A Local and the tourists

I’ve written about this famous teak bridge before, but rather than simply showcasing the structure, I wanted to capture close-up portraits of the people who use it daily. To me, it is a living walkway for the local community, not just a scenic landmark.

In 2012, as Myanmar began to emerge from years of isolation, the bridge became a vibrant, sometimes chaotic meeting point where monks, farmers, and vendors mingled with the first wave of foreign tourists. Photographing it then allowed me to capture that unique energy of different worlds colliding on a narrow strip of wood.

Looking back, those crowded scenes feel almost surreal. Since the 2021 military coup, tourism has collapsed and the international crowds have vanished. While travel to the area may be slowly returning, the atmosphere is fundamentally different. Back then, the country was fueled by the hope of democratic change; today, the people face a bleak future under a military junta that has left them isolated and grappling with a dire human rights crisis.