The girls and I wanted to take perhaps one last holiday in SE Asia. Jed really didn't have vacation time left, and Evan is so done with third world travel. How different can Myanmar be from Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam? We were lucky enough to have our visa's granted by their government so we could see for ourselves.

I sense and appreciate the differences, albeit subtle, between all these countries. Myanmar, formally Burma until 1989, is the largest country in SE Asia, sharing borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. Buddhism has great influence on the daily simple life of the Burmese. They are a friendly people with a rich culture and on old history. It is rare for the Myanmar people to meet American visitors. They admired the girls fair skin, eyes and hair.

Myanmar has been through many wars, political unrest, and natural disasters. I didn't think we would ever have the opportunity to visit this country during our expat assignment. Since we have lived in Singapore, Myanmar has kept Suu Kyi under house arrest (on/off since 1989 for her outspoken criticism of the Junta) despite recent pressure for her release, in 2007 the government raised fuel prices 500% causing an uprising that led 10,000 Monks to march in protest (some were killed, some are still imprisoned). Cyclone Nargis hit in May 2008, killing ~140,000 people. Remember it took the Myanmar government 3 weeks to allow people in to help. The Myanmar people we spoke with are certainly unhappy with their government, and are hopeful for change with the upcoming 2010 election.

We traveled through Yangon, visiting the 2500 year old Swedagon Pagoda. We flew to Bagan, where thousands of pagodas, temples and stupas dot the ancient capitals landscape. We bicycled among the ruins and off the path into little villages. And when we couldn't cycle any more, we traveled by horse cart into the evening. Another early morning flight took us to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. The villages, and our hotel, are built on stilts over the water. We witnessed the Intha people rowing their boats with one leg while they fished and saw their floating gardens that are built up from strips of hyacinth and mud and achored to the bottom with bamboo poles. We enjoyed the busy morning market and set off on a five hours trek through remote hill tribe villages and farms. Little education. No electricity, cars, plumbing or McDonald's. Lots of people wearing the traditional longyi, beautiful views and bright stars in a pitch black night sky.

Despite coming home with upset and uncomfortable bellies, we feel so lucky to have traveled within this unique country that was virtually sealed off the the outside world since 1962. We supported locally owned hotels and restaurants, rather than government owned and bought handicrafts directly from the artisans, rather than government shops. The hardship and the oppression of these poor people did not keep them from warmly welcoming us to their "Golden Land."

Thanks for reading.

Lots of love to you all.