Week 18 (Burma (Myanmar))

10/19

Rose at 7, breakfast, packed, Said goodbye to Tony (who waved us out (dutchism?)).
On the road to Bagan (I think) for two nights.

Flat tyre after 1 hour (our third in total). Rip off lunch, arrived at Golden Pot
guest house at 16.00 h. Share a room with Mat (nice for a change). Visit temples
tomorrow (more than 3500 in this area; pick your choice).

Went for a long stroll in the village. Restaurants all over the place, but no beer
selling, untill... beer and tv, but... they had to extend their account for sport
channel ... 1 telephonecall later i was watching the germany (verdamt noch mal)
football competition (mit Arjen Robfen). Over 2 beers i saw all the german
highlights of this weekend. Back to the hotel. Matt had bought a 1,5 $ bottle of
rum. Hips. Laterzzzzzz and another zzz.


10/20

Woke up at 6.45 or so. Breakfast in the hotel. Then, the whole day temple seeing
with Marainne and Jean. Comfortable in an airco-ed car, so... Managed to get some
new shorts too (too tight though). Interesting day though.

Now a guitar and a cold beer. Also did a jam sessin with Adam (new truck driver). He's an amazing guitar player and the jam was accordingly. We broke Wills guitar though. Needs some repair on
the bridge.

10/21

Woke up at 6. Short chat with Riza. Breakfast and on the road to Lake Inle. Along
drive. 10 hours was predicted, so... 12-14? We'll see.

9.00 h. Shock. Accident. a scooter, 2 people on it, drove against (not under) the
truck. Skin on the tarmac. Nasty flesh wound, but nothing too serious. Still ... brr.

Lunch in a "Highway Restaurant". I thought it was great (i love the burmese
kitchen) but some of us still have their home standards when it comes to taste and
language. I say no more, but i felt ashamed for some of my fellow travelers.
You're not at home! They do their best. They try to speak your language, so.. meet
them halfway and start to speak your own properly! Dammit!

Anyway, arrived at the little village near Lake Inle (or Inlay) at 16.30. Checked
in in a very nice hotel. Did my laundry, checked emails (finally a bit wifi),
snacked and had 2 beers for (about) 1 Euro. Cold draughts. Lekker! Nu blog
updaten... oh no, first finish my laundry.


10/22

4 months on the road now. Still love it, though could use some more privacy.
Anyway.. woke up at 7 something. Fantastic breakfast, shaved, showererd,rented a
bike a drove a long, long way around the lake. Nice drive, but no swimming
possible (like i had hoped). On the way back i ate the best tomato soup ever.
Complete made from scratch and sooo amazingly good. I said it before and i will
say it again: the Burmese kitchen is fantabulous. Really, give it a try if you
can. Try to add a new week to my blog now... failed, due to chats.

Ok, did another bike tour. Getting dark now, so ... Update blog Jan.

And i did the update.. and i did go to the Evergreenbar again for food and just 1
beer... more 2.. and then it started to rain .. and then Dennis and I decided to
have 1 very last beer ... and another very last ... well, do i need to tell the
rest of the story? It was late and it cost me the content of my wallet.


10/23

Woke up too late, breakfasted too late, packed too late, on the road now to
Taungoo for a one night stand (so to speak; sorry, still under influence (that's a
dutchism)). Laterz...
Long, long drive, nice and very cheap lunch (40 cents), Arrived in Toungoo round
18.00. Showered, ate, emailed, walked, star trekked, slept.


10/24

Rose at 7, breakfast, on the road to Yangon. Drive shouldn't be too long (heard
that before though). Anyway, laterz...
Arrived at 16.30. Bad wifi, but the rest is OK. Walked to the center of town, had
a beer with Shaz and Jean. Listened to some fantatstic kareoke artists (NOT), and
then the rest came back... ordering beers and what did I do.. yes the sensible
thing... update blog and go to sleep. Bye bye.


10/25

Woke up at 7. Heavy rainfall. Very heavy. Checked mail and the dutch news.
Managed to get breakfast after 9 AM. Went for a long stroll to the Lake and the
park. Nice place, where i wanted to go again at night to have diner.
Small siesta. Then another long stroll, to the harbour, its markets and the
Pagoda. Nice, but extremely hot. Had some snacks, which made me not have diner.

Zipped a beer next door to the hotel. Finalized the day with a star trek episode.

Week 17 (India and Burma)

10/12

Woke up at 7.30. Breakfast, packed, on the road now to Shillong. Laterz.

Long drive. Passed through lots of small vilages.

Arrived here round 19.00. Diner with salted cookies and a Sprite. Stay at a kind of Salvation Army hostel. Don't mind, though everything is a bit "itchy".
Everybody slept at 10 PM or so. I didn't though. A star trek episode was calling my name... I slept at 12.


