Brief summary:

During the summer of 2016 my buddy Dominik and I spent a month in Thailand and a month in Myanmar. During this trip we had to deal with a terrorist bombing, mudslide, earthquake and a wild cobra.

Travelling and interacting with Myanmar people was something that cannot be captured by words or pictures.  Nearly everyone we encountered had an air of innocence regarding tourist scamming and had no harmful intentions.  Transport information was not current and oftentimes wrong, so we engaged with the locals more than expected which turned out to have a wonderful lasting impression on us.

As for the food, it turns out that MSG is one of the food groups and oftentimes topped with oily noodles, though we managed to stay fed and somewhat healthy. Towards the end of our travel we had gotten the hang of what we liked and also how to avoid the MSG kicker for the most part.

I only have a few words about Thailand – great food and lots of fun –

Enjoy the pictures!!!!!!

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Summer 2016 Travel through Myanmar and Thailand

Since our visa was up it was time to come back to Thailand and enjoy some fun and food..Trip ended September 20, 2016

Nothing says fun like cycads and botanical gardens

This is the queens garden so it is pretty special

This display was dedicated to plants that live exclusively on limestone

Bromileads

Water lotus

You may have already guessed that I like botanical garden stuff

Funky flower

Lots of native colonies

Random insect nests

Native insect doing what it does best

Sacrificing himself for excellent bug pictures

Really feeling the nature

Extreme nature trail leading to some caves – on the trail there was a COBRA – no shit

Somewhat abandoned cave which was still cool and some extreme areas

Water falling

Always heed the warnings

We decided not to rent a car because we didn’t have licenses – so we got motorbikes instead

Started off real nice and smooth

Got a little bumpy

We can handle dirt roads

Totally rethinking our previous decisions

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

After lots of grueling hours of riding we made it to heavens gate

Along the way we stopped at caves and waterfalls

Bug wrangling is not a part-time job

9 story high cave room

Hard to believe we were sweating on the beach not too long before – now at 6000 feet or so

Dramatic Landscape

Natural hot-spring/geyser

Day 3 of motorbike touring

Day 4 of motorbike tour we encountered oil on a curve

Damage ensued

Happiness prevailed

800 km of fun and adventure

One last brilliant sunset in Thailand – for me it was a kiss goodbye…… for now

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Chiang Mai Loop – Thailand

Leaving Hsipaw we decided to soak up some cooler weather in Pyin Oo Lwin

First stop was a botanical garden established by the British

Of course the bug wrangler barely noticed the awesome bamboo

If you look close enough you will find me

Bamboo paradise

Another fun picture

Visiting a Buddhist carnival cave

Watch out for cave gators

Even Buddha needs some help looking good

Tranquil valley stream

Always have to exit through the gift shop

Nearly all the vendors carry the same items

 

Inle Lake town with rainbow thanks to the monsoon season

Preferred method of transport

“Toyota makes the differents”

D and I setting off for a early morning sunrise boat-ride – never again – too early

Traditional fisherman – paddling with a leg

View that is “almost” worth getting up early for

Goods going to market

These tomatoes were grown in the middle of the lake on floating gardens

Floating garden in various stages of growth

Pesticide application even on water gardens

Two cool guys on a boat ride

Building teak boats by hand

Real craftsman

Workers on scaffolding without shoes or safety

Religious icon / scary spider

Cave with 8000 Buddha statues

While at the sacred cave these gentlemen are watching MMA fighting and James bond

Some sticky potatoes – spicy carrot salad – and cashew chicken – Yummy

This guy was making traditional wood umbrellas quickly and beautifully

Food court at Inle Lake airport – waiting for our flight to Tachileik since there are no roads

Choice of carbohydrates

After the carbs freshen your breath with pizza candy

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Inle Lake – Myanmar

3hr bus and 7hr taxi then we are there

Local girls

Largest book in the world – Google it !!!

Nothing says devotion like sparkles

Very shiny

Probably the worst toilet on the trip – located at a temple

You there – i know you didn’t wash your hands after using that toilet

Hotel room with a view

In search of hot-springs

Some sort of giant red alien – image captured by Dominik

Getting bigger and stranger – Humbert was his name

This is how macro bug pictures happen.

Nothing is as happy as a water buffalo in a river getting splashed

Nice waterfall just outside Hsipaw town

Typical farm life – my favorite picture

Just a short distance up-hill from the previous picture – town trash fire –

Beginning of our 2 day hike to some tribal villages – our guide in the background –

Beautiful countryside – chemical corn as far as the eye can see

China sells onetime use pesticide laden corn seeds to Myanmar that is then sold back to China for animal feed and then the meat is sold to Europe and America.

