Bangkok
Thailand
January 5, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
Every Lonely Planet guidebook has a tag line on the front cover:
The Thailand book has "What to Do in the Land of Wats."
The Austria book has "The Hills Are Alive."
The Southwest France book - "From Hot Springs to Holy Shrines."
The Los Angeles book - “From Collagen to Celluloid.”
The tag line for the Myanmar (Burma) book is “Should you go? See inside for details.”
Queens Park Hotel
Yangon, Myanmar
January 29, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
On my last full day in Myanmar, I planned to visit The Shwedagon Paya (temple) once again, either at sunrise or at sunset. The guidebook says it's "magical."
{C}
January 12, 2005
Yangon. A cacophony of traditional markets - chicken butchers at the ready; Christian churches - "Merry Christmas" banners flying; Mosques - young boys give me a tour; Hindu temples - colorful ornate sculptures; British colonial buildings - gazing lions atop imposing brick walls; shops, stalls, sidewalk vendors.
Sule Paya. In the center of Yangon, its 46m high golden zedi (gently tapering cylindrical cone) serving as my orientation point whenever I got lost.
In and around Yangon, I found many other excellent Buddhist sights:
One of my favorites is the Botataung Paya:
Mandalay
Myanmar
January 11, 2005
Dear Family and Friends,
Today is a day for a quiet stroll.
After breakfast at the hotel, I stroll over to the main market - three floors of dozens of small stalls selling dry goods and clothing and cosmetics, house wares and electronics. I buy a small piece of red and gold-threaded floral design fabric to add to my collection. Next I stroll out to the street for a coffee under the clock tower.
Then I stroll towards Strand Street which could only mean the The River. The guidebook says, "There is always something happening there." Mandalay is very spread out so I stroll about half way to the river and hail a tri-shaw.
January 18, 2005
I did not take The 'Road' to Mandalay. The distances are long; the pavement uncertain; the bus and train schedules, uneven. The flights are short, on time and the service personnel. . . .
I arrived in Mandalay, set out on my stroll, and soon asked myself, "Jan, what the hell are you doing here?" Dusty, noisy, unattractive city streets. Can't find a decent restaurant. Then I remembered, "Jan, this is Asia. Patience. Patience."
I hired a taxi.
I love Mandalay.
{C}
I love Mandalay. I hate my hotel room. I wander and explore. I discover the Unity Hotel. At the reception desk, Thida is so lovely and gracious. With a kind smile she says, “We will be happy to welcome you.” I checked in the next day
After breakfast, before my climb of Mandalay Hill, I invite Thida for coffee. She smiles. She declines
