Couldn’t have picked a better way to finish off this trip. After all the traveling over the last 3 weeks it felt so amazing to jump in the Bay of Bengal. Aside from the amazing water this area gave us some amazing experiences to wrap up our last days in Myanmar. From visiting the local fishing villages. Meeting an amazing local owner of a restaurant who offered to take us to some remote villages up the Thande river that tourist never go to. To the amazing children and staff we met at a local school for English. This school ran by an English woman they call Mama Sue not only teaches them english but also makes sure they have the supplies needed to attend their government school and also make sure the medical needs of the children and their families are taken care. It moved me an Amber so much we decided to sponsor 3 of the children their ourselves. And I hope to sponsor more in the future. Can’t wait to get back there and visit our kids.

We didn’t hesitate jumping in the water right when we arrived at our hotel.

Loved seeing the local fisherman working on their boats on the beach.

At first when I saw the boat burning I was how could they be burning that boat. Later I found out that’s how they clean the bottom of the boats.

A big problem in this country is all the stray dogs. They are everywhere. These dogs posted up by this boat for some beach time.

 

 

 

Amber talking it up with some of the locals. Take a look up in the palm trees in the next few photos. The locals would climb to the top of these trees collecting dry branches for burning. They would be right up and down these trees with no ropes or anything.

These things below fit on the feet of a local electrician that climbs up and down new electrical poles. Again no safety measures taken just climbing up and down these poles.

One day we took a boat out to explore. Amber loves to fish. So she gave it a shot and she was the only one catching anything.

She caught one!!!

She caught another!!!!

And Another,our boat driver was a impressed. Look close at this picture. The driver finally did catch a fish but i’s pretty small next to the one Amber caught at the same time.

 

Back out exploring the local villages. These homes have no running water and limited electricity. But plenty of happy children.

Mayanmar’s Independence day took place while we where there. It was fun seeing some of the locals at our hotel playing games celebrating. We also got to attend a local party on the beach the same night. It took place on a beach south of our hotel at a local fishing village. I think every local from the village was there. It was a fun night for the local kids. Amber and myself where the only travelers there. So much fun.

The next day we got up to meet with our new friend who was taking us up the the Thande River to explore some remote villages.

 

After about a 45 minute scooter ride we made it to where we would catch a boat the rest of the way.

Amber and our new friend Moe Zaw.

Time to stop at our first village looking for some local alcohol they make from some fruit tree. They really wanted us to try it.

So we wandered around the village. These where mainly farming villages.

People loved seeing us visiting their village. They didn’t hesitate inviting us into their homes. Nicest people ever. Our guide ask the locals if they had ever seen travleers in their village before. They said never. We loved it. I live for getting off the beaten path.

Here is that local alcohol. We did give it a couple sips. It reminded us of saki.

When we got to the 2nd village it was more of the same. Super nice people that couldn’t wait for us to visit with them. Again they said the last time they saw a traveler in their village was over a year ago. Amber wasn’t off the boat for more than a minute when a local handed her their kid to hold.

 

 

After talking to the locals for a while we where invited to visit the local school for the villages in that area.

 

 

We didn’t see many people on the river but when we did it was just the locals doing their thing.

Here we are with the kids we sponsored. The perfect last day in Myanmar.

 

This is my 5 year old. She is starting at the school in April.

This girl was the best. She played translator for us with the kids that didn’t speak good english yet.

This is Amber’s 6 year old girl she is sponsoring.

 

 

 

This one is my 13 year old I’m sponsoring.

Our last local meal in Ngapali Beach was here at the restauraunt of our new good friend that took us up the river today.

 

We already miss you Myanmar. Even more beautiful than the country itself has been all the amazing people that have crossed our path. So happy this trip I have been thinking about for so long finally became a reality.