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Mandalay Myanmar, AFter leaving Bagan we had a short flight to the city of Mandalay, The airport in Bagan was a little
one level building. You procede through security with a xray machine that beeps even if no one has gone through it. Yet
still you feel safe as there does not seem to be a fooling around here.All of the airlines have signs that read that (You are
with us". The planes are small turbo props and they all seem to land at the sametime. There is a guy running around with a sign board
declaring that it so and so flights time to load. We all hurry to the door our tickets checked and another guy pointing at the plane.
Before you know it the planes propellers are spinning and we are wheeling around onto the runway.I guess the plane has only been
here about 15 minutes so no warm up.Talk about on time departure we were 20 minutes early you had bettter not be late to the airport here
Zoom we are off for a 25 minute ride. Refreshments are served still here in Myanmar even on
the 25 minute runs. Somehow us and our luggage amid the chaos made it. We landed at a brand new airport.Unused jetways stand idle as our
small planes are too low, we asked once mated up with our tour guide if they have ever been used she said yeah once a large plane came in
from China.The luggage belts looked brand new yet we learned that the airport was already ten years old.Kind of cool like being in an abandonded
airport.
Once on the road we got to use the new highway a two lane cement highway much like I-95 in South Carolina except for the bikes
ox carts,mopeds and vehicles going the wrong direction. They have not mastered the super highway here but somehow avoid each other
never the less. Our taxi driver stayed in the left lane the whole time except for when we approuched a moped and then
he must have had some trouble with these guys as he would move back to the right lane and blow the horn before abruptly swerving
back to the left. Almost as if the high speed thing was still new,he over steered alot. We arrived in Mandalay and started right off
looking at more temples,yea. Joy and I finally spoke up and said that we had enough of these and could we move on to a market or something of
the likes.Sure was the answer, and we stopped and hopped out to the stares of the "Bamama" or locals. We had a blast looking at the
colorful vegtables and fly covered meats being offered.Nothing but smiles and hello's. A picture here and there we soaked up the
authenticity of the moment. We passed on the fresh brain and pig instestin and headed off to our river side hotel.Now this place was great
loads of hot water and clean as a whistle.
After unpacking we walked just across the road to the river side.It was like entering another world People were working hard unloading
everything off of the boats now tied to the riverside. From rice to sand to pots they unloaded it all. Men and women side by side
carrying 55 gallon drums cut in half fill to the top with palm sugar but it looked like lard. And just steps away were their living
areas. Ramshackled platforms with blue tarps and small plastic bags for roofs.Everything went into the river not so much trash but everything
else did you can use your imagination for this one. Funny thing was that the people who were not working were clean and welll dressed.They sat around small
fires and waved hi as we walked past. Trucks pour out of the river banks going all different ways nothing more then a cab,bed and what
looked like a large lawn mower engine.
We crossed the road to the night fish market todays catch all layed out with flys and all. ANd these fish were fresh flopping around
until some lady wallops them on the head with a knife handle. We tip toed through the streets trying to avoid stepping on someone
sitting in the middle of the street selling fish.This too was a great experence.Back to our hotel we sipped our free cocktails
as we watched the sunset from out hotel rooftop.The sounds of life across the street slowly starting to fade as these hard working
people gathered around small battery light laterns to collect their pay for the day.AT first we thought they were playing cards
as there would be heated yells from the tables but it was just discussions like many others here in Myanmar, they all sound like
arguments.
The next day we again toured town and some more markets ending the day on a boat ride where we both fell asleep along with our guide
while listening to the rumbling of the motor below.To end our stay in Mandalay we toured the Temple that is featured on the Lonely Planet
Myanmar guide book don't ask me the name as i am only a looking tourist I pretty much retain nothing but memories in my mind
and leave the listening portion to Joy. Many times during the trip I will notice something and Joy will say we talked about that
this morning,I don't know I'm just looking.Well a quick boat trip back to our Hotel and we enjoy one last free cocktail and a
really boring puppet show. Anyway fast forward we are now in Inlay Lake Region home of the leg rowers.
We bored a speed boat and headed out onto the lake for an afternoon of touring. We asked our guide to skip the Temples we wanted
to see the long necked women.It's incredible how long their necks are. The oldest having the longest but I guess that everybodies stuff
gets longer or maybe lower with age. We bough our first trickets here as we felt wrong snapping pictures and not buying anything.
A warm bed and mosquito net welcomed us to our thatched hut on stilts.It was great if you layed in bed while the other person walked
around the whole hut swayed as it was built more on limbs then logs.In the morning we woke to the coldest we have been this trip.A warm
shower and cup of coffee we were back on our speed boat for our trip back to the airport.BAck to Yangoon we head time in Burma/Myanamr grows short.
Sitting in the airport as the planes land and take off faster then I have ever seen. No sooner does it land then the new passengers
are rushed aboard.Somehow our luggage is never lost and or an extra heavy bag charge. Once we make good internet I will upload the
great pictures we have. Keith and Joy
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