Myanmar

On the off chance that there is a spot in Southeast Asia where one can really say that "time has stopped," that would be Myanmar. Obviously Rangoon is a clamoring city and Mandalay is a flourishing business community, yet… in the slopes and lake shores of the Shan State, while floating along the strong Irrawaddy River, wondering about the agelessness of Pagan's sanctuaries or walking around the perfect Ngapali sea shores; there is no uncertainty that one is tossed into a territory that has changed almost no in hundreds of years. There is riveted creative mind in this lost world.

Subsequent to going through a day visiting the mysterious sanctuaries of Pagan, while sunset was gradually drawing nearer, my great guide took me to a separated town close by. (Quite a bit of the present Myanmar actually exists as in this town.) As the night drew nearer, shepherds got back with their little groups of sheep and goats, and the nightfall was kicked up over the setting sun. We invested some energy there before entering the town at the neighborhood watering gap, watching little youngsters in uncovered feet gather reservoirs brimming with water to be hand conveyed to their homes. These young ladies make a few excursions for their family and older neighbors, as this is the main wellspring of water for the town. I inquired as to why the young ladies were doing this hard work, and was informed that the men were in the fields tending the creatures. These town individuals were not used to seeing Westerners and were interested however modest. This, notwithstanding, all changed when I came around a twist in the town to discover a gathering of little fellows playing soccer in a sand parcel, gladly wearing Barcelona and Real Madrid pullovers. We kicked the ball around and they promptly welcomed me into a fevered pitch of a game… all shoeless what more! This welcomed on a couple of spectators, and incredible energy before long spread through the town.

It was a great second; from various perspectives it speaks to the genuine Myanmar and the movement of life outside the large urban areas, bringing out pictures of a period passed.

This was certified the following day as I drove again at sunset back to Mandalay. Part of the way through the excursion, the headlamps in the vehicle fizzled. For a second this was a genuine concern, however immediately went as I understood there was not really another vehicle out and about. For what reason would there be? Time was stopping and I was some place, on a street, in the core of Myanmar, lost in the enchantment of that nation.