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Carol and Kenneth Laidlaw of Oakland
Cheerful tourists with Mekong tributary in background - note smokey sky from slash and burn farming
Why we went: We wanted to see these two exotic countries that have been difficult to visit for 50 years.
Don't miss: The floating gardens and hill areas around Inle Lake in Myanmar. The gardens are a unique technique passed down. Hills still are home to traditional tribes.
Don't bother: Spending a lot of time in Yangon and Mandalay. The traffic is horrendous, and a city is a city.
Coolest souvenir: Variety of textiles (cotton, silk and cotton-silk blends) woven in the villages. At least one Burmese longyi is a must.
Worth a splurge: No splurges; everything is really reasonable: dinners under $10 and large bottles of beer under $2.
Wish we'd packed: More warm-
weather, culturally appropriate clothing. You can't go into temples with bare shoulders and uncovered knees — men and women alike. Locals dress very modestly. Get used to going barefoot in temples.
Other comments: In Laos, visiting Luang Prabang is a treat. It is the former royal capital and is still rather untouristy. Bagan in Myanmar has an incredible number temples (2,000 plus), most made of reddish clay.
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/just-back-laos-and-burma/
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