Myanmar Part 3

After the interruptions, here comes Part 3. Wednesday morning we went with Elder and Sister Merkley to their last English class for level 2 taught at the government offices. The students were very nice people. It was the last class for level 2, so the class presented the Merkleys with a tapestry, and then we had a graduation ceremony/party. Water Festival was the next week so Sis. Merkley requested the students performe the traditional water festival dance for us. The women dance, the men watch, sing and clap. They also used leaves to sprinkle water on us. This is a sign of respect and washing away the old year - traditional during Water Festival.


Near to where the English classes are taught there is a new museum. The museum has thousands of wood carvings, most of which are carved from trees which were blown down by Cyclone Nargis 1 year ago. Previously the museum had been open and you were free to wander around, but now they charge 10$ per person. Becoming so accustomed to Myanamar prices (cheap!) we decided not to pay the exorbitant entrance fee and just walked around the grounds and the courtyard where they work on carvings. If you look closely in some of the pictures you can see dragons, lions, unicorns, and there were lots of oxen and elephants among many other things.





That afternoon we went to the Nar Gar Glass factory. People have to ask for directions to find it because the glass factory was off this little bumpy back road. The access road just kept getting smaller and smaller in the forest until it turned into a path and the car couldn't go any farther. We walked another 100 feet through the forest and came to the entrance. There were many many downed trees here from the cyclone (we even drove under some to get there) and I can only imagine how pretty and nice it would have been when all the trees provided shade as you walk around the factory.

It is hard to describe the glass factory. The entrance building is the first picture, it is covered in vines and inside they have some tables and display cases to show some of the things the glass factory used to make. The instructions you receive are to wander the grounds, pick up anything that catches your eye, bring it back to the entrance and they will clean it for you and then tell you how much it costs. Leaving the main building are pathways through the forest lined with piles of things made of glass. Anything from goblets and beer mugs to lamps to sculptured animals and on and on. Everything was handmade and blown. Down one of the paths is a large building which is falling in. The glass factory was having trouble staying in business before the cyclone, but then the cyclone knocked down part of the building where the kiln is and they are waiting for a little better economic climate before they start production again. We found a couple of things we liked, a small picture and a small goose sculpture for Eliza. We also found a random assortment of goblets that we liked, all different colors and shapes. The price was a little steep (20$ for 5, a great deal here at home, but steep for Myanmar) so those got left for another tourist to find (or for us on our next trip :). This factory is also where Grandma Merkley got the glass nativity that she gave to us for Christmas last year. Angela threw away the shepherd's cane, not knowing it was in the box, and when she told the ladies at the factory, they gave her a gift of a new one.





We had to be whisked away from the glass factory (you could really spend hours here) for another English class. This time we played a modified version of Catch-Phrase. We were very impressed with the students' abilities. Then we went to the branch activity. Simon (the 2nd counselor in the branch) had asked Elder Merkley to give a spiritual message - so Dad passed the buck onto us. We talked about families and how important they are. Strange to have your words translated. Most of those in attendance were students from English - these activities have become great missionary tools - a sneaky way to spread the gospel. Simon then led us in a rousing game of Simon Says (a Myanmar favorite) and Mingle, Mingle. The winners always have to do something silly - Angela had to do the water festival dance/kickline with her mingle mingle winning team. Another girl had to do bodybuilding poses. We thought the place would colapse from laughter.

Next up...Inle Lake (oh boy, oh boy!)