It's been a few weeks here...

So I've been in Myanmar for a few weeks and I've done a LOT!

I've been to Mandalay Hill and watched the sunset with the other teachers.

Niko (from Vietnam) came to visit, but it was my first weekend, so I didn't know too much for us to do. My has that changed!

I met some other foreigners in town, and have of course made friends!

I've found the (little) nightlife here in Mandalay...which became useful when...

Chris (from Prague) came to visit and I took him to meet the other teachers for a night out in Mandalay. Then he and I rented motorbikes and explored the tiny country villages during the weekend. We ended up at a monastery, and had an audience with the head Monk. Then we found a tiny village on the water and had some drinks and snacks on the water. That night we met up some of the foreigners for a BBQ Party and met other travelers coming through Mandalay. The following day, I had arranged to rent a boat for the afternoon, and of course, invited everyone we had met throughout the weekend. There were about 18 of us, and we loaded up on the boat around 3pm, and set sail. We turned on the music, opened the beers, poured on the sunscreen, and focused our cameras. And off we went! After about an hour or so, we docked at Mingun, and explored some ruins and temples (and I got some postcards, so some people will be getting mail soon!). Then we took a dip in the water while we waited for everyone to gather back at the boat. Once we re-grouped, it was time to head back to the mainland. Back at the dock (after the sun had set), we headed to a rooftop restaurant for a gorgeous view of the river and of Mandalay City. Chris ended up staying a few more days, and I believe he enjoyed his time MUCH more than Niko did when he visited.

The following weekend we went on a school trip to the surrounding areas:
- Inn wa (city of gems): we went to Me Nu Okkyaung Monastery and Bagayan Monastery.
- Mingun: we saw the Mingun Bell (2nd largest bell in the WORLD!)
- Sagaing: we went to the Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda
- Amarapura: we went to U Bein's Bridge (longest teak bridge in the world)

Those are the biggest attractions in Mandalay, and we got to hit them all in one day, in an air-conditioned van (which was nice in the 100+ Farenheit heat).

So while I haven't posted in a while...it doesn't mean I've been sitting around. I've been out and about. I'll try to post up some pix here soon so you can see what I've been seeing!

Mangalabar,
Apes :)

Things I've missed

When I was home I felt like I hadn't been in Asia for SUCH A LONG TIME.
But, since I've been back, I feel like I never left....but I have realized the things I missed (well, the Burmese things I've missed).

- Tea Leaf Salad (La Peto)
- The language (I love being able to spit out random phrases - it comes back so easily)
- Longyis (the traditional skirts won by men and women)
- The friendliness (the people haven't been corrupted by tourism JUST YET)
- The motorbikes (ahh, I love riding them)
- Hippie Style (backpackers in full hippie attire)

But while I do miss MANY more things about Myanmar, there are things I DON'T miss (the dust, the no wifi, etc)....but there are even more things to notice now.

In 2 years, things have started to change:

- There are ATMs all over.
- The overnight buses are (apparently) SUPER nice (as in, personal video players at each oversized, padded seat)
- The largest currency bill is no longer 5,000mmk, they have added a 10,000mmk bill!!!
- The prices of EVERYTHING have gone up
- THERE ARE TOUR BUSES! As in, buses full of foreigners are constantly checking into the hotel, and tons are being driven around and through Mandalay.
- I have friends actually passing through the area and crashing on my spare bed!

While the traditional Myanmar is still around, you can DEF see the different in the country now that the borders have been open a few years. I hope it doesn't change too much more, as the country was so amazing before the western world has started to get it's hands on it.

Here's to hoping that Myanmar keeps it's traditions alive...

Mingalabar,
Apes :)

Myanmar I've Returned....

Yes, that's right. After 2 years, I AM BACK! I ventured across the oceans once again to set up shop for 2 months in the land of Gold...Myanmar. But this time...I am NOT Yangon, I am in a more northern area, Mandalay.

Mandalay MAY sound a little familiar to ya, and if you can't figure out why...I know why! There's a man with baby blue eyes you might of heard of, named Frank Sinatra. He sang "On the Road to Mandalay"....

By the old Moulmein Pagoda

Looking eastward to the sea

There's a Burma broad a settin'

And I know she thinks for me

For the wind is in the palm trees

And the temple bells they say

Come you back, you British soldier

Come you back to Mandalay

Come you back to Mandalay

Come you back to Mandalay

Where the old flotilla lay

Can't you hear their paddles chonkin'

From Rangoon to Mandalay

On the road to Mandalay

Where the flyin' fishes play

And the dawn comes up like thunder

Out of China 'cross the bay

Ship me somewhere east of Suez

Where the best is like the worst

Where there ain't no Ten Commandments

And a cat can raise a thirst

'Cause those crazy bells are callin'

And it's there that I would be

By the old Moulmein Pagoda

Looking lazy at the sea

Looking lazy at the sea

Come you back to Mandalay

Where the old flotilla lay

Can't you hear their paddles chonkin'

From Rangoon to Mandalay

On the road to Mandalay

Where the flyin' fishes play

And the dawn comes up like thunder

So there ya go. I've solved your mystery for ya. But, you probably weren't reading my post for song lyrics from an old man. So FINE, here's what life is like...

