from the train
I fucking love the trains in India and Myanmar!
She is selling TANAKA. From the bark they grind a paste and use it as sun block, or make up. See it on faces all over Burma. Generally women and children
This whole process of women coming to the windows and down the aisles of the train to sell food along with other things such as toys, beer/whiskey/cigarettes, magazines etc. happens at every station. LOVE IT!
selling water
Myanmar: Boat ride from Myiktyina down the Ayeyarwady
After 21 hours on a wooden bench I arrived in Myiktyina. There isn't a whole lot to do or see in this Northern city and few foreigners venture here. Those who do either come to go trekking in the North (need permits which are expensive and a major hassle) or to take the boat down to Mandalay which was my purpose.
IIRC this reclining Buddha is 98 feet long
Myiktyina has the potential to become a major trading post given its ideal location in a valley between India and China. Not likely to happen with the current regime
When I arrived back in Thailand I was watching Al Jazeera at my CS hosts house. For those who have never seen Al Jazeera is a solid station that actually does news stories. Also have Fox News here along with BBC. I would flip back to Fox for comparison but it is just a bunch of bickering and nonsense over there.
Point is, they were running a story which stated the Ayeyarwady is the longest undamned river in SE Asia. That is about to change because China is in the process of building a damn. Nobody is allowed in but they showed the power lines running all the electricity back to China. Then the accommodation for an estimated 10,000 Chinese workers.
As is the standard, the Burmese people will get zero benefit from their resources as a few people high up in the government/military will line their pockets.
After 5 hours I arrived in Simbo, a beautiful village
I was in Myanmar for Thingyan, or the water festival which lasts 4 days culminating in the New Year. I would return to this bench to have a beer as the sunset
The festival is still a week away but the kids are ready. Actually on the train ride up when we would leave stations kids threw buckets of water into the train.
I love all the wooden homes in Simbo
Back on the boat, headed to Bhamo
stopped for lunch
Bhamo
ice cream
Hungry monks
Posted the real thing earlier
Went to some surrounding areas the following day. This is a resort area for Burmese people. They have weddings, parties etc. here
This is a Shan monastery. What I found most interesting is the prayer flags. They are not like any I had seen before. Very different than the ones I posted from Nepal
village outside of Bhamo
Day 3 on the river. Not sure if it is the Burmese building this bridge or China is behind the project (would not be surprising)
The parrots beak is a way to gauge the river. Was told that once the water rises above his beak most of the boats cannot go upstream, the current is to strong. I'm here in the dry season so the river is quite low
Arrived in Katha. A nice small town
Katha is where George Orwell was stationed while in Burma. It is the setting of his book "Burmese Days" though the actual town in the book is fictional. The police station, prison, British Club, tennis courts etc. mentioned in the book are all still here.
Police station
These firetrucks are so old, I think early 60's. Maybe a car buff knows
Was supposed to take the boat for one more day to Mandalay but the ferry had broken down and would be a day or two late. Not an issue except time was limited in Myanmar only having 27 days. So I took a pick up truck to the train station an hour away
This road was awful because every time a big truck would pass by in the other direction I'd be left with a face full of dust
Everybody watching tv at the station
as I drank cheap Chinese beer.
Had food from those pots too
Waiting for the train
Inspirational, did you knew in advance where you were going to sleep, or you just winged it?
ReplyDeletewing it!
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