Dubai + Abu Dhabi

We flew from Mumbai to Dubai - less than 4 hours by plane - yet a world away. 

Everything is big, new and expensive - from Burj Kalifa the world's tallest building at 160 stories - to Dubai Mall the world's largest mall that includes the world's largest indoor aquarium with several sharks plus an indoor hockey rink - to the world's largest indoor ski hill. 

Dubai - we went to Burj al Arab the iconic waterfront hotel shaped like a sail - swam in the warm water of the Persian Gulf - took an abra water taxi to the Gold Souq and the Spice Souq in Deira and tasted fresh baklava and Turkish delight.

Abu Dhabi - we visited the billion dollar Sheikh Zayed Grand Moaque that can accommodate over 40,000 Muslims on the world's largest hand woven carpet. The 1000 marble pillars inlaid with mother of pearl and semi precious stones support a roof consisting of 80 elaborate domes and crystal chandeliers.

The modern, fast, economical rapid transit system has separate cars only for women and children and is strictly adhered to - men jam packed on one side of the pink line and plenty of seats and space on the women and children's side of the pink line. 

Mumbai - India

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is the epitome of lux in Mumbai. The architecture and interior design is thick with quality and history - unfortunately also the focal point of a 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed 166 people.

We walked and taxied to the laundry vats, saw the lunchbox dabbawallas distribute hot lunch from homes to office desks by bicycle and train to over 200,000 workers every day, watched in amazement as a young girl tightrope walked in flip flops above a side street as her mother looked on, visited the home where Gandhi lived and launched civil disobedience against the British, visited the Gateway of India at the waterfront and had a last beer in India at the Leopoldo Cafe.

Kolkata - India

Kolkata is crazy, congested, filthy. Bicycle rickshaws, tuk tuks, iconic Ambassador taxis, old chugging busses constantly beeping their horns. People bathing, brushing their teeth, washing clothes in the streets. Fresh vegetable markets, vast flower markets, chaotic wiring. All set against the backdrop of fabulous colonial architecture including Victoria Memorial. 

Mother Teresa's convent where she lived, worked and died - photographs and accolades cover the walls in one room - though she sought none of them.

We went to India Post to send a parcel home and they informed us we must go outside and have the man on a bench wrap and hand stitch our parcel in cotton before it could be sent - cost - only $1. Love the old traditions in these days of the Internet and Fed Ex.

Bagan - Myanmar

The vast plain at Bagan is studded with thousands of 1000 year old temples and stupas. Over 10,000 buildings were constructed and over 2200 still remain.

Phya Saw village an elderly woman smokes a bamboo cigar while holding an empty coconut shell ashtray. In contrast two young girls flash the peace sign while selling slices of fresh watermelon.

Ananda Pagoda with details of the golden roof line is one of the highest and finest pagodas in Old Bagan.

Typical village style lunch in Myanmar includes mutton, grilled fish, chicken in curry, vegetable salad, rice and several other mildly spicy side dishes.

Thatbyiunyu Phaya Temple, white with red and gold spires, is the highest temple in Bagan.

Manuha Temple, built by King Manuha to show his displeasure of captivity, houses very large standing and reclining Buddhas each in their own disproportionately small space.

Gubyaukgyi Cave Temple with Jane admiring the well preserved fresco paintings.

Light fades and we climb one of the stupas to watch our final sunset in Myanmar.