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Two weeks to go…..

Time is running out. I can’t believe it’s nearly 5 months that I’ve been traveling. Tomorrow I will fly to my sixth country Indonesia. I won’t have as much time there as I originally planned, but you can’t do everything. So I will try to spend my time in Yogyakarta and Bali and then  it will be the flight home. I have no complaints It’s been an amazing journey, and I’m looking forward to the next part of my journeyRead more
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Phuket…and relax…

I’ve had a lovely few days, well actually, quite a few days in Phuket. I extended my stay twice, as it’s been so lovely. The hotel is very good value, I have a small swimming pool outside the balcony of my room, Kata beach is 5 minutes walk, Kata Noi, which is a quieter beach is 10 minutes away. What bliss! So the tan is coming along nicely and yesterday I shaved my hair, it’s so hot! Its my lastRead more

Leaving Myanmar.

The original intention was to travel from Myeik to Kawthaung by speed boat, and from there renter Thailand. On the day I wanted there was no speed boat so I opted for a flight. The airport was small and all was straight forward apart from customs. Usually the bags go through the usual x-ray and it’s a quick process. Unfortunately this time they wanted to have a very good look inside my ruck sack. Everything, and I mean everything cameRead more
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The doors to Myanmar are open.

It was amazing to travel into a part of Myanmar that hasn’t long been open to the outside world. I could imagine spending longer here just being part of life without a time scale to get through the country, It’s such an interesting place and the people are extremely welcoming. This guy remembers the days of Burma, before the doors were closed. He enjoyed chatting in English, he showed me his sons shop and products. Myanmar is open and theRead more
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Southern Myanmar

Well it was very interesting to see the south Of Myanmar. From Malwamyine I took a bus to Dawei close to the beach where the locals like to spend an afternoon. Then from Dawei I took another bus down to Myeik, a bustling port that Myanmar hopes has a future within tourism due it being a gateway to over 800 offshore islands, as of now are untainted. Dawei beach The port in Myieik, you could imagine it being the tames 150Read more
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Mawlamyine and its’ people.

I love this photo, it’s completely natural. This guy was saying hello through the bars, I don’t think he was in jail! There was a big muslim community in Mawlamyine. This guy was further down from the mosque. He spoke little English and kept repeating “I’m 95 and I’m Muslim” I hope I look this good at 95. He was so striking the picture is equally effective in Black and white or colour. I peered into the mosque and wasRead more

Shwe Inn Dain Pagoda

Just a jump over the bridge from the market was Shwe Inn Dain Pagoda, mainly ruins at the bottom, but stunning beautiful ruins leading to hundreds of Pagodas at the top grouped together. These pagodas all seemed to have been adopted and restored. ,Read more

A stroll around the market

Next stop the local market. Mainly for selling fruit and veg, but also quite a few handy craft stalls for the tourists. The market was the hub of the lake, I had a stroll around and then sat down for a super sweet coffee with a doughnut (sort of) and took in everything around me. This guy had a story to tell, I wish I could only of heard it. The owner of the coffee shop, making the doughnuts, andRead more

Long necked Kayan women

During my time in Thailand I hoped for the opportunity to see the Kayan (Karen) people, who are renowned for their tribal dress, especially the brass neck coils worn by the women. The Kayan are a subgroup of the Red Karen (Karenni) people, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar and have many groups within. In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Myanmar, many Kayan tribes fled to the Thai border area. AmongRead more