Shopping in Burma

Due to my leaving so soon and my grading excellence in finishing 150 exams in 4 days, I took myself shopping...in Burma. I already went there once this summer but didn't buy very much since I didn't cross the border (visa issues). However, now that I am going home in 2 weeks I did cross the border and treate myself to some things like DVD's, a coach carry-on, and faux designer sunglasses. It was a great day.

The government in Burma is much different from the US and way more authoritarian. It was easy to see that when you cross the border. My lao friend gave the polica and American $10 to cross the border ( you pay $10 or 500THB and right now $10 is less than 500THB). It was one of the new $10 with a bit of color in it. The police wouldn't take it! They said it wasn't a real $10 bill and here I am, an American, telling them it is but they wouldn't listen. I was really astounded. So I gave my green old school bill to them, took the new one, and paid 500THB for myself (they wouldn't let me pay with $10 for no particular reason). Besides that fiasco, it was a really good time shopping and being offered huge boxes of cigarettes every 5 seconds.