I'm living in a swanky hotel, Swan Hotel, across from the Mandalay Palace. Yes, if I cross the street, I am walking on the moat (I've walked the whole moat and it took my 3 hours). I have a 2 bedroom room on the 1st floor. I have an ensuite bathroom, including a shower WITH A SHOWER CURTAIN!! I have a mini fridge (I made the staff take out all the mini bar stuff), a TV (with Aljazeera on loop, and movie channel), and a couch in front of a window looking out onto the Hotel POOL. YES, a SWIMMING POOL!!! Don't get too excited though, it doesn't have any chlorine in it, so I'm a little skeptical of hopping in. Every morning we get a buffet breakfast. It includes the staples: fresh fruit, juice, coffee, tea, a pastry/danish table, made to order eggs (fried, hard boiled, omelets). Then daily it changes to a different soup, a different meat (sometimes chicken wings!), a different vegetable, and something Burmese. Yeah....so much for the whole "melting my American fat away". Anyways, we get maid service (including 2 bottles of water a day) AND we have a gym. So...it's pretty decent. I live close enough to the lobby that the internet reaches to my room most days.

Once the school van picks us up at 8:15am, we ride the 10 min to school and are greeted by the air conditioned teachers lounge with coffee, tea, and snacks. When it's lunch time, we all get in line for either the "Burmese" option or the "European" option. I usually get a mix: the European main dish, raw veggie salad, then the Burmese soup/vegetable.

After school, we hop back on our van at 3:15pm and are back in our rooms by 3:30pm. Then we have ALL afternoon/evening to do whatever we want. Sometimes a workout in the gym is involved, other days a nap, and a few times there have been a few long walks. But, we always end up at 1 of 3 spots:

1. The shop around the corner that serves ANYTHING asian: Chinese, Burmese, Thai food. That means: rice dishes, noodle dishes, and meat dishes. And shakes/juices.
2. The tea shop: A VERY Burmese place...it's a "shop" (aka, a roof and tables and chairs) that the men (and a FEW Burmese women) go to get tea and snacks. We go here quite often as we have made friends with the server (Tenzen) and they have our FAVORITE dish, La Peto (Tea Leaf Salad). Plus, the salad is only 600mk ($.60).
3. Street Noodle Shop: A cart in between spot 1 and 2 that has little plastic tables and chairs. The woman cook Shan Noodles in a variety of ways, and it's about 500mk ($.50) a day.

We are usually at our spots for over an hour, then it's INTERNET time! We all huddle to the lobby and pop in our headphones and do our nightly internet business.

And there ya go....a day in the life of Apes in Myanmar. Although, if you have snapchat (apesadventures) then you probably see this on a daily basis.

Mingalabar,
Apes :)

My adventures to Myanmar

So I've left many countries to go to many other countries. I've been patted down at airports, missed flights, and even been told I don't have enough room in my passport to stamp my exit visa.

And this trip was no exception.

I get to the airport in DC (Dulles) and check in with Etihad Airlines, with no problem. Well, I did have to weigh my carry on bag (which was weird) but still, no problem. I get settled in my seat, and then I hear it...SCREAMING babies. Not crying babies, but SCREAMING. And there was a group of them. And they didn't stop screaming ALL flight. Yes, a 12 hour flight and there were screaming babies. FOR ALL 12 HOURS. But alas, I watched my in flight movie, and tried to sleep. Mostly, I just had my eyes closed and listened to the music.

Landing and getting to the next gate was uneventful. I even got a blanket, water, and juice in the waiting area. Then....9am rolled around. My flight was leaving at 945am. No sign for boarding to begin, no notices that the flight has been delayed. But, there was a lone Etihad worker with a growing group of people asking about the flight. Then, at about 10am we were told that the flight was delayed until 1pm. Hmm...about 3 hours AFTER it was supposed to depart. Well, I had ANOTHER flight in Thailand (booked separately through Air Asia) that I needed to get...as there is only one flight from BKK to Mandalay a day. Well, once we FINALLY boarded the plane (at 1:45pm, at a DIFFERENT GATE) I KNEW I wouldn't be making my flight in Thailand.

So we land in BKK and I head straight for the baggage/customer relations desk. They end up booking me (free of charge) on the flight for the FOLLOWING day, and then comp me a room at the Novotel Airport Hotel, AND comped me a dinner at the hotel. THE HOTEL WAS AMAZING. I had 2 beds (which seems to happen to me alot), a BATHTUB, shower, cable, view of the airport (which was actually really cool), and then spent the afternoon at the hotel pool. Yes, it was fancy. For dinner they served a Thai Buffet....but then also had sushi, and cheesecake, and tons of fresh fruit. Yes, I didn't mind my unexpected BKK stop at all.

The next morning I made my flight with no problem, and then when I landed...A NEW ADVENTURE AWAITED! I got off the plane, and there was no "Mislan" or "Horizon School" sign. Which meant, there was no one there to greet me and take me to my hotel or the school. Soo....I had to message a friend who was coming the day after me, and he sent me the number to the main campus in Yangon.....a completely different city then where I was to be working. So we called that campus, and they gave me the cell phone number of my principal and I called him directly. He THEN called a taxi company and they came and got me.

They took me to the school to meet the 2 other teachers...THAT WERE ON MY FLIGHT! They had a sign with their name on it, and they didn't know who the 3rd person was supposed to be, so they left the airport.

So, now I am here in Mandalay, and settled in my Hotel Room for the next 2 months....but it's all about the adventure, right??

Mingalabar,
Apes :)