September 7th, 2010
Myanmar – My Photo Journey
So, my friend in Shanghai could not see the pictures from my trip in August to Myanmar, so I promised her I’d post a few pictures here.
A little background: I went with my school, we toured, and did some volunteer work. It was amazing.
Mu mu (far right, baseball cap) helps us brave the dangerous roads on the way to an open market.
What you see: the backs of me and my roommate's heads. What you probably can't see: The gorgeous hill tribe women with brass rings on their necks and legs opposite of us.
In search of coconut jelly. Fail.
Lights, camera, wind tunnel, cow pattys, go!
Some things are priceless, like getting soaked and having to change into tribal clothes and then getting applauded for changing:)
I think I ate more dessert than all eight of the other people there.
Julie, Rita, and Kevin playing hand games after lunch.
Can you see how enthused I am to practice this song in another language?
I call that the picture of Jebus. The religious fervor in this country whether Buddhist or Christian was only rivaled by the spiciness of the food! The bigger the images and statues the better:/
We were very happy that was not raining while we were in the taxi.
Not having air conditioning in a tropical country was fine for me, walking through puddles in my nice shoes--okay, but getting into the dirty taxis and watching them speed down the half-paved roads only following the rule that everyone needs to get out of my way-that was rough.
After getting over my fears of becoming filthy and dying on the busy roads of Yangon I really enjoyed the taxi rides.
I threw a royal princess hissy fit at the Shwedagon Pagoda because it was rainy and we had to take off our shoes. I didn't care for all the buildings, Buddhist services, or little monks following us around. I was mostly mad about being barefoot though.
I was one of the few, the proud, to ride on the old elevator at the renowned Strand Hotel in Yangon.
Chinatown in Yangon
On the grounds of the Karaweik Palace Buffet. The show had great food, dancing, and a puppet performance. Too bad I was too ill to enjoy it:)
There was a turquoise heart on this boat, so we called it the love boat.
Kevin, Tanner, Mark, and Sam playing with knives.
We voted not to visit this pagoda at Inle LaKe.
Cultural lesson. Women are not supposed to talk to monks. Jenn said it was a fake monk because he was so chatty.
Most memorable person from the trip, Mu Mu. He took care of us: Kept us dry and actually tried to speak to us in broken English.