Ok- Go ahead.
Burma photos are up. I don't think there are TOO many but there are a few. I hope you enjoy. I will try to add some more stories up.
BTW, the old men who buy young women in Bangkok to hold hands with (etc etc) for the week are very very gross.
I am having huge problems with them. I compulsively check their ring fingers. Ew.
Actually- wait.
I'm uploading the photos, but I will add the titles this week. That way you can sort of travel thru the month with me thru photos. So just hang on before checking them out- unless you are so bored and you just have the time to sift thru them all. But if you wait, they will prob be much more interesting.
:)
Burma has stolen my heart
Well. I'm in Thailand- Bangkok to be exact.
What can I say? there is so much i want to tell you about Burma... and i will, but not now.
I am presently uploading a bunch of photos so you can check them out on my yahoo site. I can't possibly upload them all, you would hate me if I did- there are over 500 photos AND I was being very conservative with my photo taking!
I wish I would have taken more photos of the people but I hate doing that. As you will notice, I am adept at taking photos of people once they turn around.
Burma was great- I would return in a second. What's stopping me? Well, there are many other countries to explore, and bc Marty pushed lao so much ;) and everyone I meet loves it, I will be heading there after the holidays.
I hope you are all enjoying your days off. I also hope New Years is great and no stress. (i hate new year's).
I'll post Burma stories in the next couple of days...
Again..in burma
Hi!
I started another post, but I think this will be more interesting. I will try to clarify everything later in thailand end of dec. hopefully you enjoy this- it will be quick so excuse the errors.
i spent the last 3 days treking across mountains (60km, 800 m high). along the way we stopped at many villages for breaks. Each time our guide sunny would just ask if we could have some tea and theyd bring out tea, lay dfown a blasnket for us, and gie us these great hard nuts to eat. then the entire vilage would come out and look at us. the people are so friendly. they would smile, huge smiles when we caught them staring at us. i gave the books, pencils, and crayons to the head woman to distribute as she wished..
one village we stopped at, again this is all just random stopping, the ppl had just finished harvesting and they were having dinner. they let us joing them and we had sticky rice and mustard leaves. bottomless tea of course. i can not get over the fact that they welcmoed us at every place.
the first nite we stayed in a Pa-O tribe village. Our cook made a fantatic meal over a fire in the middle of the floor of a bamboo house. the floor is raised bc the house is on stilts- dont ask. as he made us dinner more ppl came to sit with us. the village granny was there too. she asked us where we wre from and what we were doing.. sunny translated. she said she wanted to follow us to inle lake (40km) and that when she died she would visit all our countries. she als asked about our status and sunny said we live 'lonely lives' but christina and i clarified saying we had (fantastic) significant others. we ate dinner by the fire and went out to look at the stars which were amazing. i dont remember seeing so many in all my life. I think i even say Constellation Chulie.
We slept in the vice chiefs home, above 5 buffalo. The buffalo were right under us and we could hear them grunting and theirs bells tinkling all nite.
I was very sick in the morning and took soem tablets to settle my stomach but all they did was make me puke! Oh bad news for some one who is going to have to walk 5 hrs up a mountain! we walked a little more, then stopped in a village and sunny found some ground ginger and salt concoction for me which i took (very bitter) but i felt great in 10 minutes! We hiked several more hours and finally got to the monastery wewold be staying at that nite. So peaceful. We slept in front of the buddha statues and woke at 4am to monks chanting before thier breakfast.
My feet are killing me. We finALly got to inle lake today after 3 days , 2 nite hiking. we had lunch and then took a boat to our hotel. this place is unbelievalbe.
i will try to write more before i leave ina couplke days.
i miss you all and am having the time of my life!
-julie
Here goes.. from Myanmar
hey! ok I actually got on- I think the only place i can do this is inle lake so this may be it. oh and i am in a super hurry so this may have many errors, but at least you can get the gist. (jist).
ok first off, i apologize. doug is not a wuss- that was abit harsh- but the massage really was great.
here goes:
Got into Mandalay airport and no one was around. theis photocopy sign on the desks saying "ALL RESPECT. ALL SUSPECT."
Welcome huh?
Finally about 4 ppl run out to check us in- we were only about 20. Everyone had mandatory baggage check (they dont single anyone out here cathy). i wasnervous bc of the book i was bringing in but it was fine. BECAUSE the guys behind me started dropping bills to be overlooked. Blatant. And it actually worked.. rolls of cash full out in front of me and they were not checked.
Welcome to Myanmar.
Driving into town I became so emotional (silly me). This is exactly what i was looking for.
the homes are 3 walled, woven from bamboo. ppl are hanging around outside everywhere. Few cars, much cattle. Men all wear longyis, like sarongs, and women and children paint their faces with white/yellow makeup to prevent sunburn.
i got into my hotel , got some advice exchanged money 20usd to 22000kyat and headed out to see the Moustache brothers a political satire type show (thanks megan.) It was great but i wont talk about it here.
I found a trishaw drivwer and he brought me for indian food at a restaurant along the road. he asked the kid (6-8yrs old) how much he got paid to be a waiter there- 4000kyat a month.
I 'll tell you more about Mandalay and Bagan and everything else once I get to Thailand- in 2 weeks.
