Irrawaddy River, Burma - 5

The next day was spent visiting two villages. Actually, I did not go to the first one as I was not feeling well.

During the morning Ruthe visited a village that specialized in the manufacture of pottery.  These pots are items used for daily living by the Burmese.

Lumps of clay are shaped into a rough form for the pots.

Then they are placed on a potters wheel and the final shape produced.  One of our group tried her hand.  The gentleman at the left is powering the wheel with his foot.

Even though the pots are utilitarian they are decorated.

Babies make irresistible subjects. Note the thanaka bark paste on the baby's forehead.

Meanwhile one of the village's senior citizens took it easy and read the newspaper.

Ruthe could not remember what this man was doing.  It looks to me like he was stripping bark from a tree.

After the pots are decorated they are placed in a mound and fired.

Looking into a home also shows the outside walls which are woven from bamboo.  This construction is very common in Burma.

In the afternoon we visited another village.  People were always willing to have their pictures taken (above and below).

This man is cutting palm leaves into fodder for the cows.  A machete is placed in a pivot at the center of the photo with a rope tied from the bowed wood at the top around the handle of the machete and then to the wood, pivoted on the right, on which the man has placed his foot.  By pressing on the pivoted wood at the bottom the man brings the machete down to cut a bunch of leaves.  The bowed wood returns the machete to a raised position when pressure on the bottom wood is released.

Animals are kept in the middle of the village living area.

The next day it was time to visit another pagoda.  These umbrellas were for sale as we entered.

Here again the stupa is covered in gold.

These monks (above and below) are carrying pots to hold food for which they beg.  They will return to their monastery where the food they have obtained will be combined with the food the other monks of the monastery brought back and prepared for their lunch.

This woman (above and below) was selling flowers (real?) to be used as offerings.

Next we stopped at a market to walk around.

The lady at the left was the customer.  The baskets are woven from bamboo (above and below).

Thanks for looking.