February 03, 2005
Stamp-Out to Burma
"Stamping out" consists of leaving Krabi Thailand at a border crossing...in the case of Ranong the border is with Burma...and then "stamping" back into Thailand. To do this they...Read this update
December 21, 2002
Volcanos in Tengchong
A young Chinese woman on the bus had struck up a conversation in English...telling us about the sights around Tengchong. We thought that maybe we could pay her to...Read this update
Posted by laughingnomad at 10:01 PM |
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September 05, 2002
Back to Rangoon
Flight to Rangoon Question: How do you know the Westerners standing behind you in the airport check-in line are not American? Answer: Their backpacks are pink, purple, yellow and orange....Read this update
September 04, 2002
No Political Freedom
Today citizens are forbidden to talk to foreigners about politics and of course this makes the Burmese afraid to talk to you about anything. Government workers from mail carriers to...Read this update
September 03, 2002
Sr. Christine's Orphanage
Christ the King Church While Bob was trekking I decided to walk a couple kilometers up the hill to Christ the King Church. Sr. Christine, a Burmese nun who was...Read this update
September 02, 2002
Trek to Pa-O Villages
Bob was happy to get out and stretch his legs on a two day trek in the hills. His guide used to be a chemistry teacher who only made...Read this update
August 31, 2002
A UNICEF Advisor
I called out to a Western looking couple walking by...look...somebody from the West! The couple, from Israel, laughed and joined us at our low table for tea...all of us sitting...Read this update
August 29, 2002
Kalaw...British Hill Station
In a monsoon rainstorm we climbed off the train in this cool wooded hill station built during the British occupation. The locals laughed (with me) at my little paper sun...Read this update
August 28, 2002
Schwenguan
We took a taxi back over the mountain from Tounggie to Schwenguan where we were to catch a train for the three hour ride through beautiful terraced rice fields and...Read this update
Repression & The People
Next door I struck up a conversation with a young university student who was tending a a small bookstore. “Can everyone speak (out) in America,” he asked. “Yes, we can,”...Read this update
Taunggyi...Last Frontier
At dinner one night in Inle, Bob was considering taking the offer of the waiter to lead him on a trek into the mountains until he told us that...Read this update
August 26, 2002
Inle Lake in Shan State
August 26 2002 It is possible to take a ferry up the Irrawady to Mandalay but we chose not to do this, first because the ferry is owned by the...Read this update
August 22, 2002
Pagan (Bagan) 2000 Stupas
August 22 2002 (Pagan was previously called Bagan) I really would have preferred the rickety and slow train north so we could see the countryside but to reserve the...Read this update
August 18, 2002
Poverty, Government Greed and Human Sweetness
August 18, 2002 Rangoon (renamed Yangon) We took Thai Air to Rangoon. Bob left his Lonely Planet Guidebook Burma (renamed Myanmar by the military junta) on the plane and...Read this update