Bagan

Rangoon is more or less what I expected. From people living , eating and working on the street, to the Strand Hotel, the local Raffles. The only surprise, given that this is a major city in Asia is that there are no bicycles or motorbikes.

Obviously we made a trip to a Stupa with a long complicated name I can’t remember. Quite spectacular and plenty of bling. The Budha no longer makes do with a simple Halo painted behind his head, or a few candles for his ” Aura” but has flashing lights like something at a Fairground.

Bagan is full of acres and acres of temples. We went to see some this evening and will see more tomorrow! Here cycles and motorcycles are allowed. We started with a walk into town and a good browse round the market. Vegetables displayed beautifully and stacks of dried salted fish, spices etc. , and some fairly fowl smelling (probably fish) paste. Every thing you need to keep your kitchen cupboard full.

Monsoon is very much in full swing, we were not caught in the downpour this after noon, but were on our return from a fantastic puppet show this evening. Now the room is festooned with wet clothes.

And so to sleep as we have a fairly early start and Sheila likes to allow loads of time in the morning.

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Asia

Bangkok

By myself in Asia. Car I thought I had paid for from the airport to the Hotel didn’t exist, and the Airport Residence Hotel and Spa isn’t near the airport. Minor issues.

From my hotel window there is a buzzing little market, and despite, or because of the air conditioning I have opened the windows and can almost smell the food.

There was lots I wanted to eat there, when I had a wander a short time ago, but there were also a lot of gasping fish and very fine looking toads in baskets. So in the interest of world conservation I am still hungry and will probably use the Hotel’s mediocre restaurant.

They’re a bit faint in the picture, but there are huge thundery clouds on the horizon, behind the skyscrapers of the centre of the city. Does this mean the monsoon is still in full force?

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