone in our airport bus, the driver decided to take us on a free tarmac tour on the old KL/Subang airport at snail pace, he eventually fell asleep or was looking at birds because he bumped very slowly on one of the plane's refuelling truck. I remember yelling at the driver : it was like seeing a catastrophe movie at a very very slow pace... the driver then turned his head and almost laughed trying to find some way not to lose face...

[workshop] [compare] +

philip_coggan (11) 2004-12-13 22:57

I remember this one! The rope turned out to be purely symbolic - exactly the same seats no both sides, no-one took any notice of it, and by the time the train had covered a few stops, we were on their side and they were on ours. Mr Gatward is quite right about the purpose of 'first class' for foreigners - it was introduced in about 1988 purely to separate foreigners from Burmese. I like your focus - good thinking. Are we going to Vietnam in February?

lemon_logix (1054) 2004-12-15 22:13

hee hee..finally get to see your shots. This is interesting. i like the blur effect of the people and the sharp choice of focus on the line to show the separation of the classes.