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Weekend trip to Inle Lake, Taunggyi and Kalaw hill station
I had some spare time late last week - (Myanmar public holiday). I had planned to visit some of the orphanages near to Inle Lake and assess the long-term educational needs of the children, as well as to donate teaching resources and English/Myanmar story-books.
(This is an ongoing project that I do in my spare time for orphanages that are within reach on my dirt-bike. It is basically a 'karma' thing for me and increasing my odds of reaching heaven or hell when the day comes - I hear that hell is more fun, what with all the drunken orgies etc...)
The hill road between Naypyidaw and Inle Lake reaches an altitude of 5,000 feet.
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There are two hill ranges, and the road drops down to a small village by the lakes that you see in the first photo - the lakes were created by the Paung Laung dam. Time for a hot coffee 'cos it is cold in them there hills.
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At Inle Lake, there is an orphanage just for boys, cared for by an old monk. This was my first visit to this orphanage and I was able to assess what teaching resources they already had (in pedagogical parlance, this value is referred to as 'fcuk all'). So lots for me to do there.
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The second stop was in the nearby town of Taunggyi (capital town of Shan State), where I made a return visit to a home for disabled kids and adults. They are cared for by several nuns and it's a very happy place, despite many of the children being mentally and physically disabled (20 teen girls all in wheelchairs 'cos of polio). An Italian charity is working with me to pay for a playground and I'm donating upper-body physiotherapy equipment, such as small dumb-bells and springs to strengthen muscles.
Then it was over to the hill-top town of Kalaw. On the way I saw a train! I had seen the rusty and overgrown narrow gauge rail track on many occasions before, but I thought it was disused.....
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At Kalaw, there is a small convent orphanage for about 24 girls. This was my first visit to that home and story books and games etc were donated. I chatted with the nun who explained to me the long-term educational needs of the girls, and I'll be making a return trip with more supplies.
All of these orphanages - even the one at touristy Inle Lake very rarely receive any visitors or donations, apart from locals who donate food and clothes. My efforts are for the long-term teaching of spoken English to the kids. If they are able to speak good English by the time they reach 18 years old, then they stand a much better chance of going to college or getting a job. But each orphanage and kids are different in their English abilities etc, and so I have to plan for each home.
Right now, I have plans in place for 5 orphanages, and I'm due to visit another 3 next week in Kayah State. (Sadly, there are literally hundreds of orphanages in Myanmar, with 10's of thousands of orphans or abandoned kids).
But the kids are all happy and smiling (I haven't uploaded photos of the children for privacy reasons).
Anyway, my bum is really sore now (no, I didn't meet some well-endowed ladyboy in Taunggyi, the long hours on my bike on the bumpy hill road is the culprit!).