Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Today we decided on a lie in... We were debating hiring bikes for the am and seeing sunrise but when the alarm went off shortly after four am, this decision was rethought and a lie in was opted for. By lie in I mean we rose at about seven am, we then sat out on the terrace and ate a breakfast of papaya and bread while sipping numerous cups of filter coffee. We lazed around reading for a while before showering and tidying up. All while listening to the house boys singing constantly, they love to sing here and do it really well. Although they sing all the time... No matter the hour or if people are sleeping, they continue all day and sometimes in the evening.
After about ten ish we met Arnauld and the now risen Kristin who were enjoying some breakfast, apparently she felt 100 percent today and that was good. While we were chatting there was some commotion outside and on closer investigation we could see it was some sort of parade. It was some similar to the procession we had seen at the pagoda on Yangon and involved children who were to become novice monks and nuns. We saw several children all dressed up and riding either a horse or cart and one even rode an elephant. It was very beautiful with hundreds of people in the procession all dressed up in their finery. There were flowers, music and you guessed it... Singing. We took some photos and enjoyed the procession then before you knew it calm was restored.
We went back in and then all agreed to go in search of a pool today as it was getting increasingly hot and a pool day was well deserved. We got ourselves sorted and met out front at about eleven ish, we then headed down the road to find a hotel with a pool. Eventually we found the Thande hotel which offered their pool for $6 a day... We thought this was steep (was$3 a year ago!) but since we were here we thought we may as well. We paid up and then headed down to the pool side, the pool itself had seen better days and had a slight murkiness to it but it was so hot no one cared. We laid on the loungers and enjoyed a free drink before moving to the pool edge when it became to hot to lie. Here we dunked our legs and chatted before intermittently sliding into the pool to cool down then climbing back out to dry off.
We continued this for an hour or so before Steven declared he was hungry, me and Kristin were okay so the boys went off to find food themselves before returning a little while later. While they were gone we continuously rescued small butterflies who were committing suicide in the pool. There must have been three or four and it was lovely when they recovered and flew away... One straight back into the pool!! We continued chatting and lounging before it got to four thirty ish, the other two were getting their night bus at six and needed to get some food prior. We walked with them down to the main restaurant strip before returning to the restaurant from last night where they ordered some naan breads... While they were waiting we sipped a beer and chatted. Once they were ready we headed back and sat with them for a while as they waited for their bus.
After a period of time we realised the bus was going to be late so went off for a shower before dinner, we then wandered past reception to see the two of them still waiting for the bus. We said our farewells again and hoped they would be picked up before we returned from dinner. We wandered off down to the Main Street as we both really fancied Indian and had passed a nice looking place earlier... However on arriving we saw it was extremely overpriced and then we saw why. There in big letters was the advertisement that they were in Lonely Planet... This often means that restaurants then charge stupid prices and its safe to say is the case in Myanmar. What followed then was a good hour trying to find somewhere to eat whilst moaning about the guidebook effect.
To be honest we have a Myanmar guide but only because we find it useful for information and history on the sights you see and its good how they can work out a little itinerary for you if you don't want to do it yourself. What I don't agree with is the way in which they make many people face travelling with blinkers on.... Fair enough you may need some advice on hotels after all no one wants bed bugs or nasties (we personally use trip advisor... And even that with a pinch of salt). I don't however agree with them taking on the restaurants... After all isn't that part of the experience? Finding your fave little place or even finding the place that gave you some dodgy after affects. That's what travelling is all about... Exploring. People's restaurants are their livelihood and its not fair that just because a book thinks it is great then it gets published and all the others get forgotten ...that's terribly unfair.
We popped in to a place last night and the guy and his son were bending over backwards to get us to eat there... even offering a free puppet show. We felt so bad leaving, the menu was lovely but i just couldn't face thai food (dicky tum). The reason for his empty restaurant? he was 100 foot back from the road and surrounded by a well known guidebooks endorsed places. Yes his food may have been awful but I very much doubt it to survive on this street that long, plus its rare that you find a place thats absolutely awful. The smells from the kitchen were pretty inviting anyway. For us we avoid anywhere with the tag as we prefer to help out the little guys who aren't full of teenagers on a gap year all clutching their travel bible. Now we aren't seasoned travellers by any means but I'd like to think we are capable of finding somewhere to eat.
An example of this would be in Siem Reap, we were sitting in pub street people watching when a couple of young girls walked down the road clutching their book and desperately trying to find somewhere that was published in there. Now I don't know if you know what pub street is like but is literally rammed with pubs and restaurants... All with similar menus and all with happy hour. Surely the book is not needed?? Maybe they had just heard about a great place and wanted to check it out but maybe its time to leave your book in the hotel and make your own adventure. For me this book is slowly ruining travelling as it plans every little aspect of your trip... Where you sleep, where you eat, what you do, what you see... All the time making the price of backpacking increase. If your needing it that much then you may as well just book a tour.
Okay... Ran over (was pretty peeved last night and before you moan... I'm entitled to my opinion). We eventually left the Main Street and headed back towards the hotel where we found a little eatery offering 'Myanmar pizza'. We went in and ordered said pizza, along with a soup and some spring rolls... The food was delicious (although pizza was truly bizarre). The spring rolls were huge and we had to take them home as a carry out and the soup was yummy. We were stuffed by the end and literally waddled home where we laid in bed chatting before falling asleep... Up again at 4am.
- comments
lacey Well I value your opinion and shall be pre booking tours as will be in desperate need of some guidance!