Stupefied by stupas...
This is an amazing complex - crumbling Cambodia meets modern day Bangkok bling
- - old and new. Just fabulous!

Are you also going to Bagan?
I sure have enjoyed reliving everything about this fascinating country. I bet you will have a large group that will want to go back with you.

Three days in Bagan on our cruise and we board tomorrow.

This morning we flew from Heho to Mandalay . The airport was like stepping back in time. We all had to wear stickers identifying our flight. When a flight was ready to board a person with a hand held loudspeaker walked around and announced the flight. Another person held up a sign and started looking for the correct sticker. No assigned seats on the plane. The variety of passengers was also fascinating. On the TV were messages on the publication Do's and Dont's for tourists and a couple of funny commercials. Best was on a cell phone service about all the changes and the need for everyone to have a cell phone to,participate in the change.

The change in the country is evident everywhere and I am sure the in the next five to ten years it will change even faster. People seem very happy with the prospect of a better future.

Our transfer to Mandalay was pretty painless. Had lunch and all going separate ways and will meet for dinner. Tomorrow going to check out the jade market and another new cruise ship. Really looking forward to boarding the ship.

What a fabulous trip! The photographs have captured my imagination and they could be in any National Geographic or travel magazine. Ngaire, your descriptions of your experiences have brought this trip to life for those of us who are not there with you.

This is now definitely on my bucket list of future trips. Thank you to everyone for the posts!

Unbelievable photos !! Can't wait to hear about your cruise too.

Pix from the teak Shwe Yan Pyay monastery and temple. We visited this between the airport and boarding our longboat for the trip to the resort.

Iffy internet here. Going to post this in pieces. So if ends up unfinished you will understand,

The day we boarded the ship we first visited the Jade market. What an experience that was, not at all what we expected. This was a REAL grass roots place of the jade market. Definitely not on the tourist schedule. Brad asked to see it and I am glad he did. NOT FOR EVERYONE.

First walking on a street filled with motor bikes and llocals a zoo! We had to very careful. Along the way were tables with unfinished pieces of jade with all kinds of colors. Then we moved into the real jade market. We were walking on a mixture of mud and trash. Narrow mud pathways and packed with people. Plus people cooking the most awful looking food and very dirty. Only a few people could go with a guide as keeping together is not easy.

On the good side it was fascinating. We were told Burmese jade is the best in the world. The primary market is the Chinese who buy jade and take it back to China to finish and sell. Chinese were looking at the jade with high intensity flashlights and haggling with the Burmese salesmen. One area there was a charge for foreigners. (I think they mean foreign jade buyers) they let us through without a glance. This area is primarily for Burmese to sell to Burmese. I could have that all wrong hard to understand the guide.
There were men polishing the jade with an antiquated looking table with a wheel.

Only a few cases with finished products and a few vendors with cheap looking stuff. Our guide could tell the real from the plastic. Not a place to go and shop.

I would advise this only for the people who can handle a situation like this, not for those that cannot handle close up poverty, dirt, nasty food, and crowds of locals. The guide said very few tourists come here I imagine the tour agencies do not want people to visit.

So far so good on the Sanctuary river boat. Some things great others not so much but that is true of all ships and hotel.

So far highlight is the food. I do not like Asian food or spicy food and am allergic to onions so food for me can be a challenge. Lunch had about twelve different main dishes including duck, veal, soft shell crab, sea bass and more. Condiments to spice it and Asian sauces on the side along with some curries made everyone happy. Dinner last night was the same we all loved our food. Chef was 25 years at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and had his own tv cooking show.

Cabins are really a good size but the bed and pillows are hard. Internet only in the lobby and bar. Strange layout on the ship to get around. Overall though so far a good ship for sure

Jade market

Really liked today's excursion. We went to a village where the Sanctuary sponsors the village school. Only this boat visits this village. Of course other boats may do the same thing at a different place.

Children were adorable and it was interesting as to see the men and women working. Men had simple equipment to process and cut grass for the cows. One man was a carpenter making cabinets. Men on bikes taking goods to market, women carrying market goods on their heads. Three ladies making hats out of bamboo with a one year old baby. Everyone was very friendly and smiling the kids particularly. Lots of activity everywhere. They welcomed us into their yards.

The houses were simple bamboo houses but all were nicely kept up. Though the pigs, cows and chickens were around the houses. Lots of crops, peanuts, beans, peas and flowers. This is the real thing for sure I noticed they did have some electricity.

At the end of the tour the ship handed out notebooks and pencils to the school children

Absolutely fascinating experience we all loved it.

At every monastery and temple you must take off both shoes and socks and go in bare feet.
Your feet get really dirty. The guides give you a packaged wet wipe to clean your feet amazing how black that cloth gets. It was nice today to not have to take off our shoes and socks

I should have mentioned the pencil thing to you. These children can't attend school without one. There are several charities that send volunteers over each year with pencils and backpacks for many. The ones I met were all from Australia and were visiting orphanages. I am so happy to hear your ship does this also.
Can you tell I'm really into this trip?

Whoops forgot to post about our afternoon tour after boarding the ship. Another enjoyable excursion. First we went to an orphanage and school. In the North of Myanmar there is still unrest and the children from this area are sent to this orphanage for their safety and education. They study all the major subjects and there are two thousand children educated here. Some local children also come here for an education. The government provides free schooling from grade one to grade four. Then the parents have to pay. If they cannot pay the children go to a school run by the monks.

The children were taking an examination for English. I was amazed at how neat their English handwriting was in their notebooks. Kids everywhere and we arrived just as school was ending for the day. Some good pictures will follow.

Then the weaving factory and bathroom break.

