March 21 - Mandalay -> Ayeyarwady river - Ferry left at 5:30am Katha bound. Melodie and I are the only foreigners on board. Our "seats" are three numbered rectangles painted on the deck. About shoulder width and 6 feet. Totally unprepared for the journey ahead we pushed off into the shallow waters headed up river. The ferry is full of goods and people. The bottom deck is goods, bathrooms and cooking staff. The bathrooms got foul in a matter of minutes after departure. The second decks were cabins and our sleeping/siting space. Then the top deck.

It felt like everyone on the boat was watching us. Really they stared at us. No one talked to us at first and it was a bit uncomfortable.

Just after dark the bugs started to swarm the florescent lights. Millions and millions of them. Not to mention the mosquitoes. Attempting to gain protection until past sunrise.