Myanmar: Gold Fetish Anyone?

Rushing through the country with overnight buses and ferries to save on accommodation. Everything began to blur together but good times. Did I mention that their ice-cream trucks drive around to the tune of 世上只有媽媽好?

Bago: a more chilled version of Yangon with everyone trying to get your business but hey, the hotel had wifi and hot water! Plus they showed me around sites while eluding the entrance or camera fees.

Bago at night.

A new reclining buddha statue being built behind the current Shwethalyaung Buddha. This one did not require an entrance fee yet and was more beautiful.

Red and white sticky rice in bamboo sheaths. This was at the week long market to celebrate the coming year.

Place your bets everyone.

Shwemawdaw Paya with a remanent from from an earthquake.

At the snake temple. I have to say that my heart was beating a little extra fast just taking this photo. "She is sleeping to conserve energy," said the monk in charge of her.

A man preparing food for the monks.

On a shared jeep to Yangon. A way cheaper option and generally the locals help fight for the right price for you. Seats can be elusive so hold on tight.

Yangon: always seem to get stuck in a city for longer than necessary but hung out with some Koreans that offered me a job to teach English. I'm glad I can find a home aboard but I gave this a pass. As for the famous Shwedagon, no words can properly describe the grandeur of that structure. You'll definitely have to put it on your bucket list.

The immaculate park near Sule Pagoda.

A little bit of everything. Though the food tended towards the oily end, it had plenty of my favorite: chilies.

I had to chuckle at the marketing of Oishi brand snacks. I think they would sell well in the US and Australia for those looking for a business venture.

Kids dancing to Gangnam Style. This song was pervasive wherever I went in Myanmar.

Prayer time.

Street food!

Snake relics were common here, similar to Sri Lanka.

An array of street traffic. I loved the touch of the umbrella.

The Shwedagon Pagoda at night.

Yes, you must put it on your bucket list.

The Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda that took me ages to find.

An amazing Chinese-Myanmar dish that I had in the Chinatown of Yangon. Who knew! This had an array of vegetables, some noodles, some jelly, and quail eggs in a numbing (麻), spicy sauce.

Pyay: very tiny little town with great people but not much to see

The local soccer ball made of bamboo. Love it!

He couldn't believe I would want to take a photo of him making the local naan. They tasted saltier than India's but great pic.

I'm telling you, he's everywhere.

Sunset from Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Inside the pagoda.

Focused intently on praying.

The lady making fritters for mohinga. I could snack on these all day. Since they are made of peas and rice flour, they are also gluten free.

Buckets of fish paste.

Vendor selling thanaka.

A traditional Burmese meal with rice, an array of little dishes, a meat and soup. Delicious!

A typical bike has more than one person on board.

 A typical sight on the streets.

The locals making steamed buns with chicken and half a boiled egg. I asked for a plain one and they looked very confused but enthusiastically made one for me for free!

Mandalay: amiable people and spread out sights. I rented a bicycle but caught a ride around instead.

A monk enjoying soccer by the riverbank.

I had a flashback of Varanasi here.

Sights on my bike ride.

Separating the clove skin from the garlic flesh.

Two guys that gave me a ride because they decided the Mandalay Hill was too far for a bicycle. They threw my bike in the back of their truck, drove me there, and left their phone numbers for me in case I ran into more trouble. Hospitable beyond belief!

An awesome makeshift hammock.

Rinsing off the appropriate Buddha according to their zodiac.

I have to say this was one of the creepiest statues I've seen.

A local artist using only ink, a razor blade and photo paper. So talented.

On the U Bien Bridge at sunset. I confused all of the locals even more with the thanaka on my face.

I had caught a ride with a group of Chinese tourists with a local Chinese-Myanmar guide on my way down from the Mandalay Hill. This kind fellow bought all of these little owls to let them free. Buddhists in the country do this to earn merit. He did it because of the cruelty in locking them up. I learned that Buddhism actually has different types as well. He was a strict one that did not eat meat and believed animals could trust him due to it.

Too cute. I'm so glad they were let free and, since we let them free a few miles from the lady we bought them from, hopefully they did not get caught again.

Bagan: so many temples, stupas and pagodas and the views from above are fantastic. If you take a bus rather than the slow boat into the town, you can avoid the tourist fee.

Devotees placing donations into appropriate boxes according to the zodiac again.

Bagan sand paintings.

View from one of the pagodas.

Many of the Buddha statues were of this color if it was not gold.

An ornament in one of the shops.

An atypical tourist drawing the view rather than taking a picture.

When I arrived my first night, I couldn't find a hostel so I slept in a monastery. This was what the room looked like. Thanks to the monks for their hospitality.

Another view from above.

A view on the way up a pagoda.

Another delicious traditional meal.

The lacquer museum showcasing the process.

View from Shwesandaw Pagoda for sunset.

It was a great view but very crowded so be sure to arrive early or simply head to a less touristic pagoda.

Just a tad left but waited until it completely disappeared before ascending.

Inle Lake: lovely little town where a shared boat ride is a must. The people here were also amiable. I guess that makes the entire country quite lovable (except for the betel nut chewing habit and the smoking everywhere, even on buses with windows that don't open).

Visiting the Red Mountain Estate. A sampler plate with sample glasses of wine.

The orchard through wine glasses.

Another delicious meal that was translated on the menu as local snack.

A leg rower on the lake early in the morning.

Harvesting lotus thread from the stalks of the lotus plant.

They dyeing room.

Hand rolling cigars. Some are them were scented with spices.

Hiking up to one of the temples. Many of the structures here have been rebuilt as seen by the difference in color.

A giraffe woman pouring us some tea, which is commonplace in any restaurant's table and free.

Weaving a bag.

Inle Lake near sunset.

Though the locals said the jumping cats at Nga Phe Kyang had passed away, our boat guide grabbed a cat and got it to jump over his hand. I guess I can see why they don't train them to jump anymore but cool thought.

The cute kittens at the no longer jumping cat monastery.

Fishing at sunset.

I had to use the bathroom but got invited for tea and snacks while I was there. I patched up the boy's face while I was at it. First aid is not a priority in the little villages.

A road-side cock fight.

Back to Thailand: coming full circle in a rush but no stress. So I've discovered that if I travel with someone that tends to stress more than I do, I remain calm. Anyone stresses a lot and looking to travel lol?

An Argentinian I had met in Bago on the way to Myawaddy as well. We both spent a night at the monastery near the Myanmar-Thailand border since we were low on kyat. The monk was eager to practice English and invited us back if we ever passed through again. The pilgrims sitting beside the monk were curious about us and awaited his translation of our situation.

Sleeping with our legs away from the Buddha.

Morning classes.