Myanmar (Burma)

I have backpacked Burma from 1996 “Burma in the 90s, It was a country that not many had ventured and in the 90's probably unheard of I decided to take a trip there and as I was already in Asia after moving into my own place back home I needed to do something out and far away. I went to the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok and was told that their were certain places I could not enter in Burma also to buy $200 worth of F.E.C'S foreign exchange certificates to use in Burma. Flying over the regions of Myanmar we were told we had to close our window blinds as we were not allowed to view the country by air, this was different and talking was prohibited even to a passing Burmese on the flight about Burma was forbidden. I touched down and went through customs the people in the airport were not happy or even polite it was strange, so checking I had $200 I got the money for Burma at the customs desk and then entered, once outside I travelled by bus to downtown Yangon.

In Sagaing a lady was washing her clothes.

The market in downtown Yangon a lady selling rice shades from the hot sun.

There were no bottle water then but the locals could drink cold water.

This lady was selling betel nut.

In Anapurna near the uncle Ben's old teak bridge a lady drying out her looms.

Smoke filters from her mouth from her cheroot as she sold marrow.

This lady weighs her products and makes good money.

She was making leaf packets for her produce.

Hot chillies were sold in many markets.

Some people had enjoyed smoking.

The reasons why I went there were starting to show as through the bus window I began to see this undisturbed country isolated from the rest of the World, three things from what I saw and already I knew it was two hundred years behind existence one being : white skinny bulls transporting people on an old cart, and another the petrol filling station where the tyres had been repaired by fire and wax then lastly the funnels of ice cubes dripping into the cup below at the markets as the bus went past. We stopped at the down town area, I walked up the main street where there was a clock tower in this street their were lots of traders selling foods, a watch seller with towels wrapped around his head, placed on small tables was an array of golden cogs of the inside of the watches.

Many of the items I had never seen of course limes hay these sellers were poor people the sun blistering hot.

She wrapped most in a banana leaf to keep moist.

Weight was the best solution to make money as the heavier it was the cost increases.

Fishing at Inle Lake very quiet in 1996 the locals were so lovely.

Cheroots and Chilly.

Watch mender's busy at there stalls.

Let's take time out.

 

I returned to Burma 28 years later.

Read more about my life in Burma on my Myanmar Post section it's a very interesting story of the year of 96 and temple girls dream. 

Then returning to find the family after 28 years did I find them?

Myanmar Post Glimpse