7 Interesting Things during our Yangon Adventure

I've always always wanted to visit Myanmar (Burma). I've been bugging my friend, ever since we started to travel, to have time to visit this country. I even made an itinerary and budget proposal just to convince her. However, due to schedule constraints, we were destined to visit the country at different times. No biggie. It was an opportunity for her to start solo travelling and for me to do as well. However, with a stroke of luck, I found a friend to share the adventure which was not bad at all. 

During our trip, I found these interesting things in Yangon:

1. Largest City: Yangon

This is the former capital and is the largest city of the country. It has a population of nearly six million which makes it the most important commercial center. It was November when we visited the city, which is already considered winter season but the temperature is almost 33 degrees. 

At the airport, we caught a taxi towards our hotel. We paid around 12,000 MMK for the ride and enjoyed the views on the way. Its a busy and exciting city. 

Before our trip started, I knew that Yangon was known for its traffic. We decided that it would be best to stay in a central place so that some of the places can be reached by foot. Another friend shared this very helpful map of Yangon Downtown.

2. Men wearing longyi

One of the first interesting things I noticed when I arrived in Myanmar is of men wearing longyi. A longyi is a sheet of cloth about 2 meters long and wrapped around the waist. Growing up and living in countries where men wore jeans or shorts, this was a very new thing. The longyi certainly suits the climate as it allows air to circulate and can keep women (and men) cool in the humid weather. 

2. Gold almost everywhere

The country stands by its recognition of being the Golden Land. Gold as the most precious metal can be seen in pagodas and accessories. Most pagodas are covered in gold leaves. The following places were where we saw the glistening gold.

a. Shwedagon Pagoda

Entrance Fee: 8,000 MMK (9 USD)

(Optional) Longyi Rental: 3,000 MMK

(Optional) Tour Guide: 10,000MMK

The visit would be incomplete if we did not set foot at this place. It is said to be 2,500 years old and enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and other sacred relics. From 8.2 meters, it now stands to about 100 meters and is covered with hundreds of goldplates. At the top of the stupa is where diamonds are located.

It also consists of other temples, statues and stupas and there were a lot of people praying and walking around. I would've sat around the grounds and stare in awe longer if I was just wasn't very hungry :)

One thing to remember is to leave your shoes at either of the entrances of this pagoda. I saw some visitors were allowed to bring their shoes in a plastic bag. Since we didn't know, we were allowed to leave our footwear with a local watching over it. Afterwards, she gave us some wet tissues to wipe our soles and in return of her labor, we gave her a donation.

b. Sule Pagoda

Entrance Fee: 3,000 MMK (2 USD)

This pagoda was very near to our hotel and we opted to just stare at it from a distance. It is 48 meters high and was decided as the center piece of Yangon  because of its strategic location, religious significance and artistic beauty.

c. Botataung Pagoda

Entrance Fee; 6,000 MMK

The name of this pagoda means 1,000 military leaders. When eight hair relics of Buddha arrived to Yangon from India, a guard of honour of 1,0000 military leaders was formed to pay respect to the relics.

I was particularly amazed with the golden walls of the main stupa. The stupa was hollow and visitors can walk through it while seeing several chambers that contain ancient artifacts protected by glass containers.

The main stupa from the outside. We were able to walk around and saw a pond filled with turtles.

3. Currency: Kyat (pronounced as chat)

I've read ahead that crisp USDs are the only notes accepted by money exchange stalls in Yangon. I have not tried this as I came from Thailand. I had no problem changing Baht to Kyat in the airport. Although, I have seen a number of money exchange down town as well.

As per google, 1 USD is around 1,200 MMK.

I'm thankful that my friend is good in Math and money. I was confused at the first sight of currency. Though Vietnam and Indonesian currency is also with a lot of zeroes in them, I'm still not used to it but later on got the hang of it :)

4. Heritage Walk

Our hotel was down town and with the use of the map (photo above), we tried to discover the places that we can reach by foot. This is the Mahabandoola Garden which is just a stones throw from the Sule Pagoda. I guess it is nice to hang out here and do people watching. There were also a number of stalls that sell food and drinks outside this park which means that one can never go hungry.

We wanted to do some heritage walk as the map suggested but the heat was so intense. There were nice old buildings in this part of town. I particularly liked this clock tower at the background. 

I almost forgot to write down that before we entered the park, 1 young boy in monk clothes came to us for donation. When we gave him some, another came to ask for the same thing. Although amused, we politely refused to give again. Later down the street, we found them. This time they were eagerly watching a man counting down the money they amassed. 

