Brief notes from Burma
 

At last we are in Burma! We checked in to the Strand - a real oasis in this hot, gritty city. We've done a bit of wandering around, getting ready to go to Shwedagon about sunset.. Rangoon is really hot -hotter than Bangkok so far. And of course, air conditioning is scarce.

I plan to post some notes as I am able, but this will not be a trip report by any means. You'll get the full report and photos when we get home.

Glad to hear that you've made it safe and sound! Enjoy Burma and a good respite from the heat is a good foot massage in a nice A/C room. There's one almost opposite Scott's market, they will have a sign out on the street, and it will only cost about $4 per hour.

Wishing you loads of adventures and lots of fun....

Well, you finally made it...

I didn't realize you chose the Strand but its location will be good for wandering. Did you get a good rate? Where are you staying when you return to Yangon?

Hope you enjoyed Shwedagon...

Thanks Kathie. We knew you would check in as soon as possible. As always, no penalty.

Looking forward to pictures of Shwedagon at sunset. Continued safe travels.

Glad you've arrived safely, looking forward to more.

Glad to hear that you've made it safe and sound. Is it the indeed the Burma of your dreams? Thanks for checking in.

Aloha!

have a great time and tell cheryl not to spare the film...

Waiting for more!!!!!

Hello everyone, We have been incredibly busy and internet access has been difficult here at Inle. It's beautiful and peaceful, so quiet and so dark we can see all kinds of stars.

Kakku yesterday, a punishing 5+ hours of driving over rough roads, but a worthwhile experience. Out on the lake all day today, Samka/Sankar first (wow!) and the whole south end of the lake. Saw one or two other boats of visitors. Cheryl took 500 or 600 photos just today... don't worry, she'll edit. Plus, she got some great videos.

I have so much to tell you all, and I don't have time to do it now. I hope we'll have better access in Bagan.

Craig, we got a great rate at the Strand, are staying there on the way out as well. It's a fabulous place.
Thanks for all of your good wishes.

This is one of those trips that really changes your perspective!

Told ya that you'll like it!

Glad to hear its going well. I hope you are taking good notes - can't wait to read your report and to see Cheryl's photos. Internet access in Bagan will likely be spotty as well...

Glad to hear it's going so well.

Since I have a chance for internet access, I'll write a little.

Indien today, and one of those "you had to be there" moments.

We were climbing the stairs to the pagoda in the quiet of the morning. Suddenly, we heard the strains of familiar music "A Whiter Shade of Pale" - though sung in Burmese. We climbed higher to see the source of the music - the boombox of two workers painting a stupa white.

It is clear that Burma is changing very rapidly.

We'll spend a half a day on the Lake tomorrow, then we fly to Bagan. I'll post from Bagan if I can.

Glad you are having a wonderful time.

Your short notes are interesting, and full of promise of more details of a fabulous trip in the making.

"This is one of those trips that really changes your perspective!" Kathie...when you get a chance, can you detail how this trip is changing your perspective on life?

Thanks for posting.

Kathie, your notes from the field are tantalizing. Since you already are a deeply reflective person who moves among cultures with ease, you have us on the edge of our seats wondering what experiences could be causing the change in perspective alluded to above. We'll be patient, but know that there is considerable interest. Best wishes for glorious onward travels.

Myanmar - one of my favourite places so far in Asia - amazing temples, scenery, people and very affordable. Sunset from the temples in Bagan - wonderful. Sandpaintings from the locals - beautifully done and affordable. And.. a photographers paradise.

Have a great time. I just e-mailed you yesterday. I wasn't sure if you'd already left. Happy Travels!

Hello Kathie- We are just back (in Myanmar in October 2009) and loved it!!! The Strand is just around the corner from our favorite restaurant in Yangon- it is called Monsoon. We stayed at the Kandawgi Palace Hotel - awkward name but a wonderful teak palace next to the lake. We could see the Shwedegon Paya from our balcony at night and day.
Buy your longis and fabric at Scotts Market.
If you need anything while in Yangon our travel agent Min Min is [email protected] He is quite helpful telephone +95 (01) 546968 and a good problem solver in the country.
Aloha- Bill and Vicky

Hi Kathie,
Have just arrived in Mandalay. Yes Inle was very special.
Enjoy Bagan and the ballon ride.

