Yangon

It was 48 hours from the time we last rolled out of our own bed until we landed in Yangon. We were feeling surprisingly good at first. We put in the report on our missing bag and then went out to meet our guide. We weren’t really expecting that much from Yangon, but our guide was determined to fill up the time. The reclining Buddha. The Royal Lake and park. Downtown to see some colonial architecture And the jetty. But it was beastly hot and as soon as our room was available we checked in, took a brief break and had a bite of lunch here in the hotel. Then we were off to Scott’s market where Michael bought a knife for his collection before we headed out to see ‘one of the world’s most spectacular monuments’, the Shwedagon Pagoda (shown in the picture).

 

I have to admit that it was truly spectacular. And we’ve seen a lot of temples and pagodas and stupas in our days but this one was stunning. In size and brilliance and colors. Really lovely. In fact one of the places that the photos just can’t see to do justice.

 

Meanwhile, coming to places like this never ceases to amaze me in different ways. Take, for instance, the fact that here is an environment where folks paint their faces with a pale, yellow paste (thanaka) made from tree bark but are wearing/using iphone watches.

 

Meanwhile, we are beat. Really beat. Gotta go find a quick dinner and get some sleep.

 

Tomorrow off to the country.