Yangon – Monday, February 19
I took a trishaw to the Botatung Paya after breakfast. As I was walking around a guy stepped out of a little shop and called me over. The sign above his door said he was a fortuneteller. I had actually thought it might be interesting to visit one of these guys.
First, he invited me to take his picture – he saw I had my camera out. He indicated that I should be sure to include the sign above the door that said who he was. He then offered to tell my fortune for $20. “Wow,” I exclaimed, “that’s a lot of money.” I was thinking something more like $1.
“I’ll tell you a lot,” he said, “For example, I can see that you are always in a hurry.”
“Right you are,” I said, “Sorry, I’ve got to get going.” He laughed and waved good-bye. I didn’t feeling like bargaining with him, there just seemed to be too much distance between his price and mine.
In front of the paya there were several flower vendors. They were selling blossoms that were strung together into necklaces. You put them on the Buddha as an offering, I guess. Anyway, one of the vendors was a lovely young girl and I wanted to take her picture. First, I bought a string of flowers for 100 Kyat and then asked if I could take her picture. She was a little embarrassed – her fellow flower vendors were teasing her – but I could also see that she was flattered. I stood her by the paya wall and took several pictures of her.
Later, I took a trishaw downtown and spent the rest of the day walking around and taking pictures of anyone who would hold still. In many ways this is my favorite travel activity: just wandering wherever my whim takes me.
In the evening I went back to Sabai Sabai. When I was waiting for a taxi to return me to my hotel, I ran into an American fellow and we decided to go to a bar for a beer. He suggested a place called 50th Street Bar and Grill – it was one of those bars designed to make expatriates feel at home. It was full of American kitsch: street signs, advertisements and such. They also played a steady stream of American music. It was a strange experience to step out of Myanmar into a little piece of America.
I spent a pleasant few hours talking to the guy – he had worked at an astronomical observatory in Hawaii before quitting to come to Myanmar to study meditation – but I’m not sure I cared for the surrounding. In truth, I love Asia and would be going back to America all too soon.
Bangkok – Tuesday, February 20
In the morning I caught a flight back to Bangkok. After checking into the River View Guest House, I went out to prowl Bangkok. I had in mind to just hangout, eat Thai food and do a little shopping. The weather was hot but still quite pleasant.
Bangkok – Wednesday, February 21
The entire day was given over to wandering around Bangkok. I didn’t take any pictures and I didn’t buy anything – a very pleasant day.
Detroit, USA – Thursday, February 22
The highlight of the day was the 3:00am taxi ride to the airport and the 18 hour flight home. When I got to Ann Arbor I found it was snowing.
“What am I doing here?” I asked myself rhetorically.
The mechanics of a trip to Myanmar »
