it is quite obvious that I have other priorities at the moment....
Luckily in Yangon we don't have any of the problems with flooding that are now happening in Bangkok. Though there are some parts of Burma where there are problems. There was a flash flood in Pakkoku (across the Ayeryawaddy from Bagan) apparently which was mentioned in the newspapers and quite a few people died. Nobody seems to know why the river flooded so fast.
And there are some problems in other parts of the country. But am not exactly sure where.
But as said before, Yangon is fine. We still have rain every so many days but it doesn't cause any trouble. Hopefully things will get better soon in all the areas, both in Burma and elsewhere, where floods are now.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
And the other part that I wanted to post the other day...
I'd planned to write a nice observation on something or another tonight but am too tired. Of course we have the normal family things going on. Thandar went over to a friend's house on Saturday. That was a new experience for all of us. She did miss home a little I think since she called 3 times for various reasons. Xenne and I made apple-cinnamon muffins from a banana-nut recipe. I sometimes have to improvise a bit here. This time Kyaw Kyaw was supposed to bring bananans but had too much shopping stuff already. It was a very good experiment and there are 2 only muffins left. I also made some oat- and wholemeal buns. That was also something I was asked to do again. And true, they taste great. Baking bread and cookies is something I do more and more. Especially since everybody here likes it when I do it. You can get good quality bread here prices start between 4 and $4. Not to mention that you have to take a taxi either to one of the big hotels or to Sharkey's and you enjoy bread for about $8. That is a bit much I think. Besides, This way I can bake whatever I want. And those oat-whole meal buns are definitely not to be had elsewhere.
Then today we did our shopping, I corrected a Maths test and some homework. For dinner I made an impromptu 'pesto' -sauce to top the pizza. That took em a little longer than I expected but the result was great. KK and Thandar especially were almost fighting over the last bits.
When Thandar had her first taste of western food (pasta) she said she didn't like it. Now, she asks me every other day when I'll be cooking and baking next.... It seems I'm doing something right in the kitchen...
Then today we did our shopping, I corrected a Maths test and some homework. For dinner I made an impromptu 'pesto' -sauce to top the pizza. That took em a little longer than I expected but the result was great. KK and Thandar especially were almost fighting over the last bits.
When Thandar had her first taste of western food (pasta) she said she didn't like it. Now, she asks me every other day when I'll be cooking and baking next.... It seems I'm doing something right in the kitchen...
Finally I got my stuff together (I hope)
This is what I wrote the 29th of September....
It is funny. For the better part of a year I haven't written anything on this blog. It seemed to be so pointless with me only being able to update the blog when I was on a visa run to Thailand. Now my mind is reeling with the possibilities and of course, having found out the site is no longer blocked, I can't resist writting a little tonight (Tuesday). This is by no means a guarantee that the blog will be kept up in future. I have to admit that an family extension from one child to three children makes time even more of a precious commodity but now at least when I do write something, I have the possibility of posting it as well......
Now, with the whole world at my fingertips (well, Yangon at least) what shall I write about? I think I'll spend a good night's sleep on that. Provided Eaindra will let me. So far she's been the easiest baby ever. 2 months old and sleeps an easy 6 hours a night. Admittedly, not always the most convenient hours for me but even that seems to be changing. The last 2 nights she wanted to be fed at around midnight. She woke again at 3 and 5:30 two nights ago. Last night (or better said: this morning) she came at 6 am. I hope she will continue to do so. Then again,.the times Eaindra lets me sleep well, Xenne wakes me up...
It is funny. For the better part of a year I haven't written anything on this blog. It seemed to be so pointless with me only being able to update the blog when I was on a visa run to Thailand. Now my mind is reeling with the possibilities and of course, having found out the site is no longer blocked, I can't resist writting a little tonight (Tuesday). This is by no means a guarantee that the blog will be kept up in future. I have to admit that an family extension from one child to three children makes time even more of a precious commodity but now at least when I do write something, I have the possibility of posting it as well......
Now, with the whole world at my fingertips (well, Yangon at least) what shall I write about? I think I'll spend a good night's sleep on that. Provided Eaindra will let me. So far she's been the easiest baby ever. 2 months old and sleeps an easy 6 hours a night. Admittedly, not always the most convenient hours for me but even that seems to be changing. The last 2 nights she wanted to be fed at around midnight. She woke again at 3 and 5:30 two nights ago. Last night (or better said: this morning) she came at 6 am. I hope she will continue to do so. Then again,.the times Eaindra lets me sleep well, Xenne wakes me up...
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Shoot!!
Now I do have access I keep forgetting to bring the stuff... Today I realise I left my memory stick in the laptop at home. The other day I saved a blog update in the wrong format (still to be posted since on the forgotten memory stick). A great way to revitalize this blog....
Will try and remember to bring memory stick (with another update) tomorrow.
Btw, book week is a success so far. We get a free book for every 10,000 ks spent (about $12) but I've managed to buy the books I like from that stack for 1,000 each (including 2 Dr. Seuss books. Xenne loves those...).
Need to go home and make pasta but someone opened the big tap in the sky... You can't see much further than a few meters. But it's almost five. Wonder if I can hitch a ride in the school mini van. Mmm... worth a try.
Will try and remember to bring memory stick (with another update) tomorrow.
Btw, book week is a success so far. We get a free book for every 10,000 ks spent (about $12) but I've managed to buy the books I like from that stack for 1,000 each (including 2 Dr. Seuss books. Xenne loves those...).
