Here's mud on your face

Trip Start Aug 28, 2006
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Myanmar  ,
Thursday, November 30, 2006

What an experience.  It was like going back in time.  I have never really been in a SE asian country like this, most people are wearing traditional dress, noone is on a cell phone, you have to pass ox-carts on the road, and ladies wear and interesting mud make-up/sunscreen made from sandalwood.  I met a tourist from Thailand who said it felt like how Thailand was 50 years ago. Unfortunately this place is so behind because it has an incredibly corrupt dictatorship.  People say you shouldn't visit myanmar because of the government oppression, but why deny these incredibly friendly people a connection to the outside world?  I had  sort of a whirlwind tour, 10 days wasn't really enough to get off the beaten track, but I saw alot....Mandalay for two days, Bagan for two days, the land of two thousand ancient temples, Inle Lake for two  days , and a night in Yangon.
I bumped into alot of big german tour groups, not really very many americans.   I found it easy to travel on my own here, I had originally planned to use a guide, which  didn't work out, and I am glad.

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01-me in a tri-shaw going to Mandalay hill 01-me in a tri-shaw going to Mandalay hill 02-view of mandalay and pagodas 02-view of mandalay and pagodas 03-sandalwood bead maker on the way uphill 03-sandalwood bead maker on the way uphill 04- streetscene in mandalay 04- streetscene in mandalay
05-flying a kite in the street 05-flying a kite in the street 06-backstreet soccer game and shiny house 06-backstreet soccer game and shiny house 07-street side noodle shop 07-street side noodle shop 08-putting gold on the buddha, men only! 08-putting gold on the buddha, men only!
09-novices waiting for lunch at the monestary 09-novices waiting for lunch at the monestary 10-more monks waiting for lunch 10-more monks waiting for lunch 11-monks scooping out rice for lunch 11-monks scooping out rice for lunch 12-at the non-government gas station 12-at the non-government gas station
13-I love these bamboo chairs! (at the gas stn) 13-I love these bamboo chairs! (at the gas stn) 14-road to mandalay! 14-road to mandalay! 15- souvenir seller on her bike 15- souvenir seller on her bike 16-teak monestary door 16-teak monestary door
17-village kids getting free lessons at the temple 17-village kids getting free lessons at the temple 18-the monk/teacher flossing during class 18-the monk/teacher flossing during class 19-me and all that teak 19-me and all that teak 20-golden pagoda and lotus ponds 20-golden pagoda and lotus ponds
21-ox-carting the boat to the lake 21-ox-carting the boat to the lake 22-all the boats waiting at the shore 22-all the boats waiting at the shore 23-monk on the all teak bridge 23-monk on the all teak bridge 24-ladies fishing below the bridge 24-ladies fishing below the bridge
25-off to see the sunset with the flaming dutchmen 25-off to see the sunset with the flaming dutchmen 26-the lake at dusk 26-the lake at dusk 27-the long awaited sunset! 27-the long awaited sunset! 28-the boat up teh Ayerwaddy to Bagan (9hrs) 28-the boat up teh Ayerwaddy to Bagan (9hrs)
29-food seller at one of the stops 29-food seller at one of the stops 30-village along the river 30-village along the river 31-sunrise in Bagan on an early morning walk 31-sunrise in Bagan on an early morning walk 32-pagodas everywhere you look! (over 2000!) 32-pagodas everywhere you look! (over 2000!)
33-my transportation for two days (Mr. Win Su) 33-my transportation for two days (Mr. Win Su) 34-huge buddhas hidden in crumbling temples 34-huge buddhas hidden in crumbling temples 35-drinking and smoking nat festival 35-drinking and smoking nat festival 36-universal man's foot, velvet slipper and sarong 36-universal man's foot, velvet slipper and sarong
37-I must have taken a hundred of these! 37-I must have taken a hundred of these! 38-girl with thanakha (sandalwood) "make-up" 38-girl with thanakha (sandalwood) "make-up" 39-all the girls get a turn with the camera 39-all the girls get a turn with the camera 40-their goofy younger brother 40-their goofy younger brother
41- first day a boy becomes a monk 41- first day a boy becomes a monk 42-tonight they get their robes and shaved heads 42-tonight they get their robes and shaved heads 43-with parents after riding thru the village 43-with parents after riding thru the village 44-farming all around the ancient pagodas 44-farming all around the ancient pagodas
45-sunset in Bagan 45-sunset in Bagan 46-making ox-cart wheels at Sankar lake 46-making ox-cart wheels at Sankar lake 47- rice whiskey brewing 47- rice whiskey brewing 48-monestary on the lake (one of many) 48-monestary on the lake (one of many)
49- village on Inle lake 49- village on Inle lake 50- the only way to travel, by boat 50- the only way to travel, by boat 51-sunset from my hotel at Inle 51-sunset from my hotel at Inle 52-fishing and rowing with their leg 52-fishing and rowing with their leg
53-at the market in nampan 53-at the market in nampan 54-selling fish 54-selling fish 55- the amazing shwedagon pagoda, yangon 55- the amazing shwedagon pagoda, yangon
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Comments

lisagoff
lisagoff on Dec 20, 2006 at 09:31PM

Merry Christmas!
Leslie, you are one of the luckiest people I know. Enjoy, enjoy enjoy! Merry Christmas. Lisa Goff

myraellen55
myraellen55 on Dec 31, 2006 at 11:58PM

Happy New Year!!!!
How great was it to get an email 'Merry Christmas from India'!!!! Well Happy New Years From California....! Where it feels like summer! NOT Christmas...Anyway, man those pictures of Mandalay are awesome! The (2) ladies in the water..Outstanding...You are getting so many cool experiences and for that I have to thank you for giving us a glimps into that life and that culture! Have a Safe and Wonderful New Years! Hope to hear from you next year! Ha ha ha, that joke never gets old!

Ciao
Sara

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