Nonsense Hour: The Problem With The Boat

After our day in Mandalay, we checked into our hotel, which was actually a boat. For the next two days, we watched Burma's countryside from the deck of this beautiful, wooden boat. The countryside is hilly and hard to get around but it's lush, green, and dotted with golden stupas ever few hundred meters (sometimes every few meters). There is no better way to see it than from our vantage point on the Irrawaddy River.

Apart from the good views from the deck, the food on the boat was great, there was an open bar, unlimited snacks, tons of fruits, and it was just the four of us (apart from the lovely crew). So, the problem with the boat was that we lost all interest in seeing anything that we couldn't see from the boat.

Our cruel guide nevertheless forced us off the boat a few times a day to see stuff. It was interesting, but we just wanted to get back to the boat for snacks + drinks + gorgeous views + lounging.

INTRODUCING: THE BOAT

Captain's Quarters

Delicious food

Separate beds?!

It's ok, we can handle it

LOUNGING ON THE BOAT

Jeremy wasn't feeling well when we got on the boat

But Jeremy suddenly recovered. No doubt about it: this boat is magical.

Paparazzi shot

View of our boat from another, less fancy boat

OH, THERE'S MORE!

On the second night, the boat docked on a patch of sand right in the middle of the river so we had our own private little island on which to run around, play, eat dinner, and watch the sun set.

How embarrassing. But, wait! There's no one around to judge.

Best private beach ever

Bonfire for grilling dinner

Family dinner

STUFF ON LAND...BORING

It turns out that Alina is probably Burmese royalty, as demonstrated by the fact that the cutout on this wall was precisely the size and shake of her body.