Halfway Around the World

Today is our third full day at sea since leaving Burma.  Sadly it is also the halfway point of our journey around the world.  It makes me sad to think about this amazing voyage coming to an end.

We keep a bandanna on our cabin wall that reminds us, "Don't count the days, make the days count."  It's a Mohammed Ali quote and a memorial to a friend that I try and take to heart every day.  You just never know how much time you have on this planet and it can all be gone in a flash.

As we approach India (617 Nautical miles away) and put Burma in our rear-view mirror, I still can't help but wish we could turn around and go back to Yangon.  Sure it was hot and there is trash littered throughout the streets, but it is still my favorite country I've ever visited.  The people really make it.

One great example happened when we visited the gorgeous Shwedagon Pagoda.  Kelly, Rachel and I had walked the 45 minutes from our hotel in the sweltering 100 degree heat and Kelly was starting to overheat.  When we got there Kelly took a break in the shade and try and cool off.  She was pink as a raspberry and wished she had some cooling thanaka face cream.   She asked a few women working nearby and fortunately a woman sitting behind them heard her request and produced a bar of the bark.  The women then proceeded to giggle and paint Kelly's face as onlookers watched and smiled.  It really helped her feel better and was a fun scene to watch.

We also ran into the kindhearted nature of the Burmese when we visited the Botataung Pagoda one night.  As we sat on the cool marble and marveled at the shimmering glow of the golden pagoda against the dark sky I family nearby sat down and started eating roasted corn they had bought from a vendor outside.  They immediately turned around and offered us a piece.  In a country where many people don't get enough to eat on a daily basis you'd think they would be more likely to be stingy.  Not these people.  They are extremely welcoming and wonderful to be around.

Another afternoon we visited the Chauk Htat Gyi reclining Buddha and the Ngar Htat Gyi seated Buddha.  Both were impressive with their size and beauty.  As the seated Buddha a security guard came over to us and proceeded to show us around the complex and talk with us about Buddhism because he thought we would enjoy seeing everything the temple had to offer.  Really these people are amazing.