image via Tripadvisor

Mawlamyine is said to be the setting of George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant. This is also probably the Moulmein Pagoda Rudyard Kipling was referring to in his poem, "The Road to Mandalay" where he said, "By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea...There's Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me." (How many lovers have watched the sunset from here? )


I haven't read the book or the poem but I fell in love with how beautiful and peaceful the Mekong River winds its way across the islets that can be seen from the top of the Kyaik Tan Lan Pagoda.The tiny islands in the Mekong were bathed with a reddish tint as the sun went down and the panoramic view was very romantic. 

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

I'm not much of a sunset person until just recently. Maybe because I always associated sunset with the time birds go back to their nests so kids have to scuttle home at this time as well. There is no chance to sit down and see how beautiful it is because you have to be home before it gets dark.

These days, I have began to appreciate its beauty when someone started pointing it out to me. The changing of the colors as if the clouds are slowly ombre'd in the sky before it gets pitch black and the silver moon peeps through is like watching an artist paint his empty canvas. How the nocturnal beings are slowly waking up. Try to sit and watch the sunset and you will feel a certain peace after a long chaotic day. It feels like cooling down.

Sunsets are beautiful endings. Do you like sunsets too? What made you love them?

Growing up, I was never a music lover but ever since I've been working at home, I began filling the silence with songs streamed from either Youtube or Spotify. Through the course of time, I have made my own travel playlist which I'd like to share with you.

1. Time to Share by Gemini

2. Perfect Strangers by Jonas Blue

3. Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift

4. Come Away With Me by Nora Jones

6. Rivers and Roads by The Head and The Heart

7. Catch and Release by Matt Simons

8. Summer by Calvin Harris

This product review of Champion Detergent stems from my own hand washing experience.(Yes, I'm now a domestic diva! And I can't believe it as well!)

You only need a small amount of Champion detergent powder to create suds. I believe it is a strong formula. Left Yumi's uniform for a few hours and it only took a few scrubbing to get the stains on the neck out.

However, my hand felt so dry that even if I have put on moisturizer it didn't help. Day 2, my hand was so itchy. Now it is day 3 and there is micropeeling. I wonder if I make a solution and apply it to my entire body, soak in it for a few hours if I will also micropeel. That would be more effective than kojic acid or papaya soap.

Overall, my product review for Champion Detergent is it's worth every peso but you need gloves to protect your pretty hands.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Seems like kids in the town of Kyauk-me are on the look out for foreigners to invite to their evening English class. One kid was waiting for me patiently at my hotel to take me to his class in his motorcycle. I did and we had fun!

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

It was mostly conversational English. The teacher asked me to tell the class where I come from and what countries I've been to, a background of my family and what my job is.

The kids were so curious. Everyone was calling Phili-pins as Phili-pines!

I had some mango chips so I shared it with the class. They loved it!

Photo Credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo Credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo Credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Photo Credit: Dominik M. Ramík

There's a Pagoda on the side. You can climb up and check it out.

Check out the sign! It's my favorite. It says GOODBYE FOR ALL HUMAN!Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Mingalaba!

If you are coming from Mandalay, I suggest you go to the bus station really early like 7am or earlier. Once you miss the bus your next choice is to get a shared taxi. I paid 6,000 kyat (1000kyat cheaper than the locals) for my six hours shared taxi ride. You can also get to Kyaukme by train.

I stayed at the Northern Rock on a fan twin room for 7,500 kyat a day. The owner who is a doctor and his wife speaks good English and arranged our tour with Thura.

I originally planned a 3 day and 2 night trek in Kyaukme heading to Hsipaw but when I was in the area in May there was an insurgency. The people from upland were running from the rebels and evacuating to the town on the very day we were supposed to head up and see the mountain tribes! A week before we arrived a tourist even got hurt in a crossfire.

I did not book anything in advance for the entire trip. Yes it does sound irresponsible but the spontaneity allowed me to be flexible and also saved me a couple of buckaroos! It was not peak season after all.

So plans changed...

Here is what to expect in a typical trek with Thura in Kyaukme:

1. The more the merrier.

The more people are on the trek, the better because prices will go down. I was lucky to join a couple of girls from Malta who booked in advance.

2. Learn how to drive a motorbike on the spot.

3. Bike through beautiful scenery.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

4. Tea plantations everywhere.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Most of the locals here are tea planters and they have been doing it for generations!

5. Pickled tea leaf salad.

Image via the hungarybuddha

6. Taking breaks in roadside cafes.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

7. Meet, greet and sleep with the Palaung Tribe.

8. Maybe meet another minority like the Nepalese.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

The Nepalese in Burma are another minority that just intermarries among themselves. They came with the British hundreds of years ago and live in houses made of cow dung. They also work in the tea fields.

9. Meet some animals

Horses that you have to shoo off the road. Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Burmese cat in Myanmar. Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Holy cow! Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

Carabao. Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík

10. Dress in the local costume.

Photo credit: Dominik M. Ramík