Last post re: Burma ... I think ...

Wow! It's been a lot of moving lately ... From Taungoo, where I spent my birthday, I took the train to Bago. I absolutely love the train. It's insane how bumpy it is but it's a great way to interact with people and see parts of the country that you wouldn't normally see. This particular train went through Kayin (Karen) state. Much of this area is closed to foreigners due to active fighting and resistance from the Karen resistance armies. The train is a great way to see parts of this area. I love hanging out the windows and waving at everyone in the fields and villages. Everyone waves at the train passing. It's so fun! 

I wasn't all that interested in Bago, especially since I had to pay a $10 fee to see any sites, that I'm sure went straight to the government. But I found the people of Bago to be absolutely incredible. My dinner was even free as the lady at the mohinga stand insisted it was her gift to me ... All communicated through gestures of course. She refused to let me pay. I had a room with a beautiful view and actually had a surprisingly nice time there. From Bago, I took the bus back to Hpa-an. I stayed in a different guesthouse - no bed bugs - and met an older French couple that I travelled to the Thai border with the next day. We travelled by taxi and our driver was amazing. We could see the flooding all around us and the road was packed with taxis loaded in impossible ways with people's belongings. People were clearly loading everything they could and trying to get away from the flooding. I have no idea where they were going to put all that stuff. Mixed with the fleeing people were a few military trucks, but along the road people were trying to dig their own drainage ditches, with no military presence. It was so strange crossing the border. At the Burmese immigration we sat down, had a 20 minute chat, lots of laughs, help with loading bags, well wishes, thanks for visiting our country, please come again ... On the Thai side ... Ignored, wait, ignored, grouchy face, passports thrown back at you ... slightly different. I spent the day in Mae Sot which actually felt really nice to go back to this interesting border town. I found the WEAVE shop and the NGO borderline cafe. I shopped and ate my favourite things. It was nice to revisit the memories and make new ones.

Now I'm in Bangkok ... And as much as I don't like Bangkok, I'm loving the food! Thailand definitely wins for the best street eats anywhere! What next ... I'd like to go back to Burma ... But getting a visa and flight would be expensive ... Maybe the train to Malsysia ... Just not sure ... I'm not sure how much I'll write now as I feel

less inspired after leaving Burma ...

This picture I took of myself crossing the border in the rain just kills me, so I had to post it ...