NICHOLAS : Vacation 2018

Bagan Video Inle Lake Bagan Bagan Area Bagan Irrawaddy Inside Myanmar Menu

Myanmar (Burma)

My experience here was first back in 1996 about 28 years ago,
so returning after that time was far different than in 2018.
Downtown Yangon was so so different, the old clock tower
market area did not even have the same layout but of high
rise buildings, its a shame that time changes these
things, as back 28 years ago that area was beautiful even
had traders sat on they're little stools.

I had a reason to re visit Burma in 2018 after 28 years I be friended the poorest family In Bagan village, Image below ! I took them out of their 10ft x 10ft stilted algae rotten bamboo slated home and gave them all the money I had which left me with $200 to continue on to Thailand in which I stayed at a guest house in Banglanpoo, I previously stayed prior to entering Burma. I helped build the new house for them as shown below In Old Pagan.

Their family member "War War" the 14 year old daughter prayed for thanks to the spirits in her new house that was completed two years after for them. Returning to Thailand I worked labouring for the owner for a free room even though it was 60 Baht a night.

My Images in 1990 Different Areas of Myanmar

I loved Myanmar and returning after all that time
I had no Idea if the family was still there or even if that had moved let alone still alive.

I arrived in the November 2018, took an tiny plane to Bagan on Mann Yadanarpon Airlines.

Yadanarpon In-flight Magazine

Did I find the family that I had no way of communicating to after 28 years?

Arriving at Bagan mid afternoon, I headed to the village area I located my Hotel the far end of the ancient temple area.

I then looked around on a motor bike, and tried to get my bearings after all these years, I knew the house was near the Irrawaddy river in Old Pagan??

After hours of looking I decided to go on a balloon ride over Bagan to get an Ariel view over the region, my brother funded my balloon ride of $320 for an hour I was so happy to do this.

Balloons Over Pagan Official Site

I had an experience that only after doing this you will know, I am on the right near the post at the back, I couldn't see any sign of the village at all.

After the balloon ride I E biked through the main drag noticing a seller from years back who sold tiny cakes I remember going opposite her to get to where the family lived I met up with the friend from my hotel called Six Stars Guest House who together we searched.

We were just about to give in people saying family dead ?? Oh Until a lady shouted Nick Nick obviously I did not recognise her, after we talked she was an old friend of War War at the age of 13, now 27 she said I remember you came in 1996 and changed the families life, you saw their poverty and became friends and you asked them if they had won a lottery what would you do? War War said to her that she replied I'd buy a home like the white bull owners family we all laughed she said.

You also saved her walking four hours a day to school and bought her a bicycle, Yes I said I remember War War riding it she was so nervous she shook in fright.

Nick she said the house has gone the family have gone, the friend from the hotel and I we cried and listened, let us go and see her mother's best friend. As we got there she said here was the land that your house sat upon, now gone bought by next door.

This clip I'm E Biking to the property location It was that plot on the end!!.