Back at Bagan Step

On an estimated 4-5 acre plot of land that borders the Irrawaddy River sits Bagan Step. On the property are a couple of 1,000+ year old temple structures, two house-type structures you can rent, a natural green pool with waterfall, bunch of cats, and river view. The owner, via a circuitous semi-legal arrangement with a local Myanmar resident, is a French woman who uses the rent money to live, improve the place, and fund a school at a monastery that also sits on her land. We'd found the place on AirBnB 2.5 years earlier and stayed here.

Unfortunately, the owner Francoise was in France during our visit this time, but her kind staff were there. It was fun re-acclimatizing ourselves with the place. During our last visit, there was a woman who adored Vicente. She doted over him and he loved her too. We were saddened to learn that she was no longer there and had died. Reportedly, she had lost her job at Bagan Step, had troubles at home with her husband and was sent away to some other town where she somehow died. I was heartbroken so I asked about her a few times about her. Between the semi-English of the staff and something else (I could feel that I was pressing) I never got a clear picture of what happened to her. It was strange, like many things in Myanmar.

We spent time at the English school. Milagro, Soledad, Vicente and I served as mostly native-language speakers. We split ourselves up among the round tables with groups of 5-8 students each where we asked questions, gave answers, and helped with anything the kids needed regarding the language.

For the next three days we rented electronic bikes and explored the absolute wonder that is Bagan. Dirt roads, dirt paths, big temples, small temples, temples with visitors, 1000+ year-old temples in absolute solitude. Wonderful.