Getting corn and tea-salad to market

Water delivery system

Sleeping arrangements in a Palau village in the mountains

The “bug wrangler” is easily excited

Magical morning fog

Inside of a village house – notice the open fire and no chimney –

Super-giant tree

Parking lot

Typical village house

Newer version of village house

E.T. crossing

Not sure about this one – but don’t do it

Time for another train ride

Apparently train track vegetation clipping is not a priority – notice branches inside window

Yes those are real tiles on this train toilet floor

Most famous bridge in Myanmar

Super happy buffalo – check out the little smile

Notice the cow – yes he was stopped for the red-light

Average balanced meal – fruits and 2 kilos of MSG

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Hsipaw – Myanmar

Headed to the land of temples

Another long train ride – this station was impossible to find if not for Mr. Miyagi

Morning at the market

No chain businesses in this area

Intricate brickwork

Surreal landscape

Ancient city was strong from 9th to 13th centuries

Fun with Filters

Some of the original stucco has remained

Riding into battle atop the war-kitten

Most temples have Buddha statues inside

9th Century locals

Unfortunately there was an earthquake as we were visiting the temples

Over 300 of the temples were damaged – vary sad

On the bright side there was a beautiful rainbow within an hour of the earthquake

Of course the Buddha likes some bling

Amazing colors from the sunset

Simply Amazing

Happy sunset faces

As you can see – broken stupas

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Bagan – Myanmar

~ 6 hours driving – not bad – train ride ~12

Shopping available on the train

Waterfront properties

Taking in the sights

Rice farming

Pagodas are a common sight throughout the landscape

At each road intersection people stand with a green or red flag letting the train know if it is clear.

This guy is part of the entertainment package

This girl has already seen dancing guy so she is bored

Afternoon commute

Time to plow the fields

Big Smile

Climbing a tree to harvest ‘Toddy’ wine

Sitting in the lap of luxury

Running into a mudslide across the tracks – 2 am – of course

Train station in Pyay – after 12 hours riding through the night – lovely

All night train ride – then we end up at a grimy guesthouse

After our long train ride and crappy hotel we needed a nap at a temple. While there people were taking pictures of us because we were foreign and handsome i’m assuming

Another nice golden pagoda

Original style pagoda still standing in the old city

Solid brick pagoda – built in 4th century – the old city was the largest in SE Asia at its peak

Friendly local inhabitant

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Pyay – Myanmar

Short flight or 19 hours on a bus.

Shwedagon Pagoda – Yangon

Colorful character

Obviously

Buddha bathing and flower offerings

Yesterdays offerings

Temple scraps

Yangon harbor – timeless

Always TyFirst

Safety shirt – check

We decided to visit the National Park

Leg-room was not offered on this bus

At the entrance to the park cookies and bananas are sold for feeding the wildlife

Not native but still adorable

Same comment as above applies

Spotted a jackalope I’m assuming.

Bringing the cuteness

Waiting for more visitors

Lunchtime decisions – maybe – maybe not

You are what you eat – no he didn’t eat these.

Now that we rested and regrouped we are ready for the next travel challenge – train station

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Yangon – Myanmar

Kawthoung to Myeik overland – 11 hrs of epic adventure

Bus terminal with tire-fire.

Dominik and I have been though hundreds of local bus trips in nearly all conditions but this time we got off the bus before it left the terminal.  It would have been physically and mentally impossible for us.

Instead we took a minibus and had no regrets.

Oil palm plantations as far as the eye could see.

Traffic sharing the road.

Low tide at the harbor – so much trash it was unbelievable.

Daily routine for the fisherman.

Loading ice onto the boats. Which entails a truck of ice-blocks arriving and the guys unload them and push them into the crusher.

Fisherman waiting for the next voyage.

Vehicles waiting to unload the nights catch. One cylinder diesel engines driving the wheels through a belt.

Searching for Pokemon

Buddhist Pagoda

Colorful and creative religious monument

Getting to meet the locals

Construction site – notice the women – there doesn’t seem to be gender issues

Colorful fruit stand

Rewiring an electric motor

Overview of town and harbor

Lucky for us there was an English speaking local that befriended us and showed us the town and foods.

As long as there is a good sauce it doesn’t matter what you eat.

After our bus travel trauma we decided to fly to Yangon. Thank the lord for air transport.

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Myeik-Myanmar

Getting from the island of Ko Yao Noi to the boarder of Myanmar

Getting from Thailand to Myanmar

Trustee transport ship

Once we realized what we go ourselves into

Heading out to sea!!!

Super scary – and wet – the panic is clearly seen on Dominiks face

Greeted on the mainland by the natives

Sunset in a different land

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Kaw Thoung – Myanmar

Boat ride taken to the island of Ko Yao Noi

Side of the road waterfall

Latex gathering

Waiting for another playmate

Muay Thai ring returned to nature

Local harbor

Swingin in Paradise

Bungalow

Exotic Beach

Side Job

Half of the biker gang

Finally non powdered coffee

Highway devil

Thai forest bugs

A terrorist bomb was detonated 300m from us

Luckily no one was hurt in the blast

Posted in: Asia by John Gamache /
Comments Off on Koh Yao Noi – Thailand 2016