A Great Blog

PhotoStory 0007: Fishing with birds in Yangchou, China

2010-07-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Photos taken 2007-01-17, (Jan. 17th) at the river close to Yangchou ( utside Gui-Lin) in China.

I got a suggestion to find a photo where I got involved with some local traditions - and most times I did something like that - I was to busy to ask someone to take photo of me - so I post some more touristy ones...

I this aria they used to use birds for fishing - and as we were standing there wathing the riverlife and nice view (actually the mountains in the top photo is the same view as the motive used for the 20 yuan money note in China )

- this old man crossed the river ..

- comes up to us and -

- and imidiately put on me the hat - and the stick with the birds on... - so there I was - all ready to go fishing ;)

to bad the sun was against the camera - so you cant really se my face...

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grade it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org

PhotoStory 0006: Gyeongbok-gung Palace in Seoul, South Korea

2010-07-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

Photos taken 2007-01-08, (Jan. 8th) at the Gyeongbok-gung Palace in Seoul, South Korea

The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven."

Wikipedias article about this palace will be more detailed than my decribtion.

I'll posted a row of photos from outside, guards changes, inside, some details and from the Korean Folk Museum just on the outskirt.

Entrance, guards position at the gate, and changing of the guards:

Inside the main gate:

The Kings chamber house (notice the protective details on the roof):

Other buildings and structures at/around the palace:

From the Korean Folk Museum at the palace (from really early korean coulture):

How the palace and city around it was in earlier days:

Its a long time since I was there now - and to be frank I dont remember that much details - and I was walking around here with no guiding or knowlege before I went there, - but still it was a very plessent trip and experience - even it was freecing cold :-)

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grade it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org

About this site - How to read meihack.org

2007-05-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hi -and welcome to meihack.org. I'm Egil Meihack, and this is basicly my travelsite and blog for my 4 months travel in Asia in 2006-2007 ( in 13 different countries ++ ). Now then I have been home a little while, and I want to make it to a online album and "diary" about my travel, - as well as my future travels, - where- and whenever all these will take place... :-) Hopefully there will be a few to come... Later I also want to put in some more information about the places I've been, and lots of different traveladvices and other interesting things for those of you might thinking of going to some of the places I write about...

I've tried to part the interesting parts in a prefeerable manner on my meny to the top right, andas a first look I recommend TravelStories (under Stories) and Gallery the most, - as well as my setup/linkscollections sorted by traveldate, or by country.

My main reason to plan for this trip was my ever-repeating dream to travel for a long time.. and many times I postpone the idea, thinking I had no time, or that I had not enought money.... so finally I decided that enought was enought, and startet planning for real... I wrote some more about it and some time-pressed preparations in my first two posts: no 1: Initial Log and no 2: soon running out of time...... And the I was finally on the move... first stop North Korea ( my first travelletter: The North Korean experience ). My plans was to write all stories while travelling, but after 7-8 weeks I startet to get trouble keeping up the writingpace, at the same time as I increased my travelspeed... so as of May I still have not written half the travelstories I planned to.. I hope to do so this summer.... - and before I go on my next vacation...

I plan to take anouther trip to Asia this late summer/start of autum, more spesific to China. I have still not decided my detailed plan, but I will move more slowly in general this time :-) Also I would like to visit more places in Asia, and elsewhere in the world in general, but as of May, 2007 my mind is set on China... then I'll have to see where else I go in future...

There might also be som new or old stories from different places in europe as well, as I might write about shorter travels during this time as well... we'll see...

thanks for using your time,... now . . . go ahead and have a look around on my site... and enjoy... and by all means, please contact me with suggestions, comments and feed-back

egil

I just did a recalibration of my menu of meihack.org, - witch I hope will be for the better, - so here is a very short explination of the "new" menu-lines:

About this site: its this very document you are currently reading... a short explination about this site, and som explaining of the menu/links.

All Stories: Explaining how I choose to part my stories in 3 different categories

TravelStories: My travelstories weekly, or by country nicely put together as a full story
PhotoStories: My story behind/around a photo, - trying to decribe the moment at the time
TopicStories: Taking time to decribe a topic, or to compare different experiences

Country Overview: Collection of links to my stories and photos (and later other external links) about each country.

