tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29270818487788555052024-03-13T19:50:03.660-07:00The Flying DutchmanWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-88371177636043622842008-09-06T14:59:00.001-07:002011-10-13T19:16:47.263-07:00New Site<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/SML95mfbsWI/AAAAAAAAArI/60Er5RHHy-o/s1600-h/Monk_wide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/SML95mfbsWI/AAAAAAAAArI/60Er5RHHy-o/s400/Monk_wide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243032082239435106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thank you to everyone for your readership. Please contact me via the comment section of this site if you would like to license my photos.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-50602784924535678492007-08-16T17:17:00.000-07:002007-08-16T17:30:40.054-07:00I'm not dead!Hey everyone,<br /><br />My apologies for not blogging since, well, June 24th...I blame Calculus. It required so much brain capacity I was unable to remember that I needed to let people know I was home and not in a Burmese prison...again. Since I returned to Calgary I've been busily preparing myself for McMaster. I upgraded Math 31 in July and after that began working a bit here and there. I've been doing wedding videos with a great guy named Gil Ngai from Day One Productions, as well as some picking of invasive weeds with another great fellow named Andrew Stiles. Apparently, after global warming, invasive alien weed species are the largest threat to our environment. Most of them are spread across the country on trains, trucks and construction equipment and are extremely difficult to get rid of. Once in an ecosystem they are highly aggressive and can push out other native species. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm hoping to continue this blog, or create another in the next little while, so as to keep people up to date with life in Steeltown. <br /><br />WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-73582330927760402242007-06-24T00:58:00.000-07:002007-06-26T20:16:33.451-07:00Farewell Burma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4ph7niI7I/AAAAAAAAAnc/_ADYav5bLwg/s1600-h/babytrainstation2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4ph7niI7I/AAAAAAAAAnc/_ADYav5bLwg/s400/babytrainstation2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079543092636427186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4pYLniI6I/AAAAAAAAAnU/CCOx7jKXMnI/s1600-h/boytrainstation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4pYLniI6I/AAAAAAAAAnU/CCOx7jKXMnI/s400/boytrainstation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079542925132702626" border="0" /></a>At the train station in Yangon.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4ovLniI5I/AAAAAAAAAnM/OE7YMKfCMT4/s1600-h/rangoongirl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4ovLniI5I/AAAAAAAAAnM/OE7YMKfCMT4/s400/rangoongirl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079542220758066066" border="0" /></a>A girl with <span style="font-style: italic;">thanaka</span> on her face. <span style="font-style: italic;">Thanaka, </span>found on the faces of most children and women, is a sort of sunscreen/make-up made from the bark of a tree with the same name.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4olrniI4I/AAAAAAAAAnE/5ecgadWnXW8/s1600-h/austin_beggar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4olrniI4I/AAAAAAAAAnE/5ecgadWnXW8/s400/austin_beggar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079542057549308802" border="0" /></a>We met this woman and her daughter on one of our last days in Yangon. Austin took a remarkable photo of them which can be found on his blog: <a href="http://www.sequential-one.com/blog">sequential-one.com/blog.</a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4nrLniI3I/AAAAAAAAAm8/3-2Kn4VlYW0/s1600-h/austin_footballs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4nrLniI3I/AAAAAAAAAm8/3-2Kn4VlYW0/s400/austin_footballs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079541052526961522" border="0" /></a>Check out Austin's blog for more shots of the soccer balls.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4m-rniI2I/AAAAAAAAAm0/9hdPjyPZ7RE/s1600-h/goldrush.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4m-rniI2I/AAAAAAAAAm0/9hdPjyPZ7RE/s400/goldrush.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079540288022782818" border="0" /></a>Sorting through a storm drain looking for valuables. In his left hand he holds a magnet.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mXbniI1I/AAAAAAAAAms/yy-LoqTAzZk/s1600-h/rangoonstreets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mXbniI1I/AAAAAAAAAms/yy-LoqTAzZk/s400/rangoonstreets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079539613712917330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mMrniI0I/AAAAAAAAAmk/FnYYPzgcWaU/s1600-h/rangoonstreets2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mMrniI0I/AAAAAAAAAmk/FnYYPzgcWaU/s400/rangoonstreets2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079539429029323586" border="0" /></a>The streets of Yangon.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mB7niIzI/AAAAAAAAAmc/K9QZaj2B9h8/s1600-h/triumph.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4mB7niIzI/AAAAAAAAAmc/K9QZaj2B9h8/s400/triumph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079539244345729842" border="0" /></a>A Triumph in particularly good condition, considering the state of the streets.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4l6bniIyI/AAAAAAAAAmU/QXom22FD9Z4/s1600-h/rangoonnight.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4l6bniIyI/AAAAAAAAAmU/QXom22FD9Z4/s400/rangoonnight.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079539115496710946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4larniIxI/AAAAAAAAAmM/XE-i97MsmCw/s1600-h/rangoonnight2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rn4larniIxI/AAAAAAAAAmM/XE-i97MsmCw/s400/rangoonnight2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079538570035864338" border="0" /></a>Our last night in Burma...We'll miss it.<br /></div><br />-- WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-43696757879731117212007-06-15T01:48:00.000-07:002007-06-17T23:24:16.796-07:00Inside NaypyidawIn November 2005, the ruling military junta of Burma surprised the world by announcing it was moving its capital city from Yangon to a new location 460km north. Construction of the new city started in 2004 and, from what we saw, hasn’t slowed since. The official line is that Yangon was too crowded and busy for the government to expand, however some groups believe the move inland was made because of fears of a US-led invasion. China, the junta’s largest supporter and trading partner, criticized the move, questioning the logic behind spending millions on a new capital when the economy is in shambles and thousands of citizens are starving.<br /><br />Our decision to visit the capital, Naypyidaw (also spelled Nay Pyi Taw and Nay Pyi Daw), was inspired by conversations we had with two travelers we met in Bagan. They had taken a bus from Taungoo to the new capital without any trouble. International news stressed that the city was still off-limits to foreigners.<br /><br />We decided to try staying in Pyinmana, a town only eight miles from Naypyidaw. Upon arrival a guesthouse manager told us foreigners could only stay in the specially designated “Hotel Zone” in the capital. This strip of five or six extravagant resorts was spread along roughly three kilometers of deserted freeway. From afar they looked postcard-perfect, with manicured gardens and villa bungalows, but upon closer scrutiny sloppy imperfections showed themselves. With our particular bungalow the builders spaced the front door improperly and a small piece of wood was jammed into the gap to allow it to close. The bathroom was also designed in a strange fashion, with the adjoining toilet room barely large enough for toilet itself and too small to sit comfortably in. Privacy didn’t seem to be a priority either, the door to the bathroom having curtain-less windows.<br /><br />We were checked in by 7:00PM and decided to explore the town a little. Leaving the hotel, a friendly group of guys ushered us into their water truck and gave us a lift into town. The “city center,” a five-spoked traffic circle, can only be called so as it is in the center of town. Not too much goes on here though.<br /><br />We were surprised, however, at how lively the rest of the city can be. Restaurants were packed and people were walking the streets, enjoying the night. Now that government workers are allowed to bring their families to Naypyidaw, it seems more like a city than the vacant shell of one it may have been a few months before. Despite this, it is still a strange place: slums and local markets right next to sparkling new malls and colourful apartments.<br /><br />Our second day there we awoke early hoping to pack in as much time exploring before our bus left that night. Instead of walking the five kilometers to the traffic circle, we flagged down two motorcycle taxis who took us to a new mall still under construction. Most shops were sparsely supplied at best. One computer shop, roughly three meters from wall to wall, was barren save for one lonely shelf with a few spindles of DVDs and a couple other products. There were labourers everywhere, men and women.<br /><br />We took a city bus to Myowma, which seemed to be the real center of the city. Here, crowds of people came together to buy and sell goods, chow down, or wait in line for buses to Yangon.<br /><br />After spending some time there we decided to get a better view of the city and climbed the road going up to one of the larger pagodas in town. We were stopped by two plain-clothed police officers who eyed our cameras while taking down passport information. This was the only time we came in contact with the law. On some occasions we did feel as if we were being followed. Later on the second day a man stopped his motorbike in front of us, started talking on his walkie-talkie, then drove off. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but he looked like someone I had seen earlier that day.<br /><br />From the pagoda we were afforded a better view of this expansive city. Far in the distance we could see the red- and blue-topped apartment complexes under construction. A combination of dying camera batteries and heavy rains kept us from doing much else so we made our way to Myowma market to wait for our bus.<br /><br />Here are some photos from our time in Naypyidaw.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJjn7niIvI/AAAAAAAAAl8/d489HB4rRSE/s1600-h/roads.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJjn7niIvI/AAAAAAAAAl8/d489HB4rRSE/s400/roads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076229267669525234" border="0" /></a><br />The stretch of road along the "Hotel Zone."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJi17niIuI/AAAAAAAAAl0/dLfJMcMT4Vg/s1600-h/apartmentsday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJi17niIuI/AAAAAAAAAl0/dLfJMcMT4Vg/s400/apartmentsday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076228408676066018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJihbniItI/AAAAAAAAAls/MuQjdHoVldg/s1600-h/pagodaapartments.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJihbniItI/AAAAAAAAAls/MuQjdHoVldg/s400/pagodaapartments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076228056488747730" border="0" /></a>The colourful apartment buildings of Naypyidaw.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJibrniIsI/AAAAAAAAAlk/aS2Hl0qZyCI/s1600-h/myowma.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJibrniIsI/AAAAAAAAAlk/aS2Hl0qZyCI/s400/myowma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076227957704499906" border="0" /></a>Myowma market.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJgcrniIqI/AAAAAAAAAlU/sAOzkOGKeZA/s1600-h/streetscene.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJgcrniIqI/AAAAAAAAAlU/sAOzkOGKeZA/s400/streetscene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076225775861113506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnYisbniIwI/AAAAAAAAAmE/xb3_IrHRY1g/s1600-h/boyconstruction.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJgJ7niIpI/AAAAAAAAAlM/dv0zWrkAjHQ/s1600-h/motherdaughter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJgJ7niIpI/AAAAAAAAAlM/dv0zWrkAjHQ/s400/motherdaughter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076225453738566290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJf67niIoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/5HorHplo1zI/s1600-h/palatialjuxtaposition_detai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJf67niIoI/AAAAAAAAAlE/5HorHplo1zI/s400/palatialjuxtaposition_detai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076225196040528514" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A massive new structure looms behind vast slums.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Austin Andrews<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJfdbniImI/AAAAAAAAAk0/wm5lnOVDBFI/s1600-h/workerbee.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJfdbniImI/AAAAAAAAAk0/wm5lnOVDBFI/s400/workerbee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076224689234387554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe-7niIlI/AAAAAAAAAks/JykZ0z050uc/s1600-h/workers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe-7niIlI/AAAAAAAAAks/JykZ0z050uc/s400/workers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076224165248377426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe57niIkI/AAAAAAAAAkk/VgvtOMwcCL0/s1600-h/workers2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe57niIkI/AAAAAAAAAkk/VgvtOMwcCL0/s400/workers2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076224079349031490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe0bniIjI/AAAAAAAAAkc/z2bDaIwZvDY/s1600-h/workers3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJe0bniIjI/AAAAAAAAAkc/z2bDaIwZvDY/s400/workers3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223984859750962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeurniIiI/AAAAAAAAAkU/vwAIII7bPyg/s1600-h/myowma2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeurniIiI/AAAAAAAAAkU/vwAIII7bPyg/s400/myowma2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223886075503138" border="0" /></a>Construction is everywhere.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJepLniIhI/AAAAAAAAAkM/antb_6Hlx7k/s1600-h/hotelconstruction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJepLniIhI/AAAAAAAAAkM/antb_6Hlx7k/s400/hotelconstruction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223791586222610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJejrniIgI/AAAAAAAAAkE/eUzNOQDMqp4/s1600-h/hotelconstruction2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJejrniIgI/AAAAAAAAAkE/eUzNOQDMqp4/s400/hotelconstruction2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223697096942082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Men, women and children construct the grand resorts of"Hotel Zone". Many building sites have guards keeping watch on the labourers. It's hard to tell whether any of this is forced labour. What we do know is that the Tatmadaw government has in the past used forced labour to build infrastructure. We spoke with a local who told us that when he was a child the military rounded up people in his village to build a bridge, without pay or food.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeXrniIeI/AAAAAAAAAj0/4VzNKmZwCr0/s1600-h/digger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeXrniIeI/AAAAAAAAAj0/4VzNKmZwCr0/s400/digger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223490938511842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeRLniIdI/AAAAAAAAAjs/KNfYmXCcx5A/s1600-h/girlconstruction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeRLniIdI/AAAAAAAAAjs/KNfYmXCcx5A/s400/girlconstruction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223379269362130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeG7niIcI/AAAAAAAAAjk/qM2evtDZ1WU/s1600-h/girlconstruction2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJeG7niIcI/AAAAAAAAAjk/qM2evtDZ1WU/s400/girlconstruction2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223203175702978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnYisbniIwI/AAAAAAAAAmE/xb3_IrHRY1g/s1600-h/boyconstruction.