Yangon

Some information about Burma/Myanmar:

Hello:             Mingarlabar
Thank you:    Jee zoo de mar Te.  Jee-zoo-bar (for short)
Cheers!         Jammar bar zee - good health

Population of Yangon:      5,000,000

Average monthly wage:   $USD100

1,000 kyat = $USD1

300-500 kyat 1 litre water (on the street). Supermarket 200 kyat

The number plates are coloured: 

red - taxis, buses;
blue - tourist;
black - private;
yellow - religious;
white - diplomat. 

Myanmar is known but three names, "Union of Myanmar", "The Golden Land", and "Land of Pagodas" - when you close your eyes and point with your finger, there will be a pagoda.

Cars are made for Australian roads - the steering wheel is on right hand side but they drive on right hand side of the road! Imagine it - to overtake cars - as the driver you're on the gutter side of the car, not being able to see what's coming towards you, you've got a long way to 'slide out' into the road to have a peek - so dangerous.

And you won't see a motor bike in Yangon - about 30 years ago a young person on a motor bike tried to shoot a VIP in a car on his way from the airport - banned then and still to this day.  

At various properties along the roadsides, clay pots and occasionally a cup, sit on ledges or tables. In order to gain merit, water is "donated" by locals for thirsty travellers. The better you are here on earth the more merit you gain and you'll come back as something better than an animal in the next life. 

There's not a lot of infrastructure here and certainly no rubbish collection: garbage litters the roadsides and people drop litter without any thought it seems. 

After arriving in Yangon and freshening up at our hotel, we headed off to see Shwegadon Pagoda in all its golden glory.  Every Burmese has a wish to visit this pagoda at least once in their lifetime. If they do, they can't then die happy.  
 

The stupa has a crowning diamond - 76 carats atop a ‘Diamond Bud’ of 1,800 diamonds for a total of 800 carats.

This was followed by a welcome dinner from our tour company, Myanmar Travel, that also included the obligatory cultural show, both of which we would have been happy to miss. You can't really beat a simple meal at a local restaurant - one where the locals eat. 

Thai monks wear saffron coloured robes. The monks here wear what I would describe as "crimson" robes, but we're told they are actually "dark brown". When commercial dyes were not available natural dyes were used and the tree bark colours the robes of Burmese monks. 

 

Women and children have their faces painted with a paste made from the thankha tree and water to protect them from the harsh sun and to, "make their skin soft and beautiful". The men wear it too but at night, at home!

Rainey having thankha paste put on to make her skin beautiful!

Boy at temple with face paste.

 The writing in Burma fascinates us - we're not sure what the symbols represent but here is an example: