The Feel of a Place

People.

Loving travel can mean many things. It's hilarious, tragic and a bit weird to think around the world America is defined by a trip to Las Vegas, New York and perhaps a trip to that lovable mouse (Florida or California--take your pick). But that really is how most outside the US hope to see America. I mean how in the world does Lambeau Field, endless corn in Illinois and a trip to Culvers/Rips/(name your favorite) compete? 
So, we try very hard not to define our travels by the giant temple, magnificent statue or tall building. Great stuff. Really important. Very memorable. Will certainly do that on these pages in coming days. But, if time permits, we really do try to experience and see more.  For now, a few words about the "feel."

Democracy comes at a price. It's called "chaos." I mean think about it. You have a country ruled with an iron fist for thirty years. Burma went from the second most prosperous country in Asia in 1948 (when it became independent) to one of its poorest by the mid 1990's. That socialist agenda, administered by the military and others, destroyed the economy. As we looked at buildings today it was reminiscent of our trips to Russia where Irkutsk--the "Paris of Eastern Russia" according to Chekov--was a ghost of itself by the 1980's. Great architecture fallen into a wasteland of neglect.

But, given a chance at freedom, people everywhere grasp for it. Here, there are vendors everywhere. They sell fruit, vegetables, watches, clothes, lunch, Children's toys--you name it, they are trying to sell it. Only a few years ago, the socialist government would not allow it, but today it is everywhere.

I love it! Free people, free markets, democracy in action....traffic jams of joy

Will it succeed? Will it fail? Don't have a clue.  And to say it is precarious is to state the obvious. More later on what our guides are openly saying, but as the US Ambassador (whom we met with for over an hour today) said, this is a country that has been in a 65 year civil war. It continues today in parts of the country. And while people say they don't see the change they also say "but we sure don't want to go back to the way it was.".
This is going to be a very interesting trip in the coming ten days.... now I am sure of it.