Burmese Cats

Over the Easter long weekend we took a trip to Yangon not really knowing what to expect. By-Elections had taken place the weekend before with Aung Sun Suu Kyi winning a seat in parliament and their party taking 43 of 45 contested seats.




What we found was a city seemingly little impacted by tourism and a window into what other South East Asian cities may have been like 30 years ago. As Yangon doesn't hold the major tourist sites of other areas in Myanmar, we would walk the streets and not see another tourist - an unusual and pleasant experience. There was no touting or hawking, prices seemed genuine with no tourist "premium," and market vendors didn't bat an eyelid at me speaking Mandarin (humph! I am special damn it!).




The people were extremely warm and quick to flash a big smile with a little encouragement. Beautiful children, a huge diversity of races and faces.




Shwedagon was an impressive a site as any religious building I have seen. Move over Catholics, the Buddhists can do it to.




The food was fantastic. A real mix of Asian flavours in the cuisine highlighted by seeing South-Asians cooking you tiao and East Asians cooking chappati!

Tales from the Crypt - Shanghai dumplings

It would have been one of my very fist trips to China (probably in 2000 or 2001) back when I was far more adventurous and game. I was down some back lane of Shanghai eating dumplings in a street side stall, concentrating on my chop stick action under the gaze of of all those eyes, set just above the rim of the slurped-at bowls.

I was sitting in the back trying to be inconspicuous, when an old man surprised me by suddenly rushing at me and brushing my then, very serious side burns. I have no idea what he was saying except that he was enjoying himself, even as he was chased away at the end of a broom. He continued to enjoy himself from the other side of the lane, until I slipped out the back and took off.

Sri Lanka

Chicago

Chicago. Where there is a McDonald's in the Museum of Natural Sciences and you can buy Frank Lloyd Wright lego. Only in America? I had thirty six hours in Chicago before moving to the suburbs for work and enjoyed every minute of it. Chicago that is. I was thoroughly impressed with the tourist sites, including my visit to a University favourite, Robie House.

I possibly had the best steak I have eaten, from David Burke Primehouse - a 40 day, dry aged bone in, rib-eye that put me into a food coma after the long flight. An incredibly tender and deep beef flavour that was a little confronting at first. It was the highlight of my eating and it was on day 1 before a rapid downhill spiral into the deep fried prairie of suburban Chicago. But they know how to do a mean sports bar to their credit.


The Institute of Art had one of the most amazing collections I can remember going to. Miro, Van Gough, Picasso, Monet, Manet, Grant Wood (American Gothic), FLW, a Renzo Piano building, Seurat and the list could go on forever. Top museum of the day.

There was a huge amount to see in the very pedestrian-friendly downtown. Michigan Avenue, to "The Bean," next to a Gehry pavilion, next to an outdoor ice skating ring, down the road from Al's Italian Beef, across from a Christmas Market, near Buddy Guy's blues bar, under the "L". A great walking city despite the unbelievable cold.

Apart from the quality of the coffee actually making Starbucks taste good in comparison, the thing that struck me most was the Latin work force. The (meant to be?) invisible population that held the non-customer facing jobs wherever I went. Setting tables, cleaning rooms, washing bathrooms, making the city function. How would the US function without them?

Get it India

I had my first trip to India, albeit for work reasons. It was essentially office-to-hotel however I did manage to get out for a few hours and look around Delhi one morning.


I made a visit to the spice market which was a phenomenal experience. People all though the alleys and main street were sneezing and coughing from the spice aroma through the air. The alleys were exceptionally exciting - very narrow, winding and hectic. I wasn't sure if I should be there and was anxious, excited, nervous and wary at the same time.


I decided not to tempt fate and hit the street food. Even though Delhi is know for its streetfood, it will have to be next time for me.

I did not get approached by any beggars and did not find the driving that crazy so my India experience was pretty different from many. Lying in the softest bed I have ever slept in, I was more conscious of the poverty on the street outside my window, however was fairly isolated from it.

Weirdest experience? Eating in an Indian restaurant that was African-jungled themed however the piped forest sounds were donkeys braying and dogs barking.

Having spent so long in China it was interesting to think about India's development and position as the "other regional superpower" and it does not compare well. The lack of development, infrastructure, maintenance of prime attractions..... anything, just pales to what China has achieved. Talking about India and China in the same context of global influence and commercial importance appears many years off.