Ngapali Bike Ride

 And, now for photos from our morning cycle ride through various main road settlements to the end of the road, the final destination being a fishing village. Through the village we went, eyeing the previous evening’s catch, watching the ladies sort, clean and prepare the catch for sale, playing knuckle bones (stones in the dust) with some young ones, 
bypassing temples, beneath coconut palms and over bumpy pathways. 

The medical clinic. 

Bridge building.

Bagging sand from the beach.

The ladies carry about 30-40kg.

To the man on the truck.

Fun smashing seeds with stones.

My knuckle bone friends.

Shrimp out to dry. 

Ladies preparing the fish.

Laying out fish to dry.

Checking out two big ones from the catch.

A little guy outside the family shop. 

Fishing boats at rest during the day. 

Carrying a load.

Tri-shaws a common way to travel. 

A home on stilts at the fishing village.

The local car wash. 

How to travel from village to village with your shopping. 

Passing a temple gate.

Ngapali Beach Break

When one gets an opportunity to choose a weekend escape there is no hesitation on my part. I'd heard of stunning Ngapali Beach, which is only a hour flight from Yangon, so taking up the offer I chose to go there.

If reading a book on a sun lounger, swimming in crystal clear tepid waters, strolling along a white sandy beach, cocktails at sunset to the sound of lapping waves, eating local with the locals, cruising on bikes through villages, then this a place to put on your list. Should of course you be in this part of the world.

It would be too easy to get carried away with superlatives, so I'll let the photos show you how it is. And, the bike ride through villages to the fishing settlement at the end of the road warrants it's own post.

Pounding the Pavements of Yangon

 Negotiating the pavements of Yangon is no mean feat. Whether it's an exploring walk, market shopping or heading to a purposeful destination it is best to be armed with sturdy footwear, be mindfully  prepared and ready for obstacles galore. They come in all shapes and forms. At times, forget the footpath and take your life in your hands amongst the taxis whose drivers sit with their hand on horns creating the most noise this city makes.

The road is the best option here. 

No looking left or right on this footpath. Eyes down all the way. 

As for the gutters, they must have to stand up to some enormous quantities of water in the rainy season. I claim to be 5' 3" and these gutters range in height from my calves to my knee height. A big stride up for someone vertically challenged. The Yangon river on the western side and the Pazuan Daung creek (a river size waterway) on the eastern side surround the city. It's not too far to the mouth in the Andaman Sea and the in-house ex-pat tells me that during high tides the waters backwash up the drains and flood the intersections. Heavy downfalls can cause some trouser rolling and shoes off to cross the road.

The big stride up. 

The mini step up.

Small underground pavement repairs need only a few tools; the hands,  a hand trowel and a bucket. 

Protesters wanting to claim back their land blocking this footpath.

And a few more obstacles:

Ladies preparing sweetcorn to cook and sell.

Food carts selling guavas, jackfruit, watermelon and bananas.

Temple entrance ways have vendors offering you
merit making opportunities. In this case you

On The Street Where He Lives

60 Bo Yar Nyunt Street is in the heart of a busy community. There are many choices of places to eat from street food to western style restaurants.

Businesses include an internet shop, donut shop, water filling station, gelato shop, beauty spa and a really good Thai foot massage place.

There are local (wouldn't want to stay here) hotels at one end of the spectrum to the 5-star Park Royal at the other end, a popular primary school and a pretty good supermarket. Prices here are cheap, cheap, cheap.

There's never any shortage of getting a taxi. They cruise the area tooting their horns and plying their business. At $2 for what would be a 30min walk into the city centre it's extremely cheap.

Here's a sampling of life in David's new (and my part time) part of the world. It's a shame the heat, smells and noises can't accompany this post.

Down the street.

Up the street.

The flower and vegetable seller.

Monks on their morning alms round. 

There are no mailboxes. From your upstairs apartment you hang a piece of string with a bulldog clip suspended on the end. When you get the newspaper, mail or other small deliveries the deliverer will make the attachment, pull the string and a small bell at the top will ring to let you know to haul it up. 

People make merit by feeding the pigeons around the city. You can buy seeds and other bird eating food and lay it on the pavement. The pigeons are perched ready. Though they must be very well fed. I haven't seen so many fly down when a new batch is spread out. I'm very worried about walking underneath the wires. Sometimes there's no other way through, so it's fingers crossed a liquid deposit doesn't land on me from above. 

A load ready at the water filling station. 

School children stopping for lunch outside the school gates.

Beauty shop. 

The gelato shop. 

And the Donut shop.