Heya - I'm outer space with verrrry patchy internet. I can't contribute right now - but, when I can, I'm watching.

Greetings from Bagan. My brief musings are necessarily patchy, and you likely won't get a sense of the bigger picture until I get home. My changed perspective is on traveling to Burma. Many of you know that I have agonized over this for almost two decades. Lots more info about this will be in my report.

We were scheduled for Balloons over Bagan this morning, but the weather was not cooperative, so they didn't fly. We are now scheduled for tomorrow and keeping our fingers crossed..

So we found a horsecart and driver in front of our hotel. He is a gem! You can't expect a horsecart driver to know much about the temples history and iconography, but this guy is very knowledgeable.

Our first view of the temples brought back the photo I saw as a child that drove this quest to get to Burma. Just being here is amazing! I swear that if all we did was ride in the horsecart for three days I would feel fulfilled.

wm, we ate at Monsoon our day in Rangoon. It has been recommended by a number of Fodorites. It was very good. It is kind of you to offer your agent's info. Once you are here, I find it is very easy to manage on our own. The one thing for which an agent was necessary was getting the in-country flights.

By the way, getting to our email has proved impossible. We'll both have hundreds of messages when we finally get access again in Bangkok.

Enjoy Mandalay, Fanny!

I do hope you'll take a sunset trip on the river one evening. It's a great view of all the pagodas silhouetted against the sky - that's the header from my site.

I really would like to get back there one day soon. Are you going to Mt Popa while in Bagan?

Kathie- Your description of Bagan sounds amazing.
I look forward to hearing your changed thoughts on travel to Burma. I would also love to go, but have struggled with the issue as well.

Enjoy your trip. Can't wait for the full report.

are you bringing her home with you?

Just back from my trip, and glad to hear that you're having a great time in Burma! Don't miss the sunset at Bagan! Looking forward to a long report, now I'll be able to read them.

Back in Rangoon in the luxury of the Strand. Wow! What a trip! There were so many things we wanted to do, we really had to edit our list and stick to the most important to us. Thus, we spent all of our Bagan time at the temples. We took in two beautiful sunsets (one day was clouded over, so no dramatic sunset that day). Alas! No Balloons over Bagan for us. They had to canel two of the three mornings we were there. The last morning. we got all the way to where they launch the balloons before they canceled.

We are planning to relax in Rangoon. We'll go have lunch at the Governor's Residence with a woman we met in Bagan, look around a bit, perhaps do a bit of shopping.

I have pages and pages of notes for my report!

I'm so sorry you didn't get to ride(fly) the Balloon over Bagan! I'm sure you still had a wonderful trip and look forward to hearing about it in person.

Yes, I can't wait to get to Bangkok's cool weather...

We went to lunch at the Governor's Residence today. What a gorgeous setting! In the embassy district, there are lots of trees and green. The beautiful green grounds and pool make it cooler there. We had a delicious lunch, then toured the hotel and looked at a couple of the rooms. If you want ot be right in the downtown, you can't beat the Strand. But if you'd like a cooler, quieter setting, the Governor's Residence would be my pick.

We're already thinking aout our next trip to Burma!

I'm soooo happy you enjoyed the trip!

next trip to burma...wow... did you leave the generals an extra tip??

Can't wait for the full report.

Kathie your notes are really making us push Burma back up our list! Look forward to hearing more. J

Hi Kathie, sounds like you are having a fantastic time. Can't wait for your trip report - we are torn between Burma or Sri Lanka for our next trip. Your trip report could swing it for us!

Both Burma and Sri Lanka are such great destinations - I'd be torn.

I'm still in Bangkok, will be home at the end of the week and hope to have my report completed before I'm back at work.

Been to both: Burma over Sri Lanka - no question in my mind...

Kathie,
See you tomorrow. Am leaving Myanmar with a heavy heart, for Bangkok this afternoon. Can not wait to get back.