Yangon: Chaukhtatgyi Paya’s Reclining Buddha, Monk’s Quarters and Meditation Centre on Jan 5, 2012 in Myanmar Travel Yangon Buddha Burma Pagodas Paya Rangoon Reclining Buddha The tranquil face of a gigantic Buddha filled my vision as I enter a large open shed with metal roof. He seemed contented there, reclining on the floor with his crown adorned with diamonds and precious stones glittering for everyone to see. This is C...
Yangon: Walking Downtown and Crossing through Sule Paya on Jan 2, 2012 in Myanmar Travel Yangon Burma Culture Pagodas Paya People Rangoon Street Town “Where are you from?” is the usual ice-breaker question people here would ask. “I’m from the Phillippines” I replied with a smile as I bite into my toasted slice of bread with a healthy layer of butter and strawberry jam while having breakf...
Ironwulf En Route Travel Chronicles 2011 on Dec 29, 2011 in Chronicles Travel 2011 Year Ender “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” - Paul Theroux Can’t agree more with the author I thoroughly enjoy reading a lot from lately. People are quick to say how great and envious they are hearing about my travels to a certain place, probabl...
Makati: Bright Lights Beckon this Holiday Season at Ayala’s Symphony of Lights on Dec 26, 2011 in Metro Manila Philippines Travel Ayala Christmas Makati Captivating. Dazzling. It’s really an experience watching the Ayala Triangle Symphony of Lights. I brought some of my relatives there and I was amused seeing the awe-filled look on their faces. This is another thing I like about Christmas, a lot of...
Manila: Simbang Gabi and some Christmas Wishes on Dec 23, 2011 in Metro Manila Philippines Travel Christmas Churches Culture Heritage Manila Manila Cathedral Simbang Gabi Traditions UNESCO First let me greet you all a blessed Christmas. It’s been a crazy year with a lot of highs and lows. But Christmas is here to remind us to count our blessings instead and see the world in a different perspective. I can’t say that things have all...
Yangon: Mesmerized by the Golden Shwedagon Pagoda on Dec 21, 2011 in Myanmar Travel Yangon Buddhism Culture Heritage Landmarks Monks Pagodas Paya Rangoon Structures Surprisingly, the endless stream of people didn’t bother me at all. My sight was fixated at the cone-shaped stupa piercing the sky. The afternoon light strikes its slab of gold layers making it shimmer magnificently under the sun. I am humbled by t...
Pampanga: Giant Lanterns Bedazzle Again at Ligligan Parul 2011 on Dec 18, 2011 in Pampanga Philippines Travel Christmas Events Festivals LIgligan Parul San Fernando I try not to travel around during the holiday seasons as the vehicular and human traffic is horrendous at this time of the year. But I decided to make an exception on the 17th of December 2011 to witness this year’s Ligligan Parul 2011 or the Giant...
Yangon: A Walk to Botataung Paya and Monk’s Robe Weavers Encounter on Dec 14, 2011 in Myanmar Travel Yangon Burma Pagodas Paya Weaving Maps are my best friend when I’m exploring a new place. Starting from where I am, the Motherland Inn 2, I asked the girl at the reception for the location of the Thian Phyu Money Changer Center on the map and found out it was about 3 blocks south w...
Yangon: Motherland Inn 2, A Backpacker’s Home on Dec 11, 2011 in Myanmar Travel Yangon Accommodations Burma Hotels Rangoon Sleep As always, the first step when coming in to a new country is adapting. And this process can be an ease or a struggle depending on our initial encounters with the locals. And it couldn’t be any easier when the place you’re staying is already used...
In Transit: From Clark to Yangon via Bangkok on Dec 7, 2011 in Myanmar Philippines Thailand Travel Yangon Airports Bangkok Burma Clark Transit Transportation There are no direct flights to Yangon, Myanmar from the Philippines so I had to make a couple of flights to get there. First step was to get Bangkok, the closest possible airport to Yangon. I was lucky to get a cheap flight there through an introduct...
