Propoganda

If you look at a map, you'll see that Mandalay is at the center of the country. So not surprisingly, I am back in Mandalay again. The boat trip back was long, boring, and uneventful. I enjoyed it on the way up, but this was just too much. Too much laying on a hard deck, with a blanket that's too small to keep warm, or to keep the moths off. Adding to the unpleasantness was Bob, the grumpiest Australian ever, whose increasing moodiness made it difficult to be around him.

After arriving, I wanted to buy a plane ticket to Kathmandu. I could only find one travel agent selling international tickets, and they wanted $225. Ouch. And then the flight only leaves on Sunday, so I'll have to overstay my visa by 12 days, instead of the 10 I was planning on. Finally they couldn't issue the ticket today, so I had to pay $100 now, then pick up the ticket in Yangon. I'm sure it will be OK, but I'm worried I'm getting scammed.

Then I went to the email/secret money changer, to send my mom an email for $1.50. There's no internet in Myanmar, so you have to send email through their account, and if you get a reply they will let you know at your hotel. No Yahoo! or Hotmail. Then I visited Mandaly Donuts, and of course the Nylon Ice Cream Bar. At 6 pm I took a nap, and work up at 9 pm. I took a shower, got my laundry, and packed, then went to bed at 10. I guess I was tired.