Gallery: The overview of my photoes, sortet in a gallery, mostly by country (or by topic) + some videos.

TheTravels by date: Overview of my stories and photos, sorted by dates, so you can read and see your way throught my travel, - bit by bit... place by place.

Egil Viking: My travel was done in the late part of the season, and missing the last matches of the leauge was not easy, - but I did what I could to keep Viking in my mind, and make the Viking name known in Asia...

Site Overview: Sitemap - links to all my articles/posts

Links: Links to different external sites

Stories

2007-05-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

While writing from my travel, I found it naturally to devide my stories into 3 different categories (and 3 different tags), as well as devide the stories between contries in most cases.

Travelstories basicly contain stories from my time travelling in a country, or parts of a contry, - more or less a summary of my days there. Sometimes a day will be described in details while other days will only be briefly mentioned. I try to presenting a little bit of most highlights during my travelling. It all comes down to my memory and mood of the moment of writing, - and what I think would be of most interest for most people reading it.

Photostories are basicly my story around one of my photos, where I blog around a single photo, or a series of photoes from the same place. I might just write about my feelings or impressions at the time of the photo, or I might write some more factbaced. It's said that a photo can tell you more than 1000 words, but many of my photoes will tell me a lot more than you, as there might be a story around/behind it… - please feel free to request. Also I would very much appriciate comments on my photoes, - with or without grading them :-) .

TopicStories are basicly my story around a certain topic, or theme, like where on my travel did I like the food the best, the hotels, the toilets, the bars, the people, where was the cheapest rooms, the cutest girls and so on, - or just some funny/sad/interesting things that I didn't write in a travelstory. It could also be my comparing certain habits or way of doing things in different parts of Asia, or comparing travelexperiences with home... or maybe a "photostory" I simply dont have a photo to show... or my thoughts about some aspects of travelling... anything really... if you have any requests in general, - please feel free to request. Also I would very much appriciate comments. :-)

About TravelStories : - - - : All Travelstories tagged (newest on top)
Ab out PhotoStories : - - - : All Photostories tagged (newest on top)
About TopicStories : - - - : All TopicStories tagged (newest on top)

Same list under here, with Permalinks showing, - If you like to link to any of my articles - feel free to do so, as long as you make clear its an article from www.meihack.org
If you are uncertain, please mail me on egil.viking@gmail.com

About TravelStories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=tra-stories
About PhotoStories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=pho-stories
About TopicStories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=top-stories

All Travelstories tagged (newest on top): http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Travelstory

All Photostories tagged (newest on top): http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Photostories

All TopicStories tagged (newest on top): http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=TopicStories

Country Overview

2007-05-31T13:21:00.003-07:00

Gallery

2007-05-31T13:21:00.001-07:00

The Gallery is about to getting a bit of a different soulution, which we are currently testing out on Malaysia, and I also expect the galleryphotoes to be a little different and more photoes to be picked out then we do this. Also there will be possible to use/pay for using these photoes (and others on request... mail me at egil.viking@gmail.com if you have any interest for using my photos for commersial reasons

All galleries: (same list with permalinks showing - see longer down)

Main Gallery

Nord Korea : - : China : - : Cambodia : - : Viet Nam : - : Laos : - : Thailand : - : Myanmar (Burma) : - : Malaysia : - : more to come...

Different Videos: and Egil Viking:

Same list under here, with Permalinks showing, - If you like to link to any of my galleries - feel free to do so, as long as you make clear its a gallery from www.meihack.org
If you do so, please mail me on egil.viking@gmail.com

Galleries:
Main Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/index.html

Nord Korea: http://ww.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesnorthkorea/index.html

China: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypictureschina/index.html

Cambodia: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturescambodia/index.html

Viet Nam: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesvietnam/index.html

Laos: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/laos/index.html

Thailand: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/thailand/index.html

Myanmar (Burma): http://www.meihack.org/gallery/myanmar/index.html

Malaysia: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/malaysia/index.html

Videos:
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/galleryvideos/index.html

