Rice is Sacred

Leaving BKK was comfortable as we had a late afternoon flight and late check out. Weather had improved greatly. Air quality was nice and we were getting our travel groove back. Wandered the small soi, or alley ways, and bought a fresh bottle of cold tangerine juice. Packed our bags. Always packing our bags. Ate lunch along the river and felt good. Ron scored a brand new taxi with the plastic still on the seats. Usually you get old worn taxi with no shocks and bottomed out seats. Took an hour to reach the airport. Long lines for check in. We are flying Asia Air as they are the bargain airlines these days. No thrills. No drinks. Pay extra for every increase in kilo. We bought 20 kilo each, but when we weighed our bags mine was only 11K and Ron's was 16K. Room to expand. Waited at the airport a good two hours. Flight delayed about 30 minutes. Almost full. So for the one hour flight to Yangon, we spent 3.5 hours getting there. The arrival in Burma was interesting. Filling out forms, and Q-ing up at passport control, waiting for stamp in your passport. Then another longer wait for your bags. Walking outside the airport was chaos. Loud whistles summoning taxis, crowds of men wearing long lungi's like sarongs, endless cars bellowing exhaust and loud voices. We stood there taking it all in when a very sweet faced young man stood before me and said in a soft voice "you wish for a taxi". We said yes. And "how much?". He said $10 which was less than we had expected so off we went with him. Of course his old white car had no windows and we left in a lurch and a grumble of gears. The air quality was beyond anything breathable which I learn now is not only from the exhaust of vehicles, but the fires most poor people burn to cook. We choked along until we made it to an area that was obviously upscale. Large homes, embassy's and trees. We pulled into our small inn and felt relief from all the chaotic energy outside. We were really lucky to have a reservation at the Classique Inn. A sanctuary. Nice garden, sweet people and only 10 rooms. With a shower in our cool room we went for dinner in the garden where the most precious faced young man served us in a slow and most careful manner. Learned how to say hallo, mingalabar, which literally means blessings to you. Winding down, renewing our energy. Last evening we went to the famous and most revered pagoda in Burma, the Shewedagon. Spent hours there with hundreds of Burmese and monks, tourist. All walking barefooted on old marble stones worn smooth from hundreds of years of bare feet. Easy, peaceful. No hype. No selling of anything. Just gentle people strolling and smiling. Scented flower offerings. Huge hanging temple bells. Monks softly chanting. We watched the sunset and sat and enjoyed watching the show. Very touching. Today, we pack our bags again and take an after noon flight to Inle Lake. 13 miles long lake surrounded by green hills. We will stay here and fill our lungs with fresh air and hike around, take some rides on the lake and generally relax. More on Inle later. For now we leave our sanctuary and return to the airport and the waiting game.... Mingalabar.