Beyond Rangoon
Before a long business trip back to the US in 2006 I did this “R&R”. The cities of Rangoon and Mawlamyine were visited with a stopover at Kyaiktiyo (“The Golden Rock”), one of the more unusual temples in Asia but entirely “normal” in Burma. This was shortly before the government moved its capital, and about 18 months before the ‘Saffron Revolution’. It would be difficult to imagine a place more exotic than Burma . . . Thai monks visit often and herein, are shown photographing Burmese monks, which are as common as rice in Burma. Thai money even has a rendering of a Burmese temple. On the bus back from Mawlamyine I was searched by “police”.