2015 - THE IRRAWADY of MYANMAR - Village of Pegu

MOVING ON TO THE DELIGHTFUL LITTLE VILLAGE OF PEGU

FIRST LOOK OUT OF THE CABIN BEFORE BREAKFAST - SOMEWHAT FOGGY ..

BREAKFAST ON THE PANDAW IS VERY RELAXED IF QUITE EARLY. TAKEN ON THE OPEN SIDED DECK, IT IS BUFFET STYLE WITH ALL THE USUAL WESTERN SUSPECTS PLUS LOCAL EATS TOO.

MARIANNE, ONE OF THE PASSENGERS HAS BEEN ON PANDAW BEFORE & IS A GREAT FAVOURITE OF THE CREW. FOR BREAKFAST SHE ASKS FOR 'WHATEVER THE CREW HAD' PLUS HER SECRET STORE OF HER FAVOURITES.

THE LOCALS ARE UP EARLY TO CHECK US OUT ...

WE WILL HAVE TO CLIMB THOSE STEPS UP THE BANK TO GET TO THE VILLAGE ...

PEOPLE COME TO MEET US WHILE WE WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO CLIMB UP. THERE ARE ONLY TWENTY TWO OF US BUT IT CAN STILL TAKE A WHILE. I AM USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST OFF SO I HAVE TIME TO BE IGNORED BY THE LOCALS WHILE THEY WATCH EVERYONE ELSE ARRIVE.

OUR GUIDE GIVES HIS LITTLE SPEECH ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE, NONE OF WHICH I LISTEN TO AND WE ARE OFF FOR A STROLL AROUND THE VILLAGE ....

WE MEET A FEW PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY BUSINESS. WE STOP & THE GUIDE CHATS WITH PEOPLE WHILE WE MAKE LIKE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS SAYING.

HERE'S MARIANNE, LOOKING VERY NAUTICAL IN HER BLUE OUTFIT, MAKING FRIENDS ALREADY ...

WE ENTER A SMALL ENCLOSED SPACE WHERE PEOPLE, MAKE THAT LADIES, ARE BUSY PREPARING FOOD ....

I CANNOT HELP WONDERING IF THESE LADIES ALWAYS DRESS LIKE THIS OR IF THEY GET DRESSED UP BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE ARE COMING. I EXPECT IT IS THE FIRST.

THEY CERTAINLY LOOK VERY ELEGANT ... & WONDERFUL COLOURS.

BY NOW I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE SKIRTS ARE NOT CALLED SARONGS, HERE THEY ARE CALLED LUNGI. A WRAP AROUND THAT IS OFTEN A TUBE THE LADIES STEP INTO.

WE HAD A LUNGI TYING DEMONSTRATION ON BOARD ONE EVENING BUT SINCE THERE ARE NO FEMALE CREW, ONE OF THE WAITERS WAS THE MODEL.
LOOKS LIKE THE SECRET TO KEEPING THEM FROM FROM FALLING DOWN IS TO ADD TENSION BY SUCKING IN YOUR GUT BEFORE TUCKING THEM IN.

A NICE SHOT OF SOME ONIONS ...

LEAVING THE LADIES & THEIR COOKING WE CONTINUE ON OUR STROLL ..

.... THE KIDS FOLLOWING OF COURSE .. BUT THEY STILL HAVE WORK TO DO ..

MINGALABA TO YOU TOO, LITTLE GIRL ...

MANY PROUD MOTHERS WITH THEIR CHILDREN ...

AND HERE IS BARBARA FROM THE USA. ONE OF ONLY THREE AMERICANS AMONG THE PASSENGERS, AND TWO OF THEM LIVE IN ITALY.

BARBARA IS AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER & WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME CHECKING EACH OTHERS PHOTOS.

LOTS OF PRODUCE LAID OUT OT DRY IN THE SUN - PEPPERS HERE ..

A PHOTO OP, WITH MARIANNE ON THE RIGHT ...

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BLONDE HAIRED KIDDY BUT WAS TOLD LATER IT WAS A WIG

THIS LADY HAS HER BABY IN A SWING ..

& THAT'S ALL OF MY PHOTOS FROM HERE AS MY MEMORY CARD WAS FULL. IT IS EASY TO TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

I REALLY LIKED IT HERE. VERY PLEASANT, VERY NATURAL. LOCAL FOLK WERE EXTREMELY WELCOMING. NO SELLING US ANYTHING. IN FACT ONE LADY GAVE ME A BOTTLE OF WATER.

I MA NOT SURE OF SOPHY AT RED IXORA HAS THIS VILLAGE ON ANY OF HER TOURS BUT YOU COULD ASK HER TO ARRANGE A VISIT & SEE IF SHE CAN OBLIGE.