Kathie

LL, the ethnic violence, and human rights violations have been going on long before the country's opening. Indeed, the extent of the ethnic violence and human rights violations pre-opening was believed to be one of the reasons for the secretiveness of the government. While we know more right now about the anti-Muslim violence occurring in Burma than we did pre-opening, there was plenty of violence to go around before... remember that the government forces have long been trying to exterminate dissident tribal groups.

Chris, I love reading about others' experiences in Burma. The country is changing so rapidly!

Janetd5

Chris - I'm enjoying your blog and photo diary of your SE Asia trip and taking notes. Love the detail! I recently returned from a 20 day trip to Italy (solo, and must admit to being a bit obsessive in it's planning), and can't imagine the stamina needed for a three month adventure! In November a friend and I will travel to Burma/Myanmar for a seven day cruise (and reserved a balloon ride in Bagan), plus time in Yangon and Inle Lake - the usual travel route. And since this is our 'once in a lifetime' visit to the area, we are adding time in Siem Reap and Bangkok. So I'm looking forward to the continuation of your blog. Thanks for writing and sharing your trip!

cwn

Chis, Thank you for taking the time to post your blog. It is very timely for us also. My DH and I will travel to Myanmar March 2015 as part of a five month trip to Australia, Bali, Myanmar, Thailand and Africa.

You really had a time getting started, but sounds like things are smoothing out.

We will do the normal tourist route in Myanmar plus a short river cruise. I am loving all the detail and the pictures and am adding notes to our travel plans with every post you do. Can't wait to read more about Burma and Thailand.

Thanks also for the comments on medical issues...at our age (both 70) that is always a concern! But. hey, if we don't do it now, when?

Thanks
Carolyn

Kristina

Chris-
I'm enjoying your blog posts.

Might I make a suggestion? You may want to consider changing the titles of each of the blog posts from the date to a more descriptive subject or the city/location.
If you do that, it will be easier for Google to find in searches and once people get to your blog, it will be easier for them to see what you've written about in the lists of posts on the right side bar. Right now, it's just dates and one has to click on each one to see what the subject is. It will also make it easier for you to find and reference your own experiences later on.

rhkkmk

I love the report..

Send complaints directly to CEO of jet blue. Be specific in demanding compensation... Be bold

chris45ny

Kristina-

Thanks so much for the advice. I made the changes and it does make a difference!

Kristina

Chris- that looks great!

sartoric

Cwn - you're coming to Australia ??? When will you be here and what's the plan?

Sorry to hijack Chris, really enjoying your blog by the way...

cwn

Chris, I wasn't having any problem following your blog with the general headings, but the change does make finding something later easier. I will have to remember that as we do a blog when traveling also. Can't wait for the next installment!

Sartoric, we leave SFO on Feb 8 and arrive in Sydney on March 3. We are using the QEII as our transportation over, as the long flights are really hard on me. Then we will head directly to Tasmania for about 2 weeks. I have a car and several cottages reserved...then to Melbourne for some time on the GOR...the two areas we really want to visit that we have missed.

sartoric

Cwn - how cool, a trans pacific cruise, smooth sailing to you !
I'm sure you'll enjoy Tassie, autumn is lovely in many parts of Australia.
Sorry again Chris, please continue....

Kathie

Following along... I also loved staying along the river in Bagan our second trip. The Thande was a place I considered, but didn't know enough about it. Thanks for the nice description!

chris45ny

I have finally posted our Balloons Over Bagan and long day of temple sightseeing on my blog. It took a while to do as I had so many pictures.

Next installment is a boring day of going to the market in town and vegetating by the hotel pool. At dinner I will have one of the best tiramisu ever.

I'm posting pictures of the places we stayed and where we ate as a visual tool to assist others hopefully in making decisions about accommodations and dining options.

cwn-Your trip sounds great and I will look forward to your report! I've been thinking about Australia and New Zealand but never considered a Pacific crossing instead of a flight until you mentioned it.

