A TRIP NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

THE REST OF THE STORY--(Just a bit), Or MARCO POLO REVISITED

Do you get the impression the Troupi' have traveled to Shangri La. We are, after all on the great silk road of Marco Polo in areas traversed by Genghis Kahn and the Buddha. The weather is marvelous, albeit a bit hot for us Midwesterners. The people are nothing short of totally pleasant and we are staying at remarkable hotels in exotic cities (I mean, really, did you ever think you would visit Mandalay and Rangoon?). But, of course, there is much more to visiting remote, strange and often unheard-of places. The risks are real, and in great measure that makes it exciting beyond anything else. Karen is, of course, the intrepid, but reluctant traveler. I, as a Greek, could wander the world endlessly in search of Atlantis.  So, we make a good pair--moderation induced by marriage, but a dose of the exotic risk as well.
DNP.  For those who are not baseball fans, "DNP" means "Did not Play", and we have had a number of those along the way. At least half, maybe 3/4, of those who have come to Burma have had some down time. As we have a number of doctors along, they consulted (charged nothing--so very un-American) with each other and decided we are all coming down with a viral infection of some sort. A 24 hour bug that, well, let us say, causes one to wish he had a "western" style bathroom.
SCHEDULE. No surprise here, retirement has taught us the value of a good nap, but apparently we are in a minority. (And the average age of folks on this trip is about 10 years older than us.) I did not know that someone on a vacation could gleefully get up each morning at about 3 a.m. to put luggage in the hall for pickup and then be on a bus to an airport by 6, arrive in the next destination with a box breakfast in hand in order to begin no later than 9 a.m. for hiking thru a thousand temples in the Burma wilderness for 10 hours.  I thought such schedules were reserved for federal trials, mothers with babies (Colleen & Addie, for example) and all the rest who love the feeling of sleep deprivation. I was wrong, of course, because a pre-packaged  "tour" apparently breeds this early morning crowd.
For the record, Karen and I are taking today off, sitting by a beautiful fountain under the palm trees, reading, writing and drinking some adult beverages. (I may even smoke a cigar.) Such is the life of an eccentric Wisconsin couple. (They think we're the odd ones for actually wanting to stop and breath....)
SHOES. There is a custom that one removes their shoes when entering a Buddhist Temple or Monastery. In theory, of course, this is a sign of respect and cleanliness. Which, of course, would be true if, let's say, you were hosting a dinner party for 4. But, let's multiply that number by roughly 20 million (or so it seems) and then add wandering dogs and cats to the mix--all walking sans shoes, sans socks over stones, brick, marble, wood, water etc. Now, I'm not being critical or anything, but, seriously, does that seem like a good idea? (See, DNP above--cause and effect?) Particularly entertaining is how all the Westerners bring a gross or so of hand cleaners and use them on their feet every time before putting their shoes back on after leaving the temple. The Burmese bus drivers bring the wipes and hand them out to all us eccentrically clean folks of European descent.

So, as I sit by the fountain contemplating an afternoon nap today, this remarkable voyage continues. But, as they say, "real boats rock" and before I extol the great virtues of Third World Far Eastern travels a bit too much, I thought a reminder that this is not Club Med Travel might be in order. (Excepting the "Med" part might be right, just a different version....)