Inle Lake is one of the biggest draws for tourists in Myanmar. It’s a massive freshwater lake set in the hills of Shan State in Eastern Myanmar. Shallow (no more than 12 feet deep in the dry season) and with refreshingly clear water, it was a welcome change from the filthy rivers and irrigation ditches …
Mountain Climbing and Spelunking in Hpa An
A few days back, I spent some time in the lovely riverside town of Hpa An. Just up the Thanlwin River from the city of Mawlamyine, Hpa An seemed to be a pretty relaxed city that I thoroughly enjoyed my time in. On a few of the days, I made it outside the city to …
Things That Skitter in the Night
Throughout my travels, I’ve run into many varieties of creepy crawlies that make their way into my chamber of rest. Geckos, rats, mice, ants, spiders, cockroaches and – of course – mosquitoes. Usually it’s no big deal or is merely an annoyance. A few nights ago, my first night in Hpa An, I had some …
Moseying Through Mawlamyine
The past few days of mine have been spent in the sleepy city of Mawlamyine; southeast of the capital Yangon where I started my trip. While technically one of the largest cities in Myanmar, Mawlamyine still feels like a small town; known for the many gold-plated pagodas that crown the surrounding jungle-cloaked hills and the …
Solo Trip to Bilu Kyun (Ogre Island)
Today I made it out to an island to the west of Mawlamyine (the town I’ve been in for the past few days) called Bilu Kyun. In English, it’s known as Ogre Island. The main draw here is the 70+ traditional Mon villages that dot the expanse of the island. While there, you can see …
The 1237 Steps of Wat Tham Sua
Today I went on another solo adventure and missioned 8 km north to climb to a temple known as Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple). I’ve seen my share of temples in Asia so far, but this one intrigued me. Mainly because this one features a shrine perched at the very tip top of a …
Take Me Home Country Roads… No, Not THAT Home!!
Ever since I left South Korea, I’ve been looking forward to the chance to rent a scooter and use it to explore someplace awesome. Technically, I’ve been looking forward to that since mine got stolen a few weeks before my departure from Pohang. Well, earlier this last week, I got the chance when I arrived …
Christmas Letter 2012
Dear Friends and Family,Wow, I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I left home… and what a year it’s been! I spent most of the year finishing up my teaching contract in South Korea and the remaining time backpacking around Southeast Asia. Over the course of 12 fun-filled months, I’ve made some truly …
Gluttony and Bliss: A Day at Siam Rice Thai Cookery School
When Sandy and I made our way up the railways of Thailand to the city of Chiang Mai, we each had a certain ‘must do’ experience in mind. For Sandy, it was the Elephant Nature Park we went to on Thursday. For me, it was taking a cooking class at the Siam Rice Thai Cookery …
Gluttony and Bliss: A Day at Siam Rice Thai Cookery SchoolRead More
Playing with Giants: My Day at the Elephant Nature Park
Just the other day, I had an experience that is definitely one of the highlights of my time in Southeast Asia so far. Sandy and I went to a place known as the Elephant Nature Park for a day of fun, awe, and wonder. Riding an elephant is the highlighting experience of many people’s Thailand …
Playing with Giants: My Day at the Elephant Nature ParkRead More