Happy Birthday to me... I am now 24!

Birthday always seems nothing special especially everyone was working but I have nothing to stay at home. At the day time, I spend a few hour in H&M. I am not kidding. I bought nothing... not really. I bought a headband. Then I went to pick up my photos in Central and went back home and wait until 8:00pm to have dinner with family. The dinner was good but most of the thing I couldn't eat as I was on diet. The reason was I got food prisoning after back from Myanmar so I can eat only rice, noodle and egg. No vegetable, fruit, mushroom, bean and milk. It sounds like nothing I can eat.

Of course, I received some amazing and practical gift from Nic that he bought me a external hard drive which fit perfect to me as I always borrow his Film scanner so I don't need to save inside his computer anymore. Not finished yet... he always bought me a new film scanner which means I don't need to borrow his anymore. It works so good it B/W photos but not really good with colour. It goes too blue and too much contrast. I need to spend more time to understand how to use... I guess.

One more is he bought me a DVD about Henri Cartier-Bresson. WOO! I love! But I haven't watched yet. I love because I like street snapshot and I am not really interested about studio thing. I think I still do really bad about it. I hope I can improve how to catch people's emotion.

After I scanned my photos, I feel so boring about myself to keep taking something so similar and couldn't have a small breakthrough. I miss a good chance and I have to wait for much longer...

These are some kids I met Amarapura and Buddha Park in Vientiane. One roll was lost so I now only have big head shot. So sad... Anyway, they are really cute!!!

I has been a week since I came back. Time flies... again.

After I came back, I have nothing to do beside scanning photos, meeting friends and relaxing at home. yesterday, I even went shopping alone but I didn't buy anything.


During the trip, I took 57 rolls of film. Until now, I still regret about I only brought my 50mm len. I started feeling bad since the first day. The limitation made me didn't have good use of SLR camera but more to use Horizon. It also means the quite of photos are not good for most them. The worst thing is I lost two rolls I think they are going to be the best rolls I took during the trip. I think I dropped off on the road or into the river in Mandalay. Anyway, what I have now is just Horizon and big head shot. Nevermind...

It is so correct about Lonely Planet traveling is about someone to start an relationship with others. It is not about boy and girl relationship but new friendships and new experiences of talking or having dinner with someone you would never imagine. Different races, different timezone, different culture and different taste.

One the last day of my trip in Yangon, I didn't do much but only visit Shwedagon Pagoda. During Burmese new year, the pagoda was seriously crowded and I heard it was little 100times crowded than usual. I saw so many interesting thing of sitting more than five hours. Since 1:00pm to sunset, I saw so many people who so much respect the pagoda and their religion. At the same time, I really don't agree about they are too much into the "image" of Buddha.

When I was sitting on the stage and waiting for sunset, one Burmese came to me and talked to me. Basically, he wanted to learn more English and practiced. At the same time, he was very nice to explain a lot about the Pagoda, Buddhism and the history to me. He was also very kind to give me water when I was thirsty. However, it was not like the water the people normally drink. I believe it is just tap water and there is no one in Myanmar in the city drinking tap water. That's why - I was so sick since last Thursday until now. I still keep running toilet.

He gave me his address and invited me to visit his monastery but I believed I was too sick to go. Anyway, I will try to send him something like English textbook or postcard to explain. I really think he was waiting for me.


The trip was really nice and and especially the time in Mandalay. Water festival is awesome if the people don't go too crazy or don't drink too much. At least... don't get drunk then come to me holding me, kissing me or keep following me with his motorbike and ask if I want to use internet at his home. Hahahahaha...

Anyway, will upload some new photos soon. Most of them are people and KIDS! I am healthy. I like man but not kid.

After the time of spending time in two ancient cities and over crowded, I chose to take a walk inside the downtown again for my last full day.

During the water festival, almost every shops are closed. I walked from guesthouse to the north side of the town and then south side. The street were empty without people playing water. No one was ready for business.

No different from other Southeast Asia countries, the wet market is one of the most interesting thing in the town so I chose to visit wet market of every city I go. Food stall, fish, stinky, smell, pork, pig head, orange, vegetable and beef are something you can find everywhere. There were no people into water festival inside the wet market. However, on the next street... monks and kids were all waiting for you.

