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...
Thursday, 6 October 2011
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....
Sunday, 27 February 2011
One more update
Yesterday we went to the Dusit Zoo and Xenne had a blast. He loved the Seals show so much that he didn't know whether to jump up and down with excitement or sit with me quietly and enjoy it... It is something we'll do again i'm sure especially since there is little else to be done it seems. Especially since it has been raining for the past 2 nights....
This afternoon we'll fly back to Yangon. The weather is getting hotter and hotter but i find it is cooler there then here in Bangkok. Here the heat seems oppressive already. And we're not yet in the really hot season. True, they do have better electricity here so it isn't too difficult to escape the heat.
Pictures of our trip to Bagan in December.
This afternoon we'll fly back to Yangon. The weather is getting hotter and hotter but i find it is cooler there then here in Bangkok. Here the heat seems oppressive already. And we're not yet in the really hot season. True, they do have better electricity here so it isn't too difficult to escape the heat.
Pictures of our trip to Bagan in December.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
A quick hi from BKK
It has to be quick this time since Xenne just showed up next to me and wants loads of attention. It rained today in Bangkok so our trip to the park will be canceled i think. Though we might give it a try after all in an hour or so.
Yesterday a trip to the visa section of the Myanmar Embassy. It was busier than I have ever seen it. So may tourists (relatively speaking of course) waiting in line. Unfortunately the few people who wanted a business visa also had to queue up just to get a number. It took longer to get that number than to hand in your stuff at the counter..... When it was pick up time the line for the tourist visa pick up was so long that people had to queue up outside the embassy...
Ok, time to take Xenne somewhere...
Yesterday a trip to the visa section of the Myanmar Embassy. It was busier than I have ever seen it. So may tourists (relatively speaking of course) waiting in line. Unfortunately the few people who wanted a business visa also had to queue up just to get a number. It took longer to get that number than to hand in your stuff at the counter..... When it was pick up time the line for the tourist visa pick up was so long that people had to queue up outside the embassy...
Ok, time to take Xenne somewhere...
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