Then onto the famous teak bridge for the sunset. I had expected to walk on the bridge but instead we were four to a small boat to watch the sunset. It was beautiful to see the bridge and sunset together. Cameras were clicking away. Then a boat pulled up and gave us all a glass of champagne. What a way to end a day.

White-throated Kingfisher.






Our guide Lin.

That picture of the child holding the puppy is great! Thanks for all the photos and reports. I'm loving it!

Ngaire, will you be stopping at Thanbyuzayat (WWII POW cemetery)? Will you have a chance to see the old Burma Road or Burma Railway?

Trip seems fascinating; sign us up!

DITTO !! That's my very favorite too.

School.

So far behind. This is a busy cruise. Had to look back at the daily programs to remember it all

We visited a market that was totally local. Much like markets those you may have before if you have travelled to this area of Asia. Best part was two little kids at the fire station. Very old fire trucks and their father came out and he was a firefighter. We took pictures then showed the kids. They got very excited and we loved it.

Then we went to cigar factory. It was really a great stop. The ladies making cigars from start to finish so quickly. They get paid on how many they produce. We had to ask what the cost and they were about $1.50 each. Only about 15 minutes.

Two temples in the afternoon. Unfortunately Kayminga Pagoda was having the gold leaf restored so the main dome was hidden. Then off to Shwezigone Pagoda one of the few you can climb and it is steep and a long way up. I went to the first level but the steps are steep and I decided I was done. Most made it to the third or fourth level and a few made it to the fifth level. It was crowded as we went at sunset.

Next day was our balloon flight and a full day program. Too much in one day but the only option for the four day cruise guests. If we come back with a group I will plan the ballon ride on a different day.

We had to leave at 5.00 pm. A very professional organization. So many balloons all very close together. This area is like a jungle not a lot of clearings so they all use the same departure point. We had a well designed basket. Four sections with four people per section. Not crowded. Also a seat to use when in the brace landing position.

Flying over all the stupas was terrific made even better by the number of balloons at varying heights around us. We all really enjoyed the experience. Of course complete with glass of champagne, fresh fruit, banana bread and croissants.

Then back to ship for breakfast and then off for our full day tour. First the Ananda Temple. Built in a square with the main focus on a very large Buddha on each side. Also lots of niches on the walls of smaller Buddhas on each side. Followed by a horse cart ride for about fifteen minutes.

Then off to The Mount Popa Monastery and Mount Popa National Park. It took about an hour to get there but most of us took a little nap and it was well worth the trip. On the top were lots of fruit and vegetable stands that had nice looking produce.

On arrival at the base of the 700+ steps to monastery it was a hive of activity. Monkeys everywhere, people bargaining for goods from the little shops. Great fun. There was a temple to 37 spirits. Ranging in size from four to five feet the statues were very decorated in bright colored clothing that is changed from time to time. People were making offerings of flowers. Really interesting and the guide explained the meaning of some of the spirits. None of us went up to monastery of course it would take a long time. The monastery was bright gold built on top of a mountain. Spectacular to view.

Then off we went to the Popa Resort hotel where an menu was offered instead of the expected buffet. I got chicken piccata that was surprisingly good. The menu was extensive. Plus the view of the monastery. The resort was lovely built in the jungle with lush vegetation.

That evening they had a sandbank dinner. The setting was perfect and the food as usual fantastic wonderful assortment and cooked to order stir fry by the chef

Food has been outstanding. Different than I am used to good mixture of Asian and western food. We have all been very happy.

Cigar ingredients at the market plus cigar factory visit - bustling market town of Pokakku

Market in Pokakku

Trucks and transport - Pokakku

A visit to a village that Sanctuary sponsors:


On the ferry boat.




Our welcoming committee.














Our Guide.

Sanctuary Ananda.

Cooking demo from the Chef.


Very long bridge.

Balloon ride in Began:

These photos are mesmerizing. I have never seen anything like this. Leslie, I really hope you will think about making a book from this trip. I would love one.

What a fascinatingly trip! We would love to join if you take a group back!
--------------------
Helen

Mt Popa is the spiritual home to Myanmar's 37 'nats'; spiritual beings enthusiastically and superstitiously worshipped for their various personalities and qualities. The lady in blue is a medium who places the offerings of flowers, money, whiskey etc and intercedes with the spirits. The nat shrine is at the base of Mt Popu, a volcanic plug reached by 777 steps, crowned by a glittering gold temple complex. I would have loved to spend more time there, and even climbed up to the top - it was so colorful and animated. A photographic feast.

Pix of the temple from the resort, (hazy - Ken probably got some ok shots of that) plus the nat shrine below.

I think this is a great trip and If there is enough interest I can fit in a hosted trip around the same time in 2017. November/December time period. Have a plan to take the best of what we have seen and adapt it a bit. Some different hotels but plan on the Sanctuary Ananda boat.

So post here or send me an email if you are interested. Once I know there is enough interest then I will put it together and get pricing. Length of trip about 13 nights in Myanmar plus travel time

This does require a certain level of fitness, getting into and out of small ferry boats, some stairs and a willingness to take off shoes and socks and walk bare feet into all temples and monasteries.

Myanmar is poor but there is a good feeling here as most people are industrious, working, and plenty of food. Big towns are dirty but the farm houses in the country side are kept up well with obvious pride of ownership. Still unspoiled it will be very different five years from now.

A few more photos from Myanmar:

Watching the balloons at sunrise from the Ananda.

What is the stuff that they rub on their faces? What is the meaning?

These pictures and the narrative are great - thank you so much! It's timely as we have been planning to spend a little time in Myanmar next March. We have only 4 nights - I'm not sure how best to spend that time as it looks like that will only scratch the surface.

Ken....kingfisher picture....wow!!!