When I passed the bus station, two bicycle drivers came and asked me to sit down in a teashop. What they wanted was ask me about English. I felt a bit embarrassed because my English is actually not good. Nevermind. They might not know...



We spent two to three hours and talked. They are all very nice guys. We talked about family, countries, religion but no politic. :)

After say bye... I just waited for my Burmese friend to meet me before I went back to Yangon. It is funny that he gave me a cover of his KTV. He wanted to bring me to see his ladyboy friend but happened his friend was away from home.

He brought to a popular Indian food stall and a famous ice-cream shop. I also don't know why he likes to talk so many about girls, handsome or not, beautiful or not, relationship and marriage. He said he will invite me when he gets married and asked me to do the same too. He is a funny guy.





My last day just passed too fast in Mandalay.

On the next day, I woke up and spent some more time on the street. It was the last day of water festival so everyone came out and played water on the last day.

Not wanted to be too wet when I was one bus. I decided not to go to the crowd but finally I just got wet again. So I just didn't care anymore and took more photos before I went to bus station.

3:00pm, I called a cab to bring me to Bus station but too earlier so he brought me to another teashop and introduced me to his girlfriend. It was funny that I found out every Burmese loves to know do you have boy/girlfriend, did you get married, how old are you and how many countries have you been. I at least answered 10 times during these three days.

On the bus, I passed the same shops I sat and went on the first day. It was nice to recall some of my memories.

Day 2 in Mandalay

Spending time in Mandalay is actually a joy. With super nice weather, I chose to spend sometime with the ancient cities today. Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa were where I wanted to do but during the water festival I could only finally do two.

Amarapura was called as "City of Immortality". It was very beautiful with the famous U Bein Bridge and a lot of beautiful faces of kids! It is the 1.2 km wooden footbridge across the Taungthaman Lake as the longest teak bridge in the world. However, I found out I lost one of the most important film I took today!!!! So no Bridge! No Kids! Wanted to cry!

What I had to do was to join their culture! I started to play water with kids and little monks. They all went crazy once you joined them. They kept chasing you and throw water to you. I felt like I have one of most wonderful day in my life. All these people are so nice and lovely. Since too crowd, I spent more than half hours to walk from one side of the bridge to another side. On the bridge, people were all so nice to say hi and happy new year to you even they don't really talk English.  Also some people were drunk... come up one guy ran to me ... hold me and kept kissing me. I was so embrassed.

The kids and monks in Sagaing Hill were crazy. They all kept throwing water to you like no tomorrow. They could run so long without shoes under 40 degree. Some monks were so cute to follow the mature monks for lunch and line up like an army but some of them were very naught and kept joking with people.

Some Burmese were there to visit Sagaing Hill. They were so nice to chat with me and taught me Burmese. I learned "I am glad to meet you". It is like " kywa ya la wun da ba de".  It is also lovely they only learned something like "I love you" so they just kept saying "I love you".  Of course, some teenagers were not so nice. They were drunk and being very impolite to me but I didn't care anymore.

Camera may not be owned by many family. Most of them feel extra excited about you wanted to take photos with them. I was a big joy! But the film was lost!! I hope I can go back again but people will be different.

By the time closed to sunset, my friend picked me up and drove his xXx motorbike to Mandalay Hill. The view was so wonderful and amazing! The mount is so big and with uncountable pagado. What Burmese thinks, where is the place the Buddha said "a new capital will be built"

Since all shops were closed beside some teashop or restaurant. What you could do at night was actually just eating. At the night time, air is fresh. People still went mad with beer and dance... time flies... I love Mandalay!

Day 1 in Mandalay

Day 1 in Mandalay was actually the day I arrived by 8:30am in the morning. The bus station looked a bit dead as there were actually one or two bus companies were working.

With the help of my new Burmese friend, he helped me to get the return ticket from Mandalay to Yangon with a nice price - 20,000kyats. 10,000kyats less than what I bought. By the whole morning, he kept reminding me about Water Festival and made sure my mobile phone, money and anything to put inside a plastic bag. However, no one was playing water at the bus station.

The people here are little bit different from Yangon. The people are more friendly and helpful. I made me feel more safe. BUT it still took me US$4 to get to the "downtown".

