fxd - francis X

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu

Born in Australia. I have been travelling in Asia since 2000. Countries I have visited include Viet Nam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Nepal. I have been a visual artist, musician and avid seeker of those rare moments of truth. Although of late I am more interesting in 'Being' than 'Seeking'. I am travelling with a Zoom H4 portable field recorder whom I haven't named yet. I start my journey this time by arriving back in Malaysia on the 9th of October which is 2 years almost to the day since landing here on October the 10th, 2006 after after spending nearly a year in India and Nepal. I hope this will be an appropriate way to keep in touch with my friends, family...and myself! This is my first attempt at writing so please forgive for my mistakes in grammar, spelling and general lack of vocabulary. I cannot apologise for the lack of content though as this is my life! I will welcome all criticism, responses and comments. I will also try to stay of my high horse! Please let me know if I am boring. I hope that I will improve the more I write. There will be at times ,due to lack of internet access, perhaps longer gaps between postings.

03/01/09

Update...I am currently in Trat, Thailand. I got sick in Myanmar since the 3rd of December. It has taken me a month to recover. I have spent the past 2 weeks on a beautiful beach on Ko Chang getting "healthy"! I couldn't make it into Laos from Myanmar. The last 10 days in Myanmar was hell. I am still not even sure what I had. I did get scarlet fever after a long period of fever though. I am still heading to Laos. Most likely South Laos through Cambodia. For the moment I am happy to be alive. I spent the christmas & new year period at 'Long beach, on Koh Chang. Mostly my time was spent putting the pieces together about Myanmar, relaxing, eating healthy and taking a new perspective on the alleged birth of Jesus...Taking a high dose of LSD on xmas eve and letting the ego destruction begin...It really did feel like a rebirth!

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"There is no security. Nowhere to feel safe, hide, escape. So therefore we must feel this security and comfort within. To observe nature and connect with it's or rather our own existence and life. To love life and in return life loves us. To die to completely to every moment. Incarnating everyday, within a fresh, new beginning, free of attachment, judgement, fear etc. To do this involves being connected to life itself."

Jiddu Krishnamurti

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Joined on: October 11th 2008
Last Login: November 21st 2009

Blog Entries: 13
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by fxd, order by Date newest first.

By fxd
December 5th 2008

Hsipaw Asia » Burma

Hsipaw 26/11/08 I spend the following days relaxing, wandering town and the villages on the edge of town. The past two weeks have been tiring and I enjoy not doing much at all except relaxing. Hsipaw is quieter, cooler and less dusty than the previous places I have so far visited in Myanmar. It reminds me of part of Kathmandu. I feel better already. The following days are spent hanging around Mr Charles Guest-house, slow walks around town and I bike ride to the 'Nine Buddha' monastery where I could see the surrounding mountains and really get a feel of where [View Full Entry]

By fxd
December 2nd 2008

Pyin U Lwin Asia » Burma » Pyin U Lwin

downtown Pyin U Min

Pyin U Lwin 25/11 It took about 2 hours to arrive in Pyin U Lwin by pick-up from Mandalay. It is cooler here and there is a village vibe permeating the town. The hotel room is nice but the share bathroom is rough. The smell of urine is permenant. I plan to spend only a night here on my to Hsipaw. I eat at a local restaurant and am surprised by the amount of food i get for 1,200 K's (around $1 US). I am tired by the time I finish consuming my enormous meal. I actually couldn't finish it. The [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 26th 2008

MANDALAY Asia » Burma » Mandalay

DSCF8221

Mandalay 23-25/11 I decide after the long bus journey from Bago not to do too much while in Mandalay. So after finding a room in a hotel downtown, I walk to watch the sunset from on-top of Mandalay Hill. The stairs were never ending. There were hundreds of steps. I had started my ascent a little too late and unfortunately I never made it to the top for the sunset. The view was far reaching. To the west you can see the wild wide Ayeyarwady River but the pollution or the combination of dust and smoke made the distance seem vague [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 22nd 2008