Kathie-We really loved Thande as it sits right inside the walled area of Old Bagan. Plus it was so inexpensive for what we got!!

progol

Just started reading Chris and am also enjoying the blog. Sadly, back to the R.W. ( real world!) and hectic work schedule, with less time to rad all the wonderful blogs and TRs!

I've been looking forward to reading yours, Chis, so will need time to savor it!

Paule

chris45ny

Next part done on the blog. May shock some as it details problems/disappointment with Minthu, horse cart driver who gets high praise on the forums. You'll have to read and decide for yourself if my disappointment was justified or not.



SS was good but not what we were expecting.

yestravel

Just catching up. And yes, I would have been very annoyed with Minthu.. I don't understand why he didn't tell you in advance that he would be unable to guide you and offer you someone else. If he had done that I would be disappointed, but not annoyed. Sorry that happened to you.

I love that your dinner was less than your laundry! We also had great meals at Starbeam. Liked it so much we ate their twice.

cwn

Chris,

I am loving all the food pictures...Asia is hard for me food wise as I am allergic to all forms of soy products. Plus I am just plain picky sometimes, but the chicken with the mushroom sauce looks soooo good! I have put that in my notes as a must try restaurant and meal! The pasta looks good also.

Thanks for all the great detail...your blog is excellent!

II agree with you, I would have been annoyed also....especially contacting you so close to your tour time...he had to know that the village was planning something by then.

chris45ny

yestravel-BTW have loved reading your posts/reports. I don't know why he didn't mention it either in his e-mail that he sent me on Feb. 14th. I never did get to "see" him. I had read so many glowing reports about him-how he's so good at developing an itinerary and then giving a list of what you've seen to you at the end of your time with him. I was so excited to finally get to meet him and spend time with him. Initially I felt like a deflated balloon. Luckily I figured I wouldn't get a list at the end from his uncle so I made notes as we went and made sure to take pics of any sign boards. I don't feel as though I lost out or that my days with SS were bad. I just got blindsided and I really had enough of that with the whole Jet Blue/stuck in Beijing fiasco. Though it would have been nice if Minthu had invited us to his wedding celebration! LOL!!!

cwn-Glad you are enjoying the food pictures. Years ago when I started taking pics of our dinners my DH was annoyed with me but now I'm not the only one taking pics of food anymore as I see others doing it also. If I do a review on TA for a restaurant I always include pictures. And that chicken in the mushroom sauce was out of this world and I don't even care that much for mushrooms!

yestravel

Very strange he didn't mention it in his email. No reason not to. And yes, would have been very nice to invite you to his wedding which he talked about at length with us in January. I guess they are still learning the ways of running a business. We had many interesting conversations with various biz owners in Myanmar and the mentioned being overwhelmed and not quite ready for so much business. Btw, he did nit give us a list of where he took us. We ended up asking him to go over and in some cases spell out where he took us, so you didn't miss out on that at least.

chris45ny

Bagan is done. Now starting on Mandalay.

yestravel-
Ah, no list. I think I read in someone's post that Minthu gave them a list but maybe this was when he wasn't as busy as he is now?? Did he give you any info on the temples? His uncle didn't but fortunately I had done a little research so no big deal.

In all we really enjoyed our time in Bagan even though we got rained out that one day. We didn't have a single bad meal, the temples we saw weren't too crowded, and I bought some lovely lacquerware from Jasmine Family Workshop. The only thing that I might not have done knowing what I know now is Salay and Mt. Popa. Climbing all those stairs nearly killed me!! Oh, to be young and fit!!

yestravel

Yea, the steps at Mt. Popa were a killer esp in bare feet.
Minthu was very informative. He didn't give us written material, but described much to us, both about the temples and life in Bagan. He had some printed material he referred to and showed us pictures from. Sounds like his uncle may have been a driver and not a guide. We went with Minthu's brother on our third day. The brother was a driver and while he provided some info, not nearly as much as Minthu and he didn't go into the temples with us.