Again, I picked up "Lonely Planet" guesthouse - Royal Guest House which is very much closed to the Palace. I got a double bed room and with own shower which I thought I needed it during the water festival. It proved I was right just after 1 hour later.

The street is very difficult from Yangon. There are actually no bus but something like tuk tuk or truck. It is what the people called bus. They actually called tuk tuk as Blue Taxi. The road is actually more dusty and muddy if compare to Yangon but more clean.

The customs here are actually similar to Yangon. For man, they usually wear "longyi" and some of those teenage actually like the "PUNK" look and called themselves as "Punk Kids". Ladyboy also could be found here. Some of them wear fake breasts and with high heel shoes. You can see there are actually many kind of Burmese face. They all look very different. Some of them are closed to Chinese, Thai, Nepalis and Indian but they are actually Burmese. I found out there are 7 state and 7 divisions in Myanmar. Different state has difficult languages which the people from divisions actually cannot understand.

Children and adult like to have shower on the street where has water supply and tap. The electricity supply is also very limited like Yangon. Most of the shop and especially guesthouse, they also put a diesel generator outside the entrance. Since they have to insert diesel few time per night, sometime everything got off and no fan, no air-con. Even my room has air-con but actually I have never succeed to use once.

Since last night on the bus was a nightmare, I didn't manage to be able to sleep. So I just have a lazy morning and left guesthouse by 10:00am. I only had enough time to take a walk in the downtown.

To keep my friend advice in mind, everything of mine are covered by plastic bag. Just by the time I stepped out from the guesthouse, there were already two or three people running to me and threw water to me. I got wet from hair to toes. I also believed some water were taken from river so including sand, mud and something else I didn't know. My skin started to get very itchy. I just tried to forget about all these things and enjoyed the festival.

I just kept walking and followed the map to the palace wall. I wasn't surprised but actually the first time I saw so many stages on the main road and everyone went crazy on the street. They kept dancing, singing and throwing water to each others. The traffic was completely difficult and blocked. Many people drove big truck to that street to join the festival. So... I was so wet and no chance to get dry.

It was funny to listen all Cantonese and Taiwanese pop songs were covered by local people. Two of the big hits were "Tong Wah" and "Ying Wei Ai" by Kwang Leng and Nicolas Tse. Also very similar enieme songs are all so popular here. Everyone can sing from kids to elderly. They just danced crazy and enjoyed so much... also drunk so much.

Beer stands are everywhere... and girls dress especially hot during water festival. It was funny that my friend told me it is easy to be lover during the festival. It sounds very doggy.

Around 2, I was so tired and back to guesthouse to have a short nap. At night, Chan Ko came picking me up with his xXx Honda motorbike. I was gigging and sunglasses. Actually, I had my first try of taking a bike during this trip and started in Ranchanaburi.

By that night, I experience the first time to set in a local tea shop. Tea shop actually is more similar to drink shop. They usually sell soft drink, coffee, juice and milkshake. Sometime, Chinese tea may be found too.

During the water festival, all shop were closed and not many choice for dinner. Finally, I ate two green bean Chinese steam bread. Actually, they were very hard and not very good. :P

It was pretty sad to see a lot of young kids were working at the shop since their family cannot support them to go to school. Most of them are boy and with Thanahk make-up. They all looked very cute.

Last talk about the 2nd day I spent in Yangon.

With the experience on the 1st day, I couldn't really relax to talk and deal with the people here and especially Indian guys.

Actually the 2nd day was really lazy. I just woke up very late like 10:00am and just spent a little time to walk around the central Yangon. What I saw was the beginning of the Water festival. The children and adults started to throw water to the people on the street and actually it was fun.

With the heartbreaking sun, water actually does help lower your body temperature. Sunglasses and hat actually are not necessary. It was nice to see a lot of people on the street to say "Happy New Year" to you. For the people here, the chance of meeting tourist or foreigners are actually not usual.

Just by 1 hour walk, all my clothes were wet. I just planned to go back to guesthouse and bought some snack so I could eat on the bus. After that, I just sat around 1 1/2 hours at inside the guesthouse and posted some postcard.

