Thought I would post a blog with just some pics.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
I Kept Thinking "What Are Those Things?"
8:45 PM Thurs 1/9
Walking due west from the Guest House down a road that is more like an alley, I saw these things at the end of the driveways......and thought "What are those for?"
Once I figured out what they were, I wondered what are they were made of?
Then I wondered how they were made?
Ingenious.
The "green trash can".
Made from recycled and recyclable material.
Fewer tires in rivers, ends of roads and trash dumps.
Can be run over, backed over, will not dent. Indestructable.
Will withstand a hundred monsoons and not rust.
No need to buy a new trash can when the wind blows the lid across town. There is no lid!!
Will last forever.
Cheap.
I am sure that anyone seeing me take pictures of their trash can had their own questions about me and what I was doing, but travelers are always either asking questions or are being asked questions........and being stared at. That is the name of the game in travel.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
The No Travel Travel Blog
W10:38:05 AM
"Not so fast, big guy" I was told by my inner being last night. Have you forgotten the old adage than you need to take one step back for every two steps forward? I need to take a step back first before leaving Chiang Rai. Well, I took a step back with my cold yesterday. I thought that was the cold that won't quit. But this not some common cold.
I have been dejected, injected, inspected, protected, connected, infected and subjected to a variety of things the last week. Re-entered Thailand from Myanmar on New Years Eve, now 10 days in the distance. Since then I have focused on finding a safe, comfortable, friendly landing spot and the Janispar Court Guest House here in Chiang Rai has fit the bill. It has about 10 rooms and just opened last week. I doubt if my bed had ever been slept in. At about $15.00 a night with food cooked onsite, it has fit the bill perfectly. Jiab, Weau's 32 year old son will run to the store and buy for me whatever I ask for, which has been only watermellon and pineapple. Jiab was my driver on both trips to the hospital.
Being in Chiang Rai on the 9th of January was not on the agenda, but then neither was a week of travel in Myanmar. Anyway, I don't like scheduled travel all that much anyway. If I did, I would be on a group tour vs. solo traveling.
As is true with all travel, you must take the good with the bad. It helps a great deal to think positive and think more about the good and less about the bad. I am grateful I am here in Chiang Rai and not in Keng Tung, Myanmar. That place did not have an electric grid (no power poles, wires, transformers, etc.- the hotel power came from a generator), there were no ATM's or banks, almost all the roads in town were dirt, I never saw a tractor or piece of heavy equipment, and almost everything was cooked on wood or charcoal fires, with only a very few exceptions. I doubt if there was much of a hospital. There was an incountry airport, so it would have been possible to get to the states in a day or two via Rangoon then to BKK and eastward from there to the states. But I had left almost all of my luggage in Mae Sai and had only brought the essentials with me for a three day trip.
Myanmar is one of the world's poorest countries, but it does produce 90% of the world's rubies, is the world's largest producer of Methamphetamine (much of it sold here in Thailand) and is the world's second largest producer of opium, behind Afganistan. 37% of the population is unemployed and the per capita income is about $837.00, which is about about 4 times higher than it was 12 years ago when they opened up their borders and started letting people in.
I could be there and not here in Thailand. That is the bright side. A very bright side.
Have done little but rest and attempt recovery in my room. Drink lots of water, eat a little fruit, watch with some hesitation either of the the two English language stations on TV - one a Japanese sponsored news and "Gee, Ain't Life Great in Japan" station and the European Sports Channel. I listen to music. Not much to blog about unless it is about the room.
So about the room:
You may notice the sprayer on the wall. Similar to the one common on kitchen sinks in the US. I have noted them in most hotel bathrooms (all are "wet" bathrooms, i.e. the entire bathroom is part of the shower stall). I guess the sprayer is an Asian type of bidet, used for washing up after business is complete. Well, there is great water pressure here, I would guess over 100 PSI. If you used the sprayer to wash "down there" you might possibly blow your genitals to Bombay! You could use it to powerwash the driveway!
Hope to continue to kick the bug and am anxious to head to Laos, though doubt I will make it to Viet Nam. Hope to depart in 2-3 days.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
My Body Returns
Wed 1/8. 12:16:37 AM
Laid down this evening with the hope of finally getting a full night's sleep. Still felt sick, unengaged. Have not read, typed much, made blog entries, looked at the web much, thought about anything other than how bad I felt. Have barely left my room other than to go downstairs, eat some fruit and let Jiab know I am still alive. He has driven me to the ER twice, bought watermellon for me and always asks me how I am feeling.
