Myanmar Snapshots 1: Subtle Ironies
Traveling around Myanmar, I can’t help but notice the rapid progress in the telecommunication system of this country, probably to a point where it has generally become more efficient and even cheaper than those of its Asian neighbors. But, just like in many other countries, the telecommunications companies’ advertisements tend to portray situations that somehow deviate from the most common scenes and lifestyles in the area. These three photos have captured some of those subtle ironies.
In downtown Yangon, the sleepy and somewhat bored faces of early morning working class commuters directly contrast with the happy and comfortable faces portrayed by an ad behind them.
Pretty girls in modern “city girl” outfits model a mobile phone brand in a predominantly agricultural town in Bago Region.
In a remote township of Monyo, a lady checks her mobile phone as she and her companions tend to the fresh water fish they’re selling at the local market. While their clothing remain close to the traditional attires, they have started to embrace advances in modern technology.
The drag of endless mental work in a strange land takes its toll. Fatigue can kill so petty escapades provide hopeful deviations from the brewing madness. An aging DSLR keeps good company to a walk around the neighbourhood, a short drive to a scenic place, or a silent recollection in a quiet nook granting that the host community and the elements of nature would allow one a safe passage to solitude and contemplation. Loneliness quickly turns to joy when something exciting gets captured by the cam’s shutter then set free into the laptop’s screen followed by electric words that rush from the fingers to the keyboard in an effort to describe the moment. Alas, the brain is alive once again!
Great post. I love the contrast in the third shot in particular. I wonder if land lines were ever available to most residents of small villages in Myanmar.
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