Author: Alan A. Lew (Flagstaff, AZ, USA)
Website: Click here
Photo location: Kengtung, Shan State, Myanmar (N of Chaingmai,Thailand)
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Category: [culture]  

This photo was taken in the large marketplace in the city of Kengtung, which is the main administrative center for the Shan State in Myanmar (Burma). Far from the mass tourist routes, this was one of the most colorful and interesting markets that I had been to in many years.

We were one of only two foreign visitor groups that I saw in the two to three hours we spent their one morning in July 2005.

There were quite a few Buddhist nuns and monks with their traditional begging bowls in the market. Most were monks, and a few were nuns. And most of the nuns, all with shaven heads, were much older than this one, who appeared to be about 14 years old. But what caught my eye was that she seemed to be the most humble and innocent of the Buddhist monks and nuns that I saw. I was fortunate to have gotten this photo of her receiving an ear of steamed corn from one of the vendors. Mostly they would receive cash donations from the vendors and customers in the market.

I had left the market and was just getting back to our bus at the appointed meeting time when I encountered her again. She stood there in front of me with her begging bowl. I was glad because I had wanted to give her something, but had not had an opportunity to do so in the market. So I took out some money and put it in her bowl. The person I was with then turned to go to the bus, but I did not because I noticed that she was quietly chanting a Buddhist prayer for me in return for my gift.

While I cannot say that the rest of our trip went smoothly (the entire trip is blogged at: http://golden-triangle.blogspot.com), I can say that this was one of the most memorable and moving journeys that I have ever taken. And for me, this young Buddhist nun is a symbol of that experience.

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