I know, it has been ages since our blog has been updated. We're in Bangkok at the moment, for vacation and to get new visas (Myanmar will only issue 10 week visas, so we have to leave the country periodically to get new ones). I was able to access the blog for the first time since, well, the last time we were in Thailand, and realized how much we've neglected it. I'll try to be better about it in the future!
Bangkok is a bit of a culture shock coming from Yangon. So big, so busy, so modern...with huge shopping malls and fully stocked grocery stores and any kind of food or drink we might want. So we've mall-hopped, stocked up on groceries to take back with us (granola bars, taco seasoning, Kraft mac & cheese), had pizza delivered to our hotel room, sipped Starbucks lattes, and hit Toys R Us so many times I've lost count. And tomorrow we head back home to Yangon for Christmas.
Yangon. It has become home to us over the last six months, and although we'll be sad to leave Bangkok and all its infinite possibilities, it will be good to be "home" for Christmas. Inya Lake has been decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees (fake of course), lights and garlands, and a giant gingerbread house (real, surprisingly). We'll be missing our far-away friends and family as we gather under our teeny tiny fake Christmas tree to open gifts and stockings, as we listen to Christmas music and wish there was even the slightest possibility of snow...and celebrate Christmas.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Our taxi driver dropped us off right in front of the 'foreigner entrance' to Shwedagon Paya, where we were immediately greeted by a group of friendly women, and it was impossible to avoid paying the official entry fee. I was amused to see that here there was a (no doubt overpriced) souvenir shop, and elevators to take us up to the raised platform of the stupa.
We were met at the elevators by a very persuasive English-speaking guide, and we agreed to pay him to show us around for an hour and tell us the history of the temple. Alden was more interested in exploring the different shrines, temples, and statues, than a history lesson, though, so I only caught parts of what the guide was telling us.
The golden stupa itself is huge, and there are also many, many smaller shrines, temples and statues around it. The floor of the platform is smooth white marble, and with all the glittering gold of the stupas and shrines, it is quite an impressive sight. It was hard to take everything in, but the sun on the platform was hot (I appreciated the wisdom of the Burmese who carry umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun) and after an hour we were ready to head down.
I insisted on taking one of the staircases down instead of the elevator again. The long marble stairway was cool and shady, and lined on both sides by vendors selling flowers, gold-colored Buddha images, sandalwood carvings, and an assortment of other things. Alden has been fascinated with Buddha ever since we visited the Big Buddha in Phuket (he called Shwedagon the 'Buddha's Castle') and wanted to stop and look at all the Buddha statues for sale. We ended up buying a small carved sandalwood Buddha figure and a sandalwood elephant, before heading back down and retrieving our shoes.
Next time we go, I think we'll skip both the guide and the elevator, and take the stairway like the Burmese visitors do. I'veposted some pictures from our visit to the web album.
We were met at the elevators by a very persuasive English-speaking guide, and we agreed to pay him to show us around for an hour and tell us the history of the temple. Alden was more interested in exploring the different shrines, temples, and statues, than a history lesson, though, so I only caught parts of what the guide was telling us.
The golden stupa itself is huge, and there are also many, many smaller shrines, temples and statues around it. The floor of the platform is smooth white marble, and with all the glittering gold of the stupas and shrines, it is quite an impressive sight. It was hard to take everything in, but the sun on the platform was hot (I appreciated the wisdom of the Burmese who carry umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun) and after an hour we were ready to head down.
I insisted on taking one of the staircases down instead of the elevator again. The long marble stairway was cool and shady, and lined on both sides by vendors selling flowers, gold-colored Buddha images, sandalwood carvings, and an assortment of other things. Alden has been fascinated with Buddha ever since we visited the Big Buddha in Phuket (he called Shwedagon the 'Buddha's Castle') and wanted to stop and look at all the Buddha statues for sale. We ended up buying a small carved sandalwood Buddha figure and a sandalwood elephant, before heading back down and retrieving our shoes.
Next time we go, I think we'll skip both the guide and the elevator, and take the stairway like the Burmese visitors do. I'veposted some pictures from our visit to the web album.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Finally, after nearly a month and a half of travelling, we made it to Myanmar, our home for the next two years. We've been here for two weeks now, and our first impressions are good.
Our new home is wonderful--it's a hotel/residence on Inya Lake, with beautiful, well-maintained grounds. The staff is incredible and have helped us get settled right in. We have a spacious two bedroom apartment with teak floors and heavy teak furniture. The damage of the cyclone is evident here in the broken windows, water damage and downed trees--they told us 80 trees fell on the property--but the recovery here and elsewhere in Yangon is evident as well. We weren't sure what to expect, but from what we've seen and been told, Yangon at least seems to be recovering well. Markets are well stocked, shops are opened and roads are clear. From what we've been told, prices went up sharply on basic items after the storm, but prices are now beginning to drop. Prices for imported goods at the supermarkets--peanut butter, cheese, chocolate--are high, but fruits, vegetables, rice are inexpensive.
