Day 266- Day Trip: Snake Island, Three Pagodas, Merman Beach
Saturday, March 30th, 2019.
Today we rented a tuk-tuk to take us around the peninsula to see different beaches. We took off right after breakfast which made me regret all the liquid I had. I could hear the bouncing water in my stomach [on the unpaved, rough roads]. The first beach that he took us to was Snake Island and it really wasn’t a beach for swimming. [Gregory's note: there weren't any snakes, either. Oh, and it wasn't an island. Bit of a misnomer there.] It was rocky and more importantly had a shrine with Buddha meditating under a cobra. Locals took off their shoes to do a prayer to Buddha. We didn’t notice that we were supposed to take off our shoes -- oops!
It was really different to see this image of Buddha under a snake. I don’t really know the meaning. I know that in India the snake symbolizes protection. Maybe? They were some locals doing construction work on a new shrine next to the snake. There was also a bigger Buddha shrine next to it. Around in the rocks, you could see small gold statues of Buddha. We took some pictures, walked down an old, rickety bridge and had drinks in a beach shack.
Afterward, the driver took us to Three Pagodas Beach. It was a small, rocky beach. I didn’t see any guest houses, resorts or anything. Just a lot of little stands with women and children selling shell necklaces, bracelets, coral, and water. The children were really cute and would take our hand and pull us to their stands. We wanted to help them all but there were so many. We told them that we would first see the three pagodas and then buy. We walk to the beach and saw three golden pagodas perched on rocks in the surf. Nothing extraordinary, but the view was beautiful. For a while, we were the only ones on the beach.
I sat under the only shade on the beach and almost as soon as I sat down, a local girl with a baby came and sat next to me. She wanted to sell me shell necklaces and bracelets. We chatted a little, using gestures. I found out that the baby was actually her baby! I couldn't believe it because she looked 13 or 14. She then told me that she was 19 and then she started to breastfeed her baby. More kids came to the hut to chat with us.
In no time we had about 10 kids surrounding us. Gregory and Daniel joined us, they were collecting shells that they gave to the locals so they could make more jewelry. We took some pictures and walked back through "the gauntlet" where we stopped at a couple of stands where we tried to spread out our purchases.
We found our driver, who had a new passenger. My first thought was, this guy is really making extra money driving people around while we wait in one place. I was mostly mad because it was the second time, and Daniel had to squeeze in front with the new guy and the driver. That’s right, 3 people on the front and three on the back. [Gregory's note: that's nothing. The locals can fit 8 in a tuk-tuk! Of course, most of them are skinnier than we are.]
Well, guess what? The guy that he picked up had run out of gas and our driver offered him some help. At first, I thought he was a local but then when we were talking on the tuk-tuk, we found out that he was from Venezuela living in Bologna, Italy.
I told him about our year in Modena. When we told him that we were from Mexico, he said he had an aunt living there. I, of course, asked where. His answer shocked me: Leon!
No way, I’m from Leon, I told him. He then shared that his aunt was a Venezuelan doctor who had married a Mexican! What a small world.
The driver dropped us at Merman Beach and took Luis back to his motorcycle. We said goodbye and exchanged info because he is doing an internship in Yangon so we might see him again.
Merman was by far my favorite beach. It was almost deserted, with only one tiny guest house and the restaurant where Gregory sat drinking a beer. The kids and I decided to walk or swim to the small island off shore. The water was super warm and calm. It was like a bathtub. We sat there for a while, since it was too shallow to swim. Afterward, we ordered some drinks and I took out the snacks that we had brought in my backpack.
Today we rented a tuk-tuk to take us around the peninsula to see different beaches. We took off right after breakfast which made me regret all the liquid I had. I could hear the bouncing water in my stomach [on the unpaved, rough roads]. The first beach that he took us to was Snake Island and it really wasn’t a beach for swimming. [Gregory's note: there weren't any snakes, either. Oh, and it wasn't an island. Bit of a misnomer there.] It was rocky and more importantly had a shrine with Buddha meditating under a cobra. Locals took off their shoes to do a prayer to Buddha. We didn’t notice that we were supposed to take off our shoes -- oops!
It was really different to see this image of Buddha under a snake. I don’t really know the meaning. I know that in India the snake symbolizes protection. Maybe? They were some locals doing construction work on a new shrine next to the snake. There was also a bigger Buddha shrine next to it. Around in the rocks, you could see small gold statues of Buddha. We took some pictures, walked down an old, rickety bridge and had drinks in a beach shack.
