In Yangon

Actually, i must admit that on the surface things don't look too bad in Yangon. KK's family is fine, most of them went back to Bagan since things here were way too expensive. Our apartment is ok too. Although KK's brother who was house-sitting, told us that they (a cousin decided to keep him company) had to clean a lot since the bedroom floor got flooded somehow. The next building got most of its roof blown of. And we suddenly have an amazing view of the lake. We can even see the restaurant really well of which we saw only the lights before. We have electricity most of the time (if a 2 day-stay can be regarded as a decent time period for reviewing) and water. In the Yankin Shopping center it was crowded as usual. But then it is obvious that the people who suffer the after effects of the cyclone aren't the people who shop there. Those people have plenty of money to keep them going. And the shelves are stocked normally.

But then you look closer. Water is at least twice as expensive as it was before. And rice is much more pricey as well. Both essentials for people here. And everywhere people are cleaning up. But i've only seen the military sitting on the ground, waiting for something or someone. When we arrived, Sandra & KK saw 3 cargo planes on the tarmac. Behind one of those planes there were a lot of m-men sitting. On the other side there were empty trucks with their doors open. And a fair few people waiting around. That was all that was going on. Of course our plane was not even half full. But there were even a few westerners,other than Sandra & Xenne, on it. The taxi driver told us that on the markets one can buy goods that have been donated by the international community. I am not sure whether he has seen it for himself or whether he heard about it. But it says enough....

Ok, time to send this on. The lines are incredibly slow...