Sunset in the old royal city of Pagan / Bagan, Myanmar January 2005

Herd of goats among the pagodas in Bagan, Myanmar January 2005

Hand-rolled cigars are popular with older women in Myanmar

Schwedagon Pagoda, east entrance, Rangoon / Yangon, Myanmar

Schwedagon Pagoda is one of the most famous stupas in the world, Yangon, Myanmar

The Golden Rock is located on a mountain near the small town of Kyaikto, Myanmar

The Golden Rock is one of the holiest Buddhist sites and places of pilgrimage in Myanmar

Only men are allowed to stick gold leaf on the Golden Rock, Kyaikhtiyo, Myanmar

Millions and millions of gold plates have already been glued onto the Golden Rock, Kyaikhtiyo, Myanmar

Relaxed cycling for our group in Myanmar

The Kyaikpun Pagoda comprises four seated Buddhas, Bago, Myanmar

The Kyaikpun Pagoda, Four Seated Buddhas, Bago, Myanmar

Lunch break with some Buddhist nuns, Inle Lake

Shan tofu is made from chickpea flour, market in Bago, Myanmar

The harvesting work is done by hand, Myanmar

Colorful street market in Bago, Myanmar

Cauliflower is traded here, vegetable market in Bago, Myanmar

Boy with a haversack and monks on the U-leg bridge of Amarapura, the longest teak bridge in the world

Schoolchild in Bagaya monastery school, teak monastery, built on 267 pillars in 1834

We crossed Myanmar on the overnight train from the capital Yangon to Thazi

Train ride through Myanmar, 2004

Swastikas on army-style steel helmets seem to be in fashion

Hairdresser at the Maing Thauk market, Inle Lake

Cat temple, Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, Myanmar

Speedboats chase across Inle Lake in the center of Myanmar, 2004

Of course, there are also traditional Intha fishermen on the lake

Relaxed boat tour to the Floating Gardens on Inle Lake - on the day of the terrible tsunami in December 2004

Stilt houses at Inle Lake, Myanmar - we only felt the catastrophic earthquake in the Indian Ocean as a brief tremor on December 26, 2004

Rowing boat in the floating gardens of the Intha people on Inle Lake

Woman crossing the road with her two small pigs, Inle Lake

There are 8000 Buddha statues in the caves of Pindaya, Myanmar 2004

Home visit on the hike in the Yargazi Mountains, mother with wrapped child

Hiking in the Yargazi Mountains, soccer enthusiasm also in the monastery, Myanmar / Burma

Hiking in the Yargazi mountains, eating in a wooden house, Myanmar / Burma

Hike in the Yargazi Mountains, Myanmar / Burma

These village children are not even impressed by the rare tourists, Myanmar

Typical farmhouse in the Yargazi mountains, Myanmar

Dance around the campfire with the Palaung hill tribe, Yargazi Mountains, Myanmar

Our small group of tourists traveled to Myanmar in a bus that also carried our bicycles

Picnic on a bicycle tour in Myanmar

Tankstelle auf dem Land, Myanmar

Raft on the Irrawaddy River, Mingun near Mandalay

Fishing boat, casting a fishing net on Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura near Mandalay

Monks watch a soccer match in Amarapura from the U-Bein Bridge

Thanaka as make-up and sun protection sometimes comes in decorative leaf patterns, Myanmar

Little flower seller in a temple

Nun with child, Kuthaw Daw Pagoda, Mandalay

Make-up demonstration for our tourist group with Thanaka ground from tree bark, sun protection for women

Group meal in a country restaurant

Street food, snacks, wafer-thin flatbread by the fire

Overnight boat trip on the Irrawaddy to Mingun

Tomorrow after an overnight boat trip on the Irrawaddy to Mingun

Saleswomen up to their waists in water offer fruit and snacks to boat passengers

Prayer in front of a Buddha in the Htilominlo Temple in Pagan, built in 1218

Mother and son in a farmhouse

Hand-rolled cigars are popular with the ladies

Private afternoon school, children in the countryside are very eager to learn

Of the 6,000 pagodas once built in the royal city of Bagan, 2,000 still remain

Pagodas in the royal city of Pagan / Bagan, Myanmar January 2005

Herd of goats between the ruined fields in Pagan / Bagan, Myanmar 2005

Drinking water is valuable, does not come from the tap but is offered in clay jugs

Pottery for water jugs in the countryside

In the middle of Yangon lies the military junta's notorious Insein Central Prison (photographed on the approach to Yangon), 2004

Glassblowing workshop in Yangon/Rangoon

Glassblowing workshop in Yangon/Rangoon

New facade coating in Rangoon

Schwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar

Schwedagon Pagodas are a landmark of the country and are covered in 60 tons of gold leaf, Rangoon