Back in the game ... I was finally convinced by around 11 am this morning that things were as close to normal as possible, so I headed out to wander the streets, and markets, and the hustle and bustle of Mandalay.
The fact that the call to prayer at 5 am got me up again didn't bother me in the least, as I've had broken extensive sleep this whole trip, but it's certainly a nice touch to remind me I'm not at home. Three mosques are nearby the hotel, and everyone up here in the north seems to get along, which is nice to know, despite all the tension near the Bangladeshi border.
I was planning to get a taxi and motor around the places the rest of the group did yesterday, after seeing their pictures, I am glad I did what I did instead. I just wandered around the local produce and flower markets, then walked down to the river, which was more than educational as to how some people live in the world. Shacks along the river boats, pretty depressing, but everything just blends into everything else, and you get used to it. Every corner, every inch of area has a person, a story, a job, an image that could be captured on camera. Second by second something funny happens that doubles as someone's reality. You'd have to be there, I guess.
Also walked along the fortress moat, until I could see the Mandalay Hill, then walked back towards the bustling market area where our hotel is near. If I was more energetic and got up early, I would have gone all the way around, but alas, there's not much in the inner complex of huge significance that we haven't sort of seen already. Most of the 1.5 by 1.5 km complex is off limit to the public, and there is a small oval area you can walk around. Rodney from England did it, and said he said around for 5 hours before he got his hair-cut. He's in his 60's, so that's pretty bloody good in my book.
Spent after dinner with one of the German girls at the Myanmar Marionette Puppet show. That was very, very good, much smaller and intimate compared to the water puppetry I saw four years ago in Hanoi, Vietnam. The puppets were much bigger than usual, and it is an art form they've been trying to revive the last 20 years or so. Most of the time you just saw the characters, but towards the end of end vignette they raised the curtain, so you could see the puppeteers doing their thing. Mostly elderly people doing the show, but a few younger ones who will hopefully keep it going. Good fun for an hour an a bit, for around $13 US.
Tomorrow ... early to rise and a beautiful 8 hour public bus ride to Bagan .... thank goodness for air con in the bus tomorrow ... just have to hope that Mr. Tummy plays nicely along too.
Bagan ... the land of 3000 temples and pagodas .... they had a lot of time to rock back in the good old days.
The fact that the call to prayer at 5 am got me up again didn't bother me in the least, as I've had broken extensive sleep this whole trip, but it's certainly a nice touch to remind me I'm not at home. Three mosques are nearby the hotel, and everyone up here in the north seems to get along, which is nice to know, despite all the tension near the Bangladeshi border.
I was planning to get a taxi and motor around the places the rest of the group did yesterday, after seeing their pictures, I am glad I did what I did instead. I just wandered around the local produce and flower markets, then walked down to the river, which was more than educational as to how some people live in the world. Shacks along the river boats, pretty depressing, but everything just blends into everything else, and you get used to it. Every corner, every inch of area has a person, a story, a job, an image that could be captured on camera. Second by second something funny happens that doubles as someone's reality. You'd have to be there, I guess.
Also walked along the fortress moat, until I could see the Mandalay Hill, then walked back towards the bustling market area where our hotel is near. If I was more energetic and got up early, I would have gone all the way around, but alas, there's not much in the inner complex of huge significance that we haven't sort of seen already. Most of the 1.5 by 1.5 km complex is off limit to the public, and there is a small oval area you can walk around. Rodney from England did it, and said he said around for 5 hours before he got his hair-cut. He's in his 60's, so that's pretty bloody good in my book.
Spent after dinner with one of the German girls at the Myanmar Marionette Puppet show. That was very, very good, much smaller and intimate compared to the water puppetry I saw four years ago in Hanoi, Vietnam. The puppets were much bigger than usual, and it is an art form they've been trying to revive the last 20 years or so. Most of the time you just saw the characters, but towards the end of end vignette they raised the curtain, so you could see the puppeteers doing their thing. Mostly elderly people doing the show, but a few younger ones who will hopefully keep it going. Good fun for an hour an a bit, for around $13 US.
Tomorrow ... early to rise and a beautiful 8 hour public bus ride to Bagan .... thank goodness for air con in the bus tomorrow ... just have to hope that Mr. Tummy plays nicely along too.
Bagan ... the land of 3000 temples and pagodas .... they had a lot of time to rock back in the good old days.
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