Marilyn's Odyssey: Mingle and Magwe

Our first stop of the day was at Minhla which was the site of a great battle during the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The king had built forts along the river to protect Burma from the English but did not take into account that the English had the ability to travel by land so thus the Burmese were defeated in 17 days. The fort was interesting to visit but the most fascinating part of the visit to this town was the extensive market. Most of the items for sale were food and as this is not a big tourist town this is where all the locals shop each day for their needs. Once again the vendors were happy to show us their wares well aware that we were not going to purchase anything though some of us did buy longyi to wear later. Some of the smells such as the spices were wonderful and some of the smells did not stir the appetite though they definitely were of interest.

Back on the ship we had a demonstration on how the locals wear the longyi. This is the traditional outfit of the locals, particularly the men and is very cool and versatile as well as being very cheap. In Myanmar as soon as we arrived we noticed that most of the women and children had a beige colored paste on their faces and wondered what it was. We learned that it is Thanakha and is from the bark of a tree. Not only is it a sun block but it apparently has great medicinal properties for problem skin. May be a coincidence but he people of Myanmar have wonderful complexions. The men only wear it in the privacy of their homes as it is not regarded to be manly.

Our next stop was in Magwe where we first visited the Mud Volcano which the locals believe houses fire breathing dragons but we skeptical tourists found to be the first place we would have like to have passed on. Interestingly it was also the first place we came across beggars.

We visited a park to see a statue of General Aung San Bogyoke where a group of high school students turned us into the attraction before going to the Myathalon Pagoda on the bank of the river. We were luck enough to arrive there during a novication ceremony where four children were going to become monks and a nun the following day. This is a very proud time for parents and a great celebration is held including a parade. The parents were eager for us to take their children's photos.

The fort in Minhla built by Italians which failed to protect he invasion by land.

One sees all sorts of things being pushed down the roads.

The vegetables looked fresh and clean though I could not help but wonder where they had been washed.

Cooking over open fire in the middle of he market

Wonderful spices

All kinds of dried foods,some not resembling anything familiar

Stacks of betel leaves to make the betel nuts for chewing. The more rural we get the more people we see chewing the nuts. The roads are stained with red from where they spit out the remainder.