Our trek was one of the trip highlights. We had one steep climb but spent most of our time travelling across vast farmlands.
We spent our first night in a monestary and our second night on a farm. The most interesting part is when Mr. Win, our guide, told us that we could "shower" over across the garden.
Shower to them means cement basin filled with rainwater in open area where monks or farm family can watch us and laugh.
Since there were so many creatures that could nibble on us, I took to wearing my Euro-trekker outfit - long socks (thanks to Sockmaster Magentie) tucked into my trousers. I have the travel w*nker headband and all. Plus, I'm still donning my Beer Lao gut. The most exciting thing is that I am standing IN the terraced rice fields. Now, that's what it's all about.
Having dinner with the farm family was a treat too. These guys actually have a fire in their hut to cook and dry laundry.
After the trek, we had some stellar Shan noodles and fried tofu in Kalaw and met a member of the NLD. We were really excited to speak to someone about the political situation. Which reminds me... we were weary about coming to Burma (now called Myanmar) because of how the government treats their people. This oppressive government's main opposition, the NLD, lead by Aung Sun Suu Kyi has been in house arrest on and off for years. We read the book - Tim and I will be great chat at dinner parties. Anyway, we will discuss this horrible government when we see you next.
So, we travelled to Mandalay. Our main freedom was to rent bicycles and travel through the towns and cities. It was great fun going through the monks quarter and up Mandalay Hill - which is a series of steps leading through about 20 different shrines. We finished the day off in monsoon rain (me in white shirt, nice) cycling around the palace walls. There was a lot of great messages from red banners i.e. "Those who don't comply with the Union will be crushed". Nice.
Bagan was our next stop. After 10 hours on a scary, packed cargo bus, we made it to the city of a thousand temples. A very unique place, we'd advise going there for a couple days. These temples date back to over 1000 years ago. Some have been restored, some are only a few hundred years old. There is something magical (did she say magical??) about standing on one of these temples looking at other sandstone temples miles away.
Finally, Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon. I think of Tiffany White reciting Dr. Evil's childhood growing up spending "summers in Rangoon..." (Tim didn't get that one - Austin Powers?). It sounds exotic but with the exception of Shwedagon Paya, it's a busy city stuck in the 1940's. Nothing has been changed since the British were driven out in 1948. There is limited slow internet, no ATM's, no visa cards accepted (we had to carry over $1000 in cash for our trip) and unreliable electricity - most places have loud generators in front. This may sound charming to some but after two months haggling and cargo busing through Asia, Tim and I opted to spend a bit more time in our hotel oasis watching the tennis (watching Federer beat the Rafa the Biceps!) and ordering room service. I never thought that a hotel resembling the Holiday Inn could be so luxurious...
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