About an hour ago, my body "came back to me" after 7 long days. I was asleep, started coughing, woke up in a heavy sweat, turned on the lights and instantly felt that something was different. My body had returned. I felt like flexing my muscles....stretching, reading, writing, thinking, planning, blogging.
So that is the good news. As I am now about 10-12 days off my intinery and have only 4 weeks left, I started considering bypassing Viet Nam. You can only fit so many things into a schedule and I do not want the balance of this trip to be a race.
Hopefully will depart here in Chiang Rai tomorrow and head over to Udon Thani, Thailand by VIP bus for a day or two, then up into Laos. 10-12 days there then fly south to Siem Reap for a week touring Angkor Wat. Think that will be about all the time left will allow.
Thailand has excellent, cheap heathcare. My 2 ER visits, blood work and 7 Rx's were less than $75.00.
II have been about as sick as I ever want to be again. Did not have any measurable or meaningful sleep for 5 days, had a fever, ate little more than 2 cups of watermellon a day, coughed incessantly, and had a headache all the time. After the second visit to the ER and the blood work for swine flu or the bird flu, I was very relieved that results were negative. I was thinking about Myanmar and where I had been.
Now that I am feeling better, should be able to post some stories of the next month of travel.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
BJ to the ER
First posted 1/4/14
At 7 pm tonight I was so weak, I went downstairs told Jiab that I need to go to the Dr tomorrow AM no matter what. He said we go now. We left as soon as I got my passport and money from my room.
Efficient, short waits in all processes. Dx Severe Upper Resp Illness. Received an antibiotic shot, 6 or 7 Rx's. Took about an hour. About $25.00 US. Saw a young Thai Dr. that understood me and Jiab helped me understand what I could not understand of the Dr.'s Questions.
Nurses wore white shoes and pointy hats....like the 70's in the states, but they put me hopefully on the recovery road. Have not slept at all for 3 days due to incessant coughing. Confident it was from the 5 hour ride in the back of a tuktuk from Keng Tong, Myanmar - at 2200 feet in elevation - up to 5450 feet up to the British Hill station about 6 days ago. It was about 35 or 40 degrees on the way home and Slim failed to tell me where, how, far, how high, how late we would be returning. All I was wearing was a lightweight shirt since it was hot at 2 pm when the 3 of us met up for the afternoon.
All I took was my camera, phone, passport and not a single other layer of clothing I bought a cheap Burmese blanket...all 3 of us did in fact....that helped a little on the ride down the hill, but we were going to be traveling in an open tuktuk at times up to 20 MPH for 2 hours. Most ofbthe time we were crawling at 5 MPH because the road was so poor.
The tuktuk driver was laughing at me at the Hill Station. Sometimes you can just tell what people are saying even if you do not speak or understand the language. It is usually what you would be saying if you were them. He was telling some other Burmese "He has no coat!!" and then they all were laughing. If they could have understood me I would have told them that I was not told about the extent of the trip accurately....I was told we would be back in Keng Tung to go the Akai dance festival at 5 PM. They did not tell me that it would be after 7:30 pm, cold and dark. Sun sets just after 5:30.
Have not had enough energy to recreate the three days of blogs that were lost in Myanmar, nor transcribe my notes on notecards for that time frame. Have just been in bed with lights off, with a fever, coughing, sweats, chills, a headache, drinking lots of water and not eating.
Still in Chiang Rai
Original post date Sunday, 1/5
Still not strong enough for travel. Since health care is cheap, very good and minutes away, will continue to stay in Chaing Rai. Had first sleep in 3 days last pm....albeit sporatic....but not enough.
Cough lingers as do the sweats. All symptoms have improved. Can walk a bit and climb a few flights of stairs. 36-48 hrs ago I was dead meat. Once positive I have this licked, will put on the backpack. Until then will hole up where it is comfy, cheap and I am well cared for. Thailand is as modern as many parts of US.
Laos, if and when I get there, will be more like Myanmar. Poor heath care in Laos and probably none at my destination...the Plain of Jars.....is in the hinterland....hours from any healthcare. It will be like Kung Tong, only much much smaller. Rural village life. Dirty, smelly, dusty, poor roads, questionable food preperation. Do not want to head out on the wrong foot. Following my prescription plan the Dr gave me.
