They say nothing special about Kalaymyo. Just another small town on the way. But sometimes it’s the small, unassuming places that stay in your memories forever. The ‘hotel’ was a family owned affair complete with a niece on reception, a cousin in the kitchen, a son who continued the business and a mama grandmother who sat in her chair in the foyer, cleaning vegetables and … Continue reading Day 6: Burma to Hindustan
Location: Monwya Time: 5.45am Target: A cup of tea Threw on my jacket over my pjs and went out on the streets to look for a cup of tea. Didn’t have to venture out too far when I spotted a bustling stall in the dark street. Tea was Indian style with lots of condensed milk minus the spices. ¾ less sugar than what was in … Continue reading Day 5: Burma to Hindustan
My journey towards the border in a way truly begins from today. From this point, I will be venturing off the tourist circuit well into northern Burma. Taxi dropped me off at the bus stop. (stupid hotel called the same guy from yesterday *sigh*). 15 minutes later, a minivan screeches stop smack bang in the middle of the road. They toss my bag on the … Continue reading Day 4: Burma to Hindustan
Your eyes lock and it’s too late. You’re hooked. I get caught once in a while. Taxi drivers bickered and pushed each other to get the first customers just as the bus doors opened at Bagan bus station. Over the heads, I made the mistake of looking one in the eye. That was it. I knew he wasn’t going to let me go. With no … Continue reading Day 3: Burma to Hindustan
The ‘guesthouse’ was on the 7th floor and communal breakfast served on the 8th. The cheapest sleeping space I could get in Rangoon. Cheapest being 35USD totaling to $70FJD per night! Despite the crammy rooms, the breakfast area came with abundant sunshine, tinkling chants from the nearby pagodas and a 180 degree view of the city. Suruj would have said it’s good start. Waking up … Continue reading Day 2: Burma to Hindustan
This trip has been coming for some time. One of the last countries to open its doors to the world, Myanmar offered more than just intrigue to my nomad heart. It shares its borders with one of my favorite countries, India. And it came off a blog post last year when I first thought about crossing over to India overland from Burma. Google searches for travel … Continue reading Day 1: Burma to Hindustan
Only because of the sheer numbers of temples, I’ll have to do most of this in pictures! Besides Angkor Wat there are many other complexes in the reserve. Before Buddhism spread into Cambodia, the Shaivism and Vaishnavism branches of Hinduism were widely followed. The Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh deities are craved all over the Angkor temples along with stories of Mahabharat and Ramayan engraved on walls. On bridges leading to gates … Continue reading Temples of Angkor (In Pictures)
Loosely known as the 8th Wonder of the World, the temple complex known as Angkor Wat in Cambodia is huge (for the lack of a breathtakingly better adjective!). On the UNESCO World heritage list, it was commissioned by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century. Constructed to be a Hindu temple to honor Vishnu. Later in the years, it changed to a Buddhist temple when Buddhism swept through … Continue reading Sunrise over Angkor Wat
With my airport pickup not showing up despite several email reconfirmations, it spelled out how things work in Cambodia. While I usually try not arrive in a new place after dark, there are very limited connections to Phnom Penh from Sydney. Arriving half-dead on the back of a tuk-tuk at midnight is a sight probably very familiar to the guys at the guesthouse because no … Continue reading Passing through Phnom Penh
Ever dreamt of throwing it all behind, getting on a boat and cruising down a river on a hammock for the rest of your life? I did that. Well…for 24 hours at least. On the backwaters of Kerala. I arrived in Alappuzha (Alleppey) on a 7-hour hair-rising local bus ride from Trivandrum around 8 at night. Wet, stinky and with sore arms. Sore arms from getting a … Continue reading Waking Up on The Back Waters of Alappuzha
Where is Shyamni? 