Looking out my 7th floor window I saw it was a dull and rainy day in Bangkok. Heading home to Wellington again now.Thursday, March 24, 2011
Rainy day in Bangkok
Looking out my 7th floor window I saw it was a dull and rainy day in Bangkok. Heading home to Wellington again now.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Myanmar
Don't change too many dollars. In fact, you can pay for many things with US dollars cash. You can pay for NOTHING with credit cards, and there are no ATMs in Myanmar. Visitors will definitely need some local currency, and the current rate of exchange is about 900 Kyat for $1 US. The best rate is for $100 notes. The best place to change is in a shop or at your hotel. I changed a single $100 note and found myself having to go for posh meals so I could spend it all in five days. Oh, and people are very fussy about the cash dollars they'll acept. Please, no tears, creases or marks on the notes... and only the new notes - no old style ones.
My first day exploring Yangon made me realise that the central area is pretty compact. I got lost just twice; both times by missing my turning because I didn't think I'd walked far enough and continued down a particular road (watching my step at every pace to avoid holes and loose stones). I also underestimated the weather. It was overcast when I set out, but within a couple of hours I was walking around in hot and sunny conditions. Back in the hotel I noticed how red my arms and neck were ! The next days I wore my cap and applied sun lotion. This resulted in the irritating combination of sweat and lotion on my face and in my eyes.
When you visit a Paya (or pagoda) you need to remove your shoes and socks. To show full respect, walk in a clockwise direction around the pagoda. For the best of luck, do so nine times. I didn't need any extra luck, so once or twice was enough.
On the Saturday, I walked around from the hotel to the National Museum. It's only about 15 minutes' walk. The huge sign outside read "open daily from 10am to 4pm". The sign on the gate read "the museum will be close today". When I went back on Sunday it was open. I later found out that Saturday had been a full moon day, which is a special occasion. It was pretty quiet in the museum. I accepted an offer of a guide, who turned out to be one of the senior curators and had been personally to many of the excavation sites and collected exhibits. We were joined by a small party of visiting dignitaries from Russia's armed forces. Four soldiers (?) who were being shown around by a young captain in the Myanmar army.
The museum has an ecclectic mixture of exhibits. There's the royal throne and treasures, art, musical instruments, fossils, artefacts from other ASEAN countries etc etc. It doesn't have very effective air conditioning. It does have a lift.
On Monday I went on a day trip to Bago, a former capital about 80 kms away. I'd engaged the services of the driver who took me from the airport to my hotel on arrival in Myanmar. He turned up as arranged, but told me he wasn't free and I should go with his friend. Everything was fine, and his friend turned out to be a good guide. We stopped along the way at the Second World War cemetary. Main Road No. 1 to/from Yangon has at least three big military installations along it, but there are no checkpoints restricting movement like you would see in many other countries.
In Bago the first stop was a monastery, where it is fine to wander among the monks and take photos. I'll post a video of them filing past huge bowls to collect rice for their lunch. Afterwards we toured the various pagodas and the royal palace. There's a very large reclining Buddha, and a big four figure pagoda I've already posted a photo of.
My first day exploring Yangon made me realise that the central area is pretty compact. I got lost just twice; both times by missing my turning because I didn't think I'd walked far enough and continued down a particular road (watching my step at every pace to avoid holes and loose stones). I also underestimated the weather. It was overcast when I set out, but within a couple of hours I was walking around in hot and sunny conditions. Back in the hotel I noticed how red my arms and neck were ! The next days I wore my cap and applied sun lotion. This resulted in the irritating combination of sweat and lotion on my face and in my eyes.
When you visit a Paya (or pagoda) you need to remove your shoes and socks. To show full respect, walk in a clockwise direction around the pagoda. For the best of luck, do so nine times. I didn't need any extra luck, so once or twice was enough.
On the Saturday, I walked around from the hotel to the National Museum. It's only about 15 minutes' walk. The huge sign outside read "open daily from 10am to 4pm". The sign on the gate read "the museum will be close today". When I went back on Sunday it was open. I later found out that Saturday had been a full moon day, which is a special occasion. It was pretty quiet in the museum. I accepted an offer of a guide, who turned out to be one of the senior curators and had been personally to many of the excavation sites and collected exhibits. We were joined by a small party of visiting dignitaries from Russia's armed forces. Four soldiers (?) who were being shown around by a young captain in the Myanmar army.
The museum has an ecclectic mixture of exhibits. There's the royal throne and treasures, art, musical instruments, fossils, artefacts from other ASEAN countries etc etc. It doesn't have very effective air conditioning. It does have a lift.
