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 :)

2014...New Year Thoughts

So it's not 2014. The celebrations have come and gone, and I am nowhere closer to settling back in the states. I've come to realize that I have been to 20 countries in just a few years (counting America).

Here's the list (in order)
America
2007 - Italy (the trip to start it all)
2011 - Thailand, Malaysia
2012 - Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam
2013 - South Korea, Cambodia, Philippines, Paris, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, The Netherlands, United Kingdom (Scotland, N. Ireland, England), Ireland
2014 - still up in the air!!

I've also realized that if you want to live a positive life, cut out the negative. That means the negative people as well. If someone isn't making you better, then by default they are making you worse. Why would you want THAT?

The best way to realize who is meant to stay in your life long term, then just leave the country for a good amount of time. Those who want to stay in your life will make the time to stay in touch, whether it's weekly, monthly, or even a Skype session here and there. Just knowing that there are people that take the time to catch up with you when the time zones are different, and you're not right there in person means a lot. Sometimes you will grow closer to people you didn't expect, sometimes you will grow apart from people you thought you'd always have around. That's just part of life, and being gone helps to make it more apparent.

Happy New Year,
Apes :)

Belgium...home base

My whole reason for my trip to Europe was to see my trael buddy, Elen. She lives in Belgium, and I was able to use her house as a home base. I couldgo anywhere from where she is, so I took day trips, weekend trips, etc from her location.

While I was there the first time, I did a hop on bus tour. Here is some of the info I learned from this tour:
- Brussels is known for having a large number of museums - 10 museums are within 100 meters from the Grand Palace.
- There are over 100 museums in Belgium
- It is the Art nu'voue (sp?) capitol of the world.
- Brussels is only 162 sq.meters
- The mayor is called a "burgermeister"
- 2012 was the year of gastronomy....there was a campaign called "Brusselicious"
- Brussels has its own copy of the Parisian SacreCure (sp?)
- The Atomonium is Brussels symbol (like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris) and in 1954 it was presented at the World's Fair. It hs 9 spheres and is the model of an Atom magnified 165 times.
- Basilica of Sacred Heart is the largest Basilica in the world.
- There are over 5,000 diplomated in Belgium (used to be the old capital of the EU)
- There are 45 cartoon murals in Brussels (its known for its cartoons, smurfs and Tin Tin included)
- The Mannekin Piss is the famous statue in Brussels...a statue of a little boy peeing. Sometimes he is dressed up (I saw him dressed in khakis, polo, and baseball hat). There are various stories as to how this statue came about. One story is that during one of the wars, he put out a fire by peeing on it, another story is that he was a lost child and when his father found him, he was peeing.
- The Congo used to be a Belgium colony

While I was in Brussels, I took trips to Brugges, Ghent, and Antwerp...

Brugges
- Tower of Our Lady is the tallest building in Brugge
- Brugge was famous for its linen
- The oldest building here is 600 years old

While I was in Brugge, I spent the morning seeing the town via a day tour, and then did a canal cruise. The city has canals all throughout it, and we were able to see much of the city. Then I had an afternoon beer tasting with a few people on my tour. Then, it was time for Ghent for the afternoon.

Ghent
- 1000 years old
- The biggest painting in Ghent has a panel that has been stolen. It is somewhere in Ghent, but no one knows where. Due to this, even the copies have the panel removed.
- The dragon is the symbol of Ghent
- Ghent and Brugges used to be enemies
- The 3 towers of Ghent are 1) St. Baso Cathedral, 2) Belfry - made in 1613, 3)St. Nicholas Church
- You can see all 3 towers from the main square

We did not stay long in Ghent. Just long enough to see the 3 towers, and walk to the bridge overlooking the harbor.

Antwerp
Another day, I headed to Antwerp with a girl I had met the week before. We hopped on the train and headed to the city. Once in, we grabbed a bus tour, and saw the main sites. The Grand Central Station is apparently the most beautiful station in Europe (I would have to agree with this!). It even has a zoo attached to it. Antwerp is known for its diamonds, and you can even visit diamond workshops to see how they are cut.

We grabbed lunch in one of the squares, and came upon a FABULOUS special; bread, soup, salad, fries, and the main course for only 12euros! We couldnt believe it! It was very delicious (I got the pork skewers as my main course) and then we got free shots of Ameretto after our meal.

Afterwards we headed to the main port, which was were all the business used to happen (it was a trading port back in the old days). We got to see tons of ships still there, and then we headed back to the main station to head back to Brussels.

While in Brussels I made sure to try the popular foods:
- Beer; there is over 2000 belgium beers I believe. I went to Delirium Cafe where they have that many on the menu. It is a Guiness Book of World Reords spot, as in 2004 it was named as the cafe with the most beers being on hand to be served.
- Waffles; there are 3 different kinds (I tried all 3). The first is the regular Brussels Waffle. Nothing TOO special about it, but it was good. Then is the Lietse (sp?) Waffle...MY FAVORITE!! When you bite into it, there are little pockets of sugar.MMMMM. The last is the Tourist Waffle. It is a normal belgium waffle, with toppings. I had one with strawberries, chocolate, and whipped cream.
- Chocolate; YES. YES it is worth the hype. A few of us made up a "chocolate crawl" and hit a whole street of chocolate shops. We had 2 chocolates in each shop.  By the end, we were all chocolated out (for the next hour). Pralines originally come from Belgium, so I made sure to try various ones. The chocolate here is soft and rich. I love it. The place I like the best is Leonidas (Elen recommended it to me, and I agree with her recommendation).
- Fries; yes french fries. They actually come from Belgium, and come in a paper cone. There are fry stands EVERYWHERE, and you can choose from a variety of different sauces for the fries. Most Belgiums put mayo on their fries. I tried them with Andalouse sauce, and then later with ketchup and mayo.
- Mussels; apprently Mussels in Brussels is a very traditional dish. Since it can be pricey in the returants, Elen made some for me at her house, and yes they were delicious.

Whelp, now that I've spent a ton of time in Belgium, its time to move on....

Dag,
Apes :)

Neuschwanstein Castle....of dreams

Ever wonder where Walt Disney got his inspiration for the Disney Princes Castle? Well, from a castle outside of München, Germany. Since I had been to Disney Paris a few weeks ago, I decided to visit the inspiration of Mr. Disey himself.

So, Tuesday morning I got up and headed on the tour. I met my group around 930am, and we headed off....on a 2 hour train ride to the town that the castle is located in. Once at the town, we hiked up a VERYsteep mountain for about 30 minutes and then we were at the top! The castle was GORGEOUS. It was also unfinished....here's some info:

The castle was built by King Ludwig, who was declared insane, and died 6 months after moving into the castle. The mystery of his death is still unsolved, but he died when he was 40. I couldnt take pictures inside, but I got a few outside of the castle. Inside the castle I saw the servants chambers, the kings quarters (and his privte altar which had a crucifix made of ivory), and the singers hall. In the singers hall there is a HUGEmural of the royal forest. You can see that this is where Mr. Disney got his idea for Bambi...the forest looked EXACTLY like the one Bambi lives in....from the trees, to Bambi's dad, and even the birds. Throughout the whole castle was the same animal....SWANS. Yup, Mad Ludwig loved swans. There were swan vases, paintings, curtains, even swan DOORKNOBS! It was pretty ridiculous.