5. Food

I'm lucky to have an office acquaintance/ Facebook friend who lives in the city. Dr Chaw Su saw my Facebook post notifying that I was in Yangon. I truly appreciate her time to see me amidst her busy schedule. We were brought to a popular Myanmar Restaurant called Feel Myanmar Food. 

I've read blogs recommending this place and I could not have found it without Dr. Chaw inviting us. This long running place is where a big choice of freshly made dishes on display and all we had to do was point what we'd like to try. It was lunch time and the place was so full and busy. 

We were so full by the time I was done with my meal. The Myanmar food we ordered were so delicious though a bit oily. Then dessert was served. This was plate was delicious as well as the one after it. I was really very full I did not finish all. 

6. Friendly people

Aside from Dr Chaw, I observed that Myanmar people are very friendly. The staff in our hotel was very helpful and happy to answer our questions. While walking in the park, these men approached us. They were students and they came to us to practice their English through a conversation with us. They also tried to invite us to come to another island just near the city and reachable by ferry. However, we had a bus to Bagan to catch so we refused.

7.Bookshops

I love reading and I love books. While studying the city map, I found that there were a lot of book shops. True enough, during our short walk, I saw book shops along the street. Some were books in their language and some were in English. It's great to see them everywhere though I was not able to find one book that I liked, I enjoyed browsing through some interesting titles.

It was such a short and sweet stay in Yangon. We barely had enough time to see other interesting places such as the Reclining Buddha, Karaweik Palace and others. In the future, I may come back and see more. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog! :)

The De Lima Double Standard

Philippine current events is getting so exciting lately. From the issue of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos burial at the Libingan nang mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery), the knees of the lady Vice President being commented on by the President, to the children from a well known school being photographed having a noise barrage and the war against drugs that has been going on ever since our dear President assumed the position.

While away on a holiday, I chose not to dwell much on Facebook and current events so that I can relax and enjoy. Now that I am back to the daily grind, I got my interest of being updated again. Surely a lot has progressed and I am particularly drawn to Senator Leila De Lima.

image taken from www.news.abs-cbn.com

It seems that she is contradicting herself, basing from the researches of Thinking Pinoy, a blogger that I read articles of regularly. In 2015, she has argued that the President is immune from further changes of prosecution. And now, 2016,  she has filed a "test case" to President Duterte's immunity from suit. What changed in just a year? Is it because the current highest official in the land is out to prove something against her? I wonder how she can turn around just like that. She is one of the high ranking Yellow Group officials, a true lawyer who knows how to test or twist the rules most probably according to her situation.

Another thing that the Senator said last 2013 was that she agreed with then President Aquino about publicly naming and shaming public officials because she thinks that those officials were not affected much anyway. And then recently, she claims that naming and shaming tactic used against her is a violation of due process. So, therefore, it is acceptable if it can be done to others except to her. 

Social media had a big frenzy when she confessed that her driver- bodyguard, Dayan, has been her lover and blamed this to having "frailties of a woman". Please Senator, with all due respect, do not include us in your frailties. We are all different and unique, be it man or woman. Using this gender card as an excuse does not empower us women. I thought that we wanted to be equals and then all of a sudden we have woman nature to blame upon?

The reason why people are out to bash her and cannot wait to see her fall is because of the glaring hypocrisy. God has given her a brilliant mind as evidenced by the achieved degrees and accomplishments. I cannot bear seeing her on the Senate hearing today, saying that may God forgive him for all his sins and  Kerwin Espinosa's lies.  Actually, I am not sure who is telling the lies here and I understand that is what the hearing is for. 

As your driver-bodyguard lover said over his press conference last night, 22 November: pakatatag ka (be strong). Lastly, I would like to quote a verse from the Bible fit for Senator De Lima's reflection and also may be for those people who gain credit from all these drug and drug money: Mark 8:36 - What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul..

I'll just leave it here. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog. 

No words by The Script

My friend used to tease me that every time I am heartbroken, I listen to the songs of the band called The Script. Not that I was heartbroken most of the time, but when some disappointments come in to my life.

Well, I find The Script's songs very relatable and seem to put into words what I feel. But aside from songs screaming pain and longingness, they have songs professing love as well.

One of the songs I love from this group is entitled No Words. I'd like to meet a man like this. I won't mind if he is very talkative. In fact, I will love that he would be willing to communicate and share his life stories - good or bad. Of course, he has to listen to what I will share as well.

