Yangon - "the Temple" - Shewdagon

David talking now been a fabulous stay. Road to airport this morning past all these temples with a Bright orange sun amazing. This place has been just what the doctor ordered, slow, relaxing, aplenty to see when and if we wanted, great food and a real sanctuary of a place to stay. People have been fabulous and very kind and thoughtful, just like we'd been told. Back to Mary...

Yangon market place was amazing - HUGE and sprawling over a large area. There were 2 market places and we really only ventured into one after we had found a place to eat and me revive a bit hungry, hot and thirsty - not a good combo for me!

Had a lovely last day and night in Yangon though feet very sore from the barefoot walking around THE temple - Shwedagon. A magical place. Very peaceful despite the large numbers particularly later in the night. David was in his element! He loved it. I found it all a bit too over the top and more like a fantasy land than a religious place. But had a nice time talking to some students one studying English and the other physics. They came every Friday gift to meet and practice their english with foreigners visiting. They were lovely and no hidden agenda which was really nice. Lots of monks and nuns and even some important people from Yangon.

We has to move off the steps of a pavilion while they came passed though not sure why as they didn't go onto it or anything. There were 2 lots of sweepers who came around and a line of moppers after them. Yet still me feet were filthy! Anyway a lovely way to finish our trip - though even more so for David than me!

Well another great holiday. Lovely friendly. Picture will be added but it is not liking me at the moment!!

Temples temples and cooking!

Horse and carts - had a day trip out and about in a horse and cart so went further afield to Nyaung Oo to see the markets. Worth the visit but nice to get up of the crowds pretty quickly too. Had lunch at a nice Indian place. Very interesting how different the curries are everywhere.The horse and cart driver was very pleasant and very nice when we finished earlier than the days booking and payment we had made. Bit we'd had enough by then. Having taken one ride in the horse cart we are not pressured the same as we walk past the lineup of prospective drivers. All very friendly and a lot less persistent than in Bali and India. Temples - well as pre-warned you cannot wear shoes in these areas - once inside the area. This puts me out- I'd last a short time on the hard stone ground and then have to give up as my feet would hurt so David enters these alone and I wait so we split up for the day and he went templing and I went cooking.

My Cooking lesson, a private affair with me being the only participant and up to 4 staff around at any one time. Yummy food. I apparently chop very well and raced through the preparation fastener than it would normally happen. So 1 hour into it and I was ready to cook! All very good and very yummy but far too much to eat!

David is wandered around some temples on his own and communed with the spirits of distant civilisations or whatever. (and took photos of kids!)

Children pictures to come!

Myanmar - Bagan here we come!

Well Bagan after a day’s travel - shortish flight to get here from Singapore (2 1/2 hours) but then a 4 hour wait for domestic flight of 2 1/4 hours that stopped at 2 other places on the way. But got there! Dumped our bags and then headed to the hotel restaurant for tea. The restaurant is outside under huge acacia trees on the river bank. Very nice, peaceful, coolish and would be stunning if the heavy haze wasn't here. There is a dry dust haze (well that's what we think it is) that washes out all colour from the sky and river so it's like looking into fog.

First little adventure out the next morning and while David was in looking at one of the temples I was befriended by a local artist and later a woman who went to great lengths to reassure me look, no money and proceeded to paint my face with the ground bark from some tree that was not locally grown. We did wonder what this clay coloured face coating was on many of the locals. She told me it was for beauty and then insect repellant or sun screen- the second I believe! Any way very friendly and entertaining while waiting for David to reappear from the temple.

Last days - cooking and Mekong Delta

Vietnam day 1

Well great start to Vietnam – yummy lunch at 3:00ish followed by a great little explore of the local area in one direction. We’d planned to come here to avoid Chinese New Year but the Vietnamese celebrate it at the same time, only it’s called Tet. However it was wonderful wandering down the streets decorated to the max with floral displays and flax woven dragons, birds and other lovely things. Heaps of people taking photos of each other (I took a photo of a couple for them too). What a hoot though we were stopped by traffic control (pedestrian) because we were going down the street the wrong way – one way pedestrian movement!! Took a bit to work it out but then we did!!

Found a market place and a few mini supermarkets that we could stock up with snacks and water and drinks (no duty free in Vietnam!!) All made up for the ½ hour wait at immigration waiting for our visas to go through. Wonderful traveling with carry on only. Well off for another yummy meal I hope. Another blog soon.

X'ian

Random Highlights Our chance meeting a couple in a somewhat deserted street looking for a place to watch the final world cup game was great as we would not have seen the game otherwise. Ended up going to their hotel room to watch it along with another stray Japanese guy.

Terracotta soldiers – amazing but surprisingly we were a little underwhelmed. I think it’s because you know what you are going to see before hand and there are so many photos of it that we have already seen. Having said that it was incredible and if you thought about the time they were built and the vastness of it all it is amazing.

We luckily chanced on a couple of drumming performances and also a whip and juggling one. They were very cool – colour and vibrancy in an otherwise drab setting.

The market places and street food scene was worth the time. It was good to wander through market areas without being hassled to buy things. At some places we even had to call the sellers to us!

Overall a very grey city with gray buildings and sky. Pretty enough once it was a bit darker as the lights bring colour and warmth to the city. There were lots of trees and gardens. The gardened areas were consisted of beautifully arranged plants providing some colour – they were all still in their black polythene planter bags so very moveable.