"Golden Rock" Asia » Burma

on the way to 'Golden Rock'

Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) Kinpun 21/11 In the morning I go out into the noisy and dusty main road of Bago to catch a pick-up to Kinpun, the base camp so to speak for 'Golden Rock'. This takes longer than expected as no one seems willing to take a foreigner. I finally find one willing and after arranging the price we head out onto the road. The road is quite bad as are most of the patched up and pot hole ridden roads of Myanmar. After a change over to another pick-up for the last leg of the journey, I arrive in [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 21st 2008

BAGO... Asia » Burma » Bago

Pagoda

Bago Bago 20-21/11 The Emperor Hotel is situated on the busy highway about 3 hours north of Yangon. There is constant noise from the road from trucks, busses and the many vehicles passing through this busy junction. In the morning the Muslim call to pray wakes me and I begin the day earlier than expected. I make the most of the early start and take up an offer from the motorbike guy I met last night to take me on a day tour of the many sights of Bago. We start by visiting the monastery near by which is home [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 14th 2008

Yangon, Myanmar... Asia » Burma » Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda

Yangon Yangon 14-20/11 There weren't that many foreigners on the flight to Yangon. There was an odd quitness on the plane. I had done some research on travel in Myanmar and the picture that was created wasn't that pretty to say the least. The immigration process was quick and efficient. Most of the foreigners were greeted by the lone representative of 'Motherland 2' hotel, which offered a free bus service into the city. Which most tourists utilised saving the $6 US dollars for the taxi by doing so. The traffic in Yangon seemed civil and the streets weren't as crowed [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 9th 2008

Koh Lao- Moken Village Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ranong

on the way to Koh Lao

My visit to the Moken Village on Koh Lao The Moken, also known as Sea Gypsys, are a diverse ethnic group from Thailand and Myanmar and are considered a stateless people- not having citizenship within any country. Taking a long boat from the pier took around 30 minutes to arrive at Koh Lao Island. Which is approximately 4 km's from the mainland and the township of Ranong in South Thailand. On arrival we were invited to have lunch with a local family. After a delicious meal which consisted mostly of different kinds of fish, the topi [View Full Entry]

By fxd
November 3rd 2008

Ranong... Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ranong

Hot water spring. 65 degrees celsius

Ranong 31/10/08 Ranong is where most people come to do a 'visa run' across into Myanmar and back. I have come here to get out of Krabi! Hopeing the weather would be better here. Which it is! There isn't that many tourists here which is good. The street lights are dim at night which gives the town a kind of B-grade Western movie set feel. The trade is aimed mostly at locals and things seem relatively normal here. It reminds my of just how much of Thailands' nicer destinations are catering for tourists. I enjoy being here. I visit the [View Full Entry]

By fxd
October 30th 2008

Krabi... Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Krabi

Sunset from Ao Nang

Hopefully it won't be raining in Krabi! Originally I came to Krabi five days ago to find a nice beach or island somewhere that had the postcard perfect weather I've been dreaming about. As the moonson was beginning ,I had hoped that Krabi would be different! In Malaysia, if it is raining on the west coast, it is almost guaranteed to be hot and sunny on the east coast. Thailand is a different story it seems. As the monsoon hits the mainland from all directions. The sun was setting and we were about an our from our destination. It was [View Full Entry]

By fxd
October 27th 2008

Ko Phangan Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Ko Pha-Ngan

beautiful sunset

Ko Phangan I arrived at the port around 6pm. The ferry ride to Ko Phangan takes about 2 and 1/2 hours so I quickly consume a strange tasting broth that is called vegetable soup. Watching a beautiful sunset from the boat which took my mind of the idea of sinking. After arriving I find a cheap bungalow just for the night. Tomorrow I want to head to the quiter beaches north of the island. I don't really have any intentions of going to a full moon party which Ko Phangan is famous for. There is a festival happening here at [View Full Entry]

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