3rd day in London

18th- TODAY:-

It's been 3 days in London and everything is getting better by the day. From being in Asia to coming over here, obviously everything from the lifestyle, to the people, to the food and more just had to be different. BUT in a positive way of course because I get to learn new things. I must admit that once I landed in London I got a little scared because I was not prepared for it. All I knew was that I was coming here to definitely travel, then work and earn money to travel again. I didn't think of how living would be like, who I'd meet, what I'd need to do to get by the day but fortunately, everything worked out well for me. Luckily I have my friend David and his 2 friends Bora and Annie from back home all here to get me settled in London. We are all staying under the same roof and I've gotten to know the 2 girls which is great! They're really nice and helpful and I'm staying in the same room with Bora and David whereas Annie has her own room. The house also consists of about 5-6 Italian guys (yes, guys!!!!) and a lovely Italian girl Irene. They are all pretty friendly which means we all can get along well and that makes staying in London even more better!! This is definitely a change for me and it's all pretty exciting!

Here is a picture taken earlier of us today just after finishing our lunch at an Italian Restaurant. Bora and I met up with the guys during their lunch break. That's David beside me, then Bora and one of their friend Abraham. Lovely lunch I must say! I better eat more over here or else David and Bora will constantly lecture me and literally force food down my throat- eeek!!! And now, they're making me learn how to cook also- double eeek!!!! =I

In the last week of Burma:-

Oh how I miss that place already!! It is a certainty that I will be back there again and again and again. I simply cannot thank my second family Naing, OhnMar & Bey Bey enough for taking me in as part of their family. I am very touched by their love and I am so fortunate to have a second family to cherish! In the last week we all went on a 14hr drive to Mandalay for a little break during the Water Festival. It was extremely hot in Mandalay and I just baked, even when I was indoors! There is such a bad supply of power over there that half the time I couldn't even use the Air-Con in the hotel! I had to resort to fans and they surely didn't help much. We all burned in Mandalay and were very happy to get back to Yangon after the 3 days of visiting their friends and many Pagodas there.

Me, Bey Bey, Dr Ohn Mar & Naing at Naing's Gem & Jewellery store in Bogyoke Market

Though not everything on the trip was bad. The Water Festival was surely an enjoyment to watch ONLY when you're in the car with all the windows up. I surely got saturated at one point on the street. All these kids saw me from afar as I walked with Ohnmar from a pagoda back to the car and were ready to pour buckets (yes, buckets!!) and lots of cups of water on me!!! I begged them not to but of course it didnt stop them because any1 who is on the street during this time of year, is expected to get wet!!! hehehe I was definitely a main target since I'm a foreigner, a girl and am usually on my own!

The other day, whilst waiting for Naing in a car, I was watching some kids throwing water on people on the street and they busted me watching them and came up to the car with their buckets and cups of water and tried to convince me to come out!!! hehe It was such a funny moment I continually shook my head and they continually used hand gestures to tell me to come out. I didn't know what to do but whip out my camera and take a pic of that lovely site:- what do you think?? =)

Other pics of the Water Festival and Mandalay:

The famous Schwedagon Pagoda in the evening; me in a longyhi!!! Can you believe I didn't pay the $5USD foreigner fee to get in here? Ahhh!

So I organised the farewell party for myself at the orphanage and the kids really enjoyed it. I bought yummy birthday-like cakes, jellies, biscuits, lollies, chips, bananas, and drinks for them to dive into and I gave them each a toy gun and mask to play during the Water Festival!! Woohoo! I took a group photo with most of them towards the end of the party and I love the pic! Oh how I miss them all already!

And finally, saying goodbye to Pyin Oo Lwin Guesthouse II, located on the 3rd floor with the red railings. The entry is through the arch door shown on the bottom left corner of the pic. I will definitely come back!!!!