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnYisbniIwI/AAAAAAAAAmE/xb3_IrHRY1g/s400/boyconstruction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077283776629973762" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJd_LniIbI/AAAAAAAAAjc/W4lmEGpL4hQ/s1600-h/girlmall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJd_LniIbI/AAAAAAAAAjc/W4lmEGpL4hQ/s400/girlmall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076223070031716786" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJdjrniIaI/AAAAAAAAAjU/qBAWElsk76Q/s1600-h/propshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJdjrniIaI/AAAAAAAAAjU/qBAWElsk76Q/s400/propshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076222597585314210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJX-rniIZI/AAAAAAAAAjM/aKjemw_gHos/s1600-h/malllookoutnight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJX-rniIZI/AAAAAAAAAjM/aKjemw_gHos/s400/malllookoutnight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076216464372015506" border="0" /></a>A man looks out over Myowma market at night.<br />Photo credit: Austin Andrews<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJXQbniIYI/AAAAAAAAAjE/yt2wuYnkYl8/s1600-h/nightscene.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RnJXQbniIYI/AAAAAAAAAjE/yt2wuYnkYl8/s400/nightscene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076215669803065730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-25782122938417419312007-06-10T00:46:00.000-07:002007-06-10T01:58:20.983-07:00Inle LakeAfter three days of exhausting, but rewarding trekking, we finally reached Inle Lake. We said goodbye to Alex and Como-Say and hired a boat for the next day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu8YbniIXI/AAAAAAAAAi8/WiH6sXiPaGw/s1600-h/bridgeinle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu8YbniIXI/AAAAAAAAAi8/WiH6sXiPaGw/s400/bridgeinle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074356533079449970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3vrniIWI/AAAAAAAAAi0/HkljRHRJRwQ/s1600-h/boatcrew.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3vrniIWI/AAAAAAAAAi0/HkljRHRJRwQ/s400/boatcrew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074351434953269602" border="0" /></a><br />Austin, Alex and Como-Say on the boat to Inle.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3l7niIVI/AAAAAAAAAis/lO6vCus0sXg/s1600-h/austinphotographs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3l7niIVI/AAAAAAAAAis/lO6vCus0sXg/s400/austinphotographs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074351267449545042" border="0" /></a><br />Austin lines up a shot.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3drniIUI/AAAAAAAAAik/ser3RBIKYrA/s1600-h/skies_inle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3drniIUI/AAAAAAAAAik/ser3RBIKYrA/s400/skies_inle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074351125715624258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3PLniITI/AAAAAAAAAic/nm88dydrmLY/s1600-h/inle_stilthomes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3PLniITI/AAAAAAAAAic/nm88dydrmLY/s400/inle_stilthomes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350876607521074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3HLniISI/AAAAAAAAAiU/jiqjfqE77co/s1600-h/inle_stilthomes2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu3HLniISI/AAAAAAAAAiU/jiqjfqE77co/s400/inle_stilthomes2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350739168567586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2-LniIRI/AAAAAAAAAiM/oS_eijrmjcs/s1600-h/inlestilthome3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2-LniIRI/AAAAAAAAAiM/oS_eijrmjcs/s400/inlestilthome3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350584549744914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu23bniIQI/AAAAAAAAAiE/cgErKlaUM3A/s1600-h/inlestilthome4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu23bniIQI/AAAAAAAAAiE/cgErKlaUM3A/s400/inlestilthome4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350468585627906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2vbniIPI/AAAAAAAAAh8/ZnZuBS6y02Y/s1600-h/inlestilthomes5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2vbniIPI/AAAAAAAAAh8/ZnZuBS6y02Y/s400/inlestilthomes5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350331146674418" border="0" /></a><br />The Intha people live in stilt homes on the lake. They also grow their vegetables on the water. Lake-bottom weeds are gathered and piled in rows, anchored by bamboo shoots, providing a suitable garden for growing all sorts of produce. The gardens are also resistant to flooding because whenever the water level rises, so do the gardens.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2mbniIOI/AAAAAAAAAh0/9pE7bMpSpfY/s1600-h/longboat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2mbniIOI/AAAAAAAAAh0/9pE7bMpSpfY/s400/longboat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350176527851746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2ebniINI/AAAAAAAAAhs/DMoqKxLaR20/s1600-h/longboat2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2ebniINI/AAAAAAAAAhs/DMoqKxLaR20/s400/longboat2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074350039088898258" border="0" /></a><br />Longboat fishermen.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2LLniIMI/AAAAAAAAAhk/xrixTr3MElE/s1600-h/fisher.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2LLniIMI/AAAAAAAAAhk/xrixTr3MElE/s400/fisher.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074349708376416450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2AbniILI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ViDmAbEMndo/s1600-h/fisher2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu2AbniILI/AAAAAAAAAhc/ViDmAbEMndo/s400/fisher2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074349523692822706" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu15bniIKI/AAAAAAAAAhU/yL0VrDvGasI/s1600-h/fisher3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu15bniIKI/AAAAAAAAAhU/yL0VrDvGasI/s400/fisher3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074349403433738402" border="0" /></a><br />The Intha fishermen use these cone-shaped nets to trap fish. At its deepest point, the lake is only twelve feet. Unique to Inle is the rowing style in which the fisherman wraps his leg around the pole and paddles with his leg. This gives them a better vantage point to see the fish.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu1pbniIJI/AAAAAAAAAhM/QwStJZnlDD0/s1600-h/movievendor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu1pbniIJI/AAAAAAAAAhM/QwStJZnlDD0/s400/movievendor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074349128555831442" border="0" /></a>Burmese VCDs for sale, along with what looks like medication.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu1d7niIII/AAAAAAAAAhE/0pOp4DHparo/s1600-h/kidbox.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu1d7niIII/AAAAAAAAAhE/0pOp4DHparo/s400/kidbox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074348930987335810" border="0" /></a><br />At the market.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu0FrniIHI/AAAAAAAAAg8/cETEV-jKAOg/s1600-h/beautifulhost.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmu0FrniIHI/AAAAAAAAAg8/cETEV-jKAOg/s400/beautifulhost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074347414863880306" border="0" /></a>At lunch our driver took us to his friend's place for a traditional Intha meal. (Intha being the people living on the lake.) Apart from the French Fries, I think it was more or less authentic. In any case, it was delicious and that's all that matters.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuz-LniIGI/AAAAAAAAAg0/pWEtYYWUk30/s1600-h/loopy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuz-LniIGI/AAAAAAAAAg0/pWEtYYWUk30/s400/loopy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074347286014861410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuzs7niIFI/AAAAAAAAAgs/3EjKK5dHPyU/s1600-h/loopy2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuzs7niIFI/AAAAAAAAAgs/3EjKK5dHPyU/s400/loopy2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074346989662117970" border="0" /></a>Our host's kitty, whom we nicknamed Loopy, was indeed a bit loopy. The way she ate was very strange. When feeding her dried noodles she would bite it like a fish would, in one lightning-fast motion. We chalk it up to her being cooped up in a stilt house on the water, with very little space to run around. Perhaps she spends more time with fish than she does with cats.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuzFrniIEI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Q5KrywOMRk4/s1600-h/boatsmarket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuzFrniIEI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Q5KrywOMRk4/s400/boatsmarket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074346315352252482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuy37niIDI/AAAAAAAAAgc/1khCCutMJDE/s1600-h/boatsmarket2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuy37niIDI/AAAAAAAAAgc/1khCCutMJDE/s400/boatsmarket2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074346079129051186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuyY7niICI/AAAAAAAAAgU/gJN4yfyLOCU/s1600-h/boatsmarket3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuyY7niICI/AAAAAAAAAgU/gJN4yfyLOCU/s400/boatsmarket3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074345546553106466" border="0" /></a><br />The somewhat touristy lakeside market at Inle.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmux-7niIBI/AAAAAAAAAgM/72n8i7Yu6mU/s1600-h/boatskanal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmux-7niIBI/AAAAAAAAAgM/72n8i7Yu6mU/s400/boatskanal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074345099876507666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuxi7niIAI/AAAAAAAAAgE/mGv62EwomSo/s1600-h/nuns.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuxi7niIAI/AAAAAAAAAgE/mGv62EwomSo/s400/nuns.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074344618840170498" border="0" /></a><br />Nuns walk the city gathering alms.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuvJbniH_I/AAAAAAAAAf8/gwyOcM-NUqU/s1600-h/kitties.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuvJbniH_I/AAAAAAAAAf8/gwyOcM-NUqU/s400/kitties.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074341981730250738" border="0" /></a><br />At the Jumping Cat Monastery, the monks have trained their cats to leap through hoops set at least a meter high. As these cats know, it's best to have a hearty breakfast before the jumping begins.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuu67niH-I/AAAAAAAAAf0/bzRM_3jEd50/s1600-h/kitties2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuu67niH-I/AAAAAAAAAf0/bzRM_3jEd50/s400/kitties2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074341732622147554" border="0" /></a><br />Performing for tourists can really take it out of you.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuoLniH9I/AAAAAAAAAfs/TWseepEQYAw/s1600-h/kitties3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuoLniH9I/AAAAAAAAAfs/TWseepEQYAw/s400/kitties3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074341410499600338" border="0" /></a>This kitten is quite content to just play with this broom.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuYrniH8I/AAAAAAAAAfk/Pas7s-TVe2Q/s1600-h/templeklouds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuYrniH8I/AAAAAAAAAfk/Pas7s-TVe2Q/s400/templeklouds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074341144211627970" border="0" /></a><br />The skies were incredible in front of this pagoda.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmut8LniH6I/AAAAAAAAAfU/KU5KfSK55WQ/s1600-h/sunset2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmut8LniH6I/AAAAAAAAAfU/KU5KfSK55WQ/s400/sunset2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074340654585356194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuKLniH7I/AAAAAAAAAfc/2NRa0AZySU0/s1600-h/sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuuKLniH7I/AAAAAAAAAfc/2NRa0AZySU0/s400/sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074340895103524786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmutK7niH5I/AAAAAAAAAfM/Sr3q13QzjqU/s1600-h/sunset3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmutK7niH5I/AAAAAAAAAfM/Sr3q13QzjqU/s400/sunset3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074339808476798866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmusorniH4I/AAAAAAAAAfE/vjKN6XXPk2Q/s1600-h/rainbow_will.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmusorniH4I/AAAAAAAAAfE/vjKN6XXPk2Q/s400/rainbow_will.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074339220066279298" border="0" /></a>On the way home we were treated to a beautiful sunset complete with rainbow. At the time it was raining so we would take turns holding the umbrella while the other frantically took shots and wiped off his lens. Right in the middle of all these incredible photo opportunities, Austin's camera battery suddenly died. Shortly after that, I found that I had no space on my card, so I desperately deleted photos from the beginning of the day while Austin took out his battery, shook it, and replaced it, hoping to get a few more shots. Eventually, both camera's battery's died, so we just sat back and enjoyed the show.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-89383781447567638132007-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:002007-06-10T00:45:54.526-07:00Trekking through Shan province...In Kalaw we found a great guide by the name of Alex. Austin and I had some chapati-related disturbances so we opted to postpone the trek one day. By the way, if anyone who reads this finds themselves in Kalaw, check out the Eastern Paradise Motel. The woman who runs the place is a sweetheart and took good care of us when we were sick. She even lent us little 19th-century-British-explorer hats which we proudly sported around town, despite being incessantly giggled at.<br /><br />The trek was three days and quite labourious due to the fact that Austin and I can't pack light. Alex always kept it interesting, pointing out different birds or plants along the way. His cook, Como-Say, cooked some of the best food we've had on the trip. Every meal was a smorgasbord of soups, noodle dishes, curries and salads. Our favourite was simple: tomatoes and onions in lemon juice.<br /><br />We had lunch on the first day at the Viewpoint Guesthouse, located on the top of a mountain overlooking the surrounding countryside. It is run by a friendly Nepali family who can cook up some great curry. That night we stayed in a little village with some friends of Alex. The grandmother was a sweet old lady who was always laughing. <br /><br />The second day was the most incredible in terms of scenery. It seemed at every turn we were stopping to take photos, some of which can be seen below. That night we stayed at a monastery, which was an interesting experience although we didn't get to meet many of the monks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmupvbniH3I/AAAAAAAAAe8/MUHjiAJRtTI/s1600-h/nepalicook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmupvbniH3I/AAAAAAAAAe8/MUHjiAJRtTI/s400/nepalicook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074336037495512946" border="0" /></a><br />A Nepali woman cooks up some delicious potato curry.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuo6LniH2I/AAAAAAAAAe0/1k2Ono31dl4/s1600-h/viewpoint.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuo6LniH2I/AAAAAAAAAe0/1k2Ono31dl4/s400/viewpoint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074335122667478882" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuoHbniH1I/AAAAAAAAAes/kH8ivCR6TjE/s1600-h/treesmist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuoHbniH1I/AAAAAAAAAes/kH8ivCR6TjE/s400/treesmist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074334250789117778" border="0" /></a>The view from the Viewpoint.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuneLniH0I/AAAAAAAAAek/Rh0CEvyfOsY/s1600-h/kidspath.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuneLniH0I/AAAAAAAAAek/Rh0CEvyfOsY/s400/kidspath.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074333542119513922" border="0" /></a><br />Most Burmese put on a serious face for photos. Not these children.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmunKrniHzI/AAAAAAAAAec/Qs4twjP4DIk/s1600-h/kidsplaying.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmunKrniHzI/AAAAAAAAAec/Qs4twjP4DIk/s400/kidsplaying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074333207112064818" border="0" /></a>With entertainment options limited in this village, these boys play with mud.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmum5LniHyI/AAAAAAAAAeU/VN2fA9k_Ml4/s1600-h/dungbeetle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmum5LniHyI/AAAAAAAAAeU/VN2fA9k_Ml4/s400/dungbeetle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074332906464354082" border="0" /></a>Dung beetle!