Tourism drives Bagan.

Coveted balloon rides cost $350. Daily minimum wage is $3 for eight hours.

Fog and chill infuse early morning air. Tour buses and carriages zip past our pedaling.

Photographers and tourists ascend temple steps, after the perfect shot. Gas giants rise together. Red, green and yellow nylon envelopes fashion a new palette. I'm torn between balloons amongst temples and sunrise between two pagodas. 

Local longyi-wearing children hawk post cards, clothing and pop as crowds disperse. Daily routine.

Tourism employs many locals from drivers to hotel workers; others farm land they cannot occupy. Government relocation orders. 

Fabricated abandonment.  

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Thank you for reading. We're back to regular updates. They should be once or twice a week depending on how productive I am. I hope you enjoyed the cloudy Bagan sunrise! Here's a few more photos