Day 2: Mt. Popa

Trip time...

Day 1: Bagan (see megan's post for details)

Day 2: Mt. Popa

On the second day of the trip, we headed to Mount Popa. We woke up early and drove to the base of the mountain -- 777 steps later later we made it to the top of the mountain. Err okay maybe there were a few other "events" before we got to the top. Let's just say I was not best friends with the monkeys right away. MONKEYS?! Yes. Mt. Popa, also known as monkey mountain is covered in monkeys! They are everywhere... and they want your food and water...and any sense of peace you may have! As we were walking towards the first steps our guide quickly stepped in front of me and snatched the water bottle I was holding... I didn't even see the monkey slinking towards us. But no harm there... in fact I felt more prepared for the rest of the hike...hide the water bottles and we'll be good. So we were off.  I was enjoying the little mammals when I decided it was time to capture their "cuteness" on camera...there were 2 on a ledge that was level with my head, it was a good view and I was ready to snap a winning shot, when one of them jumped away. darn. but wait, it was going to be perfect, the other one was turning it's head right toward me...as we made eye contact (through the camera...yes, it still happened, we locked eyes, and it gave me the death stare) he/she jumped in surprise (it literally kind of jumped back)... made an angry monkey growl and THEN starting LUNGING TOWARD MY HEAD!! I saw my life flash before my eyes and I totally freaked out! I made the ugliest sounding shriek and sprinted up the steps...megan and rose were ahead of me, and as I was running to catch up with them, I could hear them shout my name back at me in a panic....MArie? Is everything okay?!?.... as I rounded the corner and saw them, and everyone else staring at me in horror, I just burst out laughing. It was a hysterical, nervous laugh of relief and embarrassment.  Of course, Sasha was left behind me and was a bit stirred up from my (over? never) reaction. Luckily, she was able to slowly creep past the angered monkey. For the rest of the way up the mountain, we were all a bit skittish when we saw monkeys sneaking towards us. Thankfully, our fearless guide was there to protect us. Though there was one thing he was unable to protect us from: strategically placed piles of monkey crap. Yes, I stepped in the biggest poop on the whole mountain. We had hand wipes...I can report to the world that they were almost as effective on feet. Oh how I loved Monkey mountain.. But the top was great! no monkeys there, ha! AND after checking out the sweet views, there was a huge Burmese family that requested to take pictures with us...apparently they cared more about my walnut hair with golden glints than any stench I may have been carrying. I'll take it. Anyways, they were funny...especially this older lady who kept posing with us and giving us big hugs. The people here really are just so friendly. So those are the dirty details about our trek up the mount. Our hotel was again fantastic, located on a nearby mountainside ... in fact, we could see Mt Popa from the poolside. While Megan and Sasha spent their afternoon at the spa, Rose and I went horseback riding...where Rose rode a horse named Rose. (it really was.) Only she could pull that off :) Day 2 was an overall success.

Sunset @ Bagan

Resort @ Bagan

Monkeys on the way up

 Top of Mt. Popa

New friends on top of the mountain

Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

So for the past week and a half we have seen how the other half lives (another way to put it is that life was so good my grandparents would say, "I wonder what the poor people are doing today?"). As Marie mentioned, we got to dine with celebrities, even meeting a couple, and travel/stay at the best places in the country!

Our week long journey around the country started last Monday in the domestic terminal of the Yangon Airport. I swear the whole time we were gone we had to carry our bags 2 feet. Rose must have a special nod so that they knew when to come get our stuff! We dropped off our suitcases and got our stickless-stickers identifying which domestic airline we were on and went through the very relaxed security to take a flight to Bagan (at one airport I don't even think the metal detector was on! HA!)

When we got to Bagan, it was a pretty tiny airport and you give the baggage guys your tags while a mob of people descends on them. We were definitely the youngest people we saw on the whole trip. Besides a couple of late 20s/early 30s everyone was over 50 haha. And we got stares, both because of that and because of our gringo appearances. Lots and lots of stares!

