Once Was Burma

An historic transformation is happening in Myanmar, once was Burma.

The country is emerging from its isolation and finally joining the 21st Century in what has been described as "the Burmese spring."

This revolution is being felt most particularly in the former capital Yangon, once was Rangoon.

There is at last the prospect of an end to decades of neglect and decay. However this brave new world spells uncertainty for the future of not only the unique collection of colonial heritage buildings that have miraculously survived, but also for other aspects of a the city where the national costume is worn by most of the population, the women and children have a creamy paste called "thanaka" smeared on their faces and the world's oldest buses converted from World War Two army trucks are still in service.

These new images capture that moment in time... before everything changes.

Words and photographs by Kim Buddee, once was an architect.