02 February 2012

Facing Myanmar's Inle Lake

The c. 70,000 people of the Inle Lake in Myanmar aka Burma live in numerous small villages along the lake shore and on the lake itself. The population consists predominantly of Intha, with a mix of other Shan, Danu and Bamar ethnicities. Most are devout Buddhists and live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts. There are many traditional wooden Buddhist monasteries with friendly monks.

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Burmese monk, Burmese man, tatoo, people, portrait, headshot, Buddhist monk, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, friendly Burmese monk, Burmese man, people, street portrait, Buddhist monk, Burmese parasol, maroon robe, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Burmese monk, Burmese man, people, street portrait, smiling Buddhist monk, maroon robe, hood, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, grinning Burmese monk, Burmese man, people, street portrait, fat Buddhist monk, maroon robe, focal black and white


The Kayan are a sub-group of the Red Karen aka Karenni people, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Burma aka Myanmar. The Padaung are a Kayan tribe and their name is a Shan term for "the tribe whose women wear brass neck coils" (more context and photos here).

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Red-Karen woman, people, street portrait, headshot, posing Kayan woman, La Hwi, brass neck coils, giraffe woman, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, young Red-Karen woman, people, street portrait, headshot, young Kayan woman, La Hwi, brass neck coils, giraffe woman, focal black and white


A temple boy lives in a wat and assists Buddhist monks. He carries the alms bowls of the monks during the morning alms collection, and subsequently prepares the monks’ food before eating the left-overs himself. Temple boys follow the ten precepts. A few are sent to become temple boys to acquire merit; the majority, because they are given free room and board; and others to receive religious and moral instruction. Some temple boys go on to be ordained as monks themselves. Temple boys may undertake the formal step of sāmaṇera ordination as part of their role, depending on their age and local custom.

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, young Burmese boy-monk, young Buddhist monk, people, street portrait, maroon robe, Burmese boy, focal black and white


The Intha are members of a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living around Inle Lake. They speak an archaic dialect of Burmese and are believed to have come from the Dawei area. They often live on Inle Lake and support themselves through the tending of vegetable farms on floating gardens. Also, the Intha are known for their leg-rowing techniques and are traditionally Buddhists.

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Intha woman, Burmese woman, people, street portrait, headshot, Burmese market woman, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Intha woman, Burmese woman, people, street portrait, headshot, Burmese market woman, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Intha woman, Burmese woman, people, street portrait, headshot, Burmese market woman, focal black and white

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Intha woman, Burmese woman, people, street portrait, headshot, Burmese market woman, focal black and white, thanaka face cosmetic

Burma, Myanmar, Inle Lake, Intha woman, Burmese woman, people, street portrait, headshot, Burmese market woman, focal black and white


Closeup portrait photographs from the people of Burma's Inle Lake area in Matt Hahnewald's

Closeup portrait photographs of longneck women in Matt Hahnewald's

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