One of my favourite places to photograph daily life is Yangon.

The city has some excellent street markets.

As you would expect for a coastal city and one close to the delta’s many rivers, there’s no shortage of fish in the markets.

Each day a fresh catch of sea and freshwater fish hit the markets and is quickly snapped up by Yangon’s home cooks.

Nothing goes to waste. Heads and bones are sold for making curries and stock.

You can see more of my market shots from Myanmar and elsewhere in the region at www.stockfood.co.uk Follow @mickshippen and @stockfood_UK

Two young novice nuns collecting alms in downtown Yangon.

Well before daybreak, young girls in Yangon are working hard filleting a haul of freshwater fish from the Ayeyarwady River.

Sunday morning in Yangon is a relaxed affair.

For the guys it’s all about reading the Sunday papers.

Newspaper stalls on street corners provide plastic stools for their customers.

Others opt for a tea shop where they can enjoy a brew while they catch up on the news.

For its palpable energy, vibrant markets and cornucopia of street food, Yangon knocks Bangkok into a cocked hat. Since I started visiting more than a decade ago it has remained one of my favourite cities.

I happily spend all day wandering around photographing street food vendors and markets, and hunting out tasting local dishes.

In the early morning and late afternoon, markets are packed with shoppers looking for the best fresh produce.

Chicken and pork are the most popular meats but there are Muslim butchers specialising in beef and mutton.

There is an abundance of small neighbourhood markets to explore.

As Thailand, pickled and sour fruits with a chilli dip are popular.

Food stalls selling rice and curry, the ubiquitous mohinga noodle soup, and tea abound.

Eating out has always been popular but since the country opened up streets stalls and small restaurants have flourished. There are some excellent places to eat and some very interesting regional dishes to discover.

In the evening you can enjoy a version of hotpot, simply add stock and simmer.

Most cooking in the streets is still done of charcoal stoves.

My working day in front of the computer is usually punctuated by cups of freshly ground coffee and the occasional brew of Earl Grey tea.

In Myanmar, it is tea that fuels the nation; that and betel nut of course. Tea stalls and tea shops abound, and no meal or snack is complete without a cup of tea.

It is particularly popular in the late afternoon and early evening when the tables are set out in the streets and people gather for tea and a chat after work.

 It is usually served black or milky with a liberal splash of tinned milk.

Snack foods such as samosas are often served and there’s always a plate of fresh or dried chillies to spice things up a bit.

More often that not, the large tea kettles are brought to the boil on charcoal stoves.

I’m part way through editing a vast amount of food images from Yangon. The shot above was the first of a couple of thousand, and was taken almost the moment I stepped outside the hotel door. It seemed to be a good omen.

Riding on a wave of optimism and investment, Yangon is flourishing. Since my last visit just over a year ago, the markets have become even more vibrant and crowded, and the street food and restaurant scene has grown.

It’s a great city for a culinary adventure, and even better if you love documenting all things foodie with your camera. Everywhere you turn there is a food shot wanting to be captured. For sheer visual excitement, it knocks Bangkok into the shadows.

Earlier this month I spent five days snapping market scenes and street food, and I might add, munching my way through an incredible variety of Myanmar cuisine. Delights included regional Shan, Kachin, and Rakhine dishes.

Myanmar has the potential to become renowned for its cuisine, which at the moment is relatively unknown, and Yangon to be a truly great food city.

There’s a bit of work to do though. Street food hygiene is pretty diabolical and many traditional dishes use a ridiculous amount of oil, but for taste and sheer variety, it’s a fascinating place to eat your way around. There is simply no better way to discover a city and its culture than through its food.

I’ll try and post a few more shots over the weekend. I might just add that the live yoghurt made in the earthenware pots below is superb. In fact I bought some of the pots and have been making it at home in this way since I returned. It’s not quite on a par with the outstanding buffalo curd yoghurt you get at the roadside in Sri Lanka though…

I’ve been sifting through a load of raw files that seem to have been overlooked. It’s easily done. There are periods when one trip seems to roll into another and I with memory cards full of images but with time to edit only for the most pressing projects.

Here’s one that slipped through the net. It was taken on the circular train in Yangon, Myanmar, a few months back.

I’m heading down the coast tomorrow to Hua Hin and Pranburi to learn about reforestation within the Kui Buri National Park. I look forward to posting images early next week.

I’m travelling back from the UK today after my first visit in almost four years. I’ve been here catching up with friends, drinking the best beer in the world, and attending the ‘Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year’ exhibition as one of the finalists. The image below was selected in the final seven for the ‘Food in the Street’ category. It was taken in Yangon, Myanmar.

The opening night of the exhibition at The Mall Gallery in London was an enjoyable evening with a full house tucking into light bites by the sponsors, Pink Lady Apples and free flow Champagne by Taittinger. Henry Dimbleby, one of the co-founders of Leon Restaurants was on-hand to present the awards in ten categories.

As with any competition the winning images caused a few raised eyebrows, and I was personally surprised to see such a quintessentially European shot scoop the top prize when there were so many intriguing and exotic images in the exhibition. Hats off to the team at Pink Lady Apples for doing such a great job with the show and to One Vision Imaging who printed up the images.

The exhibition now goes on tour around the UK and you can catch it at the BBC Good Food Show NEC Birmingham 13-17 June, at the Ludlow Food Festival 7 – 9 September and the BBC Good Food Show 28 November – 2 December. You can see the finalists on the Pink Lady website. Images are also available for sale.

Another quickie.

A few weeks ago, on my last day in Yangon, I spent an hour or so wandering around Scott Market in Yangon, also known as Bogyoke Aung San Market. It’s a popular haunt for tourists looking to pick up last minute gifts such jewelry, textiles, and lacquerware. There are also plenty of gold shops and blackmarket money changers, the latter of which are feeling the pinch since Myanmar banks recently opened official currency exchanges and offer a better rate than on the street.

While I was in the market, I captured this image of a young Buddhist nun waiting patiently in front of a gold shop for an offering.  Unfortuantely she left empty handed.