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmumerniHxI/AAAAAAAAAeM/hjyy9Y9P9T4/s1600-h/homestayfields.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmumerniHxI/AAAAAAAAAeM/hjyy9Y9P9T4/s400/homestayfields.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074332451197820690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmulzLniHwI/AAAAAAAAAeE/0OvrqoVxswI/s1600-h/womanwindow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmulzLniHwI/AAAAAAAAAeE/0OvrqoVxswI/s400/womanwindow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074331703873511170" border="0" /></a><br />Our ever-smiling host.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuljbniHvI/AAAAAAAAAd8/OxhXRkGa0bU/s1600-h/alex_hills.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuljbniHvI/AAAAAAAAAd8/OxhXRkGa0bU/s400/alex_hills.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074331433290571506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuk_rniHuI/AAAAAAAAAd0/EAB3s523lDc/s1600-h/alex_hills2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuk_rniHuI/AAAAAAAAAd0/EAB3s523lDc/s400/alex_hills2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074330819110248162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmukfrniHtI/AAAAAAAAAds/CMs5iY5oz-Y/s1600-h/alexhills3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmukfrniHtI/AAAAAAAAAds/CMs5iY5oz-Y/s400/alexhills3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074330269354434258" border="0" /></a>Our fearless guide Alexander.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmukK7niHsI/AAAAAAAAAdk/h9xX8uEcldw/s1600-h/pastoralhills.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmukK7niHsI/AAAAAAAAAdk/h9xX8uEcldw/s400/pastoralhills.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074329912872148674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuj1bniHrI/AAAAAAAAAdc/IiBF4P8TmYA/s1600-h/treewoman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmuj1bniHrI/AAAAAAAAAdc/IiBF4P8TmYA/s400/treewoman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074329543504961202" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the jaw-dropping scenery on the second day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmujkbniHqI/AAAAAAAAAdU/6UtuMzHTj_Q/s1600-h/mist_oxart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmujkbniHqI/AAAAAAAAAdU/6UtuMzHTj_Q/s400/mist_oxart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074329251447185058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmujZLniHpI/AAAAAAAAAdM/tARupGMAdMM/s1600-h/man_oxcart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmujZLniHpI/AAAAAAAAAdM/tARupGMAdMM/s400/man_oxcart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074329058173656722" border="0" /></a>Farmers bringing cauliflower to market.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuiSLniHoI/AAAAAAAAAdE/c75Xq-vDNZI/s1600-h/monastery.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuiSLniHoI/AAAAAAAAAdE/c75Xq-vDNZI/s400/monastery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074327838402944642" border="0" /></a><br />The monastery we stayed at on the last night. The next morning we were awoken by the gentle chanting of the young novice monks. Unfortunately, it was 4:45 AM.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-9655414530751598922007-06-09T22:55:00.000-07:002007-06-09T23:59:36.562-07:00KalawAfter the intense plus 40 degree heat of Mandalay, we decided to head for the hills. The logical next step was Kalaw, a small town at roughly 1000 meters. British officials used to make the same exact trip to escape the heat of the central plains. Thanks to our good friend LP we found out we could trek to Inle Lake, which was our next stop anyway, and Austin and I do enjoy a good hike. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmucJbniHnI/AAAAAAAAAc8/4lxxTasErlE/s1600-h/boybusstation.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmucJbniHnI/AAAAAAAAAc8/4lxxTasErlE/s400/boybusstation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074321091009322610" border="0" /></a>Collecting bottles at the Mandalay bus station.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmub6LniHmI/AAAAAAAAAc0/lOiMMAoZrsQ/s1600-h/monkmandalay.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmub6LniHmI/AAAAAAAAAc0/lOiMMAoZrsQ/s400/monkmandalay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074320829016317538" border="0" /></a>A novice monk takes a break in the shade.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmubV7niHlI/AAAAAAAAAcs/p_yzuXaU_Tk/s1600-h/backbus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmubV7niHlI/AAAAAAAAAcs/p_yzuXaU_Tk/s400/backbus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074320206246059602" border="0" /></a><br />Local transport in Mandalay.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuaqrniHjI/AAAAAAAAAcc/EGTeWpYGJX8/s1600-h/girlbaby2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuaqrniHjI/AAAAAAAAAcc/EGTeWpYGJX8/s400/girlbaby2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074319463216717362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuaZLniHiI/AAAAAAAAAcU/Y7YDvHB_SLs/s1600-h/kidsmarket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuaZLniHiI/AAAAAAAAAcU/Y7YDvHB_SLs/s400/kidsmarket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074319162569006626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZ0LniHhI/AAAAAAAAAcM/k5yro1rxYOk/s1600-h/ricericerice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZ0LniHhI/AAAAAAAAAcM/k5yro1rxYOk/s400/ricericerice.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074318526913846802" border="0" /></a><br />At the market in Kalaw.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZhrniHgI/AAAAAAAAAcE/gUnEVnEdTiQ/s1600-h/girlswindow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZhrniHgI/AAAAAAAAAcE/gUnEVnEdTiQ/s400/girlswindow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074318209086266882" border="0" /></a>One of the many "Basic Education Middle Schools" in Burma.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZGrniHeI/AAAAAAAAAb0/W6z8ZMWUCGI/s1600-h/girlfiretruck2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZGrniHeI/AAAAAAAAAb0/W6z8ZMWUCGI/s400/girlfiretruck2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074317745229798882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZP7niHfI/AAAAAAAAAb8/EY0oPeBWxyc/s1600-h/girlfiretruck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuZP7niHfI/AAAAAAAAAb8/EY0oPeBWxyc/s400/girlfiretruck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074317904143588850" border="0" /></a>At the fire station.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmua27niHkI/AAAAAAAAAck/L7opf7nJQjg/s1600-h/mantrain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rmua27niHkI/AAAAAAAAAck/L7opf7nJQjg/s400/mantrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074319673670114882" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuX0LniHdI/AAAAAAAAAbs/sVXvmDQv8qM/s1600-h/mantrain2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuX0LniHdI/AAAAAAAAAbs/sVXvmDQv8qM/s400/mantrain2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074316327890591186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuXGbniHcI/AAAAAAAAAbk/EOijTfOCaX0/s1600-h/girltrain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuXGbniHcI/AAAAAAAAAbk/EOijTfOCaX0/s400/girltrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074315541911576002" border="0" /></a><br />Trains in Myanmar are notoriously slow. You could probably get around faster by walking along the tracks.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuVIrniHbI/AAAAAAAAAbc/aYwzjoeY4_Y/s1600-h/yumm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuVIrniHbI/AAAAAAAAAbc/aYwzjoeY4_Y/s400/yumm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074313381543026098" border="0" /></a><br />Advertising in Myanmar is hilarious!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuU3LniHaI/AAAAAAAAAbU/IwkiJM0Rxrw/s1600-h/nepaligirl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuU3LniHaI/AAAAAAAAAbU/IwkiJM0Rxrw/s400/nepaligirl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074313080895315362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuUf7niHZI/AAAAAAAAAbM/QDCDcUtzrcs/s1600-h/nepalirestaurant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuUf7niHZI/AAAAAAAAAbM/QDCDcUtzrcs/s400/nepalirestaurant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074312681463356818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuUU7niHYI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Oq3Z3aEmZ9Q/s1600-h/nepalirestaurant2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuUU7niHYI/AAAAAAAAAbE/Oq3Z3aEmZ9Q/s400/nepalirestaurant2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074312492484795778" border="0" /></a><br />The Everest Nepali Restaurant in Kalaw serves up delicious curry and chapati meals.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuT6rniHXI/AAAAAAAAAa8/oJFP_4D_E3s/s1600-h/oldcolonial.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuT6rniHXI/AAAAAAAAAa8/oJFP_4D_E3s/s400/oldcolonial.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074312041513229682" border="0" /></a><br />An old colonial building on the main strip. Check out <a href="www.sequential-one.com/blog">Austin's blog</a> to see what's left of the washrooms.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuTc7niHWI/AAAAAAAAAa0/gojY7-8ck_Y/s1600-h/oldwoman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RmuTc7niHWI/AAAAAAAAAa0/gojY7-8ck_Y/s400/oldwoman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074311530412121442" border="0" /></a><br />We met this friendly old lady two times during the day. When I took a photo she held out a little tin pot, which I thought was for money. When I went to throw in a little change, I found that inside there was chicken curry. I guess she was just offering some up. These are the sort of people you meet in Burma.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-65123974033625042012007-05-31T02:05:00.001-07:002007-05-31T02:52:04.157-07:00MandalaySome shots from our time in Mandalay. Check out Austin's blog (<a href="http://www.sequential-one.com/blog">sequential-one.com/blog</a>) for some great photos of the night market.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6YPOyTtcI/AAAAAAAAAas/PeNLHBWQjkw/s1600-h/fruitvendor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6YPOyTtcI/AAAAAAAAAas/PeNLHBWQjkw/s400/fruitvendor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070657617900320194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6YO-yTtbI/AAAAAAAAAak/hHd_Hptz7SI/s1600-h/fruitvendor2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6YO-yTtbI/AAAAAAAAAak/hHd_Hptz7SI/s400/fruitvendor2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070657613605352882" border="0" /></a><br />We tasted grapefruit for the first time in months at the above fruit juice stand.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/FpFtcFZq6is/s1600-h/mandalaystreets3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtWI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/FpFtcFZq6is/s400/mandalaystreets3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070656501208823138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtXI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qMDyQ-P12u8/s1600-h/mandalaystreets2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtXI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qMDyQ-P12u8/s400/mandalaystreets2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070656501208823154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtYI/AAAAAAAAAaM/cOMGlsPeRUs/s1600-h/mandalaystreets.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6XOOyTtYI/AAAAAAAAAaM/cOMGlsPeRUs/s400/mandalaystreets.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070656501208823170" border="0" /></a><br />Mandalay at night.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6VGuyTtQI/AAAAAAAAAZM/kxff3B1rUC0/s1600-h/bottleboy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6VGuyTtQI/AAAAAAAAAZM/kxff3B1rUC0/s400/bottleboy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070654173336548610" border="0" /></a>Homeless children scour the streets for anything that can be resold.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WqeyTtUI/AAAAAAAAAZs/WmAp9eAU-aE/s1600-h/boysknives.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WqeyTtUI/AAAAAAAAAZs/WmAp9eAU-aE/s400/boysknives.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070655887028499778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WquyTtVI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/kD_ICS3cyNQ/s1600-h/boysknives2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WquyTtVI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/kD_ICS3cyNQ/s400/boysknives2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070655891323467090" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WNeyTtTI/AAAAAAAAAZk/fc-jyqyxCYg/s1600-h/boysknives3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6WNeyTtTI/AAAAAAAAAZk/fc-jyqyxCYg/s400/boysknives3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070655388812293426" border="0" /></a><br />These boys in particular have collected some rusty knives which they are cleaning up and sharpening.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6V5eyTtSI/AAAAAAAAAZc/4t-eJS5UKOQ/s1600-h/clothescar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6V5eyTtSI/AAAAAAAAAZc/4t-eJS5UKOQ/s400/clothescar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070655045214909730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6VeOyTtRI/AAAAAAAAAZU/r4UpbnPnb3k/s1600-h/clothescar2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6VeOyTtRI/AAAAAAAAAZU/r4UpbnPnb3k/s400/clothescar2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070654577063474450" border="0" /></a>An alternative method of drying clothes.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6UveyTtPI/AAAAAAAAAZE/K0_Of8K3hvo/s1600-h/homeless.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6UveyTtPI/AAAAAAAAAZE/K0_Of8K3hvo/s400/homeless.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070653773904590066" border="0" /></a><br />This man had a terrible growth on his face that no doubt could be quickly fixed back home.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6UXOyTtOI/AAAAAAAAAY8/Kr9BI3w_caM/s1600-h/pickup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6UXOyTtOI/AAAAAAAAAY8/Kr9BI3w_caM/s400/pickup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070653357292762338" border="0" /></a><br />Pick-ups transport people around Mandalay.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6T5uyTtNI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Gzgjxlrr3GY/s1600-h/busshop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6T5uyTtNI/AAAAAAAAAY0/Gzgjxlrr3GY/s400/busshop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070652850486621394" border="0" /></a>A vendor selling bus tickets, among other things.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6TT-yTtMI/AAAAAAAAAYs/u014dn4PeC8/s1600-h/oldmannails.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6TT-yTtMI/AAAAAAAAAYs/u014dn4PeC8/s400/oldmannails.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070652201946559682" border="0" /></a><br />We walked by this man at 10AM and then again at 4PM and he hadn't yet moved.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SwuyTtLI/AAAAAAAAAYk/XoJ1jB697oA/s1600-h/gotcha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SwuyTtLI/AAAAAAAAAYk/XoJ1jB697oA/s400/gotcha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070651596356170930" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SWeyTtKI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PoXlWRGSowY/s1600-h/gotcha2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SWeyTtKI/AAAAAAAAAYc/PoXlWRGSowY/s400/gotcha2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070651145384604834" border="0" /></a><br />Caught photographing!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SE-yTtJI/AAAAAAAAAYU/hFM_Y8kM64w/s1600-h/girlmotorbike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6SE-yTtJI/AAAAAAAAAYU/hFM_Y8kM64w/s400/girlmotorbike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070650844736894098" border="0" /></a><br />She'll have to wait until she's five to ride this motorbike.