It Rains In Burma

Mid-October! What a perfect time for our trip; before the high tourist season starts, but the end of the wet season. We knew we couldn't completely escape the rain, though. The first day in Yangon was hot and steamy, but as expected, the afternoon clouds rolled in. We were all too familiar with hot days and afternoon storms back home, and knew it wouldn't last.

When the rain started, we were already inside a shop, a pharmacy, and sat on the dusty floor with our back packs as we waited it out. The pharmacy staff were accommodating enough to offer us some small plastic stools, which we accepted gratefully.

This kind of generosity is not uncommon in Burma, it seems.

After a pleasant walk north of Hsipaw to visit the Shan Palace and have lunch at Mrs Popcorn, Rob and I encountered another afternoon shower. This time, we sought shelter at the entrance of a small shop, and again, we were offered stools to sit on while we waited.

Another time, it drizzled all afternoon… when we were hiking. We tiptoed over muddy patches, tried to avoid slipping, and dipping our feet in puddles. I hung onto an umbrella I picked up near the burning trash heap at the beginning of our trek, but Rob was happy to get saturated.

On our way back through the trash heap, a toothless old man (there are many in Burma) saw Rob and insisted he take the umbrella he offered. "It's a gift!" he said. Rob accepted, but left it at the nearby monastery to be used again.

Yes, it rains good will in Burma.