28. July 2001 10:52
by Rene Pallesen
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I initially made plans to explore Burma and then make my way across the border into western China at Burma's only border crossing up north. I had not made any definite plans wanted to play it by ear... but in the end my trip consisted of Thailand, Cambodia and restricted areas to Burma.
I was away for a total of 5 weeks and must admit that parts of my trip really frustrated me - there were many restrictions in Burma and being in Bangkok at times stressed me because of all the tourists and crowds. I really only went to Cambodia to see the magnificent Angkor Wat - actually I really did enjoy being there. I think my most enjoyable part of the trip was the days I had climbing on the secluded areas of Krabi.
28. July 2001 10:51
by Rene Pallesen
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28. July 2001 10:50
by Rene Pallesen
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Whilst I was up north, I watched a rather interesting game of volleyball.
I have never seen such dexterity and agility amongst the players!
It was amazing to see how flexible these guys were.
28. July 2001 10:50
by Rene Pallesen
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There is a monastry on Mt Popa - a hill located 50km away from Bagan.
When I was there, it was a cloudy day.
I ran into a woman selling petrified wood - quite silly really, considering the place was covered with it.
They must think tourists are stupid! *laugh* I managed to pick up a couple of small pieces to take back with me.
As you can see, there are stacks of them around.
And no... this is not a tombstone.
This is actually a road sign.
You would be surprised how big some of these pieces are - this piece below was actually about a metre long and 40cm wide.
Actually what I found interesting were the toilets in Burma.
My girlfriend tells me that squatting over a toilet is quite common in Asia.
In many of the city areas, they would have toilets as we know them, and they would also have a carved hole in the ground, on which either side, one places their feet on.
Toilets in the rural area are more crude than that - a hole leading into a gaping pit.
However, what I found interesting about these toilets were that recycled running water was used to wash away any excrement. The water is first used for washing one self and then used in the toilets.
As there were a few toilet cubicles a row, sometimes you would see the excrement from a toilet uphill go beneath you! *laugh*
Very clever and environmental system, I think!
Trying to grab a snooze... *smile*
Like Schweddagon, most of this is real gold as well.
And yes, there is a monkey sitting near my head.
If you click to the next page, you will see that I have taken a series of photos of the monkeys.
28. July 2001 10:49
by Rene Pallesen
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I saw the most interesting puppet show, known as the “Mandalay Marionettes”
There were 2 or 3 puppeteers out the front, with a live band of musicians.
Unfortunately, it was more of a show for the tourists, rather than the locals.
It cost 1,000 chats or US$2 per show.
28. July 2001 10:49
by Rene Pallesen
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I decided take a 20-hour train-ride to Myitkyinã *laugh* it took 20-hours to get there by train because there was only one track.
It was definitely faster to run next to the train than to travel in it!
We had to wait for the oncoming train to return before we could travel north.
At one point, we crossed a bridge that was so rickety that I thought it would collapse any moment!
Locals working in the rice fields.
Locals using water-buffaloes to plough rice fields.
The train travelled along the Jrrawaddy River.
It would have been nice if I was able to travel to Mandalay via a riverboat down the Jrrawaddy River.
It was amazing to find out that people live “on” these lakes, by building houses on stilts.
This sort of housing is quite common in many parts of Asia, especially areas where monsoons quite frequently flood an area.
It is also very environmentally-sound, I think, and hurts the land less.
Most of the houses are made of wood.
Myitkyinã is pretty dismal in rain!
There is a huge drug problem in Burma, especially through the crossings into China.
I have scanned a copy of a recent newspaper article about this problem in Burma.