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6RsOyTtII/AAAAAAAAAYM/25tcIYli1WY/s1600-h/nightmarket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6RsOyTtII/AAAAAAAAAYM/25tcIYli1WY/s400/nightmarket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070650419535131778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6RTuyTtHI/AAAAAAAAAYE/djOK48fawKc/s1600-h/nightmarket2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6RTuyTtHI/AAAAAAAAAYE/djOK48fawKc/s400/nightmarket2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070649998628336754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QteyTtFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/ldS4e45cV2U/s1600-h/nightmarket3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QteyTtFI/AAAAAAAAAX0/ldS4e45cV2U/s400/nightmarket3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070649341498340434" border="0" /></a><br />At the night market in Mandalay you can get just about anything from Bibles to betel nut.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QEOyTtDI/AAAAAAAAAXk/z2k1P4liH_w/s1600-h/bespectacledman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QEOyTtDI/AAAAAAAAAXk/z2k1P4liH_w/s400/bespectacledman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070648632828736562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QYeyTtEI/AAAAAAAAAXs/VIbVkxbU8TU/s1600-h/oldmanlight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6QYeyTtEI/AAAAAAAAAXs/VIbVkxbU8TU/s400/oldmanlight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070648980721087554" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A baked goods vendor at the night market, one of the few with photogenic incandescent lighting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-55221874071458816682007-05-31T01:33:00.000-07:002007-05-31T02:04:27.402-07:00JettyAfter five days in Bagan, we decided to start moving on to Mandalay. We were told we could take a slow ferry that would take two days and one night. This sounded interesting as it is the choice transportation for locals. When we got on board we were informed it would take two nights and three days. Considering that the bus to Mandalay was cheaper and only took eight hours, we opted against taking the ferry. This worked out well in the end because we ran into some travellers we had met in Yangon the week before.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6O8OyTtCI/AAAAAAAAAXc/wfZjo4gaDdQ/s1600-h/boyballoon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6O8OyTtCI/AAAAAAAAAXc/wfZjo4gaDdQ/s400/boyballoon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070647395878155298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6Ol-yTtBI/AAAAAAAAAXU/GfABvU1j4cI/s1600-h/boyballoon2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6Ol-yTtBI/AAAAAAAAAXU/GfABvU1j4cI/s400/boyballoon2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070647013626065938" border="0" /></a><br />Young boys play by the waterfront.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6OPuyTtAI/AAAAAAAAAXM/hCaljZXoEyk/s1600-h/boykettle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6OPuyTtAI/AAAAAAAAAXM/hCaljZXoEyk/s400/boykettle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070646631373976578" border="0" /></a>A teashop employee poses for a photo.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6N1-yTs_I/AAAAAAAAAXE/XXakiotUkPc/s1600-h/boygrandfather.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6N1-yTs_I/AAAAAAAAAXE/XXakiotUkPc/s400/boygrandfather.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070646188992345074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">An older man and young boy wait for the ferry.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6NY-yTs-I/AAAAAAAAAW8/cxTeLPT5MbQ/s1600-h/DSC_0367.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6NY-yTs-I/AAAAAAAAAW8/cxTeLPT5MbQ/s400/DSC_0367.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070645690776138722" border="0" /></a>One thing we've noticed about the Burmese is that they spend lots of time with their children.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6NG-yTs9I/AAAAAAAAAW0/1bfdPfiH80Q/s1600-h/girlbasket.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6NG-yTs9I/AAAAAAAAAW0/1bfdPfiH80Q/s400/girlbasket.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070645381538493394" border="0" /></a>A young girl carries a basket to the ferry.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MxuyTs8I/AAAAAAAAAWs/BgxnEKguJb8/s1600-h/girlsoccerball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MxuyTs8I/AAAAAAAAAWs/BgxnEKguJb8/s400/girlsoccerball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070645016466273218" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MfuyTs7I/AAAAAAAAAWk/L0-0I-iK6HM/s1600-h/lechermeschje.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MfuyTs7I/AAAAAAAAAWk/L0-0I-iK6HM/s400/lechermeschje.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070644707228627890" border="0" /></a>Lecher meisje!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MOeyTs6I/AAAAAAAAAWc/zNaHC1U4WZ4/s1600-h/girlswashclothes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6MOeyTs6I/AAAAAAAAAWc/zNaHC1U4WZ4/s400/girlswashclothes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070644410875884450" border="0" /></a>Women washing their clothes near the boats.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6L0-yTs5I/AAAAAAAAAWU/PHX78ktx8dg/s1600-h/menvillage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6L0-yTs5I/AAAAAAAAAWU/PHX78ktx8dg/s400/menvillage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070643972789220242" border="0" /></a>We met these two gentlemen in a village near the jetty.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6LVuyTs4I/AAAAAAAAAWM/c--JvrO2fzM/s1600-h/soccerboys.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6LVuyTs4I/AAAAAAAAAWM/c--JvrO2fzM/s400/soccerboys.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070643435918308226" border="0" /></a>Yet again we stumbled across a group of kids playing soccer.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6Kj-yTs2I/AAAAAAAAAV8/P9oeJjE671w/s1600-h/sunsetbathers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6Kj-yTs2I/AAAAAAAAAV8/P9oeJjE671w/s400/sunsetbathers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070642581219816290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6KHOyTs1I/AAAAAAAAAV0/cdeK7cXCeOk/s1600-h/sunsetferry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6KHOyTs1I/AAAAAAAAAV0/cdeK7cXCeOk/s400/sunsetferry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070642087298577234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6J2eyTs0I/AAAAAAAAAVs/RakxhdB4P-4/s1600-h/sunsetjetty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rl6J2eyTs0I/AAAAAAAAAVs/RakxhdB4P-4/s400/sunsetjetty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070641799535768386" border="0" /></a><br />Sunset at the jetty.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-48717255583728999942007-05-29T05:51:00.000-07:002007-05-29T06:19:29.749-07:00Monks and Temples<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwmReyTszI/AAAAAAAAAVk/zAug2OjOQm8/s1600-h/sleepingaustin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwmReyTszI/AAAAAAAAAVk/zAug2OjOQm8/s400/sleepingaustin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069969362276037426" border="0" /></a><br />Austin takes a nap<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwkquyTsyI/AAAAAAAAAVc/obIWCmJZU9Q/s1600-h/womansmokes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwkquyTsyI/AAAAAAAAAVc/obIWCmJZU9Q/s400/womansmokes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069967597044478754" border="0" /></a>Older women can be seen smoking these huge cigars, generally packed with lots of wood shavings and very little tobacco.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwj5-yTswI/AAAAAAAAAVM/V1cZK6-g43k/s1600-h/mansleeping.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwj5-yTswI/AAAAAAAAAVM/V1cZK6-g43k/s400/mansleeping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069966759525856002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwkTuyTsxI/AAAAAAAAAVU/wxJUj3d-Mks/s1600-h/shadesman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwkTuyTsxI/AAAAAAAAAVU/wxJUj3d-Mks/s400/shadesman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069967201907487506" border="0" /></a>A blind man takes refuge in the temple.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwjSuyTsvI/AAAAAAAAAVE/775N6FNNFkY/s1600-h/monksplaystation2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwjSuyTsvI/AAAAAAAAAVE/775N6FNNFkY/s400/monksplaystation2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069966085215990514" border="0" /></a><br />Novice monks in Nyaung U kick back.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwi9uyTsuI/AAAAAAAAAU8/BM1qPVe5bjc/s1600-h/buddhasilhouette.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwi9uyTsuI/AAAAAAAAAU8/BM1qPVe5bjc/s400/buddhasilhouette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069965724438737634" border="0" /></a>Austin gazing up at Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwifOyTstI/AAAAAAAAAU0/i0oQtN-39nM/s1600-h/buddhaflower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwifOyTstI/AAAAAAAAAU0/i0oQtN-39nM/s400/buddhaflower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069965200452727506" border="0" /></a>An offering of flowers.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">-- Will<br /></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-439958464222209442007-05-29T04:28:00.000-07:002007-05-29T05:51:10.061-07:00BaganWhat's most impressive about Bagan at first is not the size or complexity of each individual temple, nor the condition, but rather the sheer number of them. There are pagodas or temples in every direction you look. Over a 230-year period, roughly 4400 were built. Earthquakes and serious neglect have brought that number down a thousand or two. What's even more striking is that many of these temples are in the middle of some farmer's field and so you see everyday life going on.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwbQeyTsmI/AAAAAAAAAT8/NwvIz5tIIUk/s1600-h/nightsky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwbQeyTsmI/AAAAAAAAAT8/NwvIz5tIIUk/s400/nightsky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069957250468262498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Temple at dusk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlweq-yTsrI/AAAAAAAAAUk/gaW8wmbgQKY/s1600-h/temple-trees.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlweq-yTsrI/AAAAAAAAAUk/gaW8wmbgQKY/s400/temple-trees.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069961004269679282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Cattle meander through fields dotted with temples.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwfFuyTssI/AAAAAAAAAUs/e2zKFzbrgXw/s1600-h/toddyclimber.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwfFuyTssI/AAAAAAAAAUs/e2zKFzbrgXw/s400/toddyclimber.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069961463831179970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The toddy tree produces a sweet fruit used to make alcohol.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlweBOyTsqI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Bq-XJzaokRA/s1600-h/templepalms.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlweBOyTsqI/AAAAAAAAAUc/Bq-XJzaokRA/s400/templepalms.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069960287010140834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A temple surrounded by toddy trees.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwbAuyTslI/AAAAAAAAAT0/axDzIg-eO8A/s1600-h/monkwalking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 374px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwbAuyTslI/AAAAAAAAAT0/axDzIg-eO8A/s400/monkwalking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069956979885322834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A novice monk walks past Shwezeigon with his alms bowl.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwdU-yTspI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Q0n7rirkBeI/s1600-h/runningboy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwdU-yTspI/AAAAAAAAAUU/Q0n7rirkBeI/s400/runningboy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069959526800929426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A young shepherd boy runs through the field.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwVV-yTsbI/AAAAAAAAAS8/YooKO5TAedI/s1600-h/favtemple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwVV-yTsbI/AAAAAAAAAS8/YooKO5TAedI/s400/favtemple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069950747887776178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwT3-yTsYI/AAAAAAAAASk/bhZwlWMTJrc/s1600-h/austinphotoing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 403px; height: 267px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwT3-yTsYI/AAAAAAAAASk/bhZwlWMTJrc/s400/austinphotoing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069949132980072834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwU7-yTsaI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2YQtYzUBD5A/s1600-h/farmerstemple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 436px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwU7-yTsaI/AAAAAAAAAS0/2YQtYzUBD5A/s400/farmerstemple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069950301211177378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We met this family on our way to the temple in the background.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwc2uyTsoI/AAAAAAAAAUM/2gyA6Y6F8Hg/s1600-h/boytoddy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rlwc2uyTsoI/AAAAAAAAAUM/2gyA6Y6F8Hg/s400/boytoddy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069959007109886594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A young boy demonstrates how to eat the toddy fruit.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwcUeyTsnI/AAAAAAAAAUE/EQS4b49ZwJI/s1600-h/palmsilhouette.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwcUeyTsnI/AAAAAAAAAUE/EQS4b49ZwJI/s400/palmsilhouette.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069958418699367026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Temples at sunset.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwW9OyTsfI/AAAAAAAAATc/IgVDXswy1j0/s1600-h/girltemple.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 416px;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwW9OyTsfI/AAAAAAAAATc/IgVDXswy1j0/s400/girltemple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069952521709269490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwUjuyTsZI/AAAAAAAAASs/1RIkzJbQ9Ho/s1600-h/bagansheep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 445px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwUjuyTsZI/AAAAAAAAASs/1RIkzJbQ9Ho/s400/bagansheep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069949884599349650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-59213354060679728172007-05-29T03:52:00.000-07:002007-05-29T04:27:45.140-07:00Flood!From Yangon our next stop was Bagan. We purchased tickets on what we thought was a 16-hour long ride on an air-con bus. On both counts we were wrong. The bus did have air-con but they only used it 50% of the time. The trip is usually 16 hours, but at about hour 12 the driver stopped for no apparent reason. It was about 3 AM at the time. We stayed there till 7AM when we found out that the road ahead had become a river! At around 9AM, buses started attempting the river crossing, through about a foot of water. Thankfully none got stuck, although many were spewing sickly black smoke. Our turn finally came at 10:30. After another few hours we made it to Bagan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwIPOyTsSI/AAAAAAAAAR0/aVZ1RxK5k94/s1600-h/coolaustin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwIPOyTsSI/AAAAAAAAAR0/aVZ1RxK5k94/s400/coolaustin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069936338272497954" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Austin looking pretty cool in front of a bus that was similar to ours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwIweyTsTI/AAAAAAAAAR8/d8cA3NNhQfg/s1600-h/roadsidedinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwIweyTsTI/AAAAAAAAAR8/d8cA3NNhQfg/s400/roadsidedinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069936909503148338" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A delicious roadside meal complete with Myanmar beer. (Burmese food is actually quite nasty. Fortunately, there is a large Indian community that makes excellent chapati!) Myanmar beer is great, but it's a government joint-venture so we will probably stick to the Mandalay brew in the future.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwJQuyTsUI/AAAAAAAAASE/cYIGWFnENNU/s1600-h/valiantvendor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwJQuyTsUI/AAAAAAAAASE/cYIGWFnENNU/s400/valiantvendor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069937463553929538" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This vendor successfully sold me some mints!