It's a place where time seems to have stood still and one feels like they've entered a time warp. Astrology, horoscopes and religion continue to be an important part of everyday life. There are challenges in traveling in the country due to poor road infrastructure so we hired a local private English guide to assist us in finding our way, accessing air travel and accomodations. We also gained important insights from someone who has lived in the country, about its culture and people.
We began our journey in Yangon, the former capital. Yangon still displays some of the colonial buildings left over from the British who ruled Burma for 100 years. Burma received their independence from the British following WWII. The infrastructure deteriorated over the years through poor maintenance and did not keep up with the growing population, however due to more open market policies being developed it is now beginning new infrastructure building.
Yangon is populated with many different races of people such as Myanmars, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. Although Burmese is the official language, communication in English was not a big challenge as English remains entrenched in the Burmese educational system, and is a required subject from Kindergarden onward.
The history of Yangon is intertwined with the history of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Wherever one may be in Yangon the golden form of the Shwedagon will be seen on the skyline rising above the foliage of the tropical trees. This pagoda materialized in Buddhist history over 2500 years ago and over the years has been rebuilt until it reached its present height of 326 feet. It has 10 sections. Hundreds of lamps surround the base and form an elaborate offering to the Buddah. During our visit, ceremonies were held there as young novice monks were entering the monkhood.
From Yangon we flew to Bagan ( travel is by air which is well organized since the road infrastructure is not paved and traveling any distance by car - mostly 4 wheel drives would take a long time.) Once a city of over 200,000 today's Bagan is a small sleepy town of 20,000 people. It is a serene place where over 2000 - 14th century temple/pagoda ruins dot the landscape. It is a place where one where can go about the village in horse drawn cart or by bullock cart.
We explored an early morning market where an incredible myriad of food aromas, colours and activities aroused our senses.
Nuns wearing pink were shopping for dry products to take to the monastery for cooking meals. Burmese women and children are often seen wearing a face paste called Thanika. Not only used as a sun screen , women believe it keeps their complexion young and serves as a whitener. The paste is made from a specific tree bark and is mixed with water and applied.
Many of the factories have been in business for generations and produce beautiful lacquer bowls, plates, serving trays, tables, furniture and accessories. The best quality lacqerware are works of art and the best pieces are made with 12 to 24 pieces of lacquer, with pieces taking 6 to 9 months to complete.
During a drive to Mount Poppa ( 45km took us 1.5 hours) we saw local villagers on their way to market, collecting their water from a reservoir and we witnessed saffron robed monks collecting their early morning alms.
Mount Poppa is built on a dormant volcano and is considered the abode of spirits ( Nats.) It is an important worship centre and a a major pilgrimage destination for locals. We climbed the 777 steps accompanied by local children who were fascinated with my blonde hair and intriqued by touching the blonde hair on my arms :)
Spirit worship is still an important belief of the Burmese people
while at the same time they hold a strong belief in Buddhism’s teaching on “karma”. They realize that they have to go through a life cycle—birth, growing up, reaching adulthood, aging, the prospect of illness and eventual death (and possible reincarnation). They know that in passing each stage of life they will also experience hardships brought about by nature or circumstance—drought, famine, flooding, pestilence and unemployment. Country-dwellers have devised folk explanations to make these events more understandable.
They realize that all things happen due to a cause and that man and woman are responsible for their own actions—they believe in good and bad karma. At the same time, the power of the spirit world is used to explain such events as unknown disease that takes the life of a family member, or a phenomenon of nature. Honoring these spirits and keeping the bad spirits contented is important.
Our next locale was a flight to Inle Lake . We traveled on a traditional long tail boat in this picturesque delightful place located approximately 900 meters above sea level in the hills of Shan State. It was easy to fall in love with this place. Home of the Intha Tribe, this area is known for its lake of fisherman who row with their legs, floating gardens, markets and temples.
There is no road access. We visited a silk factory and paper umbrella making factory. Traditional methods are used.. living off the land, utilizing with care the abundant natural resources.
What a joy it was on my birthday, accompanied by our guide and the Burmese people to have the honor of performing a Buddhist birthday custom of releasing a fish. Back at our hotel, Michel had arranged with the gracious manager to have a cake ( not a easy feat since cake was nowhere to be found.) and of course I enjoyed sharing my birthday custom of "nose greasing" as a symbol and hope for good luck in the coming year. Michel was happy to obliged by smearing my nose with butter to the delight of the locals. 
Throughout our entire stay, the graciousness, kindness and accomodating nature of the people went beyond expectation. The hotels were lovely and the food a delight.
Our last day was spent back in Yangon where we the city was caught up in the annual Water Festival. Wooden stages were erected equipped with water hoses throughout the city where people met and engaged in soaking each other.
We also took a 3 hr. trip on a local delapidated train in the city where we witnessed urban poverty and the struggles of the Burmese people living in make shift shantys who survive day to day on about 3000 kyats ( pronounced chat) equivalent to 3 USD.
It is impossible for these images to fully covey our experience and the senses that were heightened as we traveled in Burma. It was certainly one of the most captivating places we've visited.
We'll end by saying ....It was an extraordinary experience!
Go well
Michel, Dorothy and Kelsey
A trip along the Mekong River and driving along a country road one feels like they gone back in time. Laotian possess a strongly developed sense of courtesy and respect and much of their culture is strongly influenced by Buddhist thinking and attitudes. Acceptance is their worldview. Events, for better or worse, are related to one's previous incarnation and are therefore accepted without challenge or emotion. Like the Thai "mai pen rai" the Laos people have a similar expression meaning " no problem" or "never mind". This expression sometimes frustrates Westerners who have a worldview that problems are there to be solved, not to be accepted.
