Southeast Asia

A 101-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

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Trip start
December 6, 2019
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Monday, November 11, 2019 at 11:37 AM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 15 m
India Ketakipatana 19.88667, 85.8319°53’12” N 85°49’48” E
Gotipua Dance
November 11, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Traditional dance. These are all male dancers. They were accompanied by a harmonium and drum, with a singer sometimes. Unfortunately, I can't post a video. I hope these pictures do justice to these dancers who have performed internationally.Read more
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Monday, November 11, 2019 at 12:24 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 15 m
India Ketakipatana 19.88667, 85.8319°53’12” N 85°49’48” E
Raghurajpur
November 11, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Heritage village supported by the Indian government. In this car, the village is traditional artisans an traditional dancers (see another post). Each house is an artisan family. From here the government pays for them to travel to many festivals around the country so that the traditional arts are present, thus expanding their market.
The first two pictures look at traditional painting. Third is an engraved banana leaf showing the Buddha. Last is one of the village streets.Read more
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Friday, November 15, 2019 at 2:38 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 12 m
India Hastings 22.54333, 88.3433322°32’36” N 88°20’36” E
Kolkata
November 15, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
The city formerly known as Calcutta. Served as the capital of the British Raj until 1911 when they moved the capital to Delhi. Lots here. The 1st picture is the Victoria memorial built in the early 20th century in honor of the eponymous queen. The 2nd is the inside of the dome at the memorial with a statue of a young Victoria in marble. This building, etc. was built with marble from the same quarry as the Taj Mahal. 3rd is the Missionaries of Charity Mother House, Mother Teresa's home. 4th is St. Paul's Cathedral, the mother cathedral for the Church of North India. 5th is the River Hoogli taken from the ferry. Last is a night view of a typical market street.Read more
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Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 8:49 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 2,128 m
India Darjeeling 27.03667, 88.2633327°2’12” N 88°15’48” E
Darjeeling
November 17, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Yes, this is the place where the famous tea comes from. (Don't tell anyone, but this is Chinese tea, grown from seeds imported by the British. Turns out the clinate and soils are perfect.). 2nd is the narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway built by the British in the mid 19th century. 3rd is an unusual temple. It is half Hindu, half Buddhist. It's hard to see, but behind the oven in the center are two monks sitting facing each other. One is Hindu, the other Buddhist, each worshipping their own gods in their own way at the same time. I would really like to see more of this sort of thing. 4th is a Peace Pagoda, one of more the 100 around the world built by a Japanese monk who was deeply affected by the results of the atomic bombings. 5th is a look over some of the town to Kangchenjunga, the 3rd highest mountain in the world. And last, of course, is tea.Read more
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Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 10:49 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 2,031 m
India Chandmari 27.345, 88.6216727°20’42” N 88°37’18” E
Gangtok Zoo
November 19, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Located on a mountainside above Gangtok. Many of the enclosure are large, approximating the animal's natural habitat. Sadly, their snow leopard was at the animal hospital.
The animals here are the Himalayan black bear (thus us a female with the white V), blue sheep, red panda, goral (I never heard of it either), porcupine and leopard cat (about the size of a house cat).Read more
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Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,565 m
India Gangtok 27.3305, 88.6103727°19’50” N 88°36’37” E
Gangtok
November 19, 2019 in India ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
City in Sikkim, a part of India since 1975, located between Nepal and Bhutan in the Himalayas. There are large expat Tibetan and Nepali communities here. Unfortunately, the clouds have been on us since we arrived. So we have not been able to see what is described as it's Shangri-La like landscape.
The 1st pic looks at the town from above. It is very much a mountainside city. Next is the main street downtown at night, followed by a water fall adorned with scores of Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags. 4th is a Buddhist monastery where we were blessed to be present for part of their worship and chanting. 5th is a flower exhibition at a nursery in town. Last is the took of yak butter lamps that are offerings.Read more
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Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:06 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,667 m
India Tādong 27.28833, 88.5616727°17’18” N 88°33’42” E
Rumtek Monastery
November 20, 2019 in India ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Rumtek Dharma Center. This is the main monastery of the Black Hat sect of Buddhism.
The 1st picture shows the university with the main temple below. Next is the main gate. 3rd is the main courtyard.4th is the porch of the main temple. The last 2 are more looks at the site. Again, no photos inside the temple.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 3:14 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 69 m
Myanmar Nyaung-U 21.195, 94.89521°11’42” N 94°53’42” E
Bagan, Myanmar temples
December 7, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Bagan was a capital from about the 9th to the 14th century. The area is known for temples and stupas, as Myanmar is about 80% Buddhist. These are a few looks at several temples, mostly dating to the 10th to 11th centuries. And, yes, that is gold.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 4:48 AM UTC
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 68 m
Myanmar Bagan 21.17833, 94.8733321°10’42” N 94°52’24” E
Bagan, Myanmar
December 7, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
This post looks around beyond the temples. First is a few stupas. Next is the only remains city gate followed by one of the spirits that guard the gate. There is still some tradition of spirits and ancestor ceremonies here. Next is some of the figures of the spirits preserved at one of the temples. 5th is the river harbor at Bagan. Last is a sunset over the temples, stupas and pagodas the area is famous forRead more
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Day 3
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 4:08 AM UTC
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 74 m
Myanmar Myene 21.17167, 94.9033321°10’18” N 94°54’12” E
Less touristy Bagan
December 8, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Some of the temples not on the usual tourist route plus the Manisithu market. This is the local market here and is named for a 12th century king.
