AboutNancy B Expertise One of my all-time favorites. I`ve been there more than 10 times (for at least a month each time), done the tourist loop five times and travelled to several permit-only areas. Aside from the Yangon, Bago, Inle, Kalaw, Mandalay, Pagan, Pyay route, I`ve travelled twice to Sittwe, Mrauk-U and the Chin areas and then down to Ramree Island, Ngapali and Pathein. Been on the wonderful boat from Bhamo to Mandalay and sojourned in the south a bit past Moulmein. Most recently I trekked in the northern Kachin state, camped and stayed with the Rawang tribe, for 2 weeks on the way to Phonekan Razi to see the Himalayas from the east. I`ve taken nearly every mode of transport--trains, planes, buses, boats, bikes, oxcarts, trekking on foot. I can answer logistical questions about airfare, hotels, restaurants, trekking, trains, restricted/open areas and, especially, cultural/religious sites and their significance.
Experience The world is a fascinating place and nothing reveals this more thoroughly than exploring faraway lands. I've got a penchant for the exotic, a friendly face and a true curiousity about the people, art and life.
Question Dear Nancy: Thank you for sending such clear answers. I have enjoyed reading many of them and hope you have not answered this before, but here goes: I am going to Burma for almost a month and have a pretty ambitious travel schedule. We are four older women (55 - 67)and are traveling fairly cautiously for our first trip. Two lawyers with interests in law and education and two artists who collect crafts, toys, anything printed. One: can we visit schools and take supplies? and two: is it true that Sagaing is the toy-making center, or does everything end up in the markets of Rangoon?
Answer Hi, Susanne,
Interesting. Certainly an unusual question. Whether or not you can visit schools and take supplies depends on the government. However, if you are in tribal areas (like some of the areas around Inle, or the Chin area, or the Kachin area), you can give these items direct to the heads of the villages where they will be greatly! appreciated. Of course, only bring blank notebooks, nothing controversial the government could censor. You may want to try to visit the Women's Assoc. in Yangon that has some helpful social programs.
Sagaing as a "toy-making" center. I guess that depends on what you can "toys". Some of the little paper mache types you see on the steps to temples are just made by individuals all over (as are the sandalwood carvings). Mandalay itself is known for crafts including the famous puppets. Other items from Mandalay include "tapestry" kalagas, carved marble items (esp. buddhas), hti metal umbrellas for the tops of pagodas (and other metal work), gold leaf. Lacquer work comes from Kyauk-ka (generally more primitive) or Pagan (the best work from a little village in Pagan called Myitkina). Sagaing is the most famous for some silverwork (although this is mostly a nearby outlying village) and 50-heddle acheiks (royal mandalay) silk skirts. You'll find other minor crafts around . . . like the "fortune teller books" in the Inle area, and little clay elephants in Pagan. You can also get large (generally a bit rough)earthenware jars in Twante near Yangon. Generally the quality of the lacquer in Yangon is far below Pagan (where you can still get horsehair-based work with 11th c designs in four and "five" colorware)except for one good shop in Chinatown near the port.
Have fun!
Nancy B
