Yangon Day 1

After arising early since we were still on East Coast time, we had breakfast at the hotel. This consisted of a smorgasbord of ethic foods from American to Indian to Korean to Halal etc. Hard to choose. There is an Ophthalmology convention here with a number of French physicians. I wish I knew anything about Ophthalmology so I could sign in and write this trip off.
We cabbed to the last remaining synagogue in Yangon. There are 20 remaining Jews here, after a high of 20,000 after WW2. This place was like Shanghai, who accepted everyone. The main historical families were Iraqi, as were the Sasoons in Shanghai. The decor was typical of the Sefardic tradition.

Next, to Aung San's house, via a circuitous cab ride past the Aung San Stadium where the cabbie thought we wanted to go. Aung San rose from ranks of a student protest movement to be a leader in the Burmese independence movement. He fought the British, then helped them when Japan took over during WW2, then fought them again after the war. He was in the midst of independence talks in 1947 when he was assassinated along with 6 members of his Shadow Cabinet by a former Prime Minister's henchmen. The independence movement continued until the military coup of 1962.
The house showed pictures of his early life and with his children, including his daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, as a little girl. There were portions of his famous speeches which rallied the people to independence. What I didn't know was he was the founder of the Communist Party in Burma, but he broke with the Communists later in life.

Across the street was a pagoda that we climbed a bunch of steps to get to. We warily went past a number of mangy dogs to find an entrance. The pagodas all have golden domes with multiple spire. Perhaps when our tour actually begins, we'll find out more of the symbolism surrounding Buddhism.
By this time it was after lunchtime and the temperature was still over 90 and the humidity was similar (Hello, Washington or Miami August). We went back to the hotel for lunch and quickly faded.
Our bag arrived from Hong Kong. We await the fate of Elsa's.


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