A Giant Leap into the Unknown
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2006
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132
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Trip End
Jul 01, 2007
Yangon,
Myanmar
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
So far off the backpacker circuit of SE Asia, the country is truly magnificent. Although at least 50 years behind the rest of Asia and with traveling the biggest challenge of my trip, this gem is why I came traveling.
Early morning flight from Bangkok to Yangon, it was surprising easy at passport control and getting a taxi to the hotel. The hotel...modern with air con, flushing toilet and cable TV....but step outside the front door and the culture shock is the deepest of any other country I've been to on my travels.
For example I am currently logged on to a french server, as the government block all hotmail and major western website communication and the government's regime here are the stem of most problems, stopping progress of development of the country and sapping what money it can from the people...more about this in the rest of my blogs.
This is the world of men with skirts (everyone wears long sarong type clothing), women with yellow face make up (tradition) and car run off tractor engines, we are entering Borat territory. Everyone stares at you, many haven't seen a western face, apart from Wayne Rooney it seems.
First thoughts on Yangon is that it looks dirty a bit like Bangkok, however its different here...the buildings look just like those I've seen in Salvador in Brazil, due to the Portuguese influence here before the British arrived..and the temples..wow..wow....wow. The fantastic Shwedagon Paya in city center is a magically wonderland of golden peaked stupas, encrusted with diamonds, surrounded by hundreds of Buddha images. Purple dressed monks wonder around the city, ropes hang from building to collect the papers and MOT less cars rush around as taxis.
My first day I spent at the main pagoda, almost 4 hours the place is just mind blowingly beautiful. Sunset lite up the golden stupas and the night showed of the rows of diamonds. Monks and locals prayed around the Buddhas..and the best thing about Myanmar is little tourist exists here..only 650,000 a year and hardly no British....yes I am traveling.
Chris flew in the following morning and after a walk around the cities sites, market...we chilled out at a British colonial style bar on 50th street, before taking a 15hour bus North to Mandalay.
