Planning a trip to Burma I liked your blog.I'm glad you are communicating with local people with your skills I'm a photographer, retired and would like to learn more about Burma and it's people. Although I will no doubt book a hotel on my arrival, I would be interested if more basic places could be found when I move around the country such as small guest houses etc. Even thought of a Retreat would be interesting although I'm not religious. I am rather a people person and I know I will have to get my head around the language pretty quickly if I can.
Basic accommodation Although the "opening-up" process is progressing, you'll find that only licensed accommodation is supposed to be used by foreigners - in theory this is supposed to provide you with 'quality assurance' but in reality is probably a way for the gov't to keep tabs and make lots of $$. This attitude is still hanging over, so your choice of accommodation in any places off the beaten track will be very limited. Village homestays are out-of-bounds in most places. You may find smaller guesthouses in cities like Rangoon and Mandalay. Of course, if you can stay under the radar, many more possibilities may open up, but as my Monywa blog shows, visiting high-profile activists will probably constrain you slightly!
off road adventures Hi Jim, I'm enjoying your blog very much. The transport sounds adventurous! What's the food like? It sounds similar to Chinese food... for some reason I had expected it to be more like Thai curries. Cheers, Ren
Food thoughts I was in Burma in 1978... and amongst the wonderful memories were the thoughts that the food was shocking and the beer worse! I'm happy to report the beer is now very drinkable and in several varieties, plus the food is plentiful and varied. It sits somewhere between Thai and Indian ( what a surprise!? ) in flavours and heat. My biggest personal criticism of the cuisine is that everything has loads of oil. I think you'll find it interesting, and nowhere near as challenging as the transport. My number one tip: try and get out - way out - into the villages, on a day trip. Really worthwhile.
The Sacrifices has been part of many religions . In islam on Eid .. In christainity on thanks giving ..turkey ... hence its just the way to see things .. when we can eat non veg and chop it for eating ....why cant we cut them out in god name and then eat them later on. ?
The temple you visited is related to occult practises and is for attaining higher powers ... which are forbidden for a common man ...
jai maa Kamakhaya !!
memories of my past I was chargman of GREF costruction co no. 662. the road from Daporijo to Along was build under my command
on complitionof this sector I was moved to take over sector from DAPORIJO to C.P orCEE PEE {not sure of name} this last camp was also named after me as SHARMA CAMP. From the pictures I see now DAPORIJO has changed a a lot ,long time comming since 1961-1963. I wonder what Lekhabali looks like now where it all started for me.........Ken Sharma
Magnificiency Guwahati a very nice place. i Myself is from here. I like my home town very much & i'm very delighted to see some photos here. Whoever have published those photos , I than k him vey much..............
Re: mushroom suppliers Hi Hsieh Hsiang Chee. I'm from Shillong. I can probably get you a mushroom supplier if you're really interested. Where are you based? Please post your email address here if you want to be contacted further... if Jim has no objections, that is .^_^. Hope you don't mind, Jim. Just trying to help out a fellow mushroom-connoisseur.
Shillong safety and food.. Hi Shasta..well it's been almost a year...things change quickly..but we felt perfectly safe there, and the food was fine, although I wouldn't say it was stunning, either. Finding accommodation was a hassle - there just seemed to be a shortage generally. It is a nice place and the locals were really friendly. Bo a google for "shillong" and "news" to get an update on any current issues that might have a security impact...and just keep checking local papers while you're in the North East and you should be fine. Try for Arunachal if you can while there - it's brilliant!
Jim,
Hello there ... we are getting ready to go to Shillong in about 2 1/2 weeks. What can you tell me about the food, the safety, the transportation ...etc. We have lived in Africa for the last 2 years so accustomed to a lot of things that mist might not. However, you know first hand experience is the best. Thanks. Shasta
Damn those filters It's way too much trouble trying to get the site unblocked from overseas I've found, so if it is blocked, I guess that's one more educational opportunity lost. I guess I'll know better next time....
I liked Daporijo because it had a bit of the wild west (or in this case east) feel to it... But I suppose it is a bit of a shithole... Ha, ha, ha...
Nice pics and stories!
wandering with you James, your travels are great reading, very evocative. We are reading between the lines and can appreciate some of the difficulties of public transport!! Glad you can still smile after being sick, hope you are feeling better. Keep enjoying yourself...
Latitude and longitude I'll try and build a map in here - that'll give you an idea where I was - but probably make the blog load slower...:( Yes I still carry the GPS, but all the originally planned confluence visits have gone out the window - I blogged why about the first one, and as for the ones in Arunachal - they MIGHT seem possible looking at a google earth map, but once you see the terrain/vegetation up close?!!! Each needs a serious expedition...and I didn't have the time.
Still, I did notice there's one in the Andamans............lol
G'day from SRC! Hi Mr. Richardson! It's Molly here on behalf of the SRC. We would have commented earlier but none of us check our school emails (as you know) and also this site is blocked at school (of course). Sounds like you're having a good time! Those are nice pictures too. Hope everything is well!
From,
Captains, Vice Captains (except Ryan) and other SRC members.
Portal blockage Bianca: I'll log into my DET a/c and email them - they did unblock it but maybe only at my page level?.or else the right hand has undone what the left hand did? Thanks for the comment and I hope you are relaxing as well as studying...;)
Aha!!! But here I am, a student reading the travel diary of Mr Richardson. I'm sorry it took me so long but I have only just checked my school emails. What with exams and holidays. Sorry sir.
ruth davis
non-member comment
Planning a trip to Burma
I liked your blog.I'm glad you are communicating with local people with your skills I'm a photographer, retired and would like to learn more about Burma and it's people. Although I will no doubt book a hotel on my arrival, I would be interested if more basic places could be found when I move around the country such as small guest houses etc. Even thought of a Retreat would be interesting although I'm not religious. I am rather a people person and I know I will have to get my head around the language pretty quickly if I can.