Train rides

Compartment C, Car 293 by Edward Hopper

"Of all modes of transport, the train is perhaps the best aid to thought: the views have none of the potential monotony of those on a ship or plane. They move fast enough for us not to get exasperated, but slowly enough to allow us to identify objects. They offer us brief, inspiring glimpses into private domains, letting us see a woman at the moment when she takes a cup from a shelf in her kitchen, before carrying us on to a patio where a man is sleeping and then to a park where a child is catching a ball thrown by a figure we cannot see."
via Tate

Since young, I have been fascinated with train rides but did not put further thoughts to why this interest. It was the mode of transport my mum would usually use when bringing us to her home town in Malaysia. Perhaps it was a mere excitement of travelling back then, but over the years, having tried other modes of transport, the charm of train rides stayed on me. Perhaps it was more of a nostalgic feeling or perhaps, it was really the inspiring glimpses of passing scenes, as how the above paragraph best put it, that made each ride so appealing.

Compartment C is not the most classic work of Edward Hopper, but amongst his various works, and apart from Rooms by the Sea (again not his most classic work but said to be his most unusual), this attracted me most, bringing memories of childhood days. 

Whenever possible, I try to take a ride on the local trains when visiting other countries, the latest being Myanmar. Whether it was looking within the cabin, out at the passing landscapes, or even looking into the cabin from the platform, intriguing scenes are plentiful.

Mother and daugther

 Little girl and young woman, in thoughts

The Orange Peddler

Glimpses of passing scenes

I am still slowly going through my Myanmar photos but  Little girl and young woman, In thoughts is now available on my Society6 shop.

Sunrise at Bagan

It took me 10 years to come back to Myanmar again. Since my first trip to Myanmar in 2003, I have wanted to return to Bagan one day, the lovely ancient city filled with stupas (pagodas). It is said that in Old Bagan, if you close your eyes and point in any direction, you will find yourself pointing at a stupa when you open your eyes. How many stupas are there in Bagan? More than 3,000 stupas are concentrated within a small area of 104 square kilometres, though in its grander days between the 11th to 13th century, it is said to contain up to 10,000 religious monuments, of which 4,000 are stupas.

Bagan's charm is irresistible, but I have a seemingly frivalous reason as to why I want to come back, to make up for my less than satisfactory sunrise and sunset shoots back then.

 

Eagerly I waited for that day. I envisaged a perfect shooting session, having reminded the tour agent I must get to the perfect site early, get a good angle and I thought to myself, the only thing that could possibly fail me is the weather. Well, life is unpredictable...

The night before the much awaited sunrise, I accidentally jammed my camera while changing lens under dim lighting! Much as I tried to unscrew the lens, I just couldn't get it out. 

The following morning, we woke up early as scheduled and set off to Shwesandaw Stupa, known for its great view due to its height. My camera did not miraculously recover in the morning. So the only thing I could do was to mindfully watch as the sun rose, but not exactly... I alternated between borrowing my friend's camera and my handphone to shoot, while trying not to overly deprive her of shooting and yet hoping that I didn't miss capturing much of the sight. 

It gradually turned from darkness to orange hue and then a warm glow. 

 Next to make the sky lines are the hot air balloons, which certainly did not fly in the skies of Bagan in 2003.

And this was where we climbed up to get the great view.

Perhaps 10 years later, I will return again.