Burma Bound
January 5, 2008
Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon, Burma
Well, it’s official-official, the final pieces to the Burma (or Myanmar) puzzle are just about finalized. Yesterday, I Fedex’ed our passports to Beijing where I have a girl by the name Sunshine finalizing our visa permits into Myanmar. I am hoping/praying she will return our documents to us by next Thursday (which she “promises” she can do), because on Monday the 14th the Engleson clan is off to Bangkok and then on the 17th we are scheduled to fly into Rangoon, Burma. (I’m sorry for those who are new style Myanmarists, but I prefer the more old school, colonialist ideal of Burma - “it will always be Burma to me” to quote one J. Peterman of Seinfeld). It has been a long and arduous journey getting into Burma for us and it was almost lost again two days ago. Kristin is, to delicately put it, a little concerned about the political climate there and is worried that her babies will get into some trouble while visiting. I have done my best to reassure her that everything will be fine and that the trip we are taking is actually quite mild, but there is no arguing that Burma is a sensitive place, which is what I think makes it very special and unique. Anyways, this trip has been on my list for two years now and I am so excited to finally get it going - and I am going to say it right here, right now, Kristin will come away a huge fan and will wish to go again! So the countdown is on, Burma here we come!
