Myanmar

Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

T he first thing you notice when you take that 1 hour drive from the airport to the city is the noise, pollution, and friendly smiles.

The streets were littered with 'motorbikes'

trishaws (bicycle taxis) and pick-up trucks

full of people.

Traditional Burmese women carry baskets, pots, laundry (almost anything) on their heads, to and from the markets. It's remarkable to see.

All monks wake up at 4am and walk the streets to gather food (and money) from the village people. After 12pm they are not allowed to eat for the rest of the day...

Hired a personal taxi to take me around

Mandalay. This was the taxi (dog didn't go)

One of my stops was to a temple, in the temple a school. It was incredible, tourist were walking around while these children were in their class.

(Because Myanmar only has a few visitors a year, it didn't see to be much of a problem)

This is another traveler I met...we became friends. He and I both got mobbed by these children to buy their necklaces, bracelettes, etc..

They wouldn't take no for an answer either.

3 Monks on a teak bridge...longest teak bridge in the world.

Sunset along the teak bridge was a great way to end my 2nd

day in Mandalay. I've taken hundreds of more pictures. Much much better pictures than these, but unfortunately I saved them as RAW files and cannot convert them until I get home.

I will travel to Laos and Cambodia in the next few weeks, will try to take more .jpg pictures and post them.