The World is my Playground?

In early 2009, my best friend told me that I think the world is my playground. I laughed and told him that it sounds like a nice thing to be able to say. Well here is Janet Hsieh encouraging everyone to make the world their playground.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake was very beautiful. It was too loud to talk on the boat, but not too loud to listen to U2's SONGS OF INNOCENCE.

OZZY & MTV in Myanmar

I wonder if Mr. Osbourne is aware of this store?

The last memorable thing MTV gave us was Beavis & Butthead!

From my hotel window

From my hotel window

From my hotel window

This was closed to the public, but they made an exception as long as my guides and I didn't spend more than 30 minutes inside the walls.

U-bein bridge

The remains of 10,000 ancient temples and pagodas

By now, it all seems so routine. Try to get a flight around midnight so I don't have to rush to JFK Airport. Try to get a flight that takes off when I am tired and ready to sleep, because it takes at least 12 hours to get to Asia. Last time, my layover was in Dubai, this time, Taipei.

The flight was around 15 hours and it seemed like I slept on and off for 10. I'm so grateful to have an iPad! When I'm awake, I typically switch back and forth between movies, books and music videos. My music video for my 1st flight was Metallica's Quebec Magnetic. I also watched U2's From The Sky Down and read Lonely Planet Myanmar.

The layover in Taipei was so quick, my Burmese friend and I only had time to get a smoothie before boarding the China Airlines flight to Yangon. I'd never flown China Airlines before, but it wasn't any better or worse than other airlines I used to get to Asia.

The flight to Yangon was less than 5 hours, which seemed like nothing compared to the previous one. I watched God Bless Ozzy Osbourne and PJ20, and spend the rest of the time talking to my Burmese friend. The flight seemed less than 1/4 full which was not totally shocking, since I'd been on Air Asia flights, which were HALF FULL (that's a Pearl Jam song) at best.

After landing, my friend and I had to get in separate immigration lines, this was THE FIRST TIME (that's a U2 song) that I had to get a Visa before I left my country. I booked the flight on Monday (Memorial Day) night and left just over 72 hours later, which is rare for me. It took less than 24 hours for my Visa to be approved and I made it through their security with the same ease I make it through security everywhere except driving into or out of Canada.

We were picked up at the airport by my friend's family and the first thing we did was went to eat. As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I can feel that Southeast Asia heat! For me, there was only one thing I wanted to try.........MOHINGA! I wasn't disappointed and I looked forward to eating more in the coming days.

After spending a day (and night) in Yangon's Chinatown, my 2 Burmese hosts & I took an overnight bus to Bagan. Like 5 years earlier in Turkey, the buses were very nice, but unlike Turkey, it was difficult to sleep in the bus because of constant horns honking and potholes. 

Most of our day in Bagan was spent looking at all the old temples & pagodas. It was repetitive, but any time I travel in Asia, my hosts insist that I must see many, many pagodas & temples. There's always one more we need to see!

Walking from state to state

Over the past 2 years, I've walked over the the BMW (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg) bridges. Today I decided to walk over the George Washington. I drove to Fort Lee Historic Park  and parked my car there. After spending about an hour in the visitor center, I started my walk to New York.

A walk like this is not nearly as fun without music. I chose Soundgarden's King Animal. When I think of their latest album, I think of my 1st night staying with a Thai family in Songkhla province (Southern Thailand) the night before my 34th birthday.

After crossing the bridge, I made the not so easy trip to Fort Washington Park with the intention of arriving at Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse.

It was only mid afternoon and I had seen what I came to see, BUT for the past couple years, no trip to NYC is complete without getting some french macarons. Macaron Parlour on the Upper West Side is the closest place to Washington Heights that I'm aware of, so I took the A train to 168th Street, where I transferred to the C train.  I exited at 86th street, along Central Park West. Macaron Parlour is between the 1 line and the BC line, but 86th street is not an express stop on either line.

After buying a dozen macarons, I listened to U2's War on my iPhone and took the 1 train back to 181st Street. I wanted to get something to eat and as I was getting close to the pedestrian entrance to the GWB, I spotted Bangkok Heights. Washington Heights is not known for Thai food, but besides Los Angeles, Thai people do not have their own areas, so their restaurants tend to be scattered about. I had a bowl of Thom Kha, put on the Rolling Stones Tattoo You and started what seemed to be a much longer walk across the GWB. While King Animal reminds me of Songkhla Provice in Southern Thailand and maybe NYC, Tattoo You makes me think of Cancun (March 2002), Berlin (November 2006) and Songkhla Province (February 2014). Although I like some songs more than others, I listened from start to finish this time. Half the time I might skip SLAVE, BLACK LIMOUSINE, HEAVEN and NO USE IN CRYING).

When I finally made it back to my car, I was happy to be done walking. As much as I take pride in being an urban explorer, that was a lot of walking. I still had the energy to buy a few things at Hmart before taking the long ride back to Pennsylvania. The Henry & Heidi podcast made the long, boring drive on Interstate 80 go quicker.

Ko Chang Island

I was in pretty extreme pain when this picture was taken. I'm trying to SMILE (like the Pearl Jam song) here, but I had the worse earache I can remember.

This was similar to Bali in earlier 2014. Ending the trip on an island, with nothing to do for a few days but spend time with friends. I always wanted to let the little fish have at my feet and finally did. My friend and I rode motorbikes around the island and got some great pictures. Lot of Russians here, which surprised me.

Fun with friends in Trat

Very close to Cambodia, but we never made it there. I was happy to see my friends here & we ate excellent seafood.

My 35th birthday in Chiang Mai

This was unexpected. After a day in Chiang Rai, our driver took us here before dropping us off at the hotel. They had a good variety of macaron flavors. Besides that, Chaing Mai was the only Thai city I've visited where I could wear the same clothes 2 days in a row. It was just warm. Not humid & hot. This was a welcome change after starting in Songkhla province.

My 35th birthday in Chiang Rai

My 35th birthday in Chiang Rai. There's something amazing about arriving somewhere that you've been seeing in pictures for years! Also the 2nd year is a row that I spent my birthday in Thailand. I hope to spend my 36th there as well (or maybe Indonesia).

Bali

I love to visit historical sites and am usually on the move when traveling. I found myself in Bali for 4 days, with no major agenda except to spend time with friends. It was different for me, but I enjoyed it. This money exchange branch has my initials!