10/13

Everybody woke me up at 6.00. Managed to postpone getting up till 6.40, to end up first on the truck, where i'm updating my blog now. Get some breakfast now if i can. If not... got some salted cookies left ;-) . Laterz...
PS; got itchies from last nights bedbugs. Eeewww...

The road to Silchar is extremely long and very bumpy and slow. It's past 18.00 h now and we're still 40 K away from it. Pffff...
The scenery is stunning as usual.

What happened is what i expected. So late in Silchar that no hotel was to be found. So, drove on and on, untill 23.00h. Tried a place to put up tents (i decided to sleep on the truck). Then the Indian police came and send all the tents away. They took us to another spot, where we (they) could put up their tents again. I didn't again. Slept lousy on the truck to be wakened again at 5.


10/14

Woke up at 5, still a bit sleepy now. Feel lousy. We're at a border of a province now, to fill out of form with visa data etc. Laterz.

Mud, narrow bridges, a good and very friendly breakfast, to go short: Another long  drive followed. Last part was good tarmac though. It's amazing how much you appreciate a piece of decent tarmac after al the bumps, potholes, mud, narrow bridges and so on.
Arrived in Imphal too late again, so another night sleep on the truck. I manage to get some sleep every night though.


10/15

Woke up at 6. Tried to: wash, eat, brush, etc. Found some very, very friendly local people, who were willing to open thier gas station for us (need diesel badly). They were angles in disguise, really. Today (of all days) everything is closed. it's a national strike day. So, how bad can your luck turn. Well, this bad obviously. Heading for the border though. Hopefully the people there are not on strike. Hope to talk to you again in Burma (Mayanmar).

10.30 3 check points, only 100 yards apart. And all of them want to see our pasports and check the pessengerslist. No coordination, and it takes ages. So annoying. Indian is retarded when it comes to administrative coordination.

Some more checkpoints, an ebola check (good) and then... Yes, Burma or Myanmar as they call it today. Another long wait at immigration, a 3 hour drive to Kalaymyo. and then finally... a long, long shower. Man i have never felt this dirty before. 3 days on the truck (including sleep) is really too much. Glad it's done.
Wifi here is not good, so... FB friends... laterz.

Star trek, a beer and a good night sleep, that's what i need now.

And that's what it became.


10/16

Carlos woke me up at 7, after a very good sleep. Good breakfast in the hotel, now on the road again for a (1 night) stay in Monywa, and then 2 nights in Mandalay. Keep you posted.

And again it took so much longer than we expected. We were supposed to arrive between 2 and 4 PM, but... it turned out to be 10 PM. The three Burmese people travelling with us have no clue of distances and avarge truck speed and so on. Very friendy people, but a bit naive (and their english sucks). The lunch at 1.30 however... was fan f*cking tastic. The burmese kitchen is my favorite from now on. Man, sooo lovely. If you ever get a chance to eat burmese... do so! And the people serving it... so incredibly kind. Waving coolnes to us, while eating. And one of the burmese guide tours paid for it all.

OK, back to last night. We arrived at 10, showered, found ourself a kind of local food place, where 6,5% beers of 650 ml cost 1$. You get it huh. Bit of a headache (ish) now. Slept well though in a clean, bug free bed. That's good.

Still waiting for a new front window for the truck now, coz we hit a big branche, just before we arrived at the hotel. Glass all over the front of the truck. Luckily no wounds.


10/17

Woke up at 7.45 or so. Updating blog. Not packed yet and waiting to leave... for Mandalay. They say it's only a 2-4 hour drive. Somehow i don't believe that. ;-)
Laterz...

We arrived at 13.00 h, so...not bad. Burma is loaded with temples. Temples everywhere. When we entered Mandalay, you could see at least 40 temples.
Hotel is really nice, so are the people. First stroll at 15.00h, heavy rainfall. Sheltered at a litle shop (got a chair immediately) and did some shopping. Bad wifi brings me to the lobby of the hotel. Updating my blog here. See if i can say hello to my FB friends. Laterz.

Napped, Got a beer and food next door (amazingly, how people trust you: the bar owner just says, get the beers from the fridge, gives you pen and paper, so yo can write down what you took), another stroll and back to the place next door. The party started... Met Adam (successor of Adam, nice bloke and an incredible good guitarplayer (yes, better than me)), doing funny faces on camera, singing songs, met a local popstar, all in all: great night. Will and I ended up paying the bill (34 $ for 12 people partying... is that cheap or what?). Don't remeber coming home very clearly.