Egil Viking:
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesegilviking/index.html

Chronological Stories and Photoes

2007-05-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

Site Overview - SiteMap

2007-05-31T13:15:00.000-07:00

Gallery:
Hoved: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/index.html

Nord Korea: http://ww.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesnorthkorea/index.html
China: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypictureschina/index.html
Cambodia: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturescambodia/index.html
Viet Nam: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesvietnam/index.html
Laos: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/laos/index.html
Thailand: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/thailand/index.html
Myanmar (Burma): http://www.meihack.org/gallery/myanmar/index.html
Malaysia: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/malaysia/index.html

Videos:
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/galleryvideos/index.html

Egil Viking:
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesegilviking/index.html

Travelstories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Travelstory

03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: The North Korean experience http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5483925400526534115

10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: China: A little hello from China http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3542400788641377286

21-10-2006 - 27-10-2006 Cambodia: Hell and Heaven in Cambodia... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7723817645451609716

28-10-2006 - 02-11-2006 Cambodia: A little report from Siem Reap... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5670039334416564865

02-11-2006 - 08-11-2006 Viet Nam: Good morning Viet Nam... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7956860918508972562

08-11-2006 - 16-11-2006 Viet Nam: Same same ! ( - but different... ) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6189305876036328877

16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006 Laos: Excitingly relaxing Laos... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6081685598740992077

24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006 Thailand: Short visit in Thailand... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=631773241966944165

29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006 Myanmar (Burma): On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8971058611737491154

Photostories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Photostories

News: Photostories (about PhotoStories...)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=753557343182187251

PS 0001: 03-12-2006: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=254261062858397030

PS 0002: 01-12-2006: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3097062959521538842

PS 0003: 29-10-2006: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3661866406719543879

PS 0004: 04-12-2006: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1517666384024051156

PS 0005: 23-10-2006: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1734675623350794271

TopicStories: http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=TopicStories

North Korea: Some small stories from North-Korea http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=4217668515741537184

Countries:

Nord Korea:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesnorthkorea/index.html

Travelstories:
03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: The North Korean experience http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5483925400526534115

Photostories:

TopicStories: Some small stories from North-Korea http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=4217668515741537184

China:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypictureschina/index.html

Travelstories:
10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: A little hello from China http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3542400788641377286

Photostories:

TopicStories:

Cambodia:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturescambodia/index.html

Travelstories:
21-10-2006 - 27-10-2006: Hell and Heaven in Cambodia... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7723817645451609716
28-10-2006 - 02-11-2006: A little report from Siem Reap... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5670039334416564865

Photostories:
23-10-2006 PhotoStory 0005: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1734675623350794271
29-10-2006 PhotoStory 0003: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3661866406719543879

TopicStories:

Viet Nam:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesvietnam/index.html

Travelstories:
02-11-2006 - 08-11-2006: Good morning Viet Nam... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7956860918508972562
08-11-2006 - 16-11-2006: Same same ! ( - but different... ) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6189305876036328877

Photostories:

TopicStories:

Laos:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/laos/index.html

Travelstories:
16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006: Excitingly relaxing Laos... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6081685598740992077

Photostories:

TopicStories:

Thailand:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/thailand/index.html

Travelstories:
24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006: Thailand Short visit in Thailand... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=631773241966944165

Photostories:

TopicStories:

Myanmar (Burma):

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/myanmar/index.html

Travelstories:
29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006: On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8971058611737491154

Photostories:
01-12-2006 PhotoStory 0002: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3097062959521538842
03-12-2006 PhotoStory 0001: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=254261062858397030
04-12-2006 PhotoStory 0004: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1517666384024051156

TopicStories:

Malaysia:

Gallery: http://www.meihack.org/gallery/malaysia/index.html

Travelstories:

Photostories:

TopicStories:

xxxxxx:

Gallery:

Travelstories:

Photostories:

TopicStories:

All in chronological travelling:
03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: TravelStory: The North Korean experience http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5483925400526534115

03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: TopicStories: Some small stories from North-Korea http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=4217668515741537184

03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesnorthkorea/index.html

10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: China: TravelStory: A little hello from China http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3542400788641377286

