Saturday, 16 April 2016

Adventures in Asia: Bangkok, Thailand to Yangon, Myanmar

First thing this morning I headed across the street and around the corner to Hua Lamphong station to buy our train tickets to Don Muang airport, Bangkok's secondary international airport.


They are 20 baht each, about 86 cents.  We ate breakfast at our hostel and then went over to the station for 8:00 to catch the train at 8:20.


At the airport we caught our Air Asia flight to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma).


It was our first time flying Air Asia (of deadly flight QZ8501 fame), and we were pleasantly surprised.  

Once in Yangon we changed money and caught a taxi to our hostel, called Pickled Tea.


After settling in, we went out in our neighborhood to get drinks and were accosted by multiple parties of water throwers, both kids and adults.  We got completely soaked.


Then when we went out for dinner it happened all over again.  They take New Years--Thingyan, here--very seriously!  It was fun, but made going out a challenge, since we had to put our valuables into plastic bags to protect them.

After dinner at a local place called "Fingers," we walked down to the Shwedagon Pagoda.  We didn't bother with our phones because of the water, so we have no pictures, but we'll go back tomorrow during the day and take lots.  It's quite the place, and even photos won't provide a sufficient description.  

Tonight we were able to ring gongs, pour water over Buddhas, and have the pleasure of feeling warm tiles under our bare feet.  I also spoke to a friendly monk, probably about my age, who asked me to take his picture and was eager to practice a little English with us.  

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