Afterward, the driver took us to Three Pagodas Beach. It was a small, rocky beach. I didn’t see any guest houses, resorts or anything. Just a lot of little stands with women and children selling shell necklaces, bracelets, coral, and water. The children were really cute and would take our hand and pull us to their stands. We wanted to help them all but there were so many. We told them that we would first see the three pagodas and then buy. We walk to the beach and saw three golden pagodas perched on rocks in the surf. Nothing extraordinary, but the view was beautiful. For a while, we were the only ones on the beach.
I sat under the only shade on the beach and almost as soon as I sat down, a local girl with a baby came and sat next to me. She wanted to sell me shell necklaces and bracelets. We chatted a little, using gestures. I found out that the baby was actually her baby! I couldn't believe it because she looked 13 or 14. She then told me that she was 19 and then she started to breastfeed her baby. More kids came to the hut to chat with us.
In no time we had about 10 kids surrounding us. Gregory and Daniel joined us, they were collecting shells that they gave to the locals so they could make more jewelry. We took some pictures and walked back through "the gauntlet" where we stopped at a couple of stands where we tried to spread out our purchases.
We found our driver, who had a new passenger. My first thought was, this guy is really making extra money driving people around while we wait in one place. I was mostly mad because it was the second time, and Daniel had to squeeze in front with the new guy and the driver. That’s right, 3 people on the front and three on the back. [Gregory's note: that's nothing. The locals can fit 8 in a tuk-tuk! Of course, most of them are skinnier than we are.]
Well, guess what? The guy that he picked up had run out of gas and our driver offered him some help. At first, I thought he was a local but then when we were talking on the tuk-tuk, we found out that he was from Venezuela living in Bologna, Italy.
I told him about our year in Modena. When we told him that we were from Mexico, he said he had an aunt living there. I, of course, asked where. His answer shocked me: Leon!
No way, I’m from Leon, I told him. He then shared that his aunt was a Venezuelan doctor who had married a Mexican! What a small world.
The driver dropped us at Merman Beach and took Luis back to his motorcycle. We said goodbye and exchanged info because he is doing an internship in Yangon so we might see him again.
Merman was by far my favorite beach. It was almost deserted, with only one tiny guest house and the restaurant where Gregory sat drinking a beer. The kids and I decided to walk or swim to the small island off shore. The water was super warm and calm. It was like a bathtub. We sat there for a while, since it was too shallow to swim. Afterward, we ordered some drinks and I took out the snacks that we had brought in my backpack.
After an hour or so, the driver took us back to the Blue Water. On the way, he showed us another beautiful hotel resort where we could swim called the Fisherman's Bar at the Bay of Bengal resort. Gregory and I thought about staying there, it was so nice, green and fancy, but probably expensive so we just decided to stay another two nights where we are.
We are comfortable here and it's better than being in the city without a beach or pool. We stopped at an ATM to pay the hotel. In this village, no one takes credit cards and you have to carry a huge wad of bills!
After the driver dropped us at our hotel, Sunshine and I jumped in the pool. Gregory for a change, relaxed and took a nap (he won’t admit it) and Daniel ran to his room with burning feet. Something bit his feet and they felt like they were on fire. He said there were ants, I have different thoughts and I think they are fleas, like the ones I got on my arms and chest. Very uncomfortable and itchy and of course, I left the medicine bag at the hotel in Yangon where we left our big suitcases. [Gregory's note: they were ants and Lili had a rash, not bites.]
We are comfortable here and it's better than being in the city without a beach or pool. We stopped at an ATM to pay the hotel. In this village, no one takes credit cards and you have to carry a huge wad of bills!
After the driver dropped us at our hotel, Sunshine and I jumped in the pool. Gregory for a change, relaxed and took a nap (he won’t admit it) and Daniel ran to his room with burning feet. Something bit his feet and they felt like they were on fire. He said there were ants, I have different thoughts and I think they are fleas, like the ones I got on my arms and chest. Very uncomfortable and itchy and of course, I left the medicine bag at the hotel in Yangon where we left our big suitcases. [Gregory's note: they were ants and Lili had a rash, not bites.]
We went out for dinner at 7:00. I don’t know how we manage to last so long from breakfast but we do. Sunshine and Daniel went back to the hotel and Gregory and I took a walk in the village looking for sunscreen! It was hard to find and expensive. The locals were probably thinking, crazy tourists who pay so much for a cream when they can use thanaka for cheap!
It was a good day!
For pictures please click here
It was a good day!
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7ACwb4R9uH2Qvoxt9
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