It is 34 degrees here, the sky is blue and we are seeking the cool shade of the palms. We have frolicked in the waves that roll in at the western shore of Burma, the waves of the Sea of Bengal. West across this sea is the coast of India. To the northwest, where we in BC know Alaska to be, one finds Bangladesh, to the east are Thailand and Laos and to the northeast is China. Of these countries China seems to have serious sway here, both economically and politically. In part due to the sanctions, only recently lifted, and imposed by much of the Western world. China stepped into the void and though the Burmese people are not entirely grateful for this, they had no choice.

We arrived here by bus along a torturous single lane road down to the seaside. It is a 6 hour ride from Yangon, and for the most part a vacation destination for the Burmese. Our hostel room is a small cabana just a short walk from the palm lined, soft grey sand and the emerald and silver ribbon of the sea. The water is wonderfully warm!

Burmese vacationers are modest and swim fully clothed in longyi and t-shirts. There is nary a bikini in sight. (I did see one bikini on our hostel neighbor from France, but then she also hung her purple lace panties on the outdoor tap to dry… )

Local villagers ply the beach with even the largest baskets perfectly balanced on their heads. We drink coconuts and they offer us with seafood and other delicious things they have caught and cooked. Village life just off the beach is similar to that we have seen in other parts of Burma. Small, simple bamboo homes raised off the ground, blackened kettles over an outdoor firepit, children playing or sleeping just inside the doorways carefully watched over by grandmothers and grandfathers.

One more day here and we return to the broken and decaying city of Yangon (Rangoon). It will be wonderful just the same. Absolutely everything is different here, it turns you on your ear.

Goodnight all, Love Monika and Randy