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwJ-eyTsVI/AAAAAAAAASM/taIC5G8iO7E/s1600-h/riverscene.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwJ-eyTsVI/AAAAAAAAASM/taIC5G8iO7E/s400/riverscene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069938249532944722" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwKweyTsWI/AAAAAAAAASU/jLy7aPdb1Qw/s1600-h/rivertractors.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 265px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwKweyTsWI/AAAAAAAAASU/jLy7aPdb1Qw/s400/rivertractors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069939108526403938" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tractors and oxcarts ferry people and vehicles across the road-turned-river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwLAuyTsXI/AAAAAAAAASc/5yhBwaGNuxw/s1600-h/boyriver.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlwLAuyTsXI/AAAAAAAAASc/5yhBwaGNuxw/s400/boyriver.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069939387699278194" border="0"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A young girl warms shields herself from the rain.<br /><br />-- WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-23930961820398329712007-05-24T07:55:00.000-07:002007-05-29T03:51:57.205-07:00Yangon<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Here are some photos from our time in Yangon:<br /><div><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW5LuyTsMI/AAAAAAAAARE/tMIoZiAhWT8/s1600-h/streetkid_landscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068160566864097474" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW5LuyTsMI/AAAAAAAAARE/tMIoZiAhWT8/s200/streetkid_landscape.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><br />My favourite photo of the trip by far courtesy of Austin Andrews.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW92-yTsRI/AAAAAAAAARs/8qRQw45RTq8/s1600-h/yangoncityscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068165707939950866" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW92-yTsRI/AAAAAAAAARs/8qRQw45RTq8/s200/yangoncityscape.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW6PeyTsNI/AAAAAAAAARM/SbVvMMVBlkM/s1600-h/streetscenerain.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068161730800234706" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW6PeyTsNI/AAAAAAAAARM/SbVvMMVBlkM/s200/streetscenerain.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br />The rainy season is definitely upon us...The view from our hotel's rooftop garden was spectacular.<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWqJeyTr4I/AAAAAAAAAOk/HzKSERyfWWg/s1600-h/boybus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068144035534974850" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWqJeyTr4I/AAAAAAAAAOk/HzKSERyfWWg/s200/boybus.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWoteyTr2I/AAAAAAAAAOU/bXm6i19QHuY/s1600-h/backbus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068142454987009890" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWoteyTr2I/AAAAAAAAAOU/bXm6i19QHuY/s200/backbus.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWvs-yTsAI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5u2ohlwV98Y/s1600-h/DSC_0063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068150142978469890" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWvs-yTsAI/AAAAAAAAAPk/5u2ohlwV98Y/s200/DSC_0063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's very easy to find interesting people in Yangon; just pick a bus at random and take it wherever. The first time we did this we ended up meeting an interesting local gentleman who took us to a little cafe for beers.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWtS-yTr8I/AAAAAAAAAPE/634EZAaUCvc/s1600-h/homelessman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068147497278615490" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 147px; height: 198px;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWtS-yTr8I/AAAAAAAAAPE/634EZAaUCvc/s200/homelessman.jpg" border="0" height="135" width="102" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWpp-yTr3I/AAAAAAAAAOc/_KFQ9HFxSBo/s1600-h/begginglady.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068143494369095538" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 146px; height: 203px;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWpp-yTr3I/AAAAAAAAAOc/_KFQ9HFxSBo/s200/begginglady.jpg" border="0" height="136" width="84" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWwb-yTsBI/AAAAAAAAAPs/cEBq28jf1fM/s1600-h/durianguys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068150950432321554" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWwb-yTsBI/AAAAAAAAAPs/cEBq28jf1fM/s200/durianguys.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The struggle for existence is clearly seen when walking through the streets. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWsauyTr7I/AAAAAAAAAO8/En0VOoXr00g/s1600-h/cryingboy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068146530910973874" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWsauyTr7I/AAAAAAAAAO8/En0VOoXr00g/s200/cryingboy.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWrc-yTr6I/AAAAAAAAAO0/gdAQ2ENmsik/s1600-h/boycrying3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068145470054051746" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWrc-yTr6I/AAAAAAAAAO0/gdAQ2ENmsik/s200/boycrying3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWq2OyTr5I/AAAAAAAAAOs/UgR6-X8HP0Q/s1600-h/boycrying2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068144804334120850" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWq2OyTr5I/AAAAAAAAAOs/UgR6-X8HP0Q/s200/boycrying2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This little boy crossed our path early one morning.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWvGuyTr_I/AAAAAAAAAPc/_Uzeh8M0ANY/s1600-h/curiousboy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068149485848473586" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWvGuyTr_I/AAAAAAAAAPc/_Uzeh8M0ANY/s200/curiousboy.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWuZ-yTr-I/AAAAAAAAAPU/EyfqdcJ2zyU/s1600-h/childstares.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068148717049327586" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWuZ-yTr-I/AAAAAAAAAPU/EyfqdcJ2zyU/s200/childstares.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWt0uyTr9I/AAAAAAAAAPM/h9jdcL35XUE/s1600-h/boysmiles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068148077099200466" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 92px; height: 134px;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWt0uyTr9I/AAAAAAAAAPM/h9jdcL35XUE/s200/boysmiles.jpg" border="0" height="133" width="92" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWz0uyTsFI/AAAAAAAAAQM/UqRz1EBv-v0/s1600-h/girleatingrice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068154674168967250" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWz0uyTsFI/AAAAAAAAAQM/UqRz1EBv-v0/s200/girleatingrice.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW2YuyTsII/AAAAAAAAAQk/ahBlLVPHKyc/s1600-h/pigeongirl_will.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068157491667513474" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW2YuyTsII/AAAAAAAAAQk/ahBlLVPHKyc/s200/pigeongirl_will.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW1zuyTsHI/AAAAAAAAAQc/fxh6ydRVQ4Y/s1600-h/oldman.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068156856012353650" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW1zuyTsHI/AAAAAAAAAQc/fxh6ydRVQ4Y/s200/oldman.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW74OyTsPI/AAAAAAAAARc/cJPA22VbfPs/s1600-h/womanlaughing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068163530391531762" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW74OyTsPI/AAAAAAAAARc/cJPA22VbfPs/s200/womanlaughing.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW7FuyTsOI/AAAAAAAAARU/Dtw5T9OXQOw/s1600-h/twoindianmen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068162662808137954" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW7FuyTsOI/AAAAAAAAARU/Dtw5T9OXQOw/s200/twoindianmen.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>Some faces from Yangon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWy5uyTsEI/AAAAAAAAAQE/iWXFQS6Hhvs/s1600-h/yangonpagoda.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068153660556685378" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWy5uyTsEI/AAAAAAAAAQE/iWXFQS6Hhvs/s200/yangonpagoda.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWxW-yTsCI/AAAAAAAAAP0/2uUBulRYg9I/s1600-h/girlbuddha.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068151964044603426" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWxW-yTsCI/AAAAAAAAAP0/2uUBulRYg9I/s200/girlbuddha.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div><div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWyBOyTsDI/AAAAAAAAAP8/PaPZ7OYQPe4/s1600-h/pagodacityscape.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068152689894076466" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 87px; height: 132px;" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlWyBOyTsDI/AAAAAAAAAP8/PaPZ7OYQPe4/s200/pagodacityscape.jpg" border="0" height="136" width="85" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The famous Shwedagon Paya, unlike most of the ancient religious structures we've visited, is still used by the public. When we were there crowds of people were praying and/or just hanging out there. Many claim it is 2500 years old but the archeological consensus now is that it was built by the Mon sometime between the 6th and 10th century. The golden spire is 98 metres high. Its claim to fame, aside from being enormous and gold, is that eight hairs from Gautama Buddha are enshrined here.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW3PeyTsJI/AAAAAAAAAQs/po8-yV6TYAs/s1600-h/soccer1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068158432265351314" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW3PeyTsJI/AAAAAAAAAQs/po8-yV6TYAs/s200/soccer1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW38-yTsKI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/51YeYPbnYv8/s1600-h/soccer2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068159213949399202" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW38-yTsKI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/51YeYPbnYv8/s200/soccer2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW48eyTsLI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/FxdJXc23KOM/s1600-h/soccer3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068160304871092402" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RlW48eyTsLI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/FxdJXc23KOM/s200/soccer3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We stumbled upon this lively game of soccer in an alleyway. Everywhere you look in this city there is something exciting and interesting going on.<br /><br />--Will </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-58298937067528900902007-05-20T03:58:00.000-07:002007-05-20T04:34:21.352-07:00YangonHello all,<br /><br />After some long deliberations on the subject, Austin and I decided against going to Laos in favor of Burma. The reasons being that we already had flights booked to Yangon thanks to Lori and that we are now running low on time. Our options were to spend two weeks in each place or a month in one. It seemed like the best option to spend a full month (or just shy) in Burma.<br /><br />We flew back to Singapore and started work on our visas. In the meantime we had a great time in Singapore, which is truly one of the best cities in the world. We spent our nights at the best hostel in town, the Prince of Wales, and ended up getting to be friends with the staff there: Nick, Junia, Niq and Joe. At night there is so much going on in this city. One evening we walked by the water front and happened upon a sound check for a concert that was going on later. The next night we returned to the same spot and heard a great band from KL by the name of Telebury. Check out their site: myspace.com/telebury.<br /><br />A few nights later the head bartender of Nick asked me if I wanted to work the bar for a night. I agreed and we ended up having a great time. At first I wasted a lot of beer with poorly poured pints (alliteration!) but after a while I got the hang of it. I ended up getting to work two nights ago, but that was probably a bad idea as I was exhausted by the time we had to leave for the airport. We only got a few winks there before our flight left, at 8:30 AM.<br /><br />After getting into Yangon we took a taxi to the guesthouse we had picked out in the Lonely Planet, called the White House. This nine-story apartment building has a little courtyard on top which provides a great view of the city. On the taxi ride we changed some US dollars into the local currency, the Kyat. In government banks, you get 400 Kyat for $1 US. On the streets you get about 1200. After getting checked into our hotel we randomly picked a city bus and hopped on. The people in Myanmar, as we were told, are some of the friendliest I've ever met. We sat down next to an older man who spoke English. He ended up walking around with us and took us to a little cafe where we had a few beers and some friend noodles. It feels surprisingly safe here, but that's probably due to the harsh punishments the government doles out for anyone who harms a foreigner. Later we met a young student who took us around town and talked about life in Myanmar. We spent lots of time taking photos; most of the people here love being photographed. They also happen to have great smiles, so it works out well. Tomorrow we are leaving for Bagan.<br /><br />--WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-87268130520367702032007-05-11T20:03:00.000-07:002007-05-12T03:57:15.527-07:00Adventures in Cambodia and Vietnam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWVGG_ifOI/AAAAAAAAAOM/N8_CBhOt9Tg/s1600-h/willbeng2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWVGG_ifOI/AAAAAAAAAOM/N8_CBhOt9Tg/s200/willbeng2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063617288236858594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWU_2_ifNI/AAAAAAAAAOE/plNfllFN95s/s1600-h/willbeng.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWU_2_ifNI/AAAAAAAAAOE/plNfllFN95s/s200/willbeng.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063617180862676178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUDm_ifGI/AAAAAAAAANM/zUuVtKRJ_Qk/s1600-h/beng3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUDm_ifGI/AAAAAAAAANM/zUuVtKRJ_Qk/s200/beng3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616145775557730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWU42_ifMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/rv1KdC_zQt8/s1600-h/terraceelephants.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWU42_ifMI/AAAAAAAAAN8/rv1KdC_zQt8/s200/terraceelephants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063617060603591874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUUW_ifII/AAAAAAAAANc/AtjziRtzlqQ/s1600-h/bengmealea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUUW_ifII/AAAAAAAAANc/AtjziRtzlqQ/s200/bengmealea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616433538366594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWT5m_ifFI/AAAAAAAAANE/BqVUp8UVCQU/s1600-h/beng2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWT5m_ifFI/AAAAAAAAANE/BqVUp8UVCQU/s200/beng2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063615973976865874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUN2_ifHI/AAAAAAAAANU/mIJhUj2NWCY/s1600-h/beng4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUN2_ifHI/AAAAAAAAANU/mIJhUj2NWCY/s200/beng4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616321869216882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some photos of Austin and myself at Beng Mealea. This was by far our favourite temple at Angkor. It was about 60 km from Siem Reap, the city where most of the hotels are. As you can see from the photos it is completely overrun by jungle. If you want to see more of it, rent the children's film Two Brothers by Jean-Jacques Annaud. It's about two young tiger cubs who are separated at birth. In the movie, the tiger family lives in the temple.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWTwm_ifEI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qoGxkzQG8SY/s1600-h/austinbabushka.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWTwm_ifEI/AAAAAAAAAM8/qoGxkzQG8SY/s200/austinbabushka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063615819358043202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUv2_ifLI/AAAAAAAAAN0/cN6q4hnQwmw/s1600-h/smileyfaces.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUv2_ifLI/AAAAAAAAAN0/cN6q4hnQwmw/s200/smileyfaces.