Blogs from Eastern Burma, Burma, Asia - page 4

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Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw June 21st 2012

Estuvimos 2 días en Nyaung Shwe, uno de los pueblos del lago Inle, en donde se encuentran la mayoría de los hoteles para los extranjeros (hay otros en medio del lago, pero son bastante caros). El primer día alquilamos bicis y fuimos por la tarde a dar un paseo alrededor del lago, pero nos terminamos quedando el resto de la tarde en la primera parada: una bodega/viñedo en donde también había un restaurant en la cima de una colina (con una vista espectacular) en donde nos quedamos tomando vino hasta el atardecer, el vino era decente (sorprendentemente bueno para ser hecho en un país donde no hay cultura de vinos) pero los precios no muy solidarios, o por lo menos no para el nivel de precios en el que nos hemos movido por Myanmar (la verdad ... read more
reman con una pierna
vista desde el hotel
 Nyaung Shwe, uno de los pueblitos a la orilla del lago, en este es en donde están las posadas baratas

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw June 19th 2012

Empezamos el trekking como a las 8:30am, éramos el grupo de ayer más un francés, y menos Marta, una de las españolas que conocí en el autobús, que se dobló el pie bajando las escaleras minutos antes de que saliéramos :S... El primer día caminamos entre arrozales y pequeños caseríos en un camino mayormente plano con una que otra pendiente sin mayor dificultad; por el camino nuestro guía iba explicándonos desde plantas medicinales que nos encontrábamos hasta como cultivaban el arroz; cuando nos cruzábamos con los campesinos casi siempre se paraba a hablar con ellos y nos contaba de sus vidas, y podíamos preguntarles (con nuestro guía como interprete) lo que se nos ocurriera; todos eran muy simpáticos y parecían muy contentos de encontrarse con nosotros, cuando les pedíamos permiso para fotografiarlos posaban pacientemente hasta que ... read more
los niños se congregaron fuera de la casa del curandero, se habrá corrido la voz de que habían extranjeros ahí ;)
encuentros en el camino
atravesando los campos de arroz

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw June 16th 2012

Llegamos como a las 4am, después de 12 horas de viaje; en el autobús nos conseguimos con un grupo de 3 españoles que venían en el mismo avión y que Alex había conocido unos días antes en Bangkok, así que decidimos seguir juntos, primero al hotel y para el trekking (que ellos también iban a hacer). Por la mañana caminamos un poco por el pueblito, ahora el grupo se hizo más grande, 7 personas; fuimos al mercado que en realidad era casi lo único que había para ver; el pueblo es lindo, rodeado de colinas y con un clima muy agradable (ni calor ni frio). Mañana salimos todos en un trekking de 3 días al lago Inle.... read more
la posada
el mercado en Kalaw
Shan noodles

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw March 22nd 2012

We walked for three days through the fertile countryside of eastern Myanmar, from the altitudinous cool of Kalaw, along the tops of steep hills, through valleys and villages, to the serenity of Inle Lake and its unique leg-paddling fishermen. We eschewed some of the more straightforward routes, and ventured south, climbing forested mountainside and then east into tracks less travelled by tourists. Villagers welcomed us into their homes, offering us locally-grown tea and snacks. All ages were happy to pose for the photos that you can see in this blog, and some of the younger ones were keen to practise their English, eager for contact with the outside world. Most of the people we encountered were from the Shan ethnic group, which makes up roughly a tenth of the country's population, in addition to clusters in ... read more
On your marks, get set, go!
Window into another life
Nature and nurture

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Tachileik March 18th 2012

Patience and a healthy body r needed to move from one place to the next. I'm still having trouble with both. The fuse i didn't have anymore has grown back nowadays to a very very short one...m really working on getting it extended and thus being by myself again without a social life feels tremendously good. As for my body, the pressure during my two flights to Chiang Mai made my bruised ribs feel like they were being punched like a boxingbag ... a thai one no less with kicks and all... as i have a tendecy to not wanna mingle nor wanna be in touristy areas i had booked at the Pingthara, a little riverhotel a few km outside the center of Chiang Mai ... i was picked up from the airport by the sister ... read more
waking up in Chiang Mai
buddha's tube cushion
even buddha needs 2 b protected...

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw February 3rd 2012

K - We traveled from Bagan to Kalaw on the worst bus of our trip to date. We are used to uncomfortable chicken busses but they are usually cheap. This bus had cost us $14 each and my seat was collapsing (poor guy behind), there was no suspension to speak of and to top it all it left at 4.30am – and we were stuck on it for nearly 10 hours. One of those days when you question the decision to travel on a budget! It was worth it though. Kalaw was the start point for a 3-day trek to Lake Inle and it was fantastic. Our group of 3 French people, a Lithuanian, a Swiss and 3 Brits - all of different ages (21-58) - gelled really well and we had a great laugh. The ... read more
Here comes trouble!
Views from trek
Fisherman Lake Inle

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Taunggyi January 21st 2012

Today was a fantastic day! Our night in the Lucky Bright Hotel was quiet and the breakfast they served was big and delicious. We booked a driver and his boat to take us around Inle Lake for the day. Our boat was 14 000 Kyat for 5 people - just under $20 dollars. The boat itself was super comfortable. We had huge chairs with cushions on the seats and blankets to keep us warm. It was really chilly on the lake in the morning so the blankets were really useful! To start the day we drove almost an hour from Nyaungshwe to the south end of the lake. On our way we saw fisherman net fishing. The fisherman on Inle Lake are known for their distinctive rowing style. This involves standing at the back of the ... read more
Foot Rowing
Foot Rowing
Stilt Housing

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw January 20th 2012

Our guide was Ouzo and he was the fastest 59 year old trekker I have ever met. The hike was awesome and he very informative about many aspects of Myanmar: history, the people, flora, fauna, agriculture, education, economics, etc. We hiked through 3 different villages, poked our heads into a school, and chatted with locals along the way. For lunch we went to a Nepalese place at the top of a hill with an amazing view. We ate freshly made chapatis with avacado. Avacado's in China are very rare and very expensive (at $6 each I have yet to eat one) so it was a nice treat even though others thought the lunch was kind of bland.... read more
Beginning of the Trek
On our trek we saw...
Photo 5

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Kalaw January 19th 2012

We had to push start the Town Ace this morning. Hmmm... The countryside in Myanmar is georgeous. People are smiling and waving everywhere. Chan took us on a detour today. We went to the new Capital. Yangon isn't technically the capital city anymore, Naypyidaw is. It was quite shocking. A ghost town with no traffic and a 7 lane super highway. The government put roughly 4 BILLION dollars into a brand new government building with 24 hour electricity and housing for all of the employees. The streets are manicured and pristine. Its very sad. Chan took us to one of his favorite places in all of Myanmar to eat. It was in Tatkok and it was amazing! We had traditional Myanmar food again and the all you can eat side dishes were unbelievable: lentils, soyabeans, curries, ... read more
Town Ace
Happy Children
At the school

Asia » Burma » Eastern Burma » Tachileik August 21st 2011

Frig. I keep writing blog entries and they keep not saving, so when I come back to finish them they aren't there. Last Thursday the volunteers ( minus Natasha) hopped on a bus for 6 hours to travel to Chiang Mai, the biggest city in the northern part of Thailand. Then we waited an hour to jump on another 3 and a half hour bus to travel up to Chaing Rai. Heres the thing, all of us have tourist visas, but they are only good for 2 months, and then you have to renew them. In order to renew your visa and get another two months worth you have to leave the country, and then re-enter. This is where things get fun. Chiang Rai is not our final destination, but a stop over for the rest ... read more
there ish
THERE
still there




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