Monday 14 February

Now on our own for one of our ‘Free and Easy’ days, we decided to walk down to the river from our hotel.  Not a long walk, and the sidewalks were interesting, with lots of people heading off to work, many street vendors, and lots to watch.  Many photos were taken!  We walked past, but did not go into the Sule Pagoda as we were already a little ‘pagoda’d out’.  Not perhaps a good sign!  But we found the street life much more interesting. 

We got to the Strand jetty, very near the hotel, where there is a ferry across the river, which we were told would be interesting.  So we wandered into the ferry waiting area, where we were taken in hand by a small boy, about 10, who showed us where to buy our tickets – in the main office, rather than the ticket seller, as our passports had to be checked.  While the station master was doing this, the office cat walked across his ledger – a possible photo opportunity, except that I remembered we were in a transportation area, possibly restricted.  So I put the camera away 

Our young friend stayed with us on the ferry, and introduced us to his even younger friend, about 4, selling treats to throw at the gulls.  We bought some just to please him, and spent some time amusing ourselves.    Harry asked the young boy,whose name was Myokyaw, why he wasn’t in school, and he told a long story about having his Hmong village destroyed during the hurricane of 2008.  Supposedly he was now living with his brother in the city, but was not able to go to school.

On arrival, we found the ‘village’ on the other side seemed to consist of motorcycle shops and dust, and decided that we could pass on the trishaw rides everyone was trying to sell us.  So we took the ferry back, and said goodbye to young friend – here we came up against something that would occur in various places in Myanmar.  He had obviously joined us in order to receive money, even though he didn’t ask for it.  Many people during our stay in the country indicated that we should not give money to the children, as it ‘made beggars of them.’  But we felt that he had been helpful, we had enjoyed his company, and so we gave him some.