Sweltering in Yangon.

I am safe and sound in Myanmar.

I don’t have much time to write, as I am heading to the zoo with two new friends I met at my hostel, from Australia and Greece, but I wanted to check in for my mom’s sake.

In a nutshell:

• It is very hot. And humid. All I do here is sweat.

• I was lucky to get a bed in a dorm room in a guest house, the last bed available. It is a room of 6 beds, or really just wooden planks with mats on them. Most people booked a room or bed months in advance. Woops. But someone cancelled by chance and I snagged it. But tomorrow, I don’t have a room, so I will head North towards Mandalay.

• The dorm room is 5 guys, and myself. The two I have befriended tell me it’s rare to see a girl traveling alone. They said get used to it. OK.

• I was exhausted and dehydrated upon arrival and slept all day yesterday, until 8, when I was awakened by the pouring rain and a little boy singing outside my window. I got up, dazed and confused and chugged 3 liters of water. I had to pee every hour last night.

• There is no wifi. And a very slow connection. Pictures will not be uploaded until I am out of Burma and can get wifi, unless I can find wifi somewhere…which seems impossible.

• The people here are amazing. I am reminded of the little towns in the Amazon, with the backdrop of the jungle, and the wild dogs, cats and roosters running around the muddy streets.

Most conversations so far with the Burmese has gone something like this: 

Hi!

(me) - Hello!

Are you just one?

-Yes, just me.

Are you married?

-No..

Do you have a boyfriend?

-Certainly not.

Why not?

-Uhm..

You are very pretty.

-Thank you…

….

I might just have to get used to this.

I like this whole traveling thing.   I have my confidence restored, after having a pillow under my head and an actual place to sleep.  I can do this.  I can love this.  I feel free, alive, and extremely clammy and gross.   Just how I like it.