Burma, Mandalay, January 2013, Part 3

[terry57]

I respected the Burmese. Many are very poor but they try to be clean and they construct shitters. Proud people.

[snakeeyes]

I think I have a stalker.

Andy Warhol .

[terry57]

Now this was a very interesting experience. Here we have a gap between two rock walls and the locals have turned it into a Wat. Hard to explain actually but at the bottom was where it all happened. Huge amount of work here over many years, crazy stuff and away from the Tourist circuit.

[terry57]

^^

Or Gary Glitter in drag.

[terry57]

Down below we have the wonderful wood stove. Not real good when it pisses with rain but hey, that's life innit.

[terry57]

This was a bit of a surprise. In the Wat they kept this Elk. Not quite sure where they got this from but all the devotees that rocked up thought it was their duty to feed the beast. it certainly was not starving, had a mate as well so that was nice.

[terry57]

Make the good karma and feed the beast.

[natalie8]

Fantastic thread, Terry!!! I've never made it to Burma but my mother and stepfather have been a few times, back in the '90's. You've really piqued my interest.

[terry57]

I am not a religious fella, in fact I consider my self an Atheist, its not that I'm anti religion its simply because Ive experienced so many religions there is no one answer. If I was religious I would be Buddhist. This is simply because I like the way a true Buddhist is suppose to live ones life. Not that it turns out that way but the thinking is solid. Anyway this Fella is telling me my trip is over, its time to head back to the Airport and home to Bangkok.

[terry57]

Yep , I get the message my golden friend, I'm going home Burma is done.

[terry57]

Anyway, I'm the sort of guy who will kick against the wind but if the big yellow guy tells me its time to go home I will not argue. Here we are at the new Airport.

[terry57]

The arrival area. Very flash innit.

[terry57]

Its a big new Airport with a freeway attaching it to the city. Along way out though.

[terry57]

So we have cleared customs and entered the massive void of nothingness. Nothing happening here no people or shops.

[terry57]

Here is the punters waiting for the flight back to Bangkok. Mad full innit.

[terry57]

So here we are at the fly bridge waiting for our flight. This place ain't no Thailand that's for sure. There banking on the future tourist boom. Suppose it will happen.

[terry57]

We finally boarded our flight back to Bangkok. That road lead all the way into Mandalay. It was a long way out.

[terry57]

Plenty of empty seats on the plane but no empty hotel rooms. There still getting to terms with tourist needs.

[terry57]

Ok, the trips dead and here is our plane arriving back in Bangkok. Love arriving back in Bangkok by the way, seems one steps back into the real world.

[terry57]

This was my third thread on Burma. It has taken me 12 months to finish the thread.

My thoughts on Burma ????

First Impression was Yangon. Really enjoyed getting around the city and experiencing the Burmese and the Capital.

Second Impression was Bagan. Had a brilliant time here touring the Temples and plebing around the place.

Third impression was Mandalay. Shit hole really, not a lot going for it, hot dusty and hard to get around. Nice to be a cashed up tourist who can afford to hire a driver to take one around but as a budget tourist one would go no where interesting. Be a nightmare in Summer.

Burma over all was Awesome. Get there now before the Backpackers decide they can afford to go there. Once they start flooding in its game over.

The big tip is, go there in top season, its not that easy to tour when the weather is good let alone traveling in summer.

Hope you enjoyed this thread and Burma in general. They are good people trying to survive in a hard environment.

Try to spend your money where it will feed down to the locals and that means avoiding top class hotels where the money feeds back to the dictators.

Cheers.

[Bower]

Great travel thread as always Terry, you put a lot of effort into it, Thank you

[katie23]

^ what he said. As with your other threads, I enjoyed this one, Terry. Thanks for the pics and comments. I have read some other bloggers' accounts on Burma, and they're mostly (young) backpackers, but they were more on words and less on pictures. This was the opposite, and both are good in their own ways. It's always nice to see/read other people's viewpoints on the same subject. Now that Burma has lifted its visa restrictions for most SEA countries, I expect it will be seeing more Asian tourists and not just Caucasians. It's in my bucket list. Cheers and rock on!

[ossierob]

Thanks Terry...I have stepped over the border a few times but now I know where to visit due to your informative thread.....well done mate....Go the Hawks

[barrylad66]

i said it before in an earlier post,and i'll say it again, brilliant thread terry and i'm now even more determined to visit

[cdnski12]

These monks only eat 1X per day ... Looks like they can diet a little bit?