In Myanmar

Landed in Myanmar just in time to be doused in water every day for 5 days - no mercy shown: luggage, camera, passport, the water-throwers just weren't in my zone! This was Thingtaw, the 5 day water festival which culminates in the New Year, this year on 19 April.

Thinking I should get out of Yangon quickly, I headed to Mrauk U, the ancient capital of Rakhine on the western coast, and 6 hours upriver from Sittwe. Luckily, as there was no public transport during Thingtaw, and we had to hire a boat to get there, I travelled up the river with 2 Thai brothers - one of whom had been a guest lecturer last year in the School of Architecture at Deakin waterfront campus, where Megan, who stayed with me at OG in first semester, was studying! ..six degrees...

The river journey was delightful. We passed Irrewaddy dolphins playing on the surface of the water, buffalo cooling off while they waited their turn to plough, and when we finally arrived in Mrauk U it was so humid that it was a relief to ride a bike around the sites just to catch the 'breeze' from cycling! Our boat collected us 2 days later - we'd agreed to take a man and his wife back with us for medical treatment in Sittwe; by the time we got to the dock, this had become 50 people hidden aft and below deck!

Flew on to Mandalay, which was even hotter than Sittwe and Mrauk U. Escaped again to the river hitching a ride for a morning trip to Mingun with a Swiss UNESCO retiree and his lovely Venezualan wife - had to break out that rusty francais again! Myanmar reminds me of rural Thailand 20 years ago - life is 'underdeveloped' as the retired UNESCO man described it.

By the next day I was off to the hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin in the north-east, and then further north to the delightful little town of Hsipaw, with Shwe Palaung hill tribe trading in the markets, and the town's own 'mini-Bagan'.


Trekked with a Brazilian fellow to the hot springs-

silly bugger forgot to take off his money belt!!








Met up with Siam almost a week ago; we arrived at The Strand in Yangon yesterday where Siam's work meeting started today and there's happy hour in the bar for 6 hours on Friday night! I might just spend our 4 days here in this suite (or in the business centre emailing for free!) Talk about magnificent luxury.

We were at Inle Lake for 4 days before this staying in a lovely bungalow resort built on the water, and run cooperatively by the local Pa O people. Siam had arranged for an A&K guide and all that goes with such things and we spent our mornings tootling across the lake to various places and then afternoons and sunsets sitting on our verandah overlooking the lake talking and relaxing. I have really enjoyed Shan State the most, here in Myanmar. Previously at Hsipaw, I was in the Northeast part of the state which was lovely too. The food has been great - a big favourite is green tomato salad - hmmm, wonder if that's what's causing the renewal of Delhi belly?!!
Bit concerned about the cyclone headed our way - meeting up with Siam has made me really look forward to all and dear friends and new places in the US and South America. It would be such an irony if a cyclone meant I couldn't get back to India to fly out!