Bagan...we've got the place to ourselves!

Kudos on the writing and pics
Love your blogs so far but I have to express concern over the West's over dramatization of the political situation in Myanmar - a stance I believe carries political rather than humanistic overtones. Yes, Myanmar has a dictatorship. Yes, I've witnessed first-hand a local getting caught and (so they told us) sent to do 10-15 years hard labour for stealing a tourist's camera. But let's be honest, there isn't a single country in the area or perhaps the world that fits the western ideal of democracy and yet people seem to only voice their opinion when it concerns Myanmar or those other rogues, N. Korea and Iran (been there, done that) or whichever other country may be in fashion. I fear that once the current regime is gone (and history teaches us that no such regime can last), Myanmar could turn into a mini version of its eastern neighbour, a country favoured by pedophiles and junkies, run by the military and yet no one seems to blink an eye and the plane loads of tourist keep on going there. But let the people decide what works best for them. If they remain as open and friendly as I remember them, I shall be glad to return, no matter who runs the country and in what manner. If not, then I will avoid it like the plague as I do Thailand and prefer to take my meager tourist dollars elsewhere. Here's to many more travels and keep those blogs coming!

Good on you
I liked your 'travelblog', but I must respond to the comment by himynameis. Not every country has democracy (whatever that is). Some are 'ruled' by democratic tyrants, some are 'ruled' by well meaning people. Interestly for western people who advocate 'democracy', they tend to overlook that their minds are manipulated by what the media produce (meaning that the media uses its 'powers' to brainwash citizens to think what the media wants them to think). For me, the biggest problem in Myanmar is that the military appear to be pursuing a course of action to... 1/ eradicate dissent (making the remaining population compliant to the wishes of the military), and 2/ making as much profit for themselves by selling Myanmar's resources to China. No one criticises the role of China in supporting the Myanmar military. No one criticises ASEAN for turning a blind eye to the activities of the Myanmar military. But, if China had the guts to say NO to Myanmar, I doubt the rest of the wold would stay (largely) silent. And, I suggest local politics (not military politics) may again prevail. While the military are the real 'culprits', change will only occur when China changes its position from a self-serving, self-interested position to one of morality. Cheers

A few thoughts re: himynameis
I just wanted to add that it is simply foolish to think that the child sex industry is isolated to Thailand and a few of it's neighbouring countries. I thought that too (and was extremely disturbed by it while travelling the country), but upon doing some research, I have learned that child sexual exploitation and slavery/prostitution is RAMPANT in North America. We're all kidding ourselves to think otherwise. Wherever you can buy drugs, you can buy children. Thailand certainly has it's problems with controlling this awful epidemic, but let's not forget that the disgusting industry is fuelled, in the most part, by western foreigners. It is an awful, horrifying industry, but please don't kid yourself by thinking that it isn't happening in Canada or the United States or Europe.