Some Thoughts on Myanmar



Sunset in Bagan



A Wedding Party

Now that I am back in Thailand, I have been reflecting on our trip to Myanmar.  One thing that I am certain of is that I prefer Thai food and am really happy to have it again.  We found it challenging to find good food and, in some cases just food we felt okay eating, but we did come across some great restaurants also.  As I’ve said in previous posts, the people are probably the nicest I have ever encountered.  While the country has opened to tourism, it has a long way to go.  The new capital, Nay Pi Taw, is a gross and huge statement to the wealth of the generals and the businessmen and women with whom they deal.  While we refused to visit, our train went by the place and we spoke to some people who did visit.  There are huge new highways with no traffic, big and expensive hotels with no guests and street after street of important looking buildings that foreigners cannot access.  A person I spoke with said he rented a motorbike and rode around for 4 hours and saw only a fraction of the place, but did see some scary looking buildings that he couldn't access including one titled the Department of Relocation.  Meanwhile, people are living nearby and all over the country in poverty.   I mentioned our horse cart driver who took us through his village.  He did not own the horse or the cart.  It was owned by a rich man in his village who received 75% of the proceeds from our ride.  Our driver received about 3,000 kyats which is around $3.00 and that is considered pretty good money.  We, of course, made sure he got as much as his “boss”.  He and his wife both work on farms owned by rich men in the summer and rainy season when the horse cart business drops off, he making $4/day while his wife makes $3/day. 


Soe Win and Horse - Nice Horse!

We drove through another village on the way to Mt. Popa where people had to walk a long distance to get water.  Some had carts with steel drums full of water, but there were men and women carrying two buckets balanced on their shoulders with a stick.  There is an election in 2015 and most everyone we spoke to is hopeful that Aung San Suu Kyi will be elected again and will be allowed to lead the country this time.  In the meantime, tourism is a way to help the people of this poor country.  So if you were planning a visit, do it!  These wonderful people need you!