Burma isn't touristed out yet but they have one thing touted out. Transportation. I was greated at the early hour of six a.m. by about twenty shady looking characters yelling and hitting the windows as we pulled in. My favorite welcome to any city.
I later woke up to take a stroll around Mandalay. It was an interesting walk. I booked the same hotel as another traveler in my Yangon guesthouse because he spoke of lodging being kind of hard to sort out and I figured if he had it figured out then it would be a snap if I took the same spot. My check-in was followed with the rudest cold shower ever, they must have imported glacier water, seriously. I then found that I was co-habitating with a cockroach and was magically motivated to find new accommodation. Easy as that.
Having done nothing cultural at all I decided to take in the Moustache Brothers show that evening. The Moustache Brothers you ask? Yes. This is a quite popular comdedy show on the tourist circuit. They used to be rather big in Myanmar working major events, weddings, etc. However, there open condemnation of the government led to one of the brothers being locked up a few times. They joke often about the "KGB" outside the doors and there lack of freedom to say what they want. I think they get on all right with the constant stream of intrigued tourists.
There are conflicting views about the show from those I talked to. Some people expected the brothers to get up stage and just blast those that are in leadership. Obviously this can't be done and those who expect that should re-think what country they are in. Others say there is too much "extra stuff" i.e. dancing and commentary on the country itself. I thought the "extra stuff" was the funniest part. The show before it went underground was a variety show, so I expected some of that variety. The only thing that I was dissapointed with was the constant "photo" opportunities and blog whoring. Yes, I am writing about you in my travel blog, but I would have done so without the 2093094 requests during the 45 minute show. All and all a good evening out in a country where the lights are often off at 9 when the show started.
Me with the imprisioned Moustache Brother
This is the brother who runs the show now as he is the only one who speaks English
This guy must have been a catch in his day as his wife was the face of lonely planet Burma in the 80s
The dancing begins
The far left is a lady and the middle is not...seriously
I later woke up to take a stroll around Mandalay. It was an interesting walk. I booked the same hotel as another traveler in my Yangon guesthouse because he spoke of lodging being kind of hard to sort out and I figured if he had it figured out then it would be a snap if I took the same spot. My check-in was followed with the rudest cold shower ever, they must have imported glacier water, seriously. I then found that I was co-habitating with a cockroach and was magically motivated to find new accommodation. Easy as that.
Having done nothing cultural at all I decided to take in the Moustache Brothers show that evening. The Moustache Brothers you ask? Yes. This is a quite popular comdedy show on the tourist circuit. They used to be rather big in Myanmar working major events, weddings, etc. However, there open condemnation of the government led to one of the brothers being locked up a few times. They joke often about the "KGB" outside the doors and there lack of freedom to say what they want. I think they get on all right with the constant stream of intrigued tourists.
There are conflicting views about the show from those I talked to. Some people expected the brothers to get up stage and just blast those that are in leadership. Obviously this can't be done and those who expect that should re-think what country they are in. Others say there is too much "extra stuff" i.e. dancing and commentary on the country itself. I thought the "extra stuff" was the funniest part. The show before it went underground was a variety show, so I expected some of that variety. The only thing that I was dissapointed with was the constant "photo" opportunities and blog whoring. Yes, I am writing about you in my travel blog, but I would have done so without the 2093094 requests during the 45 minute show. All and all a good evening out in a country where the lights are often off at 9 when the show started.
Me with the imprisioned Moustache Brother
This is the brother who runs the show now as he is the only one who speaks English
This guy must have been a catch in his day as his wife was the face of lonely planet Burma in the 80s
The dancing begins
The far left is a lady and the middle is not...seriously
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