Need to go home and make pasta but someone opened the big tap in the sky... You can't see much further than a few meters. But it's almost five. Wonder if I can hitch a ride in the school mini van. Mmm... worth a try.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Taxi
I actually wrote this last year during the rainy season and never got around to actually posting it. And it is still as valid as it was last year... Taxis haven't improved much. Though it is slightly easier to get a Parami Taxi (very decent with drivers who actually can drive. And Xenne loves to have these taxis). But the antique, striped-down to metal casing-and-wheels-kind of car is also still around much more then they should...
Let me tell you about the average Yangon taxi… Where do I begin? The other day, we came back from downtown. It had rained so here and there it was rather wet. I hadn’t given it much thought since the downpour had happened an hour or so before. We were halfway home when suddenly I feel a lot of yucky-icky wet-something over my feet. I look down and gaze straight at the street. Between my, unconsciously strategically positioned feet, there was a neat, round whole in the bottom of the car. I checked KK side and he too had the same extra aircon…. I was luckier than I though. Apparently there was no puddle on his side.
Taxis here range from decently luxurious (aircon and everything working) and we all prefer those if we get them. Unfortunately, there is never a taxi like that around when you need one. The majority though is of an altogether different kind. I’m by now so used to not having a handle to turn the window down that I automatically search for it in the ‘i-dump everything here place’ between the 2 front seats. You attach it to the little ‘pin’ that sticks out and you can actually lower your window or turn it up depending on your need. Sometimes this doesn’t help though. And then you just push down the window. The taxi driver can always literally pull the window back up later when he has time.
The seats range from ‘have been around since the first days of automotive travel to a little more recent, say 20 years ago. And as for the interior… I’ve been in taxis more than once where there was nothing left of the inside of the doors apart from the metal casing. You just lean out of the window and yank or the driver gets out and opens the door for you…. If doors don’t really budge when they should, I already give a big shove without even thinking about it…
The part that I like (or sometimes definitely not like) is when the most striped-down taxi wants double the price for a trip because I’m a westerner. I do know that the taxi drivers rent the car from the owner and that they have to pay all costs as long as they are driving the car. And a Junior driver (no matter if he is in his 60s or 20s) starts with the oldest car in the owners fleet until he has proven himself. But hey, I don’t have a money tree in the backyard either. Now it is even worse. It is rainy season and my my, prices have already gone up again… Which is especially nice when you have negotiated and get into the car, only to find that the driver hadn’t closed his windows when it last rained… I’ve had a few wet bums lately and I’m sure to have a few more before this season is over… But I am forward now to check the bottom of the car. Just in case we hit another puddle…
Let me tell you about the average Yangon taxi… Where do I begin? The other day, we came back from downtown. It had rained so here and there it was rather wet. I hadn’t given it much thought since the downpour had happened an hour or so before. We were halfway home when suddenly I feel a lot of yucky-icky wet-something over my feet. I look down and gaze straight at the street. Between my, unconsciously strategically positioned feet, there was a neat, round whole in the bottom of the car. I checked KK side and he too had the same extra aircon…. I was luckier than I though. Apparently there was no puddle on his side.
Taxis here range from decently luxurious (aircon and everything working) and we all prefer those if we get them. Unfortunately, there is never a taxi like that around when you need one. The majority though is of an altogether different kind. I’m by now so used to not having a handle to turn the window down that I automatically search for it in the ‘i-dump everything here place’ between the 2 front seats. You attach it to the little ‘pin’ that sticks out and you can actually lower your window or turn it up depending on your need. Sometimes this doesn’t help though. And then you just push down the window. The taxi driver can always literally pull the window back up later when he has time.
The seats range from ‘have been around since the first days of automotive travel to a little more recent, say 20 years ago. And as for the interior… I’ve been in taxis more than once where there was nothing left of the inside of the doors apart from the metal casing. You just lean out of the window and yank or the driver gets out and opens the door for you…. If doors don’t really budge when they should, I already give a big shove without even thinking about it…
The part that I like (or sometimes definitely not like) is when the most striped-down taxi wants double the price for a trip because I’m a westerner. I do know that the taxi drivers rent the car from the owner and that they have to pay all costs as long as they are driving the car. And a Junior driver (no matter if he is in his 60s or 20s) starts with the oldest car in the owners fleet until he has proven himself. But hey, I don’t have a money tree in the backyard either. Now it is even worse. It is rainy season and my my, prices have already gone up again… Which is especially nice when you have negotiated and get into the car, only to find that the driver hadn’t closed his windows when it last rained… I’ve had a few wet bums lately and I’m sure to have a few more before this season is over… But I am forward now to check the bottom of the car. Just in case we hit another puddle…
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Yes.. It works!
But I got disconnected right after trying to post a bit more here. And I couldn't upload a picture (yet). Well, Can't expect too much of course... Anyways, the beginning is there. So it is true, changes are a-happening here. Apparently youtube is accessible now too. Haven't tried that yet. Will be logging of in a minute since I'm already late in going home. Surely Xenne will berate me for being late ("Mama, why you are late? Eaindra is hungry!"). But have book week coming up in school so loads of things to arrange. And we're ankle-deep in the mess of sorting out Eaindra's paperwork (embassies are soooo helpful....I must have emailed the duthc embassy a million times in the past weeks).
Wow....
Yesterday I read in the newspaper that Blogger was unblocked by the government and of course I have to try that immediately... And yes, I can access this without a problem (so far). Now, all I need to know is whether I can actually safe my post. If so, I might be able to get this blog back up and running....
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