Christmas

Christmas started in Yangon. There were a few festive things available in the shops. Including Cadbury’s Christmas tree decorations from England (= nice chocolate), which of course cost a small fortune but had to be bought. We got worried that the ants of doom, which seem to sniff out the slightest whiff of sugar, would savage them all so we cling filmed each one before putting them on our midget tree with the Christmas snake (everyone needs a Christmas snake).

  

Other random decorations we have collected include visually impaired papier-mâché Santa, a mini nativity made (I think) by our local Mexican restaurant, which possibly explains the rather Latino look of the characters… and finally, a thing of GREAT beauty (purchased by Ant) – Santa flying in the sky… in a “Merry” plane with stockings and Christmas trees and even a teddy dangling off it.

   

We managed to do a small amount of Christmas baking. Cranbury and Ginger fudge. Mandalay Rum Butter (in front of our orchid adorned even mini-er Christmas tree – thanks Clari!) and a huge pile of mince pies with mincemeat from Dorset  - thanks Mum!.

  

Then it was off to the airport and on to Australia. Yangon International Airport was full of excitements. I enjoyed meeting Santa next to a huge Christmas tree, and we tried to use our Visa card in the ATM. We had heard that Myanmar had finally been wired up to the international banking world, but alas even though the Visa sign was on the machine our card did not work. Perhaps when we get back?

 

Christmas day was a little different. Tiger prawns on the veranda (YUM). Followed by cold turkey and ham and salad. In the photo below I think that Ant looks a bit concerned about the lack of roast potatoes, roast parsnips, chestnut stuffing, chipolatas, gravy etc. People of Ware be warned, I suspect he may require an English Christmas feast to be recreated for him in April.

 

Then it was off for a little walk on the beach. Golden sands, warm sunshine, sound of the waves. Perfect.