Around 2:30pm, I made a move to the bus station which is quite far from the Central Yangon so I decided to leave a bit earlier. Just by I stepped out from the guest house, that "tourist guide" had already been there. Actually, he told the guest house's owner that I am his friend and with a booking with me. The owner had warned me about some people here are dangerous.

He kept following me to the bus station and told me all bus were not available since the Water Festival had started. I couldn't trust him once more time so I just kept walking and found! Also asked him to not following me! Sure! Finally I found the bus no. 43 next to the City Hall. So, I proved his was lying!

On the bus and at the bus stop, I met two local Burmese. They were both very nice to tell me where the northern bus station was - Aung Mingalar Bus Station. All the way to bus station, I couldn't remember how many threw water to us and everyone on the bus were actually got wet... also my backpack, tour guide book and camera.

Finally, I arrived the bus station. The bus station is very big and with over 16 different bus companies. It was pretty hard for me to find the right place to get on my bus. Also, when I arrived was around 2:00pm, it was so hot and very dry. The dust flies everywhere. It was actually like a desert. So, some people came and threw water to me was something nice at that moment.

It was too early so I just took a sit and had my lunch. Until 4:30pm, I was so happy that finally I could go on the bus and ahead Mandalay. Thing happened! The driver found that the seats were not enough so they chose to throw me to another bus which were going to leave by 6:00pm. I was so angry about the treatment especially as a tourist I had to pay like US$10 more than the citizen. I started to argue but it didn't help. So what I could do was just to wait for 6:00pm bus.

Okay! 6:00pm! I got on the bus and I started to feel it maybe a luck to be sent to 6:00pm. On the bus, I met a really like local Burmese - Kyi Chan Ko who was very nice and sat next to me. He told me about many thing of the countries and how I could buy the return ticket and stuffs. I actually had a pretty happy night to chat and joke with him. I think he is one of my favorite new friend on the road.

The bus was a bit dumping so I couldn't really sleep. The dinner time was like 9:00pm and followed by another meal time 12:00am. I couldn't understand why people have to eat so many time per day.

With his company, the night went very fast and was a joy.

Update from Myanmar

Update from Myanmar

It has been very hard to get a proper internet access in the city. As know a new friend, he brings me to the very local and cheap internet cafe.

The trip is like this... and I have so many things to talk about Myanmar.

Since my last blogger entry, I have been safely arrived Yangon by the flight from Bangkok and it made me wake up by 4a.m. in the morning.

On the first day, I couldn't believe it was so easy to step out from Yangon airport. It is new a clean so very different from some people said. So, when I just stepped out from the airport, I had already been surrounded by so many taxi driver. Finally, I got one with USD$7 but normally is a lot cheaper since the water festival it boosted up the price for everything.

Just by the taxi stand, I saw so many guys was chewing something and it is a very local "snack". It called "Batel" and mixes with nut and some red sugar... I guess. So everyone's mouth is dyed by the red sugar. Every single guys I saw in airport from Myanmar are with red teeth and red lip... even the inner lip. Also because they like to spit on the group, everywhere you go you can see something like blood on the street.

On the way, the taxi driver kept asking me about exchange money and he offered me the exchange rate 1USD=1000kyats. It is a bit more than what I read from lonely planet so I just thought "OK! Go for it!". Since the exchange rate of 100USD is much better than other other so everyone would ask for the 100 note. However, really need to be careful about they would put some bad money inside with broken edge or super old one.

Just follow the recommendation from Lonely Planet, I chose to stay in "White House Guesthouse" in the downtown of Yangon. With the reasonable price, I got a really nice room on the roottop where I can see the famous Paya and beautiful sunset. So decided to buy more flim and got some 2400kyats per roll.

After this, I just tried to have a quick look of the city and walked around. Suddenly, someone I guessed as a taxi driver who came and asked where I wanted to go. I just rejected him at the first place but he started to be very nice to tell me about the direction and kept following me. After 15mins, some more old ladies popped up and asked me for tips.

During the water festival, the traffic in Myanmar is difficult especially from Yangon to Mandalay. It is not because too many bus or car from one place to another place but there are not enough of buses. It seems to be the entire city shuts down for Myanmar New Year.

