Do you have a present for me?

---

Good present: fruit salad. Bad present: paying extra to change money on the black market in Yangon. Got the good present a few times in Myanmar. Only had to give someone a present the one time. It is imperative to change money on the black market in Myanmar. The governent's official exhange rate is about one third what you get on the street (or in a taxi in my case).

Did a 10 day side trip to Myanmar from Bangkok a couple of weeks ago. Very different than the other mainland Southeast Asian countries. Seems much more multi ethnic - like a hybrid of Southeast Asia, India, and China which makes sense from a geographical perspective. Really rugged traveling there but a great trip. Left Yangon for Mandalay immediately upon arrival. Spent a few days there then onto Bagan by the world's worst train ride. Bagan is impressive and the photos will not do it justice. Some of the temples are almost 1000 years old and they are everywhere. Bagan was followed by the world's worst bus ride to Inle Lake which has a little bit of everything in a beautiful, high setting. Took the second 18 hour bus ride back to Yangon for one day.

Before I knew it I was back in Bangkok for a few hours before hopping on a bus to Ko Samui in the south. Nice island but way too developed for me. Managed to stay there a week to aid in the recovery from Myanmar. Flew from Krabi (also Southern Thailand) to Singapore last night then to Cebu in the Philippines where I arrived in a frazzled state at 4:30 this morning. It's interesting here - kind of a USA meets Asia with English widely spoken, Dunkin Donuts, and music from 70s disco diva Donna Summer blaring in the street. She's apparently still looking for hot stuff. One un-American phenomenon is the abundance of karaoke bars, par for the course in Southeast Asia. And they don't use the terms bathroom, restroom, or WC. It's a CR - short for comfort room. Ironic because some provide anything but comfort.

Onto Leyte by ferry tomorrow then plan to work my way to Samar, South Luzon, and Mindoro before finally flying home from Manila 2 in weeks.

See many of you soon!

---

Photos

Tiger Temple, Kanchanburi, Thailand.
Tigers raised in captivity by monks. Locals found abandoned cubs in the jungle after poachers killed the mothers. About a dozen in all, heavily sedated I think.

Bridge Over River Kwai, Kanchanburi
Also a classic movie starring Alec Guiness.

Mahamuni Paya
Huge bronze statues lugged to Mandalay after a conquest of Angkor.

Shwe In Bin Kyuang, Mandalay
An active monastery.

On the way up Mandalay Hill
My hiking companions. We use the same barber.

Gate of Ill Omen, Fort Mandalay
Love the name although never did get the story.

Bagan
Staggering number of temples.

Another shot of Bagan during a cloudy sunset
The horse and buggy somewhat project the scope and size of the area.

Stilt village, Inle Lake
Maybe 5 foot average depth at this time of the year - the dry season.

Weaving Center, Inle Lake
These girls were good. Fantastic hand-foot-eye coordination to master this loom.

Long Neck Karen Villagers, Inle Lake
The tradition is sort of past its prime. The neck rings can weigh 6 kg.

Cigar Factory, Inle Lake
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar but I have no idea what I was smoking there.

Silver Jewelry Center, Inle Lake
Manually extruding the metal.

Jumping Cat Monastery, Inle Lake
Just when you thought you'd seen it all...