Anyways we met our guide, Myo, in Bagan and in just one day we saw NINE pagodas! Bagan is famous for its pagodas. Every time a king/general/important person had enough money they would build another pagoda. There are thousands and thousands, all dating back to the 11th-13th centuries when Bagan was the capital. Myo taught us all about what the different hand positions of all the Buddhas mean and all about the stories behind each of the pagodas and monasteries we saw. In 1975, there was a huge earthquake that ruined all of them in some way, so since them families can buy the pagodas and restore them. There are so many, though, it will take years for that to happen. Many of them have detailed frescoes that cracked during the earthquake and the old government tried to paint over with white. Now people want to restore the frescoes and workers have to chip away at LOTS of paint.

That day we went to our favorite restaurant, Green Elephant, where the luxury began. Right on the river, we could see all the tomato and corn fields that are flooded in the rainy season. We had a very private table and pillows on the seats and it was just gorgeous and peaceful. Apparently when it floods the area we were sitting in even gets covered! Sadly we had to go, there was just so much to see! (Rose made sure to tell her travel agent that we had to do EVERYTHING). We got to go to a local market (they have it for 10 days once or twice a year I think) which was kind of like a mall-market where the locals could get everything they might need: clothes, pots and pans, watches...oh and posters of course, of the people we met at the opening!

We saw muchas pagodas that afternoon and just when we were about stupa-ed out (synonym for pagoda) we got to climb atop one and watch the sunset. The effect was amazing! Pagodas stretched to the horizon in every direction with the setting sun creating shadows and emphasizing the natural brick of all the buildings. We got there early and each level of the temple filled up with people. I got to chat with a woman from Alberta and her husband who pick one or two big trips to go on every year and travel all over the world together. I love that idea!! Yep so that was definitely one of many highlights of the day.

Oh and our hotel! This is getting long, but I must mention it. We were right on the river there again, and  it was so luxurious! We had two separate rooms and each one had a little porch with super comfy lounge chairs (definitely could have slept outside). There was a huge clear pool and a restaurant looking over the water. We got juice and hand towels when we arrived, and of course our bags were taken care of. They even had their own ruins on the grounds!! The weather was perfect and in the morning Marie and I got to run through town! We only saw one other woman running, but a local guy tried to run in his longyi and was really confused what we were doing and where we were going haha. I guess running for fun doesn't really make sense in most places in the world...

Anyways there are pictures on Marie's facebook to see and we will figure out how to attach some later.
Miss you all! Ta-ta (Burmese for bye)
Megan

Store opening

Sorry about that lapse… we were gone on a week long Burma extravaganza…though it seemed more like a few weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever done so much traveling in 7 days! But before I get to the trip, I must briefly tell you about the opening of Diamond City --  It’s quite funny to think that I expected a nice ribbon cutting ceremony to be the extent of the opening. Turns out, it was a HUGE event…huge as in red carpet huge! There was ACTUALLY a red carpet. No joke. We had appearances from Burma Oscar winners and famous actors and models! We got the real VIP treatment…up front viewing for everything… so close in fact that I was eating lunch at the same table as all these celebrities…and making eye contact with and exchanging smiles with the one and only Aung Ye Lin ;) see www.myanmarcelebrity.com to understand just how advanced my photo-bombing skills are. Back to write about the trip soon.

Toilets

Toilet
While we have had many more important and exciting experiences, I feel it necessary to explain the restroom situation (though they aren't called that). Going to pee here is like Russian roulette! It is Myanmar custom to use a hose for wiping and then dry with a tissue and be on your way. Therefore many public places don't have tp and that's a wee bit awkward... With think that party city may have sent their left over white streamers for that purpose haha. Also instead of one long queue everyone waits by the stall they want to use and it's every man for himself! At the mall I think everyone brought their own soap? And the cherry on top are squat pans. Better hope you can crouch low and aim well :) anyways still having fun and love it here! This was a iPod length post but we have LOTS to tell about the people we met, places we stayed and things we did in the past week's tour of the country!