Finally! I got one ticket from Yangon to Mandalay and it is like 6 times than usual. It costs me 30USD. I can't believe it is so expensive. Also on the same day, those Indian guys asked me to exchange some more money as I think I need. I tried to be smart and found out their wanted to cheat me 20USD. However, at the end, they still took it back. So, I still lost 20USD.

After I bought the ticket and returned from the Aung San Stadium to the downtown. That tourist guide still tried to follow me and I was so pissed off. He started to say sorry to me and said he is a bad guy. He told me he wanted to bring me to eat something for what he did to me. He brought me a pretty full lunch in the Central Hotel in Yangon. After the meal, I just wanted him to leave me alone so I just gave him 10USD and went to a internet cafe.

After this, it gave me really bad impression of Yangon. I just don't want to spend another day in this city. I just tried to spend my own time around Strand Road next the Yangon River. There are a lot of building were built in colonial period. It is actually the most beautiful part of the city. With the railway track which is not used anymore. It reminded me a bit of George Town in Malaysia.

It happened! Another two girls from my guesthouse from Beijing felt the same way. :p They have already booked their return ticket back to Beijing and as soon as possible. It means they need to pay triple price!

After this talk, I just stayed at my room and enjoyed the sunset. I was so tired and just fell asleep.

Explore in Ayutthaya

since lack of time, I spent 500bath for a tuk tuk day tour to visit as much as Wat I can. Also because not enough flim to use, I tried to control to not take too many. So, here are some. Chinese style, Burma style, Thai Style, Cambodia Style... It is very sad that beside all massive big buddha, all heads are gone or stolen.

Ok! Tomorrow Myanmar!

The Land has thousands Wats or Temples

Yesterday afternoon, after getting my visa, I didn't know what to do next but not to stay one more day in Bangkok. For me, Bangkok is more likely a place for shopping than a place for experience. So, I chose to stay a night in Ayutthaya and caught the last train from Bangkok Hualongpua station for northern line.

On the train, I met four really nice thai guys. They were very nice to help me fixing up the broken chair and treated me drink and mango. One of them talks little english who taught me some simple thai like 'sa thaa nii rot fai' - means railway station and girls should use 'ka' instead of 'nop'.

Arrived the city by 7.30. As normal, train is always late and then got on the ferry to across the river. Since too late, just randomly checked in a 'lonely planet'.

Waiting for the bus from Hellfire Pass to Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi Bus Station

How did the japanese army order the PoW to work faster - 'Speedo'. Until today... still 'Speedo'

Hellfire Pass, Guesthouse, the town...

Day 1 in Kanchanaburi

My room, the town, marker... Kanchanaburi

Hello from Bangkok again...

Again, back to Bangkok for my Myanmar Visa and my passport. Tonight or this afternoon I will be going to Ayuthaya to visit the old capital city.

With very strange railway time table of Kanchanaburi, finally I didnt make a ride from River Kwai Bridge to Nam Tok but it is ok that actually I have seen the 'Death Railway' but only by bus. At the same time, I also had to take a bus from Kanchanaburi bus station to Bangkok Northern station.

Yesterday night, I wasn't able to sleep early so I missed the first train at 5.12am. So this morning I just rented a bicycle to check out the River Kwai Bridge.

The bridge had bombed by PoW but also repaired it afterward. That's why you see the part was destoryed still has a mark here and was built with different steel.

Next to the bridge is a small floating resturant. People can actually walk across the bridge to the southern part.

Day 2 in Kanchanburi and Nam Tok

Today... I was so lazy and woke up by 9:00am. First time to do was to visit the musuem again. After that I walked more than 3km to the bus station to catch the bus no. 8023 to the Hellfire Pass. Where is one of the most important and famous point of the Death Railway (Burma-Thai Railway).

When I got of the bus, I took another 3km walk to the Hellfire Pass. I was overwhelmed by the Hellfire Pass because it build with no heavy lifting equipment but only with people's hand. I believed why there were more than 20,000 died because of this railway.

When the way back the Kanchanaburi, I wanted to catch the last train from River Kwai Bridge Station to Kanchanaburi but the bus was so slow and started raining. I can only wait for tomorrow.

At the same time, I met a student from Holland who is having easter holiday break and will go to Malaysia tomorrow. I think he is pretty now sure what he wanted to do...

