Crabby Rangoons

At sea cruising The Strait of Malacca. We are due to arrive at Yangon (Rangoon) Mynmar, formerly known as Burma, at 4:00 PM tomorrow. It is governed by a terrible ruthless military junta. There are pros and cons for even getting off. Some say we should not do anything to cooperate or enrich this government. Others say it is important for the people to see how others, especially, westerners live and it is important for us to see what is going on there.

A few days ago they changed their rules and suddenly required a visa from everyone. To obtain this visa, anyone wishing to go ashore, must submit two passport photos. We all had to go to the photographer and have pictures taken. The ship took care of the charges but it is always aggravating to have to go stand in lines. Today they added some more new rules. Everyone had to have their temperature taken. More standing in line. They announced on the intercom and listed in the daily paper that the time they would do this was 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. The Kapels missed seeing or hearing about this. Obviously, so did others as there was a long line at the doctors office at 4:00 PM.

We also had to fill out weird customs forms. There is a duty on anything you buy. They want you to list any jewelry and cameras you will bring ashore. There is a lot of black market jewelry and cameras being sold. If you are caught with any you will be fined and the goods confiscated. It is said the venders are really the police and they arrest you as soon as they sell you the stuff. Carrying items not listed on your customs form is proof of guilt. What a fun country, not.

Tonight we had dinner at Signatures, the French restaurant. We ate with the Alboms, Rhoda and Ira. Shirley Dichter had asked us to get in touch with them and them with us. It has only taken us two and a half months to do that thing. Their son is Mitch Albom, who wrote “Tuesdays with Morrie.” They are very nice people and we had a lovely dinner. It was good too.

Lovely Sherm Out.

(Posted on behalf of Sherman Rootberg)