10/18

Woke up with a hangover (8 AM is really too early), updating blog. Still a smaile on my face for last night. Laterz.
Shit! Forgot to take my malaria pill yesterday. OK, 1 extra today i guess...
10.00 h did a stroll, got bread and coffee and a softdrink. Napped.

14.00 Long, long walk around the palace, up hill to the temple. Amazing views.
Met... Tony. He was here (had not seen him since China). Coincidence or what? It was good to see him again. So, we went to the temple together.

The walk was more than 15 K all together and i was exhausted when i arrived at the hotel.
Took a shower, changed clothes, and had diner next door with Tony (for "old" times sake).

22.00 h, to bed with a star trek episode for a change...

Week 16 (Nepal and India)

10/5

Rose at 7, breakfast and at 8 we were on the road again. Long, long drive, lunch in an small Nepalese town (friendly people as ever), flat tire at 5 PM, 6 PM bush camped (since a long time) in a very moist grasland. No mozzies though. Played some guitar after diner, went to bed at 9 to see a star trek episode. Despite all the heat and moisture inside the tent , i slept well.


10/6

Rose at 5.40, Cereals and coffee, toilet thingy, 6.45 on the road to the border with India. Hopefully see u there.

Crossing the border was a piece of cake. Warm here though. Went to hotel in Siliguri, 3 hours drive in jeeps from Darjeeling (the truck can't get there). Going tomorrow.

Nepal, summarized, is a great country. People are friendly though a bit naive, it feels safe, it's cheap (except for beer) and the Nepalese woman are stunningly beautiful. Had a great time and hope to be back here for a 3rd time one day.


10/7

Rose at 7.30 or so. Waited for 45 minutes for my breaskfast. Then... they ran out of toast and eggs, so.. no breakfast.
The 14 of us (Tim, Ozzie Alli and Greg are already in Darjeeling) went to Darjeeling by jeep. 3,5 hours drive. Great scenery again. Along the highest railway in... the world (?), a high one anyway.
It seemed that the hotel only had rooms with double beds, but in the end, there suddenly were rooms with 2 double beds, so no prob. Unpacked, updated blog and now.. food! And coffee.

Started with an hour nap. Then a long stroll to the bazaar (100's of clothes, herbs and foodshops). Ate some Samimo (? never can remeber that foods name) 's, tried to exchange my last NR (Nepalese rupies) inro Indian rupies, but exchange rate was too bad.

Went back to the hotel (it's a crappy hotel btw, smelly, sticky, well we're not on a luxury tour are we?).

Another long stroll in the opposite direction. To the central square, where a big holiday is being celebrated, ate a little there, drank a kingfisher (local brew) beer, had a great coffee (expensive, but worth it).

Went to bed early, but listened to music untill late.


10/8

Woke up late (almost 9), updated blog. Now, search for a bank to try to exchange my Nepalese money again.

Changed my money at a decent exchange rate, coffee, found wifi breakfastplace, waiting for a table there now.
Takes like forever and conecting to the internet seems impossible. Im out of here.

Well, i did manage to get a internetcafe PC, so did all my stuff there and had a very british breakfast (eggs, bacon and sausages) afterwards. Long strolls through the city, attended the holiday activities (local dances and music), had a great meal, listened to music and finalize the day with Dennis at Joe's Pub over a Kingfisher beer.
A double episode of star trek made the day complete. Slept well untill 7.30.


10/9

Rose at 7.30, breakfast in the hotel, BBC world news, and at 9 in 2 jeeps back to Siligury... we thought. A terrible accident had happened that same morning. A 14 yo schoolkid died in a car accident on the road where we had to go on. The driver fled away, afraid for his life. So, the school protested (for a good reason obviously) and blocked the road. The waiting lasted untill 16.00h and at 17.30 we finally arrived in the same hotel again) in Siligury. Jill was there already.
Drying tent, little laundry, shower and now... food! Laterz.

Food was very nice, Shaz's company too. Got my self a beer next door, talked with Jean on the 2nd floor, star trek, good sleep.


10/10

Rose at 6.30, waiting for breakfast now. Don't know where we will go now... Laterz.

Long, long truck drive to Manas national park. Found a good, but warm hotel, after dark (sunset = 5.45 though). Just took a shower. Waiting for diner to be served between 8.30 and 9 PM. Ahem.

Evening was great: almost all of us in the lobby of this old colonial hotel in the "jungle", sipping beers, having good conversations, lots of laughter, nice diner, and another beer. Star trek and sleep now. Laterz...


10/11

Did not manage to finsh star trek episode. Fell asleep and woke up at 7.30 or so. Breakfast and now a free morning, coz the jeep safari only starts at 14.00 h. So, ... laterz...