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Day 3
Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 12:30 PM UTC
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 97 m
Myanmar Bagan Nyaung U Airport 21.18406, 94.9255121°11’3” N 94°55’32” E
Burmese cultural
December 8, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
The 1st 3 pictures are of a traditional marionette show that was amazing. I particularly enjoyed seeing the puppeteers working when they raised the curtain high. Also, the performers brought some of that marionettes out to visit the tables. They even had the marionettes flirting with the guests.
The other three pictures are of traditional Burmese dances. Also beautiful.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, December 9, 2019 at 8:23 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 398 m
Myanmar Huba Chaung 20.73, 96.4933320°43’48” N 96°29’36” E
1
Mahout Macaulay???
December 9, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
This is the Green Hill Valley elephant care camp where retired service elephants are cared for. And yes, Fran, I know I fit right in here, especially as the elephant I'm feeding is the same age as I am, 69. And, no, I'm not going to ask which of us looks better. I know you better than that. The 3rd picture is the elephant dispensary where a retired vet handles day to day medical issues. In the 4th, I'm assisting with the daily bath each elephant gets in the small river. 5th is the skeleton of an elephant that ended his old age here. It is now used to help with veterinary education. The last is "poo paper." They make paper from elephant dung. Imagine a rough and thick paper booklet cover. That is the texture of this paper. And if you didn't know what it was made from, you couldn't tell.Read more
Arija Restbergs Are you sure you are washing the elephant? Lol
12/9/19Reply
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Day 4
Monday, December 9, 2019 at 2:06 AM UTC
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 272 m
Myanmar Mayaukye-ngaliang 21.04, 95.0066721°2’24” N 95°0’24” E
Some traditional rural products
December 9, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We stopped by the roadside to see a couple products, palm sugar and peanut oil. Both important in the local economy. The 1st is of sap being harvested from the toddy palm, roughly akin to tapping sugar maples, except this is all year, and the sap is collected from branches rather than the trunk. In the 2nd picture, the sap is being boiled down to make palm sugar that is made into balls that are then sold or mixed with coconut or ginger or tamarind, etc. to make quiet nice confections. The 3rd pic is booze making. The vats in the back are for fermentation, while the pots in the front are for distillation. In the 4th picture, everything is made from the palm trees: chairs, wooden posts, roofing, baskets, seat covers, etc. In the last picture, peanut oil is being pressed by the traditional method using an ox to drive the rotating pressRead more
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Day 5
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 2:24 AM UTC
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 1,365 m
Myanmar Kalaw 20.63833, 96.5666720°38’18” N 96°34’0” E
Kalaw
December 10, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
A main city in the South Shan region of Myanmar. The 1st picture overlooks the city. The 2nd is the traditional market in the city. The last three are of the so called Lesser Golden Cave. The larger Golden Cave is a couple hours away. In the Shan area, stupas and religious things are grouped instead of placed around the area as in the rest of Myanmar. In this place there is also a cave filled with images of the Buddha, all donated by different people who also maintain their donated statues.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 10:31 AM UTC
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 942 m
Myanmar Shwelabok 20.63833, 96.95520°38’18” N 96°57’18” E
Red Mountain
December 10, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
I had no idea that there is wine in Myanmar. Red Mountain is a winery where we tasted a few. Actually, I enjoyed the whites more than the reds, and that is very unusal for me. The 1st picture is the view from the terrace, while the last is the same view at sunset. 3rd is at the side of the tasting area. The others look over the vineyardRead more
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Day 6
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 4:07 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 875 m
Myanmar Nampan 20.46333, 96.9083320°27’48” N 96°54’30” E
Inle Lake
December 11, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Large shallow wetland lake. Of particular interest is the 4th picture. Leg rowing is a thing here. The fishermen stand in the boat and use a leg to row so that they can both see better and handle their nets easier. The 5th picture is one of the creeks feeding onto the lake, from the main town. The last picture is a map of the lake.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 2:59 AM UTC
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 861 m
Myanmar Kela 20.51667, 96.91520°31’0” N 96°54’54” E
Working on and around Inle Lake
December 11, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Much of the work here is farming and fishing. In fact, they say the best tomatoes are grown here. All the farms are on floating islands built up for the purpose. The second picture is a fisherman. 3rd is a man harvesting lake weeds to use a fertilizer. 4th is a woman extracting fibers from the stem of the lotus plant. These are woven like silk and are many times more expensive. One day of work only yields about 50 feet of fiber. Next is weaving, probably a silk/lotus mixed fabric. Last is cheroot rolling, another traditional business here. They say most women around the lake can do this, with the best able to roll up to 3,000 per day.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 4:19 AM UTC
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 882 m
Myanmar Nampan 20.46333, 96.9120°27’48” N 96°54’36” E
Inle Lake villages
December 11, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Various looks at villages around the lake. Most buildings are on piles driven into the lake bed. The temple is on a small island in the middle of an open area of water, much like a town square on dry land.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 1:38 AM UTC
☀️ 13 °C
Altitude: 874 m
Myanmar Shweyanbye 20.685, 96.9316720°41’6” N 96°55’54” E
Shwe Yan Pyay monastery and temple
December 12, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Located near Inle Lake. It is said that 2 Shan princes held sway in neighboring towns, but they didn't get along. So the 2 towns didn't either. Finally, a monk got tired of hearing about the troubles between the two. So he called the princes in an said he wanted a single offering. When they agreed, he told them to jointly build a single monastery. This is the result. It went so well they added a temple. See the last 2 pictures. Notice all the niches. These hold small Buddhas. Originally, the local families provided them, but at one point the temple was robbed. The niches are now filled with Buddha images provided by people from around the world.