Travel is enough of a hassle without unnecessarily adding feeling bad. I can stay here indefinitely, comfortably, for $25.00 a day all inclusive. No worries, mates.
Did feel good enough to eat some thing other than a few pieces of watermellon whichis about all I have eaten for about 3 days. I have no appetite.
In the afternoom took a walk to the 7-11 and bought a can of beer and some chips, since Jiab and his mom were gone and their little restaurant was closed. It was open when I returned so I entered, cracked the beer, took two sips and immediately felt like I was going th faint. Quickly asked Jiab for something to eat. Told him please be quick, I feel like I am going to faint. He promptly brought some toasted raw cashews and I normallized, but I asked him to walk me to my room.
Last night at 2 am I awoke and was dripping wet. Rested all afternoon. Showered at 5:30 PM and started sweating profusely. Went out anyway to a street maket with Rondi and Andy, watched some Thai dancing the sat in a bar and watched the end of the Philly and N.O. football game from about the middle of 3rd quarter to the end. Walked back alone to my room and started taking all my meds.
Have lots of notes on paper, just have not entered as a blog. Will upload when able. Tired, sick.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Keng Tung to Mung La
Sunday, December 29. Keng Tung, Myanmar.
Awoke early and hit market in town one last time. Folks friendlier as I begin to lower my guard and become accustomed to the place. Some attempt English - they will say hi or hello. The folks in the city are much more likely to engage than the hill tribe people. Ate some of the fried things (one was like a corn hush puppy, one was like a fried zuchini, and one was like a deep fried chopped onion and pancake batter fritter) from the same lady I bought from 2 days ago. Took her picture. Paid for the assortment of 7 fried things with a 500 Kyat note, received 200 Kyat in change. Breakfast cost - $0.30 US.
Took pics all over market. Made second trip into the pork house and the fish stalls. The meat house was selling either beef or water buffalo....I am sure both were there. The beef house has almost been empty both visits. Beef is not eaten much. All through the market I never saw one chicken for sale, but chicken is often on the menus in restaurants.
There are no stainless steel counters that are washed down with bleach in Keng Tung' pork Market.
Back to the hotel to xfer photos to iPad. Met travel partners at 9:00. Before departing to Mong La, we had to run to market to change Thai Bhat into Chinese Yuan. 1 Yuan = $0.18 US. The exchange rates are much better in Kaing Tung. Met w driver and made the 3 hour drive over to Mong La on the border with China. Nice newer car. Road not nice nor newer.
About 5 miles outside of Keng Tung there was a roadblock with about a half dozen police. There was lots of discussion between the driver and the older, presumably senior policeman. Turned out that our driver did not have a vaild license to transport foreigners. After some negotiations he paid a 10,000 Kyat fine or bribe and we were back on our way. 2 or 3 other checkpoints were uneventful.
Nice scenery as we drove up hill about 3000 feet from the valley floor of Keng Tung. Road at times was deplorable, other times OK. Travel partner Tom made it clear to Slim that he was hungry - real hungry (it is all about him all the time) so the driver started driving faster, a bit fast for me, but I was in the front passenger seat and figured that I had air bags and Tom and Slim in the back did not.
Passed through some hill tribe villages and saw bamboo huts and very poor living conditions. Approaching Mung La, it started looking greener and more prosperous. There were telephone poles and wires. There was a piece or two of heavy equipment like a backhoe or a front loader. Pole green beans growing on 3 pole teepees. Acres and acres of them.
Construction equipment of any type was not to be seen anywhere around Keng Tung. It started looking more prosperous....signage switched to Chinese.
Arriving in town it started looking like the China you see on TV. Mung La, about 40,000 folks, is a gambling destination for The Chinese and there are 3 casinos in town. There is considerable prosperity; the Chinese are well dressed...even fashionable. Saw many Chinese women in very high heels, nice silk jackets, makeup and designer style clothing. The wild west look of Keng Tung is absent. Looks like a developing city with dozens of buildings under construction. Backhoes, cranes, and other heavy construction equipment. I even saw a single tractor, the first in Myanmar. We ended up going to 3 or 4 hotels to look at rooms.....Tom was like Goldilocks and the three Bears. This one is too hard, this is too soft. The 4th hotel had only one room and Tom said he wanted to stay there. It had twin beds. He offered to share the room with me. That would be unbearable and I think I would have prefered the floor of the police station over sharing a room. I declined and told Slim I wanted to stay in the nicest hotel in town.