"Burmese people love gold"

So confession, I had this slight freak out moment the other day when I realized that since I don’t really speak Burmese there are only 4 other people that I can have actual conversations with for the next month. (No offense friends….I love y’all… and our conversations are great… but a girl likes a little variety ya?) Anyways, I was WRONG-O! Freak out was unnecessary…ha surprise?  So, this morning while Rose was busy getting ready for a new store opening, (more on this to come) her cousin Justin took Megan and I all around…AND he spoke English… AND he talked to us…AND he told us interesting stuff. It was great.  As we drove around he told us about many of the changes that have occurred in Burma over the last few years; how 2 years ago only 10 different movie theatres, as in only 10 different screens existed in the entire city of Yangon, and how the number of foreigners in Burma has finally reached 1 million/yr. He also told us about different ways the military used to control the people…mainly by controlling information and transportation.  He also said that before the British left in 1947ish, Myanmar was the richest country in Southeast Asia – and how they pride themselves in being a very self-sufficient country, after all they were closed off for 30 years and today they’re still kicking! He talked about life in the countryside versus life in the city and he also described the role that gold plays in their culture. Land and gold are the two main investments that the majority of Burmese people have available to them, and if you’re investing in gold why not wear it, and cover all the pagodas in it? So they do. Quite dazzling.

The other great thing about our morning with Justin was lunch. Justin moved to the US when he was 15 and stayed with a host mom – who couldn’t cook – and after 2 days of frozen meals and Dominos pizza he was sick of American food.  So when we told him that we had been eating lots of Burmese food (though we never mentioned anything about being sick of it – cuz we aren’t…right megan? :) haha) he thought he would treat us to a “western” meal. Pizza it was. We were happy. 

So back to the gold theme – Rose’s family owns a jewelry business and as it turns out they are having the GRAND OPENING for the newest branch TOMORROW!!! Today there was a promotional event called  a Lucky Draw…which I am too tired to write about. I guess it will make sense to include that in a blog all about the store opening festivities. Get excited. Alright, time for bed, goodnight moon ~~

Pagoda, pagoda, pagoda

We have learned that Myanmar is the land of pagodas! We've been to see Shwedagon, the Reclining Buddha (Chauk Htat Gyi), Kyauk Taw Gyi (with an all marble Buddha), Sule Pagoda, and Bo Da Taung. They are all so ornate and beautiful. Everything is painted gold or has mosaic mirror patterns. And there are so many things that go on there! First of all you can't wear shoes inside (I personally really enjoy this since bare feet is the best). Inside you can buy flowers or jasmine or baskets with bananas and coconuts, depending on what you want to get out of your visit. Most pagodas have a different station for each day of the week. You go to the station for the day of the week you were born and leave your offering and then you pour water on the statue once for every year you've been alive.

The Buddha here is the skinny one, not the happy round guy that we are familiar with. He is represented in a lot of different ways, with ginormous ears and sometimes feminine features. The Reclining Buddha was giant!!!!!! 

Oh, one other cool thing that you can do at the pagodas is buy a packet containing a small, thin square of real gold. You  take it out and then press it on the statues in the place that you might have an ailment, and it sticks! At Sule today we got to feed a large pond of turtles. Apparently they like Cheeto/popcorn/leaf salad.

Downtown shows a lot of evidence of British colonial rule. Most of the buildings with this type of architecture are decrepit and falling apart. You can tell, though, that they were once grand places. They are now being auctioned off to be made into hotels, etc. and their facade cannot be changed no matter what happens to the inside. This is pretty great considering all of the other changes that are taking place in the country.

Today after a couple of the pagodas, we went to an opening event for Rose's family's new store. While there were no subtitles for us to understand what was going on, Rose was able to translate some and we sat in V.I.P. chairs while the M.C. asked couples about their love lives during games in order to advertise their new jewelry store. We got to meet the MC (who is often on TV) as well as a Burmese model Ariel Thuta, who was really nice to us.

I really like it here and we are being well-fed and well taken care of. I'm not quite used to being stared at all the time, but it's a small price to pay to be here :)

Oh one last side note/shout out to Hannah my sister: on the plane there was a dairy company called "Meggle" that supplied the butter and creamer. That still doesn't mean it's a good nickname....