As this is an active monastery, the 2nd picture is of the master's seat where he sits as he teaches novices.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 9:00 AM UTC
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Myanmar Botataung 16.77333, 96.1616°46’24” N 96°9’36” E
Rangoon (Yangon)
December 12, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Yangon is the business center of Myanmar and former capital. I titled this Rangoon because the pictures are of colonial buildings, and Rangoon is the British name.
The first picture looks across the main square with the Independence Monument centered and city hall in the background. Next is a closer look at city hall and its mix of Victorian and Burmese architecture. To the left of the main entrance is a large TV. They were broadcasting the hearing in The Hague about alleged genocide of the Rohingya. Next is another colonial building, followed by the only colonial building here owner by a Burmese person. Next is a bank, historically Indian, now special services, including the lottery. The last is part of the colonial finance administration building, to be renovated.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at 10:50 AM UTC
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 54 m
Myanmar Yangon 16.79833, 96.1516°47’54” N 96°9’0” E
Shwedagon Stupa
December 12, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Large Buddhist location and central to Yangon. The large central stupa is said to contain hair of the Buddha as relics. The 2nd picture is a bodhi tree, one of 4 here, located at the 4 corners. These were grown from seeds of the tree where the Buddha received enlightenment. The next 2 are more detailed pictures of a couple of the structures and images here. 5th is of the main stupa in the evening when some 9,000 oil lamps are lit around the circumference. Last is the Thursday post where people born on a Thursday, like me, come to pray.
This place is massive. I simply cannot capture the extent in a few photos. For example, they say that the main stupa alone contains 30 tons of gold.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, December 13, 2019 at 3:16 AM UTC
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Myanmar Yangon 16.81167, 96.16516°48’42” N 96°9’54” E
Chauk-Htat-Kyee
December 13, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
A reclining Buddha, some 70 meters long. Look closely at the eyes. They are glass, made by Burmese who went to Italy to learn how, just for this purpose. I'm told this may be the only Buddha image anywhere with eyes of glass. It was done be to make the effect more alive. Pictures 2&3 look along the length of the image from both ends. Yes, that is all good leaf. 4th is a large painting showing the life of the Buddha. All around the main image are nearly 100 small images, each unique. They each have different hand gestures. So people come to pray at the image with the gestures appropriate to their situation. The last picture is the image for me. The right hand is in the protection gesture, while the left hand is holding the cloak, indicating travel. Hence this one is for protection while traveling.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, December 13, 2019 at 8:37 AM UTC
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Myanmar Port of Yangon 16.76833, 96.1616716°46’6” N 96°9’42” E
High Tea at the Strand
December 13, 2019 in Myanmar ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
The Strand Hotel is the Raffles Brothers' hotel in n Rangoon, as it was called then. It is still that caliber in modern Yangon. The 1st picture is the hotel lobby, followed by a look at the building. Third is the room where tea is served. And the last picture speaks for itself.Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 6:45 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Cambodia Phum Spéan Thmei 13.355, 103.85513°21’18” N 103°51’18” E
Siem Reap, Cambodia
December 15, 2019 in Cambodia ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Beautiful Cambodia. First stop Siem Reap. The 1st picture is of Pub Street at night when the place comes alive. Next is one of the bridges in town, followed by an example of the extensive Christmas decorations here. 4th looks across the river at one of the night markets. Last is a sampler meal of traditional Cambodian foods. It was all extremely good, almost on a part with what I have enjoyed over the years at Eliot.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, December 16, 2019 at 5:22 AM
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 56 m
Cambodia Phum Don Taôk 13.43833, 103.8883313°26’18” N 103°53’18” E
Ta Prohm Temple
December 16, 2019 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Another amazing place. The only thing missing is Angelina Jolie. Ah, well. (BTW, that's a hint as to why this temple might look familiar.)
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