Myanmar (once called Burma) had been on my list for many years. For a long time, political circumstances and travel restrictions made it difficult to visit, so when the opportunity finally arose in 2016, I planned a solo journey from China with the goal of exploring as much of the country as possible through my camera.
What I encountered was unlike anywhere I had experienced before. The internet had only recently become accessible to the public, and there was a palpable sense of being in a place that had not yet been transformed by the rapid pace of global connectivity. Daily life felt grounded in traditions, rituals, and personal interactions that seemed untouched by many of the changes taking place elsewhere in the world.
Over several weeks, I travelled through Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake. I photographed fishermen balancing on the waters of Inle Lake, monks crossing the ancient U Bein Bridge at sunrise, and the vast landscape of temples stretching across the plains of Bagan. Everywhere I went, I was met with kindness, curiosity, and generosity.
What remains with me most strongly, however, is not any single photograph or location. It is the atmosphere of the country itself. Myanmar felt mysterious, timeless, and deeply connected to its cultural and spiritual roots. There was a quiet dignity in everyday life and a sense of wonder that accompanied even the simplest encounters.
Of all the places I have visited during my travels, Myanmar remains one of the few that continues to call me back. Today, travel there is far more complicated, and many of the images in this series document a moment that has since changed. Looking back, I feel grateful to have witnessed the country during that brief period of openness and to have experienced the warmth of its people, its landscapes, and its enduring sense of mystery.