Artist and Mount Popa.
Thursday, 2 March 2017
Amazing Bagan
Nine hours north by minibus wasn't as bad as expected. Had booked room in mid-range hotel but got given a suite so a bit of unexpected luxury for 4 nights.
Took electric motorbike to start visiting temples - about 2000 over an area of about 70 square kms so won't do them all. Did two days' worth, but impossible to describe, too much variety, in various states of decay or restoration, some beautifully decorated inside, all 11-13 century. Bought a small painting.
Day trip to Mount Popa today then very early start for expensive boat up the Irriwady to Mandalay tomorrow.
After our sixth lovely meal here should add that if you like spicy then this is the place to be - we seem to be eating our way around Myanmar!
Monday, 27 February 2017
Sunday, 26 February 2017
First days in Myanmar
Two nice nights in Paris then flight to Bangkok. OK so far but then...
... connection to Yangon couldn't land, went elsewhere and eventually managed to land in Yangon 5 hours late.
Got escorted to our guesthouse which is fine, wandered into the centre dodging people and traffic, visited the Sule pagoda from which all distances are measured then in bed by 8pm. Slept the clock round.
Went walkabout, mostly around old colonial Yangon. Reminded us of Jakarta. Evening saw us at the Shwedagon pagoda, the biggest Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Brilliant!
Long slow bus north to Pyay a bit off the beaten track but halfway to Bagan. Cheap motel on edge of town but best meal in restaurant 5 minutes away. Not a lot of English spoken.
Hired motorbike to visit ancient city of Sri Ksetra which was huge but ended about 10th century. Three of the oldest stupas in Myanmar. Got asked for photos with a couple of families. Watched sun going down over the Irriwady.
Long bus ride to Bagan tomorrow.
Thursday, 16 February 2017
Xmas, skis and now off again.
We spent Xmas with Nicky, Glyn, Bryony and Morgan. Their house is making progress and we were installed in the new bedroom with en-suite shower-room. No carpet when we arrived, but Nicky said it might come in a few days so wouldn't it be a good idea (for Judy) to finish the painting! So it got painted and carpeted just in time.
Meanwhile, Chris's Christmas jigsaw puzzle was a full-size spiral staircase to install. Not easy what with low ceilings, uneven floors etc. So Glyn and Chris spent the best part of a week measuring, calculating and finally getting it in place the day before Christmas Eve.
The weather was kind, the dogs needed walking and a generally good time was had by all. Then we headed to Devon to visit friends we hadn't seen for a long time and hot-bedded around for a week. Thanks to all who looked after us with such hospitality.
January 5th was Judy's mother's 90th birthday. Amazingly she played tennis in the morning then we headed off to a night of luxury in a country-house hotel. Very nice and great food.
We stayed a few more days and the caught the ferry to St Malo which is our favourite as they load early so you can have a good meal on board, then chug across the channel arriving when it's getting light. Got home to a house which was at 7 degrees - not bad considering there had been no heating for a month and temperatures here had been very cold at times.
Back in the swing of things now - don't know why people say there's nothing going on - we don't seem to have a moment, went to jazz, even went to watch the ballet, a mix from Kiev and other places east. Then there was news of snow as it had turned very cold, so we we waited until the weather was good and the avalanche warnings were minimal. Had four days skiing and three nights in B&B's, all very good, only had to put the snow chains on one day.
We're having a bit of a problem with the French tax system as it seems all our ISA's in the UK are actually taxable in France. Ah well, we'll have to pay, at least the tax inspector was almost apologetic.
Now we're getting ready to go off to Myanmar for a month, more news from there if we can get connected.
Meanwhile, Chris's Christmas jigsaw puzzle was a full-size spiral staircase to install. Not easy what with low ceilings, uneven floors etc. So Glyn and Chris spent the best part of a week measuring, calculating and finally getting it in place the day before Christmas Eve.
The weather was kind, the dogs needed walking and a generally good time was had by all. Then we headed to Devon to visit friends we hadn't seen for a long time and hot-bedded around for a week. Thanks to all who looked after us with such hospitality.
January 5th was Judy's mother's 90th birthday. Amazingly she played tennis in the morning then we headed off to a night of luxury in a country-house hotel. Very nice and great food.
We stayed a few more days and the caught the ferry to St Malo which is our favourite as they load early so you can have a good meal on board, then chug across the channel arriving when it's getting light. Got home to a house which was at 7 degrees - not bad considering there had been no heating for a month and temperatures here had been very cold at times.
Back in the swing of things now - don't know why people say there's nothing going on - we don't seem to have a moment, went to jazz, even went to watch the ballet, a mix from Kiev and other places east. Then there was news of snow as it had turned very cold, so we we waited until the weather was good and the avalanche warnings were minimal. Had four days skiing and three nights in B&B's, all very good, only had to put the snow chains on one day.
We're having a bit of a problem with the French tax system as it seems all our ISA's in the UK are actually taxable in France. Ah well, we'll have to pay, at least the tax inspector was almost apologetic.
Now we're getting ready to go off to Myanmar for a month, more news from there if we can get connected.
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Visitors and Venice
Nicky, Glyn, Bryony and Morgan came for their first visit at the end of September. It was great to see them here en famille as the last time Nicky was here was to help Chris after Judy fell off her ladder back in June 2012. Anyway, did a few touristy bits which is one of the good things about having visitors, including a visit to a deer and boar farm. The weather was kind except the first day when there was an event in the village, but we did manage to eat!
The second week in October saw Chris in Cardiff as he'd been invited for a couple of days' work. Enjoyable though it was, we are finding that bits of work get in the way of more important things so that is definitely the last!
Then our friend Keith arrived for a few days. He and Julia had helped us with the house a couple of times, first starting the external insulation and then felling trees. No work this time - just eating, drinking and a bit of "aimless meandering" around the Gers. More chances to play tourist.
La Flamme d'Armagnac was the weekend of 19/20 November so it was noses to the grindstone. The programme below gives you an idea.
So we helped mark the two walking circuits on the Wednesday, put out tables on Thursday, Chris helped mark the cycling circuit on Friday morning and we set the tables on Friday night. Saturday saw Judy as back marker for the shorter walk while Chris was the "lanterne rouge" for the cyclists. The evening saw us helping to serve a 5-course meal to 550 people. Finished the clearing up at 3:30 in the morning. Sunday lunch was only 3 courses for 250 people! Then sleep.
Anyway, as we hadn't been on holiday for ages(?!?) we spotted a cheap flight to Venice at the end of November. Chris had never been and Judy was there longer ago than she would admit. So we rented an apartment about 100m from the Rialto Bridge so we could walk everywhere and had a generally great time, especially as there weren't many tourists. As well as all the touristy things, on the first night we managed to get into the opening night of a jazz festival at the university. The music was a bit "experimental" at times but good, and the apero afterwards made up for the weird bits of music - and all for free. The next night we paid for a super concert of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in a Baroque church - brilliant!
Off to the UK for Xmas and other parties.
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