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616905984769202" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUwQm_ie_I/AAAAAAAAAMY/JT9TC8pJn78/s1600-h/girlsbayon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUwQm_ie_I/AAAAAAAAAMY/JT9TC8pJn78/s200/girlsbayon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063506417951079410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are some random photos: The first is a very sweet Austin wearing a scarf that his mother bought him. The second is of smiley faces engraved on the bottom of certain pillars in Angkor Wat. I thought that was pretty funny. The last is of two girls I met while climbing through Bayon. Bayon was built in the 13th century by Jayavarman III as the official Buddhist state-temple. It has 54 towers, many of them with beautiful smiling faces.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUuyW_ie7I/AAAAAAAAAL4/jyq50AdHDro/s1600-h/angkor2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUuyW_ie7I/AAAAAAAAAL4/jyq50AdHDro/s200/angkor2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063504798748408754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUvDm_ie8I/AAAAAAAAAMA/Cn53h6QYuWM/s1600-h/angkorwat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUvDm_ie8I/AAAAAAAAAMA/Cn53h6QYuWM/s200/angkorwat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063505095101152194" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUvQm_ie9I/AAAAAAAAAMI/UuB9-w0jHjE/s1600-h/apsarafaceangkor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUvQm_ie9I/AAAAAAAAAMI/UuB9-w0jHjE/s200/apsarafaceangkor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063505318439451602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure in the world and was built in the 12th century for King Suryavarman II. It was first built as a Hindu temple, dedicated to Vishnu. Later, it became a Buddhist temple. Throughout are carvings of apsara dancers, as shown above right.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkU2K2_ifBI/AAAAAAAAAMo/pxPjUPMRDCM/s1600-h/thomentrance.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkU2K2_ifBI/AAAAAAAAAMo/pxPjUPMRDCM/s200/thomentrance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063512916236598290" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUwD2_ie-I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/vNKXSUYnkHQ/s1600-h/bayonface.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkUwD2_ie-I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/vNKXSUYnkHQ/s200/bayonface.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063506198907747298" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkU17G_ifAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/52KOt4b-Btg/s1600-h/templedog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkU17G_ifAI/AAAAAAAAAMg/52KOt4b-Btg/s200/templedog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063512645653658626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The ancient city of Angkor Thom was established in the 12th century and had one million inhabitants--this at a time when London had only 50,000. On the right is the temple of Ta Prohm. Like Beng Mealea, it is slowly being eaten by the jungle. We got their early and were greeted by this friendly dog. We shared some of our breakfast with her and as quickly as she came, she was gone again. Later on, however, as I was wandering alone through some of the quiet, empty halls we met again. This time she tagged along for a while and we explored some of the rooms together. We parted ways about fifteen minutes later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUcm_ifJI/AAAAAAAAANk/amb9m5BavYo/s1600-h/saigon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUcm_ifJI/AAAAAAAAANk/amb9m5BavYo/s200/saigon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616575272287378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUlm_ifKI/AAAAAAAAANs/78dnhQ8rrHE/s1600-h/saigon2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RkWUlm_ifKI/AAAAAAAAANs/78dnhQ8rrHE/s200/saigon2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063616729891110050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are a few shots of Saigon. I didn't take too many photos of the city but it was easily the most interesting so far. At night the place is bustling; people are out in cafes or hanging out in hair salons. We wandered through some alleys, which are their own communities in themselves, with restaurants, homes, and shops.<br /><br />-- WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-72530261218990226872007-05-10T01:24:00.000-07:002007-05-10T01:30:07.457-07:00SaigonJust a quick word until I can take the time to do my Cambodia photo post. We are back in Saigon, after a trip to Dalat and Mui Ne. Tomorrow we fly out to Singapore. We have decided that, because we are running out of time, we will be skipping Laos altogether and spending all our remaining time in Burma. It really hurts to do so because Laos was probably the country I was most excited about. However, to pack two countries into a month really wouldn't do them justice and I figure I will be back soon enough to see Laos. We will have lots of time to do blogs when we get into Singapore tomorrow so I will do some more writing then and fill everyone in on our adventure through Cambodia and Vietnam. <br /><br />--WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-10550897073813079302007-04-27T09:54:00.000-07:002007-04-27T10:15:38.335-07:00Phnom PenhWell, the last few days have been a whirlwind. Just three days ago we walked into the Myanmar Embassy in Singapore to apply for visas, Austin's mom Lori having arrived the day before. Unfortunately, when applying for his visa, Austin put down that he is a video editor. Apparently they didn't like this and we were told that Austin would have to apply for a special media permit, which would take weeks. As it was raining we sat outside the visa office for about twenty minutes in shock. We had flights booked on the 28th for Yangon and were completely sure we'd be there. We went through our options. We thought about booking it up to Kuala Lumpur and getting our visas done there. However, this didn't seem plausible considering the time our flights left. Ultimately, Lori suggested we give up on the flights to Yangon and head to Cambodia and Vietnam. <br /><br />Yesterday we arrived in Phnom Penh and since it was already 8:00 PM we headed to our hotel. The next morning we got up and went straight to the Vietnamese embassy. Within half an hour we got our 15-day visa processed. We then hired a tuk-tuk for the day and went to the Choeung Ek killing fields. As expected, it was a heavy experience. A huge pagoda was built there in 1988 in rememberance and is filled with level upon level of skulls. Along the paths we were walking over bones and people's clothes. Thousands of people were butchered here in the cruellest ways possible. In order to save bullets the Khmer Rouge simply bludgeoned people to death with hammers, axes, or garden hoes. After that we went to a prison called S-21 where Pol Pot's gang tortured and killed anyone who had any sort of intelligence. If you were an intellectual or could speak a foreign language or were a professional, you would be killed. <br /><br />Tomorrow we are taking the bus to Siem Reap to visit the temples of Angkor. <br /><br />--WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-37242649964512072872007-04-19T00:05:00.000-07:002007-04-19T03:59:00.598-07:00Sultry Sumatra...<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicW3cNpXZI/AAAAAAAAAHw/jGdGxUCVVhM/s1600-h/IMG_0954.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055034248468716946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicW3cNpXZI/AAAAAAAAAHw/jGdGxUCVVhM/s200/IMG_0954.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicWc8NpXYI/AAAAAAAAAHo/8V3cqD3W1wA/s1600-h/IMG_0943.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055033793202183554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicWc8NpXYI/AAAAAAAAAHo/8V3cqD3W1wA/s200/IMG_0943.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicYoMNpXaI/AAAAAAAAAH4/5OnsDqrjxqU/s1600-h/IMG_0962.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055036185498967458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicYoMNpXaI/AAAAAAAAAH4/5OnsDqrjxqU/s200/IMG_0962.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Today we arrived in Batam after a blissful one-hour flight from Pekanbaru. (Only about $15 more than taking the eight hour bus/ferry option. Suka, above, had forgotten us and when we approached her she got very defensive. This saddened me because we were on such friendly terms before we left for Sumatra. After about an hour she slowly made her way, with head lowered, over to me as I sat on the computer and gave me a kiss on the knee. Since then we've been the best of pals. Unfortunately, our gracious hosts Angeline, Ted and Roel are presently in Singapore. When we get to Singapore, probably in a day or two, we will hopefully be able to meet them for coffee. Today is Angeline's 84th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! For the fun of it I will retell our Sumatra trip starting from Bukittinggi and working backwards in time to Danau Toba....<br /><div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicuqMNpX2I/AAAAAAAAALY/YR_G-1Oi10U/s1600-h/IMG_1600.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055060409114517346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="171" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicuqMNpX2I/AAAAAAAAALY/YR_G-1Oi10U/s200/IMG_1600.jpg" width="130" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicuWcNpX1I/AAAAAAAAALQ/vuS0RegGFcU/s1600-h/IMG_1586.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055060069812100946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="121" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicuWcNpX1I/AAAAAAAAALQ/vuS0RegGFcU/s200/IMG_1586.jpg" width="169" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricv_cNpX3I/AAAAAAAAALg/0sUwLeATuaE/s1600-h/IMG_1607.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055061873698365298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="121" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricv_cNpX3I/AAAAAAAAALg/0sUwLeATuaE/s200/IMG_1607.jpg" width="168" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RickpsNpXqI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/pQpLQbVzcBg/s1600-h/IMG_1391.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055049405408304802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RickpsNpXqI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/pQpLQbVzcBg/s200/IMG_1391.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RiclMcNpXrI/AAAAAAAAAKA/2aBGddfXTaE/s1600-h/IMG_1394.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055050002408758962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RiclMcNpXrI/AAAAAAAAAKA/2aBGddfXTaE/s200/IMG_1394.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RickpsNpXqI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/pQpLQbVzcBg/s1600-h/IMG_1391.jpg"></a> </div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RiclMcNpXrI/AAAAAAAAAKA/2aBGddfXTaE/s1600-h/IMG_1394.jpg"></a> </div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>We arrived in Bukittinggi on the 13th, after a sixteen-hour overnight bus through windy Sumatran highways. Thanks to the wonders of Gravol we survived without having to hang our heads out the windows. Bukittinggi means "tall hill" (Bukit = hill, Tinggi = tall) and is about 1000 meters in altitude. It is a fairly touristy town boasting an old Dutch fort called Fort de Kock, a zoo and a Menengkabau culture museum. I should have believed Lonely Planet's description of the three and steered clear but we had time to kill so we went anyway. The only things left of the fort are some rusted canons. The zoo is utterly depressing with elephants tied up like dogs, pacing back and forth continually. The Menengkabau museum started out interesting with the usual displays about village life, clothing, and culture, but slowly progressed to the absurd and strange, like a whole display on deformed animals, some with two heads and legs protruding from their back. The view from our hotel was striking, with Gunung Marapi, Sumatra's most active volcano, in the background. We only stayed in Bukittinggi for a day and then booked a two-day jungle tour. The mosques in Bukittingi are stunningly beautiful against the dusk sky. Sumatran skies don't look real sometimes; often they look more like a painting. At certain times of the day the mosques broadcast prayers sung over the loudspeakers. It was a beautiful moment, some days ago, when Austin and I were sitting on the balcony overlooking a thunderstorm in Bukittinggi when slowly, one by one, the mosques began their prayers. The sound of the rain pounding the corrogated tin roofs blended together with the echoing prayers coming from near and far was really quieting.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rico38NpXtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/vrRZRhBSGGU/s1600-h/IMG_1484.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055054048267951826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rico38NpXtI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/vrRZRhBSGGU/s200/IMG_1484.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicqMsNpXuI/AAAAAAAAAKY/gB7T_Iq1Ti4/s1600-h/IMG_1494.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055055504261865186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="199" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicqMsNpXuI/AAAAAAAAAKY/gB7T_Iq1Ti4/s200/IMG_1494.jpg" width="150" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicshMNpXyI/AAAAAAAAAK4/XZzpswYcrVo/s1600-h/IMG_1555.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055058055472439074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px" height="177" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicshMNpXyI/AAAAAAAAAK4/XZzpswYcrVo/s200/IMG_1555.jpg" width="132" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicsCcNpXxI/AAAAAAAAAKw/LcS02LeEXi0/s1600-h/IMG_1533.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055057527191461650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicsCcNpXxI/AAAAAAAAAKw/LcS02LeEXi0/s200/IMG_1533.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Here are some shots of our jungle tour from Bukittinggi to Lake Maninjau. We began our tour on the 14th. Our guide was Wendra and with him was a young university student named Putra, who was along to practice his English. Wendra has been doing tours since 1989 and knows his stuff. Along with the standard information about plants and the culture, he would add in other strange and interesting tidbits. For instance, while walking on the path he stopped briefly to show us the effect of his cigarette on a certain pink flower. He put the burning end of the cigarette underneath one of the petals, whereupon it turned a brilliant blue. More than anything, for me, the trek was a lesson in botany. I saw first hand what cocao plants look like, where betel juice comes from, and how coffee and cinnamon is grown. </div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricq4sNpXwI/AAAAAAAAAKo/IxsyXWahfbE/s1600-h/IMG_1480.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055056260176109314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricq4sNpXwI/AAAAAAAAAKo/IxsyXWahfbE/s200/IMG_1480.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rict8cNpX0I/AAAAAAAAALI/MLtSq3FH7YM/s1600-h/IMG_1575.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055059623135502146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rict8cNpX0I/AAAAAAAAALI/MLtSq3FH7YM/s200/IMG_1575.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RictXsNpXzI/AAAAAAAAALA/m1_BSeFteXQ/s1600-h/IMG_1557.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055058991775309618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RictXsNpXzI/AAAAAAAAALA/m1_BSeFteXQ/s200/IMG_1557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rict8cNpX0I/AAAAAAAAALI/MLtSq3FH7YM/s1600-h/IMG_1575.jpg"></a> </div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rict8cNpX0I/AAAAAAAAALI/MLtSq3FH7YM/s1600-h/IMG_1575.