Another Day in Yangon

Day 2--Yangon
So I am several, several days/nights behind in getting posts written and published--we have actually moved on to Bagan, finished the cruise on the Irrawaddy, and now are in Mandalay. The culprit is the internet. Connections here are miserable, but it seems that Mandalay might be a bit better.

So....back to Yangon!

Had a great night’s sleep and a terrific breakfast of cold meats, eggs, fresh juices and the most incredible marmalade—all the while listening to people chat in various languages and accents.  There seem to be a lot of Australians, French and British staying at the Savoy.  We’re staying here two more times—one night on the way from the eastern mountains to the beaches on the Bay of Bengal, and then our last two nights before heading home. We love our room and they’ve said we can have it for both stays.

Nyi Nyi took us at our word at wanting to see “real’ life in Yangon and drove us straight through the city to experience the local daily market (we were supposed to go to the tourist market).  It was fascinating--block after block of streets and alleys crowded with families buying and selling everything from beef, chicken, fish and goat (LOTS of goat). Most of it was cut into large sections, then butchered right on the spot.

It’s all out in the open with no refrigeration—and honestly didn’t smell bad, just required a strong stomach.  I am still trying to figure the lack of smell out out—especially with so much fish. Yes, there were lots of flies, lots of yelling and some shoving and pushing.  But what a scene! Veggies, fruits, spices, clothes. Nyi Nyi says every city and village has a market like this, but Yangon has the biggest one.

Clearly there were multi-generational stalls—some little children happier than others to be stuck there. Many people had the unique sun-screen/moisturizer plastered on their cheeks.  It’s made on the spot from the bark of a tree—powdered, then mixed with water and applied. Nyi Nyi says it is supposed to make you look 10 years younger. We haven’t tried it yet, but plan to!

We switched gears and started our tour deep into Buddhism. Nyi Nyi took us to see the reclining Buddha…I won’t quote numbers to say exactly how big it the statue is.  Just look at the two pictures! The soles of Buddha’s feet have 108 symbols relating to various aspects of the animate and inanimate worlds—the details are above my head.

After a rest we went back out to do the required sunset visit to Shwedagon Pagoda—the one that President Obama visited when he was here in November. No shoes or socks allowed, and Bud had to wear the traditional men’s longyi, or long skirt.  It took Nyi Nyi forever to get it rigged, and you can see how happy Bud is about it!

Shwedagon is perhaps Myanmar’s most iconic landmark—a 300+ foot tall pagoda, wrapped in 60+ tons of gold plate and topped with diamonds and rubies and more. Not only that, it’s the center of a 14 acre park with 64+ other shrines and pagodas—some illuminated with neon lights. There are people praying, monks and novices chanting, families stopping by for a snack and quick prayer—even young couples out for an evening stroll. The “thing” to do is arrive as the sun is setting and watch the golden pagoda light up and change color.  Some storm clouds gave us a very dramatic backdrop—it was amazing! Also interesting to see groups of volunteers taking up brooms and sweeping in long lines to keep the terraces clean.  And Nyi Nyi convinced Bud to participate and pour water over the head of a smaller shrine—right next to a monk.

I'll post more pix as soon as I get a better internet connection--it has taken hours to get this one post done!

Tomorrow—up at 4AM to catch an early morning flight to Bagan on the Irrawaddy River. The area is known for its pagodas.