Went several blocks down the road and got a room in a new hotel that was nicer than any of the others for about $50.00 US. Paid in Yuan - about 298 Yuan and I was required to place a 500 Yuan deposit, which about left me broke with Yuan, but I do have Kyat, Bhat and US dollars which I can exchange, but at a lower rate than in Keng Tung.
After checking into room TV would not work. Went down the hall to get the housekeeping supervisor to assist and this skinny young Chinese man popped out of his room right in front of me wearing the ubiquious Chinese slippers, a white tank top undershirt and his skivies. He entered another room further down the hall. Apparently the hallway is just an extension of your hotel room to the Chinese. The housekeeping supervisor showed me the card reader that the room key card must be inserted into for power to work in the room, similar to the hotel in Bangkok. All patrons at the hotel - in fact every hotel in town - are Chinese here to gamble.
Received message on my iPhone that said "Welcome to China" and the message explained calling charges and texting charges. TV is all in Chinese except for one station in English. Channel surfing further I came across a Station with Japanese porn that looked like it was shot with a black and white camera by an amateur. This is still Myanmar, but it is more like China.
Met my 2 traveling partners for a walk around town. Every third store was a cell phone store, intermixed with designer clothing stores and a few stores selling ivory tusks, tiger skins, tiger teeth and most interestingly, a 5 gallon glass jar - like the old glass 5 gallon bottle used for drinking water before they all became plastic - with a little spigot on the bottom for draining the liquid from the jar - which appeared to be snakes, salamanders, lizards and who knows what else in some type of liquid.
Most enjoyable part of the evening was the Chinese street musician that had a little boom box like contraption slung over his shoulder and a mandolin like instrument. We heard him playing across the street and I said "let's go check that out." He could cue up background music on something like a karoke machine and then play his Chinese mnadolin and sing traditional Chinese music into a microphone attached on his mandolin that was connected to the mini boom box. The sound quality was amazingly good. It was quite enjoyable. Wa sat and watched as he played several songs and sang. T and I tipped him.
At dinner, I ordered a sweet and sour chicken to compare to that in the US. Slim described it as 1/2 of a chicken - sounded like too much for me to eat, but since there were 3 of us to share the dishes with, I said ok. After 1/2 of the dish I determined that they must have cut all the meat off a breast piece, then chopped the remains into 20 pieces and served that to me because all I could find was rib bones with tiny scraps of meat attached and a couple pieces of fat. I doubt there was more than 1 oz of meat in the dish. I had one bite that was all meat and no bone or fat. At least it was a relatively inexpensive dinner - $6.00 each, including my 2 beers. The Chinese in the restaurant continously stared at us.
Back to the hotel and to the room and could not get lights to work. The room had a card detector like in Bangkok. It requires the room key card to be inserted for power to come on. It is an electrical saver....when you exit the room you take your door card key, the sensor notices that the card is gone and turns off all the power. I tried the card every which way, every switch every which way, over and over. After 20 minutes of fussing and using my flashlight to see, I went down to the desk. Someone was called and they went with me to my room, walked in, placed the card in the slot, banged the card reader with their fist and poof - the lights came on. I got a look like - hey, you dumb American, you should know that you need to pound the card reader with your fist to make it work.
Laid down and decided that the matress was really just a piece of 1/2" plywood with a 1/4 inch of foam padding and a sheet on it. It is harder and has less padding than the carpeted floor. Tore the bedding off to look at the mattress and it looked normal but is the hardest bed I have ever slept in or ever imagined. Put the unused hand towels and bath towel beneath me for an additional 1/4 inch of padding and also,added the blanket I bought on the visit to the British Hill Station several days ago.
The toilets runs due to a leaky stopper valve, there is a karoke speaker system blasting below my room and it sounds like the noise is transmitted directly to my room via the toilet. About 1/2 hour ago there was some absolutely terrible singing by a woman singing off key wafting through the room with the boom, boom, boom of the subwoofers shaking the walls and the floors.
I can drown out the karoke and the runny toilet with a pair of earbuds and an iPod I have along, but the hard bed is just something I will need to endure until morning.
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