We have secret information about the state of the world in 2010 - and we'll be happy to share it with you. The Nats told us. Buddhism is the official religion of Burma but it coexists peacefully with ancient animistic beliefs that have been part of local culture for thousands of years (worshiping nature, like hills, trees, lakes). The Nats (spirits) are at the center of this animist worship. There are 37 "official" nats but, in reality, many more exist and are worshiped by the Burmese people. Nat altars and statues are tucked away in corners of nearly every Buddhist temple [View Full Entry]

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Today was one of our favorite days of the entire trip. We'll begin with a story: A long time ago in a far away land (the area then known as Bamar), a king named Anawratha was visited by a monk. This monk was sent by King Manuha, who ruled the neighboring Mon kingdom (also a part of Burma today). The monk's mission was to introduce King Anawratha to Theravada Buddhism (one of the two main schools of Buddhism, the other is Mahayana). The king was intrigued. The Bamar kingdom supported several religions at that time, including Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism and the [View Full Entry]

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One of our favorite things to do when we arrive in a new, non-English-speaking country is to learn two things: - How to say "Hello!" - How to say "Thank you!" So here's your lesson for the day in Burmese: MINGALABAR! (ming ga la bah!) = HELLO! (or, literally, "It's a blessing!") CEZUBAH! (jez you bah!) = THANK YOU! It makes people happy. Today was a wonderful day. We explored Yangon. Yangon is the largest city in Burma. Burma's population is about 50 million; about 6 million people live in Yangon. Despite being the largest city, it's no longer the capital. [View Full Entry]

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What do you think of when you hear the word "Burma"? British men (wearing linen suits) sipping gin and tonics while resting in wicker chairs being cooled by ceiling fans? Stunning ancient temples and abundant natural resources? A horrible and oppressive military regime? Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and the government's initial refusal to accept foreign aid? Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi's ongoing house arrest? It's all of the above. Here's what we know about Burma based on information contained in our guidebook and other sources: Burma/Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in A [View Full Entry]

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There is a well organized taxi mafia in Phuket. Let us explain: Getting from the Phuket airport to the beaches is easy. You can either ride in a group minivan for about $6 per person or grab a taxi for about $15. However, when you try and return to the airport, you find that you are at the mercy of the mafia (seriously! - there was even an article in Bangkok's daily newspaper today). Our hotel is in on it. The unhelpful people at the "transportation desk" refused to book us a regular taxi but offered up their own driver for [View Full Entry]

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Angelique's aunt and uncle are beach connoisseurs and have developed a complex rating system for beaches, including variables such as sand quality, air temperature, a crowding factor, and water color, clarity and temperature, among others. We can't pretend to understand the system fully but we're pretty sure that Karon Beach would earn a five-star rating. We're having a lovely time here. It's hot, hot, hot - about 95F - but the beach and pool make it easy to stay outdoors most of the day. There's a lot to do on and near Phuket but we're just enjoying being lazy. We won't [View Full Entry]

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The Hanoi paper today had an interesting article. It has become fashionable for young urban Vietnamese men to purchase beard implants in order to appear more manly. Similar to hair implants in the U.S. , beard implants are surgically implanted hair strands (either their own - harvested from their head, or horse/synthetic hair). The cost for a typical implant procedure is $600 but soars to a lofty $2,400 (US) for the popular David Beckham look. The article goes on to say that the procedure can be dangerous and that some men can't even look at themselves in the mirror after the [View Full Entry]

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If you ever visit Hanoi and can swing it, stay at the Sofitel Metropole. The Metropole is deliciously luxurious. Yes it is very expensive, but it's a five star hotel in every way - beautiful rooms, expensive toiletries, great restaurants and bars, and a wonderful gym and spa complex. Of course what you are really paying for is security and tranquility in the chaos that is Hanoi. Occupying a full square block in one of the nicer areas of downtown Hanoi, the Metropole consists of two separate wings which form a perimeter around a peaceful garden, the pool area, and the [View Full Entry]

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Before anyone gets concerned or calls Hillary at the State Department, be assured that we're fine. No pirates involved in our detainment (although that would have certainly made the day more exciting) - just a sadly incompetent tour company. The day started off so well. At precisely 9am, our chariot arrived and two Men-in-Black (black suits with black shirts) from Columbus Travel welcomed us to the tour. Their names are Sang (the more senior one) and Sanh (the more junior one). Both were extremely friendly and professional. We felt that we were in good hands. Over the next 30 minute [View Full Entry]

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We arrived back in Hanoi at 4:30am and found a fleet of taxis waiting at the station, even at that early hour. After dealing with the usual taxi scams (driver not wanting to use the meter, quoting us crazy prices, claiming to not have any change, etc.), we were dropped off at the Serenity Hotel at 5am. The hotel staff were sleeping on the couches in the lobby. We felt awful waking them up. They didn't have a room ready for us and instead walked us over to another hotel they manage nearby which has a bigger lobby. There we woke [View Full Entry]

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