that amazing internet place in Mandalay was the last real internet place we saw. There were a couple of times I managed to send a quick email to Avi from a dialup place but there was no hope of updating the blog.
I have put up some photos and here are some words to go with them:
March 1 afternoon: we went to Kuthodaw Paya - a site containing the 15 books of the Tripitaka on 729 marble slabs. Then we climbed up Mandalay Hill (lots of steps - took about 45 minutes) and had a lively discussion with a young monk. We had a few more days when monks attached themselves to us - they do not have much to do and like talking to tourists and improving their English. It's always fun but a bit odd.
The ET Motel where we stayed was the place with the only nasty hotel keepers we met in Myanmar. Not recommended....
March 2: we took the boat to Bagan on the Ayeyarwady river. That took all day and not always interesting but very relaxing. We stayed for 2 nights in Bagan in the Eden Motel which was nice (especially the breakfast on the rooftop). Ate pizza which was much nicer than the local food.
March 3: We explored Bagan's pagodas in by horse and carriage. The number of pagodas is just stunning - the landscape looks like a sparsely planted forest where every tree has been replaced by a pagoda. Some big, some small, some falling apart, some under construction, many have Buddha statues and quite a few are gold-gilded (but there is a big lack of food and a lot of poverty. sigh.). Decided to stick with the pizza for dinner. Very good!
March 4: Flew to Heho and took a cab to Nyaungshwe on the shore of Inle Lake. Stayed at the Aquarius Inn which was charming and extremely friendly - the nicest place we stayed in! We took a canoe trip in the canal in the afternoon and ate Shan food which was very salty but the woman running the restaurant was very nice.
March 5: Took a motor boat ride on the lake for most of the day. Visited the floating market and some craftmen - cigar makers, paper makers, weavers, blacksmiths.... Also visited some women from the Long-Neck tribe which we found quite disturbing. Found the best pizza place for dinner (by then we were so hungry we were quite obsessed with food and talked about food most of the time).
March 6-7: Treked to Kalaw (about 30-35 km). Slept in a monastery on the way. The guide Sein Chu was great and highly recommended (The Aquarius Inn people put us in touch with him). A french woman joined us for the trek and we all enjoyed it a lot even though I found it a bit difficult. We decided to cut it about 2 hours short and caught some pick-up trucks for the last few miles. Quite amazing we lived to tell the tale!
March 8: Flew back to Yangon. Was hard to find accomodations (we got in around 6pm). We ended up in a triple room very close to Sula Paya - was nice but no hot water.
March 9: Went to see a movie - World Trade Center in one of those old fashioned huge cinemas. We were very moved by the movie but everybody else was busy eating, laughing, coming and going and making a lot of noise. At least one rat was spotted - also seemed indifferent to the movie. Then we went to high tea in the Strand Hotel (supposedly $500 a night for a room there! amazing). Was not the best tea we ever had but we enjoyed it immensly.
March 10: Flew back to Bangkok and had a great lunch on the street. What a difference! Went to the night market which was great.
March 11-12: Wondered around Bangkok, shopped, ate and had a good time. Einat & Yogi went with me to the airport in the evening. When I asked for a window or aisle seat I was told that my seat is "next to the aisle seat", which I found very funny and after some arm twisting got changed. I took a bag for them home. Was nice to come back to civilization but I would not have minded staying a bit longer with them....
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