A Weekend in Myitkyina




As promised, here are a few highlights from my weekend in Myitkyina. Once again I was very lucky to have Seng Myaw with me as she was an awesome guide!

Another one of our colleagues, Thet Thet Wah, was also in Myitkyina for work that week and for a long time it has been her "dream trip"to visit Indawgyi Lake where there is a pagoda in the middle of the lake. So she organized a car for us to take and Seng Myaw and her friend came along as well. We had to get up extremely early so that we could make it to the lake and back before Thet Thet Wah caught her 5 pm flight. However, the views at sunrise were so spectacular I could almost forgive her. 


Me (and my always handy Maasai travel blanket), Shwe, Seng Myaw and Thet Thet Wah



The town where we stopped for some breakfast 


A ride that was supposed to take 3 hours took us 5... so we arrived at the lake around 10 am, and I was in for quite a surprise. My Myanmar friends had purchased some popcorn from the roadside a little bit before we arrived at the lake.  Given that people here, especially Thet Thet Wah, are constantly snacking I figured they must just want something for the boat ride.  I could not have been more wrong...

Turns out the popcorn was to feed the birds on the way to the pagoda for 'good merit' - and NOBODY WARNED ME! The birds swarmed the boat and caught the popcorn thrown into the air as we drove away from the dock. I.was.not.impressed. but laughing my head off at the ridiculousness of all of it. Looking back, I suppose I should have known something was up when the popcorn they bought was labelled 'bread flavour'. 

The lake itself was quite pretty and we had beautiful weather, so despite spending another long day in a car  I was happy I got to see more of Myanmar - and an area that most people don't get to see to boot.

I just really didn't want to get pooped on


Pose is for Steph's benefit only

Back in Myitkyina for dinner, Seng Myaw and Shwe took me for more Kachin food. The fish was quite good and it's hard not to enjoy dumplings and fried potato croquettes. They ordered a mushroom salad that is particular to Kachin cuisine - but it was even too spicy for either of them to eat!


The next morning I had some time to myself as Seng Myaw went to church and visited with some family. I walked down to the river and just hung out for a bit, watching the women doing their laundry and enjoying the clean air and sunshine.


Seng Myaw and Shwe then picked me on a scooter and we headed to lunch with some of their girlfriends. The fried fish was really good but I also enjoyed the fresh rice noodles mixed with a sauce that kind of reminded me of Vietnamese food.  I also really liked this kinda of sweet bbq peanut flavoured thick rice noodle thing...

After lunch we headed to a Kachin fabric store where Seng Myaw purchased quite a few pieces of fabric. The Kachin are known for their really lovely fabric so I got some of my own - which I have now taken to a tailor in Yangon to have made into a dress. Fingers crossed!!




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