At the end of February we had the opportunity to visit our friends Sarah and Anthony in tropical Myanmar, also called Burma. It was my first trip to South Asia, and it did not disappoint. Aside from getting to see our wonderful friends after a very long break, we got to visit a fascinating country that, not unlike Mongolia, is in the midst of a great transition. We spent a few days in Yangon checking out its parks, walking through an endless market, marveling at the grandness of Shwedagon Pagoda and the millions of bats flying over it in the evening, enjoying the moldy grandeur of the many remaining Colonial era buildings, and eating everything from dirt cheap Indian food to a fancy brunch at the “Governor’s Residence” complete with tiny, individual creme brûlées.
The second half of our trip was spent in true paradise on Ngapali beach, an hour flight west of Yangon. One day we went out snorkeling in a tiny little boat that barely seemed sea worthy. On our way back we stopped at an island and drank fresh juices out of coconuts. We also got massages, swam, ate amazing fish on the beach as we watched the sunset and, in general, became as relaxed as jelly fish.
Sarah wrote a fabulous description of our trip here which is pretty much everything I wanted to write about, so I will just post a few additional photos below that we took. We both hope to make it back to magical Myanmar soon.
The streets were either wide and empty or like this one teeming with life and activity.
Shwedagon Pagoda was an interesting mix of religious worship and individuals selling plastic crap from China.
Outside the Pegu Club, a gentleman's club popular from the 1800's to the early 1900s.
Burmese written on a wall in the Pegu Club.
Why can't all my breakfasts be like this one?
Our hotel at Ngapali Beach. We felt it was our duty to give them business.
Two fisherman near our hotel bringing in the night's catch.
The women were in charge of spreading the fish on the beach to dry.
Brian contemplating all the life decisions that he had made to get where he was.
Off for a day in our yacht.
Last but not least me and my pig cake.