A trip to Myanmar

Over the last few days, I have been reflecting on my trip to Myanmar during the Vietnamese New Year break, and I am still processing all that I saw.

The bottom line is that even though Liz and I had a good time, learned an incredible amount, saw some amazing things, met some lovely people and ate some great food, we did not love it!

Firstly, what we did enjoy:

Shwedagon Pagoda is an amazing and imposing structure in Yangon (although, the gems built in to the structure could solve a few of the countries problems!!

Stumbling across the Rangoon Tea House for an almost decent coffee.
The modern luxury coach and the divided expressway for our overnight bus trip to Mandalay.
The temples in Mandalay.
The expanse of the temples and stupas in Bagan. The absolutely incredible displays of workmanship are so difficult to describe. Everywhere you look are stupas and the local people continue to live their lives amongst them.
The sunsets over the stupas and the Irrawaddy river.
The duck, cauliflower and indigenous herb salads at the family-run Mothers Choice restaurant in New Bagan. We only ate their three times!
Myanmar beer.
                               
Viewing the simplicity but hardships of everyday life as we traveled the countryside.
Seeing the leg rowers on Inle Lake and their abundant vegetable gardens. 
The colourful local produce markets.Talking to our guides and learning more of the complex history of the country.
The smiles of the people.



The challenging aspects:

The traffic in Yangon. No motorbikes are permitted therefore the traffic is horrendous.
The state of decay of the beautiful colonial buildings in Yangon. Who will be able to afford to restore them?
The betel nut chewing, YouTube watching,  restaurant eating Buddhist monks. How can the poor of the country keep supporting these religious icons?
The poverty and lack of street lights.
Women working to make or repair the roads by hand.
The dust.
The endless construction.
The feeling of despair for the people - how will this country lift its standard of living in a fair and just way.

Obviously, I have been in these types of environments before and I know that other people have loved their time in Myanmar, but my experience did not leave me with a positive and uplifting sense that this country is heading in the right direction. Hopefully I am wrong and that in 10-20 years it will be the vibrant and go-ahead country that is Vietnam.

More photos of Myanmar