First things first, for those of you confused by the “New year, new design” post, the design only lasted for a few hours before I got annoyed and changed it back.
And now on to more interesting things.
On Christmas Eve a coterie of Perrys arrived in Myanmar. Then on Christmas Day we began our trip to Nyaung Oo Phee, an island in the Myeik archipelago (or Mergui archipelago, like almost everything in Myanmar it has two names).
This is our second Independence Day in Yangon, our first being in 2013. In honour of that, we can revisit the two posts from that trip. We look so young, and I don’t know what was going on with my inability to write proper dates.
Also in honour of Independence Day, I thoroughly recommend this review from the LA Review of Books. Not only is the review itself wonderful writing, it is full of interesting information on the current and historical situation in Myanmar.
Soon there will be updates of our exciting Christmas tropical island adventure (and possibly other updates too, sorry Sean), in the meantime, please enjoy this whistle-wetting photo:
Although I guess questions about home and belonging and return and place are really raised at this point. When does the country you live in become your home? When does your country of birth cease to be? Does continuing to identify home with a country outside your current residence negate a sense of belonging, an ability to settle and feel at home? Continue reading Homeward bound.
One of the very many things about which I have been remiss has been not mentioning our first visitors (especially so as our second visitors have just entered their second week of Yangon-hood. But more on them later).
In July Esther’s parents braved rainy season (and Air Asia) to join us for three weeks. We showed them the sights (mostly rain), the sounds (rain falling on various surfaces), and the smells (so many smells) of Yangon. Then we took them to Inle Lake, which is always amazing.
Actually we were pretty lucky with the weather in general, and we have many photos and stories to share, but in the interests of getting something up before September finishes, here are three to prove that it happened.
Which is to say, my nephew is visiting. More news to come.
Or, Yangon Traffic is Bad, Part 512.
As part of my continuing mission to find places to ride my bike in/around Yangon, I’ve been researching where other people ride, planning routes, and then not trying them out because it’s been raining, I’ve been sick, I’ve been lazy, or some combination of all three. Continue reading In which Jonathan accidentally drives to Sydney.
What’s that? No posts for months then two in as many days?! Fear not gentle reader, this marks a return to the semi-irregular updating of yore.*
Rainy season has been mostly quite fun. Sure, there’s been whole days when I haven’t really been able to leave the house, and yesterday I was genuinely scared our car was going to suck water into the air intake and completely ruin the engine, but when you’re inside and dry it’s fun to watch the storms, and when you’re caught outside and soaking wet, you’re still warm. And everyone tells us this wasn’t a particularly bad rainy season, which I suppose is exactly what you want for your first one.
Which is not to say it’s all been beer and skittles, I have — on several occasions — become exceeding wet, traffic is worse (if that’s possible), the ceiling of the embassy even collapsed at one point.
It makes me wonder how to keep from going under.
And by “going under” I mean “falling down”, and by “keep from” I mean “is happening to”.
That’s right folks, it’s a good old Aussie election. Which not only is a chance to wow you with my literal translation of the Burmese word for election (see title), but is also a great excuse to post this:
Which is not the best Radiohead song, but it’s still pretty great.
This is all by way of an overlong introduction to the main point, I have been working (yes, paid employment) for the last two weeks as an issuing officer, thus fulfilling my two lifelong dreams: 1) working at an election; 2) wearing shoes for the first time in months.*
Continue reading Welcome to the choose and collect festival.
The last two weeks passed in a blur of confusion and panic, as I pitted my wits against a somewhat-too-advanced Burmese course and won lost survived. It was very good for my Burmese and I learned an overwhelmingly large amount, although my biggest realisation is just how much I still have to learn. There has been a big shift from my “unknown unknowns” into my “known unknowns”.
And now I shall regale you with some things that I have learnt. Mostly in the “humorous literal translation” category.
Continue reading The fear of a female tiger, and other language lessons.