More than just a smile

drewmanity-women-selling-nuts

The sun was starting to set, the weather was changing from hot to a slight breeze of cool air flowing over the hills north from the river. I was walking as usual absorbing the environment around me when I came to about 10 meters from two older looking women perched on small stools selling their products out of giant woven baskets.  I instantly smiled as I thought to myself wow look at their faces. What history, and past experiences they must have witnesses and here they are today. I new it would be a great frame to capture for a photograph, but it became more than just a photograph, I felt connected to talk to them.

drewmanity-women-selling-nuts

I just loved this little moment in time.

As I walked closer I fell in love with their skin and their faces. Not the lust kind of love but the love for humanity and the will to survive. These women regardless of who they are or where they were from had energy that connected to mine. I took this picture but then stopped snapping and just smiled and walked up to speak to them.

Was this their hobby? Were they needing this money to survive? Perhaps a little of both. Who knows? I asked but we couldn’t translate each others words, they spoke Burmese, so instead we smiled at each other, laughed and I walked away paying 40 Baht/about 60 cents for a bag of nuts and a good feeling in my heart.

Me, two dogs, and three monks on a mountain in Myanmar.

scenic view, looking across  Myanmar

The scenic view, looking across Myanmar

Sitting on top of a mountain overlooking the river that splits Myanmar and Thailand I am accompanied by two dogs and three monks none of which know anything I am typing or talking about but I think we all share the one common understanding that it is mighty peaceful up here with the lush cool breeze flickering against our skin on this hot afternoon day. The sun is setting now and the colors of earth are illuminating the lands, enriching everything with a orange glow.  Hoards of dragon flies have come out to fly in the wind like kites floating in the sky.

The hustle and bustle from the sleepy border towns below are now just faint little noises and fragments moving around. My mind is lost in the mountains and hills around me. I am enjoying this simple madness of march in Myanmar.