Kalaw

I'll let matt write about his trekking from Inle to Kalaw.

this sums it all up

I managed to get to Kalaw, without getting ripped off too much, I declined the offer of a pickup ie.a tiny space plank of wood in the ute with about 40 other people, and waited for a bus, and then got to a guesthouse. The temperature was much cooler and it was a pleasent place to walk around, albeit a little dark. I went out for dinner then headed towards the cinema in town, hoping that there was some chance they might hav something that would interest me. I asked the girls at the shop about the movies and suddenly I had made a new friend, a Burmese girl named Mai, terrified that I would be lonely by myself she took it upon herself to check for me what was on and the time, as I had about 1 hr before the movie she offered to show me around. Being around Matt, I have become a lot more skeptical in my old age...and I just wanted to make sure, there wasn't going to be a call for money after this tour of Kalaw, so I offered to buy her a ticket to the movie with me (all of 50c) for the "tour", and she was over the moon at the thought - and the chance to practice her English I think. She took me to her house, to grab a jacket, the place was about 3 rooms tatched hut which she shared with her mum, brother and sister, but it was cosy. Then up to the temple and monestry on the hill which was a really nice view.

getting the rice

Before the movie we chatted, it was interesting to get her perspective on things, eg. she was interested in Australia, and seemed to always look over her shoulder as she topld me about how the government has suspended her University for the moment and she hopes to get back to studying soon. She was also interested in how much we earn and what things cost. She explained her friend that works in a little mini mart in town makes about $20 a month. She told me how she longs to travel, but it's just a dream because of what it costs.

The cinema was nice, like an old one from home, and the Burmese pop music videos started before the movie. There was no popcorn available, just sunflower seeds. I had splurged on the upstairs seats, with padding, opposed to the ones on the ground floor, and there was all of about 20 people only in the place. Next the national anthem blared then the movie started. Imagine what neighbours was when it first started then take a bit more away, that was the quality of the flick. Mai was invaluable as she translated what was happening for me after every scene. She warned me that it wouldn't be so good and that most Burmese perfer Korean and Holleywood movies, but I explained that was why I wanted to see this one.

how crops are tilled in myanmar

The movie was a drama, and the scences bounced between a couple of different sets, the sound particularly wasn't too good, at one stage there was a chainsaw or something in the background and your couldn't hear the characters dialogue. I didn't make it through the entire film - we made a quick exit and I said goodbye.

I awaited the boys return from trekking.

Matt was a vision when he arrived, with a sprained foot and not in the mood to negotiate with anyone, he didn't get off to the right start with the owner of the place I was staying, and headed to another place in town to take a rest before we took the bus to Mandalay.

on the deck of the house

nuts on the floor

about an hour into the trek - that's inle

water carriers

a kid with bad teeth

kids of the first village we visted

another cute kid

ahh their all cute

a lady in traditional dress

the most famous man in burma

the scenery was wonderful

weaving baskets

a typical road in myanmar

the monestry has wind power

young monks cleaning

monks getting a lesson from the abbott

a monk taking a break from sweeping

a monk stricking a pose

a boy with traditional sunscreen

kids in another village

kungfu fighters

kids and their water buffilo

the village in the valley was were we slept

this is were we slept the 2nd day

how cool is this

the families animals

another pose struck