Blogs from Burma, Asia

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Asia » Burma September 3rd 2023

We have all been to places we wished we never went. And we know of places we never want to visit. Places I will never return: Myanmar (Burma), a very abusive and intrusive military junta. My visit was pleasant enough, but it was during a time of "structured peace" which did not last very long. Yet, I found it both interesting and uneventful. Polish-Ukraine border, my volunteer effort there seemed fruitless, I was not allowed to see the refugee camps, or the people "housed" there. I had to give up my cell phone each day while I sorted medical supplies for the clinics. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I got sicker than ever on my travels. We saw open sewage lines, just outside the best hotel in the city. You could not pay me to go back! ... read more
Biosphere
dodger dogs

Asia » Burma » Mandalay Region » Mandalay November 22nd 2022

To be clear, level 4 is a do not travel warning from the U.S. Department of State. You can find more detail for each listed location at travel.state.govTravel Advisories - United States Department of StateAs a first step in planning any trip abroad, check the Travel Advisories for your intended destination. You can see the world at a glance on our color-coded map.. Note that conditions can change rapidly in a country at any ti... read more
Big bad Vlad Poohtin
Baikal snow

Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon August 4th 2022

Love Exploring had this to say about the most dangerous city in the world for tourists. The capital of Myanmar reached crisis point in February 2021, when a coup took place, and the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency and assumed control. It's not surprising then that this year, the city is ranked as the world’s most dangerous, scoring just 39.5 out of a possible 100 points. Prevalence of violent crime is to blame, with clashes expected to continue as protests and demonstrations against military rule occur. The US Department of State and UK Foreign Office have advised against all travel to the city after UK and US citizens were ordered to leave earlier in 2021. Before the civil unrest, Myanmar had started to make huge improvements to its political situation after new government reforms ... read more
A lunch break on Inle
Rangoon Chinatown evening

Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon January 1st 2022

From Economic Intelligence: What goes into an evaluation of whether or not a city is safe? Crime? Personal liberty? Dangerously dirty air? Bad weather brought on by climate change? The Economist Intelligence Unit released its biennial url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsafecities.economist.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F07%2FSafe-Cities-Index-2021_eng.pdf&data=04%7C01%7C%7C0332db0abc8c42824eb308d9ca1445b2%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637763011074012768%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=xTKIWEOCydOSoQFVmwEqheRfiDDbVzHEggTBU8B10vk%3D&reserved=0Safe Cities Index, which attempts to answer the question. According to the index, the world's most dangerous city is Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar.Fo... read more
Enjoying beer and food in Chinatown Yangon
Mr. Mike with our guide in Yangon

Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon February 14th 2021

Last week's events in Myanmar are deeply disturbing. It leads me to question my visit there a few years ago with Mr. Mike. We had a great experience, met some interesting people, and thought we were helping locals become employed in the tourist infrastructure. But now, I wonder if our visit did anything but help the ruling junta?Here is some information from the Washington Post: The leader of the democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, has made headlines, after winning a Nobel prize, held under house arrest, then leading the agonizingly slow move to a more democratic government. The latest, rather disturbing news, is that she has let the military junta have their way with ethnic minorities. Many were either killed or forced to flee to Bangladesh, of all places. You can google her, ... read more
Famous Shwedagon
Silly Moustache Brothers
One legged rowers at Inle

Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon February 12th 2021

Take a look at the clever map. These are the souvenirs the travel experts suggest buying when visiting. On my dozen or so trips to Asia, I tend to buy fewer items on each visit. My only vice remains refrigerator magnets. I probably have several hundred now, and nowhere to display them! If you have a fairly new refrigerator, you know the exterior have very little or no magnetic surface! Oh, and lots of T shirts, but who knows where they are?Anyway, here is what I have purchased, despite their suggestions.Japan My best purchase ever in Japan was in Kyoto. I bought the world's best tofu. Of course, I had to eat it there. You may recall my email about finding the world's best. It was delicious!Thailand ... read more
Penang, Malaysia
Chatuchak Market, Bangkok
Hanoi flower lady

Asia » Burma » Southern Burma » Mawlamyine June 4th 2020

The tall have it so easy. Through no effort of their own they’ve won the genetic lottery and spend their lives quite literally looking down their noses at the rest of us. Their elevated status gives them multiple advantages: instant respect, a better chance in the marital stakes, improved job prospects and the best views in any crowd, much to the annoyance of those poor sods stood directly behind them. Even so, once in a while they'll have the cheek to pipe up about how tough it all is, constantly asked how the weather is up there, made to feel like some enormous freak. But really, how hard can it be? Boo hoo, poor you… given the chance, few would choose, I suspect, to swap with someone who was short. Cos being short is no fun ... read more
Sunset over the fields
Monastery Statues
River Sunset, Mawlamyine

Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon January 23rd 2020

It's been little over 4 months for me in mordern day Yangon and to my knowledge I found out that 35-40% of the total population of the city are either Indian or Indian Origin and living in Myanmar for a long time and had become a local people only but there root are still connected to some part of India. Most of the Indian's know our country's history and struggle and sacrifice by the different freedom fighter's to get the freedom of our country from the Rule of the British. One of the most significant freedom fighter was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and we all know his history and his contribution towards the Indian Freedom movement. It was from Rangoon in the year 1944 he gave the famous word's "Give me your blood and I shall ... read more
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Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Chaungtha December 25th 2019

It's been a little over 4months for me in the Golden Land Myanmar and I am liking the place here very much,though establishing communication for me with local people is a problematic as most people don't understand & speak English properly but still I find the people here very honest, helpful and simple. So after 4 months I finally decided to go around the country on my weekend's or holidays and explore it and which gives you relief and a feel of fresh breath from the daily corporate world. It was Christmas eve and on the same day I suddenly decided to travel and enjoy by Christmas outside Yangon and my choice of destination was Ngwe Saung or ChaungTha Beach both of them are within 250kms from the Yangon City and approx 6-6.30hrs travel time by ... read more
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Asia » Burma » Southern Burma » Dawei July 1st 2019

With a bit a sad feeling we already have to leave Myanmar. It has been truly wonderful. Things have changed for Myanmar and especially for travellers over the past few years. It’s now very easy to visit, we arranged a 28 day visa online for Myanmar. We only left the country at the ultimate day, which was hardly enough. We feel we have only scratched the surface of this beautiful and welcoming country with the gorgeous and warm, fun, friendly and cheerful people. We really have only visited the highlights and we already know we have to come back one day. Entering Myanmar from Manipur, one of the Northeastern states of India, somehow felt like a relief, after having travelled for about half a year through countries like Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Not to say ... read more
Welcome to Myanmar, have some insects ... ;-)
Myanmar beer lover
Myanmar




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