FUN-travel: Lovely Inle Lake
October 28, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Lovely Inle Lake
- Land of Long Boats…
…Lily Pads….
…Lotus Flowers…
&…
…the Original “Over the Water” Bungalows!
FUN-travel: Wonderfully Cool Kalaw & Caves
October 26, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Wonderfully Cool Kalaw & Caves
- At nearly 4000 ft above sea level…
…this mountain retreat…
…with its cool breezes…
…is a welcome respite…
…from the oppressive heat & humidity of the last 10 days!
Today’s adventure…
…a trek through the pine forest…
…ending in the fields…where local villagers…
…with water buffalo tractors…
…are picking their crops…
…green beans, eggplant & carrots…
- After working in the fields all day…
…grandma was taking a much deserved break….
…and enjoying her grandchildren.
- Our trek ended…
…at the 313 meter long lime stone caves…
…containing hundreds of Buddha images.
FUN-fact – After I took this picture I recognized her so went in for the close up.
FUN-travel: Mandalay – Monasteries & Monks
October 25, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Mandalay – Monasteries & Monks
- Initiation Ceremony…a coming of age…for Burmese children…
…boys must enter the monastery… for a minimum of one week
…they can stay or they can go after that…
…girls on the other hand…get their ears pierced…
…Hmmm…seems pretty fair to me!
- U Bein Bridge…built in 1850…
…world’s longest teak footbridge gently curves 1300 yards… monsoon season water levels can easily rise above it…
FUN-fact: Discovery Channel is filming in Mandalay today and has been at every one of our afternoon stops including the Monks evening prayers!
FUN-travel: Irrawaddy River Village
October 22, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Irrawaddy River Village
- Today’s Stop – Yandabo Village…
…home of the pottery factory…
…clay carted up from river bank…
…has sand added, kneaded by stomping feet…
…then woman working in tandem…
…one rhythmically pushing the spinning wheel foot pedal…
…while the other…
…carefully shapes & molds the wet clay
- Intense midday heat… coupled with high humidity…& the lull of gliding on the calm river…makes a noon time nap inevitable…
Daily Ship Entertainment…River TV…only one channel…sliding glass double doors provide the Hi Def Wide Screen
FUN-travel: Irrawaddy River Cruise
October 21, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Irrawaddy River Cruise
- Ancient Bagan to Royal Mandalay…
…on the Pandaw RV Paukan 2007…
…a Colonial Style River Boat…
…dubbed “Charming Cruising Boutique Hotel”…
…and that it is…
…with rooms twice the size of your typical river boat!
Today’s Stop – Shwe Pyi Thar Village
…kids are kids…
…no matter where you are in the world…
…laughing and playing…
…and today’s treat…
…caused squeals of delight…
…as 2 villagers provided the front & hind legs…
….of a crudely fashioned elephant…
…dancing and charging about…
…and being slayed by the children
After Dinner – Puppet Show
…performance by…
…4th generation puppeteer family from Bagan
FUN-fact: We took our 1st Pandaw River Cruise on the Mekong Delta in 2010.