Burma (Myanmar)

Birthday week. Yeah.

It was quite hard to check my birthday wishes on the internet, so finally it first felt really like  my birthday few days after, when i could receive all of the messages=). But anyway Melanie made me feel really loved included presents and a perfect dinner (All still in Mandalay). Thanks for that.xx

During the next night we took the train up the north to Myitkyina. (20 hours ride). The worst trip ever. I got train sick and ate something bad on the train, so that i vomit the whole time and only could lay down. Terrible and to get well again it took me the whole time we spent in the north (4 days). After Myitkyina we went by plane to Bhamo and then by boot to Khata and from Katha to Mandalay. You can imagine that the whole time in the air, on the water was a disaster for me beeing ill=(

But when we arrived in Bagan i was perfect again. Bagan is one of the best cities to visit, because there are thousands of old temples. We hired some bikes and explored the old city. It was nice.

Th next and last night we drove over night back to Yangoon and next day we left Burma to go to Laos.

Almost three weeks in Burma are over. The time is running. The reason: Its more than great to explore and travel in Burma. I adore the country. Burma is still like it is. Its hard to explain, but its just the way it is. Only since a few years tourist are allowed to travel in Myanmra, thats why you still have the chance to see Burmas real face. It will change soon, because more and more tourist are coming, more money and the bumese people get use to it. Its a pity, but you cant change it. Anyway i m more than happy to explore the traditional Burma which hasnt change a lot these days...

So Melanie and Me start to travel. First step after Yangon was the Golden Rock. Thats an important Stupa for the Burmese people. (Stupas are pleases to pray). They say that the Golden Rock makes your wishes true. For that we traveled the first time by bus. And everything needs time in Burma. The streets are bad and sometimes you have to stop to fix the buses (to be honest often more than ones on a trip). After the Golden Rock we went to Mawlamyine by train. And thats is even more an real adventure. The trainlines are in bad conditions, that the train jumps and shakes. (Sometimes really scary, but the landscape is impressive). Mawlamyine is the third biggest city and located between river. Its wonderful. From this city to the next (Hpan-An) we went by boot on the river. Its was a long, relaxing trip. After that we had our first night ride by bus. Awful=). They never stop to play musik (only bumese loud music covered from oldies), they stop every hour to fix something on the bus and the light is never off. After that night you are done=) you need to sleep the whole day, but actually you tried to safe the day by that nightride.hahah.Anyway we arrived in Kalaw, a tiny mountain city. From here we booked a three day track to Inle Lake. It was a great experience. We walked over hours during the days and slept in monastery and villags houses druing night. The food was realy burmese food and pretty good. After two nights we arrived in Inle Lake. (Thats one of the cities where the most tourits go to, because its pretty and made for tourits). From Inle Lake we went by nightbus (tired after that again!) to Hsipaw, usually only to go from here to the north, but we had to realize that it is still not possible and easy to go high to the north area from Burma. Thats why we are now on our way to Mandalay (the second biggest city in Burma). And from here we will find out how to travel to the north where less tourits go. thats fun!! And besides we have to celebrate my birthday pretty soon=)

kisses

Welcome.welcome

at the 11th february we arrived in Yangon-Burma. Its the biggest city in that country and so lovely. Its a big city with almost 5 million people, but its still a kind of quiet- at least after 10pm. The first impression reminds me a bit of India, but different. And the architecture is like a bitish style but in an old way. The houses need to be fixed, but on the other hand thats exactly the style of Burma- elegant, but a need to fix it.  Busy-but quiet like a small city. A lot of tourist start to travel here, but the people are still like they are- the country didnt changed...not yet. And its still cheap except the hotels! I cant wait to travel around and see more of the country.

But first we spent some night in Yangon and tomorrow we will leave....