Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 12:47:24 GMT 7
Give yourself time to settle in and adjust to the new place. It will come and you will have a blast.
Great pics btw.
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jun 26, 2016 21:28:06 GMT 7
Took a walk up Mandalay Hill again today as it was such a clear day. Took a dip in a cool but refreshing pool Nice day all in all.
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jun 30, 2016 15:27:43 GMT 7
Been here for just over a month now, so feeling a lot more settled in. There are things I really like about this place and some things that cause minor annoyance. Starting with the positive:
People are a lot less money obsessed here and I am finding that very refreshing. Mandalay is a dusty, busy and rather run down city but it is starting to feel like home- I like the place for all its quirks. It has everything that you need with none of the glitz of Bangkok and I can live with that. When it comes to food the people of Myanmar seem a lot keener on the idea of foreign cuisine; the Indian food is quite spectacular. The people: I couldn't have asked for a warmer welcome to their country. The electric supply has proven to be pretty solid for the time being.
As for the job, I mostly love it. Kids here seem to be a lot better at sharing and group work- no snatching or pushing. One of the biggest hurdles both myself and co-workers had in Thailand is that kids were coming to grade one with poor social skills. None of that here! Salary is much higher- tripled my earnings but do far less work. Can't complain about that. One frustration is the lack of materials, which seem to have not reached the shores of Myanmar yet as it is an issue in other schools, too. Making me more creative though- addressing a weakness, so perhaps not such a bad thing.
Some minor annoyances
The heat is more punishing than Thailand Honking of horns is a national pastime Racist Chinese with a God complex hating on anyone who isn't Han Chinese The amount of cockroaches Dirt and grime The amount I spend on mobile data
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jul 3, 2016 20:19:47 GMT 7
Took a trip to Mingun today- got very burnt but well worth it. Hope the first graders aren't in a grabby mood tomorrow Getting to the boat was a circus audition in itself Life on the river is a world away from downtown Mandalay Some pics of the main Mingun site You can still climb up to the top- there is no safety at all so do watch where you step Going into Shan State next weekend- looking forward to that.
|
|
|
Post by rgs2001uk on Jul 7, 2016 17:16:53 GMT 7
Excellent photos there Seb, keep them coming.
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jul 11, 2016 17:43:22 GMT 7
Last weekend the plan was to go up to Pwin Oo Lwin put due to a wedding invite I had to settle for a day trip to the foothills of Shan State- a trip that did not disappoint The monks are a work in progress, according to the local abbot the plan is for them to go all the way to the top. The walk up Monkey Mountain (a bit of a misnomer now as they killed most of them off 555) is moderate for the most part. Worth it. I took a brief rest- not a bad view Before taking some more snaps There is a cave further up where a monk lives but he was meditating so no pics this time All booked for Pwin next week- the boss and his assistant have agreed to chauffeur me around town- haven't been fired yet my dear AO and other AF stalkers ;-)
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jul 16, 2016 21:02:23 GMT 7
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jul 21, 2016 21:50:09 GMT 7
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2016 6:23:36 GMT 7
^ Good pics seb, I envy you. Keep em comin.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2016 6:39:12 GMT 7
Looks like your living the dream seb, can't fault you at all, good report
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Jul 26, 2016 15:16:43 GMT 7
So far I have not posted many food pics. To be honest, the food here isn't that photogenic. But here is a typical lunch of rice,curry and a few veg dishes. The food here is rather oily and very much an acquired taste. I don't mind it, but it's not my favourite Asian cuisine.
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Aug 2, 2016 8:20:59 GMT 7
Just about to head to the airport- one of the better stays in Bangkok as it didn't have to be done on a TEFL budget for once 555. As for the embassy, if anyone wants to take a visit to Myanmar then the process is very easy. You will need: A return flight ticket A hotel booking for a few nights Two photos- bring a paperclip The form itself is very detailed wanting fathers name, eye color, hair color and a brief work history on the back of the form. I imagine this is to stop journalists?! Visa fees depend on the length of time you are prepared to wait for the visa- less than 2500 baht for sure though.
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Aug 15, 2016 17:54:35 GMT 7
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2016 19:59:10 GMT 7
Looks idyllic. What are they growing at this time of the year?
|
|
pathumseb
Crazy Mango Extraordinaire
I found you at last!
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 1,515
|
Post by pathumseb on Aug 15, 2016 20:05:52 GMT 7
Mostly corn, tea and rice. The food here seems cleaner and fresher if you compare it to Mandalay. On the road to Mandalay again tomorrow. Great little break but looking forward to get back to work now. Will be returning to Shan for sure
|
|