Did a Sudoku, played guitar, made some pictures, read a book, to go short: a lovely relaxing morning.

Jeep safari started at 14.30 or so. Nice ride, but a bit disappointing when it comes to seeing animals. I had hoped for a tiger, but that was too much. After all there are only 22 left in this National Park. Did see some buffalo's and elephants thow. One with young, that seemed quit agressive (making noises that is). Back at 6.15

Saw a centipeed (miljoenpoot?) at the doorstep of the hotel. Showered, updated blog, killed some huge bugs. Waiting diner now. Shall i get myself a beer? I think... Yes! Laterz...
Evening wasd good again. Allison told me the story about her son, who passed away, due to a huge tumor. Showed pictures. It really got to me and i couldn't withhold a little tear. Poor guy, poor Alli, and what a fight they had. And how brave they were.

Two strong Kingfishers made me sleep really well.

Week 15 (Nepal)

9/28

Rose at 7.45 or so. No breakfast (cookies), taxi to truck. Unpacked and... waiting for the rest to go on the road to Pokhara.

It was a long, long drive with several hold ups, since there is a big holiday here now and everybody wants to be with their family. Scenery is great again.

Arrived here in a very nice hotel in Pokhara at 7.30. Unpacked, email check. Thunderstorm now. Love it. Going to the Amsterdam bar for a beer and a burger. Then shower and a star trek episode. Laterz.

The burger/beer were good, but (too) expensive. Went back to the hotel, Tried to watch a star trek episode, but fell asleep.


9/29

Slept like a log. Woke up at 7 or so, chatted long with Lenie (who?), showered. Off to do breakfast somewhere in town (remember a nice place from 12 years ago). let's see if it's still there.

12.00 It was there. Had breakfast as if i had never left (cheap, with a Katmandu Post (newspaper), the paragliders coming down and the splendid view over the lake) for the price of 155 NR (yes, that's 1,20 euro). Walked back and that  sudden feeling of happiness struck me again. Could live in Nepal i guess.

Napped in the afternoon. Did a 6K run (after 3 months of not running), showered, internetcafe (hotels wifi is too slow), grabbed a lasagna, then ,,, 3 live bands in the old blues bar. Loved it. Took me 3 big beers to see it all. Very nice place. Will be there again i guess.


9/30

Rose at 8 or so. Hungover(ish). Last transactions in internetcafe, same breakfast as yesterday, long walk back, tried to chat (nobody home), nap now. Laterz.

relaxed all afternoon (napping internetting, chatting, sitting in the garden). Went for dinner. Found a small cheap Indian restaurant, saw a few songs of the local music heros in The old blues bar. Went home early. 2 episodes of star trek and a good night sleep.


10/1

Rose at 7.30. Email check. Gonna move to another hotel, just for 1 night.

Other hotel is OK. Splendid view of the mountains.

Rented a bicycle, drove around Pokhare (12 K mountain up). Did a swim and then 12 K down. Great. Pizza and a beer now.
It also was James birthday, so ... met him in the Busy Bee, where (almost) everybody was zipping beers. I had only one. Too tired to celebrate. An episode of startrek and a good night sleep followed.


10/2

Rose at 7. 15 or so. Showered, 2 biscuits as breakfast, packed and... to the truck. On the way to Chitwan national park.

Arrived there early. Like 14.00h. Napped in the afternoon. Internetted, Had diner and a beer and a long conversation with Dennis. Star trek episode and a long, solid sleep. Don't feel like doing the elephant rides and so. Too expensive and i have done it before, so...


10/3

Long sleep. Woke up at 6.30 (!), chatted, FBooked, showered, Updating blog now. Gonna search for breakfast.

Found it all: cheap breakfast place and cheap restaurant for beer and food. At the riverside. The place where u would expect it to be expensive. Nepal is a strange country. Nice walk too. F*cking hot though.

Had siesta (u really need to) and did a stroll once more in the afternoon. A coke at the river side, saw elephants being bathed, ice cream, blog update. Wifi is incredibly slow, so.. no FB updates.

Diner and a beer at the river side. (Forgot about the sunset, so ... tonight.) Played guitar on our little balcony. Got incredibly stung by mosquito's (and i don't take malaria tablet...oops), early night, with a good sleep.


10/4

Woke up at 8 or so. No electricity, no wifi, nothing. Pisses me off, but ok.
Breakfast at nice little rooftop restaurant, did laundry, napped once omore, now coffee at the river side. laterz.

1 coffee, 1 walk, and one nap later... 15.00 cleaned the truck with all of us. Now.. off to the river for a sunset and a beer.

The sunset and diner were fantastic. Long chat with Lenie (quit annoying actually), slept all right (since we had no power failure, so the fan stayed on).