2015 - THE IRRAWADY of MYANMAR - Buddha at AKuak Taung

LOOKS LIKE A NICE DAY FOR A SAIL ALONG THE AYERWADDY ...

The scenery has changed.
Much drier.
Sand bars to be avoided.

I knew the Ayerwaddy was a very long river but never thought it would be this wide. I expected it to be narrow & have jungle clad banks.

Not even close ..

Some pots being shipped on the river ... Very much a working river ...

Bath time ..

Crops or just greenery on the roof ... ?

I hope we don't have to climb those stairs .. but the man does not seem to have a problem ..

The ships crew being presented to us. A lot for just a few passengers.

I was surprised how few birds are to be seen ...

and three guesses what these people are doing ...

Ah - you guessed. Panning for gold of course. Why didn't I think of that.

..... but this boat is sucking up gravel for construction ...

People going ashore to a pilgrimage site ... where there a hundreds, if not thousands of Buddha images.

I have now idea what the pilgrims see on shore but it is quite impressive from the boat .. as you can see ...

People like taking photos of us as much as we like taking theirs.

Gravel workers here, taking it easy for once - more about them later .

These ladies are doing there laundry & baby washing on bamboo rafts ...

She is definitely not dressed up for the tourists ...

The river retreats so far from towns in the dry season that people build temporary abodes by the river to save the long trek back & forth.

I would love to see the Ayerwaddy when it has a lot more water in it. Maybe Sophy at RED IXORA can find me a tour.