What can you do with 10 dollars in the good old USA- maybe fill half a tank of gas in your econ-vehicle, maybe get one person into a cinema film, maybe a small meal at a restaurant...
In southeast Asia, 10 US dollars will easily get you a hotel room (dirty) for two, a beer or three, some noodles, a visit to the local gold-leafed Buddha image, and probably a taxi ride around town.
If the 284387635 touts asking "hey, where you go" don't wear you out, the heat will, and after walking around for several hours looking at the different items- ranging from complete crap toys to beautiful woven handicrafts to stolen digital cameras- the comfort of a small tea stand is unmatched.
So you grab a taxi- maybe the back of some locals motor-scooter, maybe a tiny blue Mazda truck, maybe one of the "quality" local taxis, maybe a bike with a side cart (the driver can easily carry two passengers and three tons of luggage up hill at 25 km/hr) back from the market to the streets where your hotel rests. Though it seems like a fairly busy intersection to you, the driver has apparently never heard of it, and while you struggle to pronounce the names of the streets, he drives around, aimlessly, in search of your final destination. ALAS, you arrive, three blocks shy of your beautiful guest house, dusty and sweaty, and head to the nearest tea shop. You grab a seat upon one of those plastic stools, about a foot above the ground, and order a Myanmar Tea, Tea with Milk, or Bo man SE from the 10 year old boy who taking orders. Your tea arrives in a small, dirty white tea cup, and after stirring for 2 minutes and taking about what a great tea it really is, you drink it up and watch the locals ooogle over your clothing and skin color.
After tea, you somehow climb the 18 flights of stairs to your room- two beds and a writing table (if you are lucky)- and cuddle up with the sleep sack and your diary to recollect the days events.
Burma/Myanmar is truly a beautiful place.
Everyone is welcome, and at no time does one ever feel as though the locals don't want him/her there. The people, despite the oppression they face from their ruthless government and the poverty associated with a developing nation, are as friendly as they come, ready to shout a few words of English and maybe give you a business card.
The bus rides are long, dusty, and there is constantly unharmonious music blaring from the speakers. The chocolate lacks taste. Time stands still, maybe just for a moment while you get caught up in realizing how much you feel at home, even thousands of miles away from your actual mailing address.
The weeks we spent in Myanmar were, for me, life changing. You really get a great appreciation for the life you have at home and the opportunity you are born into when you visit a place like this. I cannot begin to describe the experience, more than this, without spending hours on the computer. which i do not want to do....
Cody and I are at this net cafe of Khao San road in Bangkok now. We've been here once already today, trying to avoid the touts and the tuk-tuk drivers. There is this really fat man that has been in here every single time we come, both visits. Funny stuff. Tomorrow we will take Mai Kay Dee's cooking course and tr to figure out to exit this country.
Much travels ahead. To all the folks back home, BE WELL, and tell your lovers you love them.
More later,
WILL(and Cody.)
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Will I can hear your voice. When exiting the country do not leave anything behind. Burma, as a wandering moment, will never stray too far. Look for it and show it to others. We are proud of you. I am pleased you are my brother.
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