One of the first things most people seem to notice when arriving for the first time in Burma is the centuries old, uniquely Burmese tradition known as Thanakha.
What fascinates me as a professional photographer is how beautiful and unique this form of cosmetic artistry is. Unlike most western cosmetic schemes that seem to have as the ultimate goal making everyone look the same, Thanakha is a wonderfully Burmese extension of the wearers unique personality and attitude.
At once both bold and subtle, Thanakha (pronounced Te-naw-Ká) is a yellowish-white paste made by mixing fine sawdust from the branches of the Shwebo Thanakha or Shinmadaung Thanakha trees and water. These trees grow in abundance in the central valley of Burma.
