Myanmar Oct. 1, 2012

     On our bus drive for 179 miles from Yangon (Rangoon) to Pyay (Prome), we travelled on a 2 lane “highway” with canals, many pedestrians, bikes and motorcycles on each side, several traffic jams and frequent thatched roof toll booths. After we stopped to have our bus blessed, Daniel told us highlights of each small village: a WWII cemetery, famous for rice and limes, home of the spirit whistler, has a home for aged poor, has Buddha with spectacles and another has a replica of Buddha’s toe.
     Some of my observations:  the bus driver used his horn frequently, mini buses have riders on top and hanging onto the back in addition to passengers squished inside(similar to India), many rice fields (like Chico area), corrugated iron roofs on buildings and thatched roofs on smaller homes plus  MANY gold painted Stupas (built for merit) which contain relics.  In fact, Daniel said that at the end of our river trip we would be “Templed out and “stupa-fied.”
     At our embarkation point, a crew member was on my right side holding an umbrella while I held Kathy’s hand as we walked down concrete steps and over rough beach terrain to our river vessel, the Katha Pandaw for our Irrawaddy Expedition.  Everyone except me had to remove their shoes on board.  Since our air conditioned cabin was on the Main Deck, I had to climb stairs to the Upper Deck where the dining area was open air seating.