When I arrived the town was already 5:45pm so I just tried to look for Jeanth Musuem which I found from Lonely Planet. However, when I arrived it was closed already. Try tomorrow...

Tomorrow, I would try to get the earliest train to pass River Kwai Bride and check out Jeanth Musuem and back to Bangkok at the same day and take my PASSPORT back!!!

Update some photos soon...

First day arrived the samll town - Kanchanaburi...

Yesterday after checking out from Train Inn, I went to internet cafe for a while to checked out the flight schedule for the trip to Yagon. It is the only way for me to go Yagon as there are only a few legal way to enter the country. After that, I took a cab to Bangko Noi Station (Thonburi Station) as it was late so I was not dare to take a local bus. Yes, and I took a cab with a really passionated or over passionated taxi driver.

With his limited English, I used 5 mins to ask him about going to Thonburi Station. I tried all my best to talk in Thai. After 5 mins, he said I look like Thail and said "You are very sexy!". I tried all my best to pretend that I couldn't understand what he meant with "Mai Kau Chai".

When we passed the palace, he said he loved the king and I said yes. When I was ready to get off the taxi.... He suddenly grabbed my hand and shaked hand with me and said "I love you". Finally, he kept kissing my hand three or four time. I started feeling very disgusting... Pay and run!!!

Finally I got the ticket from Thonburi to Kanchanburi. It was a very tradition wooden chair train with wooden window. The whole journey was very nice and refreshing.

Since I was not sure if I can get any recommendation in Nam Tok so I decided to just stay in Kanchanaburi and I knew it is easier for me to organize the trip. Finally I chose the guesthouse which is recommanded by Lonely Plant - Jolly Ford Backpacker.

The guesthouse is not very clean and all single rooms were full. So I chose a double room as I knew they has the cheapest room even the double room. So the owner brought me to a room which is actually floating on the water. There are three rooms on the some "floating thing" and with share bathroom. I sat outside the room and actually I can face the River Kwai and see a lot of boat come and go. Next to me is a same thing for sunbath... so I saw a couple of white girls were doing sunbath.

After check-in, I went out and checked the night market and Death Railway Museum and Cemetery. It is for british and dutch soldiers who died during building the death railway in World War II.

It was pretty late, so I just checked out the night market and brought my food back to guesthouse and ate outside my room.

I can't believe it is almost half month. Time flies.

We didn't visit a lot of places and some of our plans have changed. For the rest of the trip, it will be myself or I will meet some new friends on the road.

Yesterday, my travel buddies just left Bangkok and so I am alone now to keep my trip on. By the time, I am now waiting for Myanmar visa in Bangkok and will be able to get it on 9/4. Anyway, I don't want to stay longer in Bangkok now so I decided to spend two days in Kanchanaburi and visit River Kwai.

By the night time, I check out China Town. It looks really special at the night time and I start to believe Chinese always has the way of living in the other countries and build up their own style.

Now! I don't know where and when I will come back... not now. Wish me have a nice trip and safe trip today and tomorrow.

typing error. sorry. because blog with mobile phone. so always typing error. :p change later.

今早在Luang Prabang的小街閒遊，見到不少僧人。剛巧今早是他們的考試日。

現在正是中午時份，還有兩多小時便跟Luang Prabang說再見。我在Bon Cafe吃在這裡最後一個午餐。

Hello from Luang Prabang - a city for tourism (over tourism-lizated)

After two days in Vientiane, we really felt enough about the experience of the town. For a city too much for tourism, I don't feel like I can know more about the country.

The weather was very good and dry. So we spent really nice time beside the River Mekong.

We arrived Luang Prabang after a super overtime bus ride from Vientiane over the highland. From the way to Luang Prabag, the people burned the forrest like crazy and nothing we could see beside smoke for a while. The road was really complicated. It means very tough and the driver was amazing. This was the only time I saw the real Laos.

It is not I want to see people in poverty or living in bad condition but the problem is if we just when the Luang Prabang and Vientiane, I am pretty sure we can only see 2% of what Laos is.

These are some pictures during the time we spent in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. See? so happy. We went to Phu Si to see sunset yesterday but no sun...