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
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