No mas para hoy (haven't learned that in Burmese...) Ta-ta!

the arrival

It's 3 am here, and well, I can't sleep. (Which is surprising since we hardly slept on the flights...but I got a few good hours in) I was bored of just laying there...so I decided to write....in the bathroom...without the lights on... (they would probably be on if I knew where they were.) Anyways, we are here! Yesterday, our first day, was already memorable...as you heard from Megan. It started at the Myanmar national airport, and when we de-boarded the plane, one of the army generals was there to greet some fellow...people...friends? I'm not sure. But we saw a few men standing in uniform and someone behind us whispered, "Ohhh.. the general's here." I tried to walk by and not to stare or seem guilty of anything but when he greeted his friends he had this huge, cute- old-man, smile on his face, and I realized that despite the wars and violence that may be occurring on the borders of Myanmar, the country was going to be okay, because their authorities are real people, with genuine feelings. Then, as we made our way to baggage claim, we had to wait in line at customs. It was so funny because the big glass windows looking into the rest of the airport were just lined with people staring in, trying to find their family or friends... lots of obnoxious waving and sign language ensued. Megan and I, were of course, on the lookout for Rose, and while we were still standing in line, she came prancing around the corner, Sasha not far behind, waving and smiling. The couple in front of us, laughed and said, "Looks like your ride is here" Yes! As we eventually got through, we were finally able to reunite with our long lost friend. Smiles all around. After we found our luggage, we headed for home... in short, I think I could get used to this place.

Okay my battery is going to die, and I naturally have no clue where the charger is, so peace and love to all of y'all...more to come. xoxo

We have landed!

Well after lots of flying and sitting, we are in the beautiful land of Myanmar. Everything here is incredible. There were pagodas that appear trimmed in gold in Buddhist monastery compounds all the way from the airport to Rose's house. The house itself is gorgeous!! Rose's room/bathroom combo is big enough to be an apartment :) We had lunch at the Signature restaurant in the Kandawgyi park, where we could look out over the lake.
Tonight we went to the Shwedagon pagoda. It was amazing!! We had to go shoeless up a set of stairs to a large open area. The center pagoda is made completely out of gold and has tons of precious jewels in the top. The surrounding area has hundreds of Buddha statues and pagodas surrounding them. Here, Marie and I are famous. A man came up to me holding his camera out. While I though he wanted me to take a picture, his family actually wanted a picture with us! Apparently our complexion is rare...Also, we are giants here. Rose's maids thought Marie's shoes were enormous :)
Almost everyone, men and women, wear long ankle length skirts and t-shirts. They look pretty comfy and I am thinking about bringing the style back to the U.S.

Well anyways I really like it here and I'm pooped. Bye!

More poems

Another poem for your enjoyment! 

And we're off to the land of Burma
Telling our families not to squirma
I'll be fine I'm with Sasha and Megan
Seeing temples in the city of Bagan
We hope to travel by the sea
And catch some rays in Ngapali
Then let's travel to the lake of Inle
Where a floating market lies, what?! that's cray!
Then off to Mandalay we'll go
You should read the poem sent to us by Grandpa Joe
Two weeks remain between adventure and us
36 hours of flying and stops plus a 4 hour bus
And from now til our arrival time will surely slow
Because most of all I can't wait to reunite with Rose!

Will I see all these places? I COULDN'T TELL YA! hopefully you and I will find out soon enough. Also, I have to give my dad a little credit for the first rhyme...but that's what us Fergusons do...tell the same stories/rhymes over and over again...we only have a couple. ;)

Here's to coming back with a few new stories and rhymes!

poem from Grandpa Joe:
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay,
With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin' fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
'crost the Bay!

~ Rudyard Kipling 

Mingalaba

(hello in Burmese)
Well Marie and I are off on our adventure starting this Tuesday! I'm sure it will be a riotous affair and there will be tons of pictures and stories. Here's a little acrostic poem we came up with to start off our journey. Enjoy!

Airplanes. Lots and lots of airplanes
No such thing as too many lists. We have lists for what to pack, what to ask about what to pack, places to  go to get things to pack....
Tallest people in the country. We might stick out a wee bit
Impatient to see Rose. It's been too long!
Communication. We will not be very successful at this in the native language of the country
Instagram. We apologize, but it won't be happening 1. We don't have it and 2. Even if we did have it, we won't have phones there
Packing. and re-packing. and over-packing
Atlas. When you use one, look for Myanmar and/or Burma
Tropical. Definitely no snow there, though we have recently been informed the mountains are chilly and we might need sweaters
Ill-fitting Burmese clothes. (no Rose our shirts aren't tucked in...)
One-suitcase. Not gonna happen
Neck pillows. We sure hope they work!