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We couldn't have asked for greater company with the four other tourists that joined us. Terry and Rachel, from Lester, UK, had been traveling through India before flying to Indonesia. From what I could gather, over the last few years they had been getting tired of the 9-5 lifestyle and slowly but surely severed their attachments to it and have been traveling on and off ever since. Silka hails from Germany and since October has been traveling through India and Indonesia. She became our trusted doctor through the adventure, always at the ready with her first-aid kit. After Wendra removed three nasty "bloedzuikers" from my leg, she swooped in with the antiseptic salve and this German miracle spray which closes up wounds. Always with a bounce in her step and a smile on her face, she was a great companion. Last but not least there was Steve, a wisened traveler of around 40 years. He had been around in the hay-day of Thailand back in the early 80's, living for a long time on what was then a remote backpacker's haven: Ko Samui. From his stories it seems he really lived on the edge; at least three times he mentioned near-death experiences. After moving back to the states he worked in a traditional white-collar environment, unable to relate to most people, having had such colourful experiences abroad. Finding life in the States bland and tasteless, he took early retirement several years ago and hasn't looked back since. Now he lives in China and teaches English when he needs the money. </div><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ric-2MNpX5I/AAAAAAAAALw/t6TXIQo0w1E/s1600-h/IMG_1524.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055078207458992018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ric-2MNpX5I/AAAAAAAAALw/t6TXIQo0w1E/s200/IMG_1524.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicqcsNpXvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/vaXY7xg97Wg/s1600-h/IMG_1522.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055055779139772146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicqcsNpXvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/vaXY7xg97Wg/s200/IMG_1522.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricl_sNpXsI/AAAAAAAAAKI/EwVObTmlh6E/s1600-h/IMG_1432.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055050882877054658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricl_sNpXsI/AAAAAAAAAKI/EwVObTmlh6E/s200/IMG_1432.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We stayed at the rustic but charming Anas Homestay where we were served up some delicious curried vegetables for supper and banana pancakes for breakfast. From the kitchen/restaurant we could see Lake Maninjau.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicaWsNpXcI/AAAAAAAAAII/7xyOhJ6ymyA/s1600-h/IMG_0992.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055038083874512322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 107px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 147px" height="152" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicaWsNpXcI/AAAAAAAAAII/7xyOhJ6ymyA/s200/IMG_0992.jpg" width="113" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricc9MNpXeI/AAAAAAAAAIY/HG4avmHR-hI/s1600-h/IMG_1153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055040944322731490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" height="149" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricc9MNpXeI/AAAAAAAAAIY/HG4avmHR-hI/s200/IMG_1153.jpg" width="145" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicgzsNpXmI/AAAAAAAAAJY/9pCKCx-Ef0E/s1600-h/IMG_1264.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055045179160485474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicgzsNpXmI/AAAAAAAAAJY/9pCKCx-Ef0E/s200/IMG_1264.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Richw8NpXnI/AAAAAAAAAJg/YfUCx06WlA4/s1600-h/IMG_1292.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055046231427473010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Richw8NpXnI/AAAAAAAAAJg/YfUCx06WlA4/s200/IMG_1292.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricfp8NpXlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vI-DNLX6JGw/s1600-h/IMG_1263.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055043912145133138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricfp8NpXlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vI-DNLX6JGw/s200/IMG_1263.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicZ3MNpXbI/AAAAAAAAAIA/C6jZgS81Crw/s1600-h/IMG_0989.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055037542708633010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicZ3MNpXbI/AAAAAAAAAIA/C6jZgS81Crw/s200/IMG_0989.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicjIcNpXoI/AAAAAAAAAJo/1awrO0dQHG8/s1600-h/IMG_1317.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055047734666026626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicjIcNpXoI/AAAAAAAAAJo/1awrO0dQHG8/s200/IMG_1317.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />Before Bukittinggi, we spent almost two weeks around Lake Toba. According to Lonely Planet and reports from the aforementioned Steve, Toba used to be one of the biggest stops on the backpacker trail during the 80's and 90's. From what we hear, the fear of terrorism and tight visa regulations (what was once a free three-month visa is now a US $25 one-month visa) has spelled the demise of what was once a bustling tourist attraction. The great thing for backpackers is that all the infrastructure is there yet the crowds are not. At first this seemed great and we spent days marvelling at how we were almost the only people in our hotel. It became norm for us to be the only people in whatever restaurant we happened upon. However, it became depressing when we witnessed the desperation of some souvenir shop owners. One particular place just north of the main tourist town Tuk-Tuk, became known to us as the "Lane of Death." Even biking through, people would be hollering at us to come and look at their goods. When we eventually walked there to pick up some carvings we were grabbed by the hand and pulled into stores, the owners telling us how they would sell it cheap because there are no tourists. "I need money to buy rice" was commonly heard. At a certain point we just had to become assertive, which to us felt like being outright jerks, so we decided never to return. I don't think we took any photos, because it was just painful to be there. A little restaurant by the name of Poppy Fishfarm became our regular hang-out spot for dinner in Tuk-Tuk. His fish curry was so delicious we ordered it every night for almost a week. It definitely slides into my top-five best food experiences, along with El Pollo Loco in Mexico. Considering that I don't even like fish, that's saying something. It was only about $2 CAN to boot. It was there that we first tried Andaliman, a spice which is like no other. It really isn't spicy but rather numbs your mouth with an intense flavour that has no comparison. Apparently it only grows in and around Lake Toba. It is worth mentioning to people who plan to visit (and I recommend it) that some hotel rep will probably find you upon arrival and push you towards staying at their hotel in Tuk-Tuk. I would say that for a few nights Tuk-Tuk is great. It's full of shops, restaurants, hotels and places to rent motorbikes, but to get away from it all, check out Ambarita. There are a few places listed in the Lonely Planet for Ambarita and we picked one at random. The hotel was called Thyesza Hotel and it was a dream. We were right on the beach in a Batak-style house for only $2 a person a night. The family who owned it hadn't had a guest for weeks and as for foreigners, probably not for months. She took great care of us and made delicious food. The thing about Toba is that everything is on Tuk-Tuk and most people never leave it, so all the other great hotels along the island see no business. <br /><div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rice-cNpXjI/AAAAAAAAAJA/A_fbnzSptsY/s1600-h/IMG_1259.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055043164820823602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rice-cNpXjI/AAAAAAAAAJA/A_fbnzSptsY/s200/IMG_1259.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicfPMNpXkI/AAAAAAAAAJI/QOh9Isvs5Gc/s1600-h/IMG_1261.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055043452583632450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicfPMNpXkI/AAAAAAAAAJI/QOh9Isvs5Gc/s200/IMG_1261.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>The above shots are of us after our very first real motorbike experience. I had been on a motorbike once many years ago and Austin had never been, so more or less it was a virgin experience for us. As you can tell from our expressions, it was sensational. I can now begin to relate to all the multitudes of motorbike gangs and enthusiasts out there. It really is an exceptional way to travel. It's different from being in a car because you aren't separated from your environment by windows. Austin and I both agreed that this could be a passion of ours in the years to come. I can already see my mom cringing from miles away. All the effort she put into protecting me from such a dangerous hobby has been for naught. I think her heart is in the right place but maybe if she hopped on a bike she would think differently. </div><div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricd-8NpXgI/AAAAAAAAAIo/5f9ZSMtVKzU/s1600-h/IMG_1215.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055042073899130370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricd-8NpXgI/AAAAAAAAAIo/5f9ZSMtVKzU/s200/IMG_1215.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RiceacNpXhI/AAAAAAAAAIw/6uPZOIwAmsE/s1600-h/IMG_1244.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055042546345532946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RiceacNpXhI/AAAAAAAAAIw/6uPZOIwAmsE/s200/IMG_1244.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicdjsNpXfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/FiQALZQnDOk/s1600-h/IMG_1169.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055041605747695090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicdjsNpXfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/FiQALZQnDOk/s200/IMG_1169.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div>Austin happens to look stunningly dashing on a motorbike so I took many a photograph of him.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicbscNpXdI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/QBh6i8jRmY8/s1600-h/IMG_1150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055039557048294866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicbscNpXdI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/QBh6i8jRmY8/s200/IMG_1150.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicetcNpXiI/AAAAAAAAAI4/6B9Uy-QDxz0/s1600-h/IMG_1245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055042872763047458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/RicetcNpXiI/AAAAAAAAAI4/6B9Uy-QDxz0/s200/IMG_1245.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricj6sNpXpI/AAAAAAAAAJw/I5CXmWLbEyk/s1600-h/IMG_1318.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055048597954453138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Ricj6sNpXpI/AAAAAAAAAJw/I5CXmWLbEyk/s200/IMG_1318.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>--Will </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-80035663017916315782007-04-17T05:30:00.000-07:002007-04-17T05:35:38.377-07:00Please forgive me!Hello everyone,<br /><br />Sorry for my long absence. I promise to post a bunch of photos when we get back to Batam. We are now in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra and should be back on Batam in two days. From there I will do an extensive blog with lots and lots of photos of our time in Lake Toba and Bukittinggi. I will also respond to all comments.<br /><br />Thanks for being patient,<br />WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-29034493917287816322007-04-01T01:31:00.000-07:002007-04-01T02:48:33.457-07:00Finally some photos...<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg937bi0qKI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5oNO3mMwhl0/s1600-h/Sichuan+379.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048385570195417250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg937bi0qKI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5oNO3mMwhl0/s200/Sichuan+379.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94L7i0qLI/AAAAAAAAAHA/s8k47RmZwh8/s1600-h/Sichuan+397.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048385853663258802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94L7i0qLI/AAAAAAAAAHA/s8k47RmZwh8/s200/Sichuan+397.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94Ybi0qMI/AAAAAAAAAHI/n8v445pl6sE/s1600-h/Adrien+153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048386068411623618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94Ybi0qMI/AAAAAAAAAHI/n8v445pl6sE/s200/Adrien+153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The third photo is of our lovely guide in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Suopuo</span></span>, the town outside of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Danba</span></span> with ancient towers. We were walking up to the town and she was going the other way. She stopped and started talking with us in English. She is studying in a university in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kangding</span></span>.</div><div></div><div>We decided, one day while hiking up a mountainside, that we should put a letter in a bottle. Since in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sichuan</span></span> there are no oceans around, it seemed like a good idea to shove it into a crevice in the rocks and see what happens. </div><div></div><div>Here are some of the beautiful Tibetan prayer flags strung everywhere. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94lLi0qNI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/rtVYPrL8gCw/s1600-h/Adrien+170.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048386287454955730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94lLi0qNI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/rtVYPrL8gCw/s200/Adrien+170.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93gri0qII/AAAAAAAAAGo/_gdViVmvW4k/s1600-h/Sichuan+447.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048385110633916546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93gri0qII/AAAAAAAAAGo/_gdViVmvW4k/s200/Sichuan+447.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94wLi0qOI/AAAAAAAAAHY/q1D6oG8deQk/s1600-h/Adrien+207.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048386476433516770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg94wLi0qOI/AAAAAAAAAHY/q1D6oG8deQk/s200/Adrien+207.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The third photo is of the Tibetan village of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jiaju</span> where we stayed a night. I really like the way they have their homes set up. There are often four stories, three of which have balconies where you can view the town. </div><div>The man in this photo makes the best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jiazi</span> (dumplings) in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Danba</span>, along with his wife. We went there for four nights straight!</div><div>On the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Jiaju</span> we found a traveler who didn't make it.<br /></div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92Zri0qDI/AAAAAAAAAGA/TaEUK21g6vc/s1600-h/Adrien+196.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048383890863204402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92Zri0qDI/AAAAAAAAAGA/TaEUK21g6vc/s200/Adrien+196.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93nbi0qJI/AAAAAAAAAGw/PkuDAGoVwMY/s1600-h/Sichuan+459.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048385226598033554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93nbi0qJI/AAAAAAAAAGw/PkuDAGoVwMY/s200/Sichuan+459.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93Xbi0qHI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Ncqfk0oFH2w/s1600-h/Sichuan+188.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048384951720126578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93Xbi0qHI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Ncqfk0oFH2w/s200/Sichuan+188.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Our Tibetan host looks on as we leave. She spoke neither English nor Mandarin and our Tibetan phrasebook was useless, so we relied mostly on hand gestures. There would be moments where we just couldn't communicate and we would all just break out laughing.