The long arm of the internet doesn't quite reach into Myanmar. I saw some internet cafes in Yangon, but assuming that they were as ubiquitous everywhere in the country, I didn't bother to check my email. Jason did try to check Yahoo! Mail and was blocked. Apparently, the government blocks hotmail as well. However, through some simple tricks we are able to check our email now.

Currently, we are at beautiful Lake Inle. Burma is a wonderful country! Jason and I both love it here and decided to extend our visit by five more days.

Based on the information in the current Lonely Planet guidebook, published in 2003, we weren't expecting to be able to do anything but check our email. Apparently, you are able to most everything but that now heh, heh.

Myanmar (actually pronounced Myanma), or Burma, is a very interesting country. In our first couple of days in Yangon, I felt like Jason and I were the first tourists the country had seen. We hardly saw any other white faces and folks were genuinely pleased to see us. No, "hey, taxi?" "hello, looking my shop?" or anything like that. People were saying "Hello" and "Good afternoon" and weren't even trying to sell us anything. This is quite a shocker after coming from India.

To start with the obvious stuff: gosh, people here sure wear funny clothes and what is that yellow stuff on everyone's face? Myanmar is the only country in SE Asia where the majority of men wear the "longyi". This is a long cotton skirt-type thing that people wrap around themselves here. Because there are no pockets in the longyi, I've seen men either tuck their wallets into the back of the longyi or wear a "man purse" (the famed Burmese shoulder bag). I saw a couple of young men wearing jeans, but no women wearing pants for the most part.

As for the funny yellow stuff on people's faces: it is a powder from some tree bark that many, many women, men and children wear on their faces as a cosmetic combo sunscreen-combo skin conditioner. Or so my guidebook tells me. From a distance, it has the effect of making women's skin seem lighter.

The Myanmar people are terribly helpful and friendly. They are so nice to the hapless tourist and every day here has been great. Even a lousy day of bus travel to Inle Lake, is made great by fruit juice and an evening at the Burmese teashop.

The Burmese teashop is the greatest! Men, women and children are present. Women are sometimes sitting alone having tea. It is all quite natural. You sit down at a low table and some smart waiter comes by and takes your tea order. Usually, "tea" is about all anyone knows. They make tea in giant kettles here. First, the tea person pours a bit of sweetened condensed milk in the bottom of a glass, he/she then pours tea from the giant kettle and adds a bit of boiled water. This is mixed around and brought to the table in about 30 seconds. Quite a change from India, where tea (unless bought on the street) seemed to take thirty minutes to make.

As for snacks, you have many many choices. Usually, in the front of the tea shop is a large wok filled with oil. Yes, the great Asian fried snack awaits you at the teashop. In Burma, which has Indian and Chinese influences, you can get samosas (Indian) or egg rolls (Chinese) or steam buns, bean cakes, fried sweet dough things, fried and sweetened naan. Usually, these places serve noodle and soup dishes but I haven't bothered to move beyond the fried goodies.

And the best part: free, unlimited Chinese green or black tea. Sure, it's weak but it's free. So, after you finish your one cup of milk tea, you can sip on a more astringent tea while you finish your cheap tasty meal. Jason and I usually stuff ourselves for less than a dollar for two. Quite often, it's more like the equivalent of fifty cents.

I could go on and on, but Jason is getting a massage right now and I wanted to see what goes on with a traditional Burmese massage.