On Monday I went on a day trip to Bago, a former capital about 80 kms away. I'd engaged the services of the driver who took me from the airport to my hotel on arrival in Myanmar. He turned up as arranged, but told me he wasn't free and I should go with his friend. Everything was fine, and his friend turned out to be a good guide. We stopped along the way at the Second World War cemetary. Main Road No. 1 to/from Yangon has at least three big military installations along it, but there are no checkpoints restricting movement like you would see in many other countries.
In Bago the first stop was a monastery, where it is fine to wander among the monks and take photos. I'll post a video of them filing past huge bowls to collect rice for their lunch. Afterwards we toured the various pagodas and the royal palace. There's a very large reclining Buddha, and a big four figure pagoda I've already posted a photo of.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Video Post : Shwedagon Paya
This is the main event as far as tourism is concerned in Myanmar. The Shwedagon Paya complex in Yangon, with its huge golden stupa. $5 US entry fee for foreigners. I had a prime view of it from my nearby hotel window. (The Summit Parkview Hotel deserves a special mention for its excellent service, facilities and great food). There are many payas (or pagodas). Most of them are very old and this is the most sacred for Buddhists in Myanmar.
By the way, as I'm writing this posting there's a thunder storm going on here in Bangkok. I'm eating a breakfast of bananas, rice crackers and yoghurt, which I bought last night from the supermarket nearby. At least I don't have to step out in the rain ! However, I've just noticed that my bananas are from Japan. I stopped for a moment to wonder whether they could be irradiated.
Yangon
The former capital (formerly known as Rangoon) of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a city of about five million inhabitants, where a lack of obvious road signs and some seriously dodgy pavements present the main hazards for tourists. I mean, broken and uneven paving slabs -- or even holes through which an unfortunate individual would fall into open sewers, and should therefore watch his/her step !
Almost all the vehicles appear to come from the 1960s. Cars, trucks and buses that other countries have dispensed with, where people have been told "it's impossible to get spare parts for that model these days". Windows and door handles on taxis are frequently missing. Seat belts don't seem to exist. Only occasionally do you see a relatively modern car. The privilege of the elite ?
The Bamar people (the majority, making up almost 70 percent of the population) are recognisable by their open-neck shirts and wrap-around skirts (longyi, or sarongs). They're one of eight ethnic groups. It's worth saying that everyone I met was very friendly and genuine. People were curious and pleased to meet a foreign traveller. According to the government information booklet I was given at the airport, something in the region of 300-thousand tourists visited Myanmar in the past year... which is not that many. It may well have been more than in the average year, because for a good chunk of 2010 Myanmar operated a visa-on-arrival scheme.
VOA has been "suspended" since September last year, although I believe it's been brought back for Chinese people arriving on particular flights. This meant I had to get my visa in Bangkok. That was a relatively straightforward process, accomplished within eight hours and helped along by paying the fee for Express Service.
Almost all the vehicles appear to come from the 1960s. Cars, trucks and buses that other countries have dispensed with, where people have been told "it's impossible to get spare parts for that model these days". Windows and door handles on taxis are frequently missing. Seat belts don't seem to exist. Only occasionally do you see a relatively modern car. The privilege of the elite ?
The Bamar people (the majority, making up almost 70 percent of the population) are recognisable by their open-neck shirts and wrap-around skirts (longyi, or sarongs). They're one of eight ethnic groups. It's worth saying that everyone I met was very friendly and genuine. People were curious and pleased to meet a foreign traveller. According to the government information booklet I was given at the airport, something in the region of 300-thousand tourists visited Myanmar in the past year... which is not that many. It may well have been more than in the average year, because for a good chunk of 2010 Myanmar operated a visa-on-arrival scheme.
VOA has been "suspended" since September last year, although I believe it's been brought back for Chinese people arriving on particular flights. This meant I had to get my visa in Bangkok. That was a relatively straightforward process, accomplished within eight hours and helped along by paying the fee for Express Service.
Back in Asia
March 2011, and I'm back where I left off. I've just spent a long weekend in Myanmar. Long weekend, as in Thursday to Tuesday. Details to follow... first, should I rename this online journal ? Of course, it was set up originally to write and show people about my Airpoints Adventure. For the time being, that's over. At least until I build up some more Qantas Frequent Flyer points !!
My new title could be 50 by 50. That's my goal now. To see 50 percent of the world by the time I'm 50 years old. To achieve this, I need to see an average of four new countries per year from now on. This year... Myanmar (done), Israel, Norway, Sweden and Czech Republic still to come.
A photo post to follow, giving you a taste of Myanmar... then I'll write in more detail about it tomorrow.
My new title could be 50 by 50. That's my goal now. To see 50 percent of the world by the time I'm 50 years old. To achieve this, I need to see an average of four new countries per year from now on. This year... Myanmar (done), Israel, Norway, Sweden and Czech Republic still to come.
A photo post to follow, giving you a taste of Myanmar... then I'll write in more detail about it tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)