</div><div>The second photo was taken on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Maglev</span> train into Shanghai from the airport. That's right, I was going 431 km/h on land. </div><div>The French Connection: This is Pauline, our French artist friend who we met in Chengdu and ended up spending three days together, two of which were on horseback. </div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93Ari0qGI/AAAAAAAAAGY/brJYyc32HbI/s1600-h/Sichuan+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048384560878102626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg93Ari0qGI/AAAAAAAAAGY/brJYyc32HbI/s200/Sichuan+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92xri0qFI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/k8qdFkhEyRw/s1600-h/Sichuan+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048384303180064850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92xri0qFI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/k8qdFkhEyRw/s200/Sichuan+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div></div><div>Here are some kids in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Songpan</span>. The boy with the red shirt was running to meet who I presume was his brother, who had just gotten off our bus. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg9zSbi0p6I/AAAAAAAAAE4/Qhlemf8-Z9A/s1600-h/Sichuan+304.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048380467774269346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg9zSbi0p6I/AAAAAAAAAE4/Qhlemf8-Z9A/s200/Sichuan+304.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92Fbi0qCI/AAAAAAAAAF4/_R9A88Hr8_8/s1600-h/Adrien+173.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048383542970853410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92Fbi0qCI/AAAAAAAAAF4/_R9A88Hr8_8/s200/Adrien+173.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91sLi0qBI/AAAAAAAAAFw/-c2pmClOu6w/s1600-h/Adrien+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048383109179156498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91sLi0qBI/AAAAAAAAAFw/-c2pmClOu6w/s200/Adrien+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div></div><div>This is John, our intrepid horse trekking guide. The second shot is of Austin overlooking the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Jiaju</span> village. The third picture is of a monk near Maerkang with the kindest face. I think he was laughing at me though...</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg95tbi0qPI/AAAAAAAAAHg/njtk2rq14D8/s1600-h/Sichuan+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048387528700504306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg95tbi0qPI/AAAAAAAAAHg/njtk2rq14D8/s200/Sichuan+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92kri0qEI/AAAAAAAAAGI/PWk-ANe4nSk/s1600-h/Adrien+248.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048384079841765442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg92kri0qEI/AAAAAAAAAGI/PWk-ANe4nSk/s200/Adrien+248.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Hong</span> Kong, I visited a bunch of old WW2 pillboxes. During the intense fighting on December 19<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">th</span>, a Canadian soldier by the name of John Robert Osborn threw himself on a grenade, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross. As I was walking through Queens Road Central, there was an immigration protest going on. They weren't very organized though. Often members of the group would be singing out of sync and didn't sound convincing.<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg9znbi0p7I/AAAAAAAAAFA/u2jLA52w9pY/s1600-h/Sichuan+144.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048380828551522226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg9znbi0p7I/AAAAAAAAAFA/u2jLA52w9pY/s200/Sichuan+144.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91lLi0qAI/AAAAAAAAAFo/MGHEi93rxV4/s1600-h/Sichuan+146.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048382988920072194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91lLi0qAI/AAAAAAAAAFo/MGHEi93rxV4/s200/Sichuan+146.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In Singapore I visited the National Museum of Singapore, which I highly recommend. It was interactive and informative. You are given a little computer companion that you wear around your neck. It comes with headphones and when you walk into a certain room you simply punch in the number on the floor and you are given an introduction to the exhibit. Near my hostel in Little India there was this man, sleeping the day away with his Walkman. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg90cLi0p9I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_36vmwVj6Vg/s1600-h/Sichuan+214.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048381734789621714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg90cLi0p9I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_36vmwVj6Vg/s200/Sichuan+214.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91T7i0p_I/AAAAAAAAAFg/BAnUBOcSHVc/s1600-h/group_flash.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048382692567328754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91T7i0p_I/AAAAAAAAAFg/BAnUBOcSHVc/s200/group_flash.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91Bbi0p-I/AAAAAAAAAFY/7UlGISZ0a6k/s1600-h/Angeline_smiling.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048382374739748834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_bK5VliXvQaY/Rg91Bbi0p-I/AAAAAAAAAFY/7UlGISZ0a6k/s200/Angeline_smiling.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ahhh</span>, finally we're in the tropics. We were awoken yesterday by a spectacular <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Batam</span> sunrise. Here are all of us eating dinner. On the far right is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Roel</span>, then Angeline, myself, Ted and Austin. Angeline is always smiling and laughing. </div><div></div><div>- Will </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-84286863295456388902007-03-29T08:42:00.000-07:002007-03-29T09:17:50.536-07:00BatamHello everyone,<br /><br />My apologies for not blogging during the last few weeks. I blame it on the high price of internet usage in Hong Kong and Singapore. Austin, as you all probably know, returned from China alive and flew into Singapore at around midnight on the 27th.<br /><br />Austin and I finally made it to Batam Island, right off the coast of Singapore. It is part of Indonesia and we were able to get our 30 day visa on arrival. Austin was sure to read over his visa thoroughly. Our lovely host Ted, Mrs. van Leeuwen's daughter-in-law, met us in Singapore and took us on the ferry to Batam. Ted's husband Roel will be arriving from Singapore on the 30th. For all those who don't know, Mrs. van Leeuwen is Sonja van Eijk's mother. For all those who don't know Sonja van Eijk, I feel terribly sorry for you. Sonja is one of the sweetest human beings on Earth, along with her mother.<br /><br />Upon reaching their home in Batam, we were greeted with a glowing smile and a big hug. Afterwards we sat down for some delicious Indonesian tea and tried to remember the last time we had seen each other. That night Austin and I slept soundly and comfortably in their air conditioned guest room.<br /><br />Today we went into town to get clothes more appropriate for the climate. The stores were stocked with great clothes for great prices. For about $10 CAN I picked up some nice shorts and a t-shirt. I also lopped off the majority of my hair at the barber for a whopping $2 CAN. It's great to be back in budget travel territory. We were also treated to a sumptuous meal of Nasi Goreng and Chicken Sate.<br /><br />For now we are relaxing and trying to figure out the next leg of our trip. Our options are Sumatra, with dense forests and friendly people, or Sulawesi, with tropical islands and fundamentalist violence between Christians and Muslims. If anyone knows anything about these locales, we would love to hear your thoughts. We can't decide where to go. They are both so appealing but we only have a visa for 30 days....<br /><br />WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-28144080094046450992007-03-10T04:14:00.000-08:002007-03-10T04:47:54.334-08:00DanbaHey everyone,<br /><br />I have responded to your comments from last entry so you can check that out...<br /><br />Here is a little background on our recent excursion into western Sichuan. Earlier in the week we left Chengdu for Songpan. Songpan is a beautiful town that somewhat resembles Banff in that its surrounded by mountains and has Chinese script on every store. On the bus there we met Pauline, a lovely French artist, who would become our travel partner for the next few days. When we got to Songpan we were ushered into the Traffic Hotel (part of the bus station) and stayed there the first night. It was brutally cold and the toilet didn't work. Fortunately they had electric heating blankets which became our best friends. The next day Pauline, Austin and I set out on a two day horse trek to Erdaohai Park. The views were pretty spectacular and our guides, Lee and John, were a lot of fun.<br /><br />After our trek we booked our tickets to Maerkang, because there were no buses to Danba. In Maerkang we were met by a very sweet Tibetan girl who ushered us to a hotel (with water, and hot water at that!) where we stayed the night. The next day we woke up bright and early to catch the bus to Danba. We went to the bus station near the hotel and, after much gesticulation from a security guard there, figured out that we needed to go to another station across town. We got there just in time and booked our tickets. They apparently had no power because they were processing the tickets by candlelight. The bus we took was probably transporting people during the time of Mao. It was rickety but seemed to do all right, with the exception of a couple small breakdowns. We met two Buddhist monks who were fun to converse with, us in our broken Chinese and them in their broken English. It seems to me that the Buddhist monks (at least the younger ones) are the most decked out technology-wise. The pair we met had a 10 megapixel digital camera, mp3 players and cell phones. I've seen this with many other monks in Sichuan.<br /><br />We arrived in Danba yesterday and met up with Baird, one of Liz and Doug's friends. We had a great time with him and even taught some of his English class at the middle school. Austin (a natural teacher) and I taught the kids "Head and Shoulders" as well as some basic conversation. Later we went to the Xinhua hotel and managed to get 50% off since we were students. The hotel room includes our own bathroom and shower! Today we went for a hike near Danba and spent a few hours relaxing in the honk-free countryside. You'd think one would get used to people honking their horns, but it just isn't so. Tomorrow we may explore Danba a bit more and perhaps go to Suopuo, which has some ancient towers I'm told.<br /><br />- WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-4869027670720899612007-03-01T07:48:00.000-08:002007-03-01T08:04:54.808-08:00ChengduHey everyone,<br /><br />We have made it into Chengdu. We thought we had bought sleeper tickets but unfortunately they were hard seat tickets so it was another 15 hours on our bottoms. We were in luck, though, and the bus was quite clean and very large, which is highly important when driving on some of the more dangerous roads in the world. Arriving at around 23:00, we decided to spare our host family the trouble of having to stay up late for us so we went to the Dragon Town Youth Hostel. It was a nice little place with an outdoor patio on which we enjoyed a few Snow Brand beers. Nathan has commissioned us to drink the native beer in every country we visit and so far we have not failed. After a comfortable sleep we woke up and had some breakfast--banana porridge for me and chocolate pancakes for Austin. We then booked our tickets for the Yangtze River cruise and took the taxi over to Liz, Doug and Mick (their 14-year-old son with a great sense of humour) Searles place in Chengdu. They are our SERVAS hosts here. We immediately felt right at home and got some great ideas of places to visit. After setting our stuff up we went for a walk around town, trying to find an antique market we had been told about. Unable to find this, we settled on seeing one of the last large statues of Mao in China. We returned home to a delicious Sichuan meal prepared by Liz and Doug's helper whose name I have forgotten, unfortunately. Later Doug showed us their photos of Western Sichuan and the mountains and the people living in villages there. There were some really spectacular shots. Tomorrow we plan on finding the elusive antique market, the treasures of which, Doug assures me, are at least twenty-four hours old.Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-56501385634869827672007-02-26T03:56:00.000-08:002007-02-26T04:49:49.626-08:00Some interesting experiences in Xi'an...We arrived in Xi'an this morning at about 9:00AM. We left Tianjin yesterday at about the same time. It was pretty sad leaving Elizabeth and Kevin and the kids. Our time in Tianjin was so wonderful and we really didn't want it to end. Joseph, being one of the most caring kids on Earth, was devastated by the whole affair. I kept telling him we'd probably see him in a year or two, but he wouldn't accept it. The girls and Izaak seemed to be okay with it. I don't think Izaak really clued in though because he kept pulling me away from the door to play wheels. Elizabeth packed us a whole duffle bag full of delicious breads, fruits and other assorted snacks, which was thoroughly enjoyed on the train. The train was an experience... Sitting crammed in for 22 hours just doesn't really work for us Canadians. We are used to having personal space and one just doesn't have any in China.<br /><br />Our nationality became a point of discussion for what seemed like the entire carriage that night. Everywhere around us we could hear: "Blah blah blah Chanada! Ooo eee! Chanada! Chanada? Blah blah Chanada blah blah." It was pretty funny and I could still hear people mentioning us even at 4:00 AM. The fact that I was awake then was not so humourous though...We didn't get much sleep on account of the uncomfortable nature of the train as well as a certain loud-talker in the next row.<br /><br />Xi'an is, from what we can gather, the epicentre of Spring Festival. The train station was packed and the ticket booth line-ups were probably four hours long, so we didn't bother. We opted for a sleeper bus to Chengdu, the bus station being much less crowded. Still, the concept of the queue does not exist here, as you may well know. Everyone just pushes in a huge mass and screams at those at the front to hurry up. The street life is marvellous and we walked around taking photos for a long while. I sat down next to some old ladies and asked if I could take their picture. They consented and after I had taken a couple shots, I showed them how digital cameras worked. They were enthralled. It was just shortly before this that I was called over by a friendly-looking woman, who then asked if I wanted a "massage." I know very well that these massages are of the extremely comprehensive variety, so I quickly said "no" and walked away. Laughing, she then grabbed my shirt and pulled me towards her! I pulled away and part of my shirt ripped. She was really apologetic but I still walked away very quickly. So now I have to find someone to mend my shirt...<br /><br />Tomorrow we will be renting some bikes and riding around the city walls of Xi'an. Afterwards, we will probably take the bus out to the Terracotta Warriors.<br /><br />Hope to hear from you all,<br />WillWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2927081848778855505.post-21030016758090752272007-02-19T19:00:00.000-08:002007-02-19T19:13:11.807-08:00Another Tianjin TuesdayHey everyone,<br /><br />I am afraid I don't have any photos to post at this time. I have been mostly taking videos and I may put them on Youtube. We have had a very eventful few days, including a very noisy Chinese New Years. After Kevin and Elizabeth came back from Guangzhou, we decided to go into town to see the fireworks. Everywhere you looked in the sky, there were fireworks. On the ground people were lighting insane amounts of firecrackers. I still have a headache from all the noise. This isn't the end of the celebrations. Austin and I are currently in the midst of the largest movements of human beings in a short time in the world. Around 2.2 billion visits will be made by the end of the Spring Festival, which starts on the 17th and lasts about two weeks. We had no idea that it would be this crazy. The British couple we met on the train, James and Liz, were stuck in Shanghai for a week because all the tickets were booked and if there were any left, they were way too expensive. Kristin and Johanna missed visiting Guilin because the trains were booked solid for a week. We are hoping that we miss it somehow...but it's quite possible we will be here in the Beijing/Tianjin area for a few more days.Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15995136681229532430noreply@blogger.com5