We've been to the school, which is also recovering from some cyclone damage--windows broken and some roof tiles blown off. Joe and I met with some of the staff, toured the school, saw our classrooms and Alden's classroom, too. The other teachers will begin to arrive in the next few days--it seems that no one stays here for the summer. Perhaps the weather has something to do with that--we're now in the thick of rainy season and it rains off and on, all day every day. It's not so bad because it is still warm out, but I am starting to wish for some sunshine.
Alden is settling in well. It didn't take us long to find a nanny we all liked, and soon I think we'll be able to start leaving for short periods. He doesn't seem to suffer from any culture shock and in fact seems happy with everything--he loves his big new bedroom, swimming in the pool and having chocolate milkshakes at the restaurant, and he's gone happily around the city as we explore.
I've posted some first photos of Yangon here, and now that we know we can post to the blog we'll get more up soon.
Our new home is wonderful--it's a hotel/residence on Inya Lake, with beautiful, well-maintained grounds. The staff is incredible and have helped us get settled right in. We have a spacious two bedroom apartment with teak floors and heavy teak furniture. The damage of the cyclone is evident here in the broken windows, water damage and downed trees--they told us 80 trees fell on the property--but the recovery here and elsewhere in Yangon is evident as well. We weren't sure what to expect, but from what we've seen and been told, Yangon at least seems to be recovering well. Markets are well stocked, shops are opened and roads are clear. From what we've been told, prices went up sharply on basic items after the storm, but prices are now beginning to drop. Prices for imported goods at the supermarkets--peanut butter, cheese, chocolate--are high, but fruits, vegetables, rice are inexpensive.
We've been to the school, which is also recovering from some cyclone damage--windows broken and some roof tiles blown off. Joe and I met with some of the staff, toured the school, saw our classrooms and Alden's classroom, too. The other teachers will begin to arrive in the next few days--it seems that no one stays here for the summer. Perhaps the weather has something to do with that--we're now in the thick of rainy season and it rains off and on, all day every day. It's not so bad because it is still warm out, but I am starting to wish for some sunshine.
Alden is settling in well. It didn't take us long to find a nanny we all liked, and soon I think we'll be able to start leaving for short periods. He doesn't seem to suffer from any culture shock and in fact seems happy with everything--he loves his big new bedroom, swimming in the pool and having chocolate milkshakes at the restaurant, and he's gone happily around the city as we explore.
I've posted some first photos of Yangon here, and now that we know we can post to the blog we'll get more up soon.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Next stop: Yangon
Today is our last day in Phuket. Our original plan was to stay here for another week then spend a few days in Bangkok, but we are weary of traveling and anxious to get settled in one place for a while.
Tomorrow we go to Yangon via Bangkok. We'll be in Yangon for the next two years, maybe longer. We hope that, in addition to teaching there, we'll be able to make ourselves useful in the recovery process somehow. It seems that many of the school faculty are already involved in that process. Here's a link to the school's community service website, and you can see some of the projects that are already being done. And the school's website is here.
I know that we will return to Thailand again soon, and explore more of this beautiful country. I've posted more pictures from our trip here.
Monday, July 7, 2008
long-tail boat ride
This morning we took a long-tail boat ride from Rawai beach to Coral island. It was a beautiful day to be out on a boat and the water and islands were gorgeous. Rawai beach was also a great place to look for shells and bits of coral, and Alden left with his pockets full of treasures. We all enjoyed the trip, especially Alden, who has been wanting to ride on a boat since we got here.
We considered doing one of the package tours that take you out for a full day to tour different islands, but in the end we thought that might be too much for Alden--I think he would have to be a bit older for a longer trip like that. This shorter trip was perfect for us. More pictures from the boat ride here.
Friday, July 4, 2008
The Phuket Zoo
Yesterday we went to see the Phuket Zoo in an effort to find something really exciting for a three-year-old. I don't know what we were expecting exactly, but more than anything, the muddy concrete enclosures and forlorn-looking animals reminded us of the zoo at Niamey's Musee. We watched part of a crocodile show in which the crocs were baited with sticks and two performers did tricks like kissing them on the nose and lying on their backs. Alden enjoyed the aquarium and feeding bananas to the elephants, but eventually we tired of getting bitten up by mosquitoes and watching the animals do tricks, so we caught a taxi back to Karon. More zoo pictures.
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