Burma or Myanmar?

So...we are nearing Burma right now, we can just see land. It's different than the other ports we've entered. It is not a huge metropolitian area that we're porting in and the nearest city is an hour by bus. The ocean water has changed from the unreal blue I posted about earlier to a thick, brown and mucky. The waves seriously look as though they are waves of mud.

I'm extremely torn on my thoughts about entering this country and staying for the next 5 days. On one hand I'm very interested to see the country and meet the people. On the other hand, so much of what I've read has discouraged tourists from coming into this country for multiple reasons. These I will share when we have left along with my opinions about them. I had not done much reading on Burmese history until this voyage began, but I would encourage each of you to educate yourself about the recent history and events. Wow.

Tomorrow will be tough, we're getting a late start on our exploring because there will be 5 students leaving the voyage tomorrow morning and we need to be there. The departure is not their choice and one of them is the guy that lives across the hall from me. ick... I don't think that will be a fun morning at all.

Keep the students, faculty and staff in your thoughts and prayers these next few days. I think that we will all see and experience things that will shock, enlighten and change each and every one of us.

Peace.