land of Winds and

Two new books hold up a mirror tragedy

By THE irrAWADDY

You could be forgiven these days for believing that the world has only just realized that Myanmar exists. After decades of isolation, the number of visitors to the country—both tourists and would-be investors—has shot up dramatically. Hotels are packed and international airlines are eagerly adding Yangon and other Myanmar cities to their list of destinations. The mass market has, for better or worse, finally found us.

It may be that this wave of newcomers is merely seeking the latest “new thing” to add to their investment portfolio or album of holiday snapshots. But there’s good reason to believe that even once the novelty has worn off, Myanmar will continue to exercise a powerful fascination for foreigners who come to experience the country for themselves.

Two recent books, by photographers from two very different parts of the world, attest to Myanmar’s hold on the imagination of outsiders. “Myanmar (Burma): Peoples in the Winds of Change,” by Japanese photographer Yuzo Uda, and “Burmese Shadows,” by Thierry Falise of Belgium, are both the product of more than two decades worth of work.

Both men have dedicated much of their careers as seasoned photojournalists to exploring Myanmar and documenting life in every corner of this country. Indeed, it is possible that they are more familiar with many aspects of life here than most Myanmar citizens. Uda seems particularly intrepid— imagining himself as being like the wind, he describes how he managed to visit many off-limits areas undetected, despite the presence of military personnel almost everywhere in the police state that is only now beginning to give way