Heho to Kalaw

Heho to Kalaw
We flew early to Heho in the Shan state in the eastern part of the country. The Shan are another ethnic minority, making up about 30% of the population, but are much more numerous in this area. Thus, they get their own state. On the flight, they passes out candy labeled as "Pizza Candy". I didn't really want candy that tasted like pizza so I declined. They came around again, and I figure I'd try it. Plain old regular sugary candy to suck on. Then I realized that it was "a pizza candy". Ba-dah-bum!
We got into the bus at Heho to drive to our next destination. This is more mountainous country, and they told us multiple times we we at over 4000 feet elevation. I had to ascertain they were saying feet, not meters. Because it was Tuesday(is it? I can't remember any more) we were able to go to the special cattle market. Hundreds of cattle in a field with locals buying and selling. With hundreds of cattle, there was lots of cattle droppings. We were careful to avoid it, but one of the other tourists from another group was not so lucky. I'll leave it to the imagination. We were reminded of the camel fair in India outside Jaipur.
We walked through another village. Similar straw houses, a few wooden ones. We ate some peanuts that some of the villagers had just shelled. I'm awaiting the consequences of that culinary faux pas. Peanuts are a big crop here, in addition to bananas, corn, beans and teak. Also is the Thanakha tree, which all the women of the country grind the bark on a flat stone to make a powder. Then they make a yellow paste and glob it on their faces. "Good for the complexion". There is even a little stone in our bathroom. I'll have to prevail on Ann!
Lunch at the Dream restaurant with Shan food. Pumpkin soup, Pork, beef, veggies, vermicelli, fish ball and Flan for desert. Actually very good.
We checked in to the Hill Top Villa. Being on top of the hill, it has a nice view of the mountains. They were shooting a movie or TV show as we arrived, and Elsa was eager to take pictures of it for her daughter, Michelle, studying production at USC. The villas are little cabins, reminiscent of Powhatan Pines, but a little upgraded. But not much. The atmosphere is similar. All we need is a lake and some pine trees. The Internet here is essentially non-existent, so I will eventually upload this.
After rest period, we went to the train station. I'm not exactly sure why. We walked into town for the market. This town is one of the uglier towns I've seen. Really nothing special to see here. We took some pictures and waited for the rest of the group. There was a funeral procession from the local Muslims. They were carrying the casket and walking from the mosque. This was the first mosque I'd seen. From the size of the funeral, they have a sizable minority here. Interestingly, all the walkers and everyone in the cars following were men. We've had discussions about the role of women in society. As with many traditional peoples, women take a very secondary role here. Even as we passed the golf course(mostly for the military), I noted the caddies were women!
We went to another Pagoda which made us think of an amusement park the way it was painted in bright colors. Then to monastery that overlooked the valley for sunset, but the fog had rolled in. Mist set?
Dinner at "the 7 sisters" restaurant. They bring us so much food at all these restaurants, it is herd not to get over stuffed. I am trying to eat as if it were tapas and just take a small portion.


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