Myanmar- Full of Surprises!

Right from the start, I was surprised by Yangon which has no motorbikes- only cars and buses. There is also a beautiful synagogue there with only one Jewish family left of a once thriving community. On the from the airport, I saw a ferris wheel.

Yangon combines modern and traditional buildings, the most famous pagodas and temples in the country and I will blog a more about them with more pictures when I get home.

Now I am at a lovely spot at Lake Inle called Pristine Lotus Hotel and Spa which is heaven on earth, so beautiful and calm. The staff is friendly and nice. Minority groups live in the area and specialize in different handicrafts so everyday we go by boat to their villages to see how they make their wares. Yesterday was the 5 day market and we saw people from all around come to buy and sell. Wait until you see the photos! I hope the capture the color, drama and excitement of the day!

Myanmar- Inle Lake

From Yangon we flew to central Myanmar to lovely Inle Lake where people fish, farm and live on the lake. Yes, farm on the lake! Stripes of earthen mats are floated on the lake and secured with bamboo poles. Farmers in boats tend their crops. Everything happens on the lake! Here is the entrance to a major market as well.

Laos- Elephant Camp and the Countryside

This morning we went to an elephant camp where we rode on an elephant through beautiful scenery.This camp, a joint venture which benefits the people around it, the environment and the elephants, was the brainchild of German man named Marcus who start Tiger Trail Adventures. We then took a short boat ride to a lovely waterfall which was not as full as it can be during rainy season.
After that we changed our itinerary from kayaking and instead went three villages to see how the people nearby really live. We saw people at work, children at school and coming home for lunch break, women working at home, as well as people dancing at a community center in honor of a small festival. There was a live band and singers.

Pictures will follow when I get home.

Laos- Maison Souvannaphoum

Here I am having breakfast in the hotel in the charming city in the cultural heart of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO heritage site. The 25 room hotel was once the residence of a former prince and is a walk away from the Royal Palace and Museum and many temples, including Mount Phousi Temple. The staff is as nice as can be as are all the people we have met so far. Most Laotians are Buddhists who value loving kindness.

La Residence Hotel and Spa, Hue Viet Nam

The Markets of Siem Reap- Tourists Galore

Siem Reap was the capital of ancient Cambodia. It is now the capital of the Angkor region and a very popular tourist region. There are 167 hotels in the city. There are many market areas- Night Market, Old Market, New Market. Most sell similar goods, many scarves, jewelry, carvings, souvenirs for tourists. The scene is crowded and colorful. There are many people in the streets. There are people hawking their wares. A new phenomenon is a fish pedicure. Fish eat the dead skin off your feet.I had never seen that and then understood the signs I had seen which read NO PIRANHAS!! Not for me, thank you. I did buy scarves for myself and gifts though.

The Great Lake of Cambodia- Happy Lunar New Year!!

The Tonlé Sap also known as the Great Lake of Cambodia is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia.The Tonlé Sap is the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.The Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.There are many villages of boat houses on the lake. Many fisherman and their families live there. Some live in basic conditions: some have flat screen TV's bigger than mine! There are floating schools, churches, telephone towers, generators. The communities are generally basic and fresh drinking water is a luxury for a few of the villages. Now in the dry season the sediment in the water makes it very brown but we saw many children swimming, even though there were signs saying not to swim. Today was the Lunar New Year and many homes were decorated and had people celebrating with family parties. Happy Lunar New Year to you!!