After a long day of training, KIA soldiers often play Cane Ball, sing songs, and play the guitar around a campfire. Soliders are told they will get 10$ per month plus rice, but most months the money never comes. The Kachin Independence Army in Kachin State, Burma, is fighting for autonomy.
Hpa Lap Bum, or Tea Leaf Mountain, is a higher elevation in the Kachin outpost that grows tea and hosts the Kachin Independence Army mobile battalion. In the evening, the soldiers play Cane Ball for exercise and social time. Cane Ball is a sport popular throughout Burma and South-East Asia.
Note: This photo was captured by a child soldier interested in photography. The tripod, flash, and exposure were set previously, while the timing is the child’s patience and skill.