Anyway, here's the video and the lyrics courtesy of azlyrics.com

"No Words"

I could talk all day long about the news,
Giving you the current affairs with my views
I could talk all night long about a song,
Giving you the pointers on where you're going wrong.
I could talk all year long about the net
Sending you the links I think you haven't seen yet.
I'd like to tell you things that I think you never heard, but there are no words

I could talk all day long about dreams,
Sewing up your heart so you never see a seam.
I could talk all day about politics,
All of the corruption, clean hands, dirty tricks
But what can I say
About something that blows me away
Without it soundin' like another cliché?
From what I've seen and I've heard,
When it comes to you, baby, no, there are no, there are no words.

There are no words,
Yeah, I swear this much is true,
There ain't a word in this world that describes you

I can talk all day long about life,
After so many wars, how we're all still alive.
I could speak all night long about the world,
How it took me thirty years just to find one girl.
I could shoot shit for days all about guitars,
A Gibson or a Fender, it depends on who you are.
But when I try to say something that you never heard,
There are no words

I could burn your ear off all about space,
Why we have a moon and why the moon has a face.
If the earth is spinning, why we all stay in place?
Why we can't walk it's gotta be a space race.
But what can I say,
That's gonna' blow her mind away,
Tryna write a classic, not a throwaway.
All I've seen, all I've heard,
When it comes to you, there are no, there are no, there are no words, no words.

Yeah, there are no words.
Yeah, I swear this much is true
There ain't a word in this world that describe you, that describe you.
Yeah, I swear this much is true
There ain't a word in this world that describes you.

No words.

There are no words to describe, quantify
What's inside you, your feeling, your vibe
Believe me, I've tried to break you down to a science
See you in my mind then I open my mouth and it's silence
I can articulate a Shakespeare poem
Even though I didn't know him
I can see where he was going
And where he's coming from
I can even catch his flow
And then I think of you
I don't know where this metaphor is going
'Cause there are no words you can understand, only lovers can
You can ask the professor and the madman
If they couldn't find the words, no one can
All I've seen, all I've heard
When it comes to you there's just no, just no words

(Just no words, no words)

Yeah, I swear this much is true,
There are no word in this world that describes you, that describes you.

Yeah, I swear this much is true,
There are no word in this world that describes you.

There are no...
There are no...
Just no words

5 things

I really don't mean to copy my friend's blogging style but there is just too much happening in the last 2 days. So I think it would be easier for me to give a rundown of these things in no particular order.

1. Yesterday was the third year anniversary of the Super Typhoon Yolanda that hit the Philippines hard, particularly the province of Leyte. Key government personalities especially the President and Vice-President have graced the event. The President was angry to note that amidst the huge donation and funding from other countries for the unfortunate victims, he did not find the housing structures satisfactory. What? After 2 Christmases, this has not been finished yet? Who would have known where all those money went? Where are the Yellow Tards who would do anything to lambast President Rodrigo Duterte? What is your excuse on this again?

photo taken from sunstar.com.ph

2. To "break the ice" because of his anger, President made a joke about the lady Vice-President's knees. The YellowTards took this as an offence to the highest degree. Even putting it as "inappropriate and tasteless". And instead of focusing on the main event, on why President Duterte got angry and broke the ice, they are now sensationalizing it. I pity them journalists sometimes. It is their doing why they are not trusted by the people anymore. They make a big thing out of nothing. As he said, the media can depict him as rude and they can have their day, he doesn't care.

3. Mocha, a staunch supporter of President Duterte, has been invited to write in the newspaper Philippine Star which resulted to some people in social media being disgusted. Some said that she is not a journalist and she is not capable and not fit to be in there. Well, I think anyone is entitled to their own opinion and Mocha as well. I am proud of her because she is passionate to support the President and to provide a light of knowledge to the people being blinded by local media. I believe the newspaper needs her more than she needs to contribute to it. She has a huge following on Facebook anyway. 

image taken from politics.com.ph

4. Toblerone, one of my favorite chocolate brand, has announced that they changed the shape of their famous bars. The company has decided to lengthen the gaps between the distinctive triangular chunks and these have caused an uproar with their fans. This move was done as the company has to decide to raise the price due to the increasing cost of the ingredients or just changing the look of the bars. Well, at least they are not difficult to break anymore as before.

image taken from Woad.com

5. No political analyst has foreseen but finally America chose Donald Trump to be their 45th President. Garnering a total of 279 electoral votes than that of Hillary Clinton's 218, Trump became the surprise winner. I did not follow the election period of the country but through Facebook I know that the people have mixed emotions about it. I guess what we can do is to wait and see how he will live up to his promise of:

So much politics today, eh? Well, I guess I should go out of Facebook sometime so that I won't be too updated. Thank you for reading and 'til next blog!

