Mandalay – Streets

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Christine

Middle of the night, all is mostly quiet.  A few nights ago I was awakened around 1 am by the distant, persistent sounds of festival music.  Last night it was dogs barking, street dogs for there is virtually no other kind here.  Though people will give food to the dogs that live outside their houses, the dogs know no human touch.  Even if attached to a certain place, they are still wild.  They are their own creatures.

Burmese Dog

Burmese street dog

Though I have occasionally heard them other times at night, this was far more long lasting.  Continue reading →

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From Mandalay

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Christine

Hello my travel along friends.

Just a quick note from Mandalay to let you know that all is well.  I
have been filling every day easily – more than filling them actually.  I
will be here three more days Continue reading →

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dead dog lying by the side of the road

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Christine

From Mandalay, Myanmar     Jan 27, 2011

A few times here I have seen a dog lying dead by the side of the street.  Tonight it was a man.  Continue reading →

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Farewell Bangkok

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Christine

A few more images from Thailand, as I ready myself to fly on to Burma.

Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem

Thewet Market (primarily vegetables, meat and fish) is on the right of the canal (khlong).  The Thewet Flower Market is on the left. Thewet Market was originally located here to make transport convenient.  Produce and livestock were raised on the far side of the Chao Phrya River and brought by boat to market. Continue reading →

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Neighborhoods

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Christine

My guesthouse is in such an interesting neighborhood.The busy main street, runs north-south, and is a half block away.  It teems with all manner of traffic, dominated by the madcap buses of Bangkok.  Continue reading →

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Food

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Christine

The Thais like their food hot, really hot.  Continue reading →

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Bangkok – old and new

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Christine

To get my Myanmar visa I’d had to go to a part of Bangkok which was new to me.  Since we would need to return to the embassy later that afternoon to pick our passports,  Justin and I jumped back on the skytrain and headed for the area of Siam Square. Continue reading →

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Evolution of the Plan – Myanmar

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Christine

I’d headed for Southeast Asia with a vague sort of a plan in mind.  I have been fascinated with the idea of seeing Burma. Because it has been an impossible destination, because friends who have gone before have been so impressed, because the photos of Bagan were so entrancing.  And because it is now possible Continue reading →

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24 hours

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Christine

I had thought that these initial few days in Bangkok would be a wasted down-time, but it is quickly taking on another form entirely.  It is different if you are traveling for just a few weeks with a frenetic schedule already laid out for you, as many people so sensibly, and of necessity, do.  Continue reading →

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back in Bangkok

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Christine

I am back, a year later.  Much has changed in me, but nothing much has changed in Bangkok.  A few political demonstrations later, a few needless deaths, nothing has changed. Continue reading →

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Transiting through Japan

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Christine

2011, start of a two month trip to southeast Asia. This is a smoking area in the Frankfurt, Germany airport. Yes, I am in Germany instead of Japan.

Concentrated reek

Certainly not the most direct way to go from San Francisco to Bangkok.
Continue reading →

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Looking back – history ancient, and recent

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Christine

As I consider the options for this year’s journey, I revisit the memories of the year prior. What were my goals?  Did I attain them?  What goals are at the head of this year’s list?

Last year, the priorities were these: Continue reading →

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Southeast Asia

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Christine

beckons, seduces. Thailand.

Continuing on from last year when the Thai portion was:
Bangkok – one week at the start, a half week at the end
Ayutthaya – minivan day trip
Aranya Prathet – minivan to the Cambodian border

And so I saw nothing, well almost nothing, of Thailand. Continue reading →

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Hanoi

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Christine

Feb 24 2010, Hanoi

I have emerged, now, from the mountains, and from the backwaters and forests of northern Vietnam, to the lowland of the Red River and thence to the South China Sea.  This stage of the journey starts in Hanoi and progresses down the coast to Saigon.  Continue reading →

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The road is open, sort of – Muong Ngoi to Dien Bien Phu

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Christine

The road connecting northeastern Laos and Vietnam. It was sort of open. Half hour wait while the bulldozers carved out more of the bank then leveled a way to drive through before attacking the bank once again.

When last I left you (and the internet), I was in Nong Khiaw, Laos on the Nam Ou, north of Luang Prabang. Nong Khiaw (Key-oh) is a small town now accessible by road, hence a crossroads for a variety of relatively remote routes in northern Laos.  From there one can travel north by river, some days at least, to Muong Khoia.  From this more northerly and yet more remote crossroads there is supposed to be a bus to the Laos-Vietnam border, Continue reading →

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