local transport
Sunday was spent just mooching around Yangon, looking at markets and pagodas. I may have mentioned before, I am getting buddhad out. Seen em all.
Monday today.
Left hotel at 10am for the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Yangon branch to get permission to cross the river to Dalla so we could go to Thante. We had to sign something that read along the lines that we vow and declare that we won't do or say anything political and we wouldn't stay the night over there. This piece of paper has been in force since the Cyclone which was over 12 months ago. The ferry was chockers and cost us $1 each way, took about 6 minutes. It was crazy having about 500 Asian people staring at us two. All scrambling to get off, all I could think of was don't fall over, as we would have been trampled.
Hired an old American Jeep, probably pre ww2 and driver to take us to Thante. Long drive on country road, non stop waving and smiling as we passed people. I have a sore jaw and a bit of rsi in right wrist from waving so much. You know there is so much poverty in this country, but as soon as people see you, they smile, and the poverty seems to fade. Well for me anyway.
Got to the Oh-Bo Pottery shed where they no longer make domestic things, just these amazing big jars with fine holes in the bottom to be used in the Delta region as water filters. Invented by an American working for UNESCO. The process is time consuming and timed to make sure that it only makes 4 litres, otherwise it won't be filtering correctly. Bloody Marvellous really.
The man there sold me the very last domestic piece he had, a tiny teapot.
Went to another shed where two men demonstrated a pottery wheel on the ground, one works the wheel with his foot the other makes the pot. Incredible stuff. Got some great pics.
Fantastic, but tiring day, so home to have a rest about 5pm.
Up early tomorrow to be at the airport at 5.30am for 6.30 flight to Bagan. Have the Inwa Hotel taxi coming to meet us, and hopefully we can find Naing Naing early. He has no idea we are coming yet.
Still carting Mark from Melbournes backpack around to take to Kalaw. Don't worry Mark, we will be there in a few days and looking forward to meeting Mr Robin.
Once again, hope all is well in Oz. Got the footy tipping results and we both bombed badly. Oh well always next year. Send us some messages please, we have no other contact from home...... Krista and Pete.