My thoughts on the SC Ruling of Marcos' Burial

image taken from kami.com.ph

8 November 2016 -- Today, the Supreme Court of the Philippines with a 9-5 vote and one inhibition, has decided to have the body of former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of Heroes). 

Finally 27 years after his death and after 2 Aquino Presidents in the country, this happened.

I am not a Pro nor an Anti Marcos and I truly can feel for those who suffered during his governance. I understand that Martial Law victims and family of victims have been deeply scarred and traumatized with the inhumane deeds that were done to them. There were a lot of horrid stories that I've read and saw on the movies as well. It is easy for me to say but I think it is high time to move on from that. 

The Supreme Court as the highest court of the land must have well studied the case according to the rule of law and the constitution. Since Marcos' death, there were a lot of chances for the previous administrations to have avoided this chaos if they did go over the conditions and who can and should be buried in that cemetery. Instead they must've been making sure that influence and possibly wealth to circulate among them.

The SC just upholded what was in the constitution, specifically Republic Act 289 of which is an Act providing for the construction of a national pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes and Patriots of the country. 

I understand the outcry of some people but we have a law and it must be followed. If only it was revised and studied very well to be more precise by the people whom we trusted or elected then, more or less we could have been satisfied with the outcome of this case.

In the end, it's only a decomposing body that will be buried. EDSA and People Power will always be in our hearts, minds and history books.There is no use crying over spilled milk now because of this ruling. This issue has long divided the nation, as what President Duterte said. Burying him there or wherever will never change the more important issues we have now such as the proliferation of drugs. It is high time to focus on the important and pressing matters which will affect our future and not the past which, I'm sure, we've already learned from. 

12 things to try out in Bangkok

Bangkok is my happy place. I really don't know why but amidst being a busy metropolis with thousands of people all over, I feel happy visiting it. Maybe because I have not lived in a huge city as that of the capital of Thailand. 

I found that there is a lot of things to do and see there. Here are some of the  exciting things to I have done in Bangkok so far:

1. Visit the Wat Arun Temple. You can read more about my story at this blog post.

2. The city has its fare share of old Catholic Churches as all religions are being respected here despite being a predominantly Buddhist country. Me and my friends were able to visit one of the beautifully preserved Catholic church also detailed in this post.

3.  Visit an attraction/restaurant like Chocolate Ville. My story here.

4. Be close to some famous people and have a photo opportunity with them. All possible at Madame Tussaud's Bangkok. Our fun experience can be recalled on this post.

5. For a fun and romantic night, why not try a cruise. There are a lot of Chao Phraya Dinner Cruises to choose from. Me and a friend had an amazing time. You can read about it here.

6. Shopping and walking around is such a treat in Bangkok. There are a lot of nice places worthy of an instagram photo as well as places worthy of time for good or cheap finds. This is taken at Siam Paragon.

Funny and cute statues outside Siam Center.

7. I don't quite get tired of temples and awesome unique structures. When a visiting friend came to visit, I joined her adventure to visit the Grand Palace. However, we got lost and ended up in another temple which is also amazing. It was still a good day :)

8. Try out Bangkok's colorful taxis. But due to the city's traffic, it might be a good idea to try some alternatives such as riding a public bus, or the BTS or MRT. 

Otherwise, trying out a boat is not that bad too. I tried one when I had to go for a morning appointment. I had to let 3 boats pass me by because it was so full! Finally, I was able to squeeze in to the 4th boat.

Or ride the famous and colourful tuktuks of the city.

9.  Be adventurous and try visiting a floating market. Our half day tour here.

10. See the city and dine with good food and great view at Baiyoke Tower. Details here.

11. Discovering nice restaurants with good ambiance is a nice treat.

12. And of course, satisfying the palate is not to be missed. I never get tired of Thai food though I've been here for 2 years now. It's still as exciting as the first time I tasted it. From the street foods, to fancy dishes, these are all accessible in Bangkok.

I have yet to come back to Bangkok and discover other amazing things to do. I will make sure to share my stories on this blog. Thank you for reading 'til next post! :)