Project Detail: Myanmar: a train directed to Hsipaw

Contest:

LuganoPhotoDays 2017



Brand:

LuganoPhotoDays



Author:

Tea Primiterra

 

Project Info

Myanmar: a train directed to Hsipaw

Looking at the daily life of Myanmar, one of the few places where time still belongs to man. The train leaves for Mandalay at 4.30 as every morning before sunrise. A single journey towards the state of Shan. I should arrive at Hsipaw around 15.00;it is slightly more than 200 kms, but, as I said before here time has another value. The train travels at 50 kms an hour, in the compartments the space is totally used; one eats, sleeps, drinks, smokes and works........ Just before 13.00 we cross a railway line that tracks a zigzag path through mountains. All the jerking of the train at this point causes the last carriage to derail. It all appears a regular daily event: the train drivers, who shortly before had been smoking and chewing " betel", are now all at work. Almost an impossible task,to put the carriage back on the track. .However all proceeds without panic, only a few tourists are slightly worried. All is still for about 6 hours in that mountain gorge, I would have swore that we would have slept there that night. The attendants work hard and before sunset we recommence our journey applauded by the passengers, while someone thanks me for the photographs taken of the incredible work done by their " engineers." Finally we cross the immense Goktiek Viaduct, a railway bridge built in 1901 by British colonists, 97 m. high and 688m. long which crosses large and luxurious vegetation. The train drivers wash themselves at the fountain of the next station and I think that it is worth it's while to tell the tale of this small episode of life as an act of daily heroism and courtesy of the Burmese people.

Photos