10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: China: Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypictureschina/index.html

21-10-2006 - 27-10-2006 Cambodia: TravelStory: Hell and Heaven in Cambodia... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7723817645451609716

23-10-2006 PhotoStory 0005: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1734675623350794271

28-10-2006 - 02-11-2006 Cambodia: TravelStory: A little report from Siem Reap... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5670039334416564865

29-10-2006 PhotoStory 0003: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3661866406719543879

21-10-2006 - 02-11-2006 Cambodia: Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturescambodia/index.html

02-11-2006 - 08-11-2006 Viet Nam TravelStory: Good morning Viet Nam... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7956860918508972562

08-11-2006 - 16-11-2006 Viet Nam TravelStory: Same same ! ( - but different... ) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6189305876036328877

02-11-2006 - 16-11-2006 Viet Nam Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesvietnam/index.html

16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006 Laos TravelStory: Excitingly relaxing Laos... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6081685598740992077

16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006 Laos Gallery
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/laos/index.html

24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006 Thailand TravelStory: Short visit in Thailand... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=631773241966944165

24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006 Thailand Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/thailand/index.html

29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006 Myanmar (Burma) TravelStory: On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8971058611737491154

01-12-2006 PhotoStory 0002: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3097062959521538842

03-12-2006 PhotoStory 0001: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=254261062858397030

04-12-2006 PhotoStory 0004: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1517666384024051156

29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006 Myanmar (Burma) Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/myanmar/index.html

07-12-2006 - 12-12-2006 Malaysia TravelStory: comming

07-12-2006 - 12-12-2006 Malaysia Gallery http://www.meihack.org/gallery/malaysia/index.html

All in kronological publishing:
Egil 19-09-2006 Initial log http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5999364377062680129
Egil 26-09-2006 soon running out of time...... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8463589646455094696
Roar 01-10-2006 Egil has left the building... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=725462254779614315
Roar 06-10-2006 A short up-date http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7396464955546227501
Egil 12-10-2006 TS The North Korean experience http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5483925400526534115
Egil 18-10-2006 top Some small stories from North-Korea http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=4217668515741537184
Roar 23-10-2006 Pictures and video out! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3786179039111418224
Egil 23-10-2006 TS A little hello from China http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3542400788641377286
Roar 24-10-2006 More pictures in the gallery http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=927785538888538988
Egil 29-10-2006 TS Hell and Heaven in Cambodia... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7723817645451609716
Roar 30-10-2006 Updates, updates! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1596034195118880785
Egil 02-11-2006 TS A little report from Siem Reap... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5670039334416564865
Roar 03-11-2006 New galleries and blog! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=565186802607309685
Roar 07-11-2006 More pictures http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6226249842259320697
Roar 09-11-2006 Updates again http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8877037820222731429
Egil 09-11-2006 TS Good morning Viet Nam... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7956860918508972562
Roar 14-11-2006 More media! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1322435349267800380
Egil 19-11-2006 TS Same same ! ( - but different... ) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6189305876036328877
Roar 27-11-2006 The final batch of pictures from Vietnam http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3159351914565189017
Roar 03-12-2006 New page - Links http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3076770334230868173
Roar 10-12-2006 New Viking pictures http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1555382675328561800
Egil 10-12-2006 TS Excitingly relaxing Laos... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6081685598740992077
Roar 18-12-2006 Lots of updates! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8584467422440290923
Egil 18-12-2006 TS Short visit in Thailand... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=631773241966944165
Egil 26-12-2006 Merry Christmas ( God jul ! ) to everyone ! ! ! ! ! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=774541110613173550
Roar 01-01-2007 Pictures from Myanmar! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7714707421642823565
Egil 01-01-2007 TS On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8971058611737491154
Egil 03-01-2007 Happy New Year !!! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=2102724075118653455
Egil 26-01-2007 well, well now my trip is going towards an end http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8868937502407507666
Egil 30-01-2007 Egil is back home! http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=2999925877708897355
Egil 28-02-2007 News: Photostories http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=753557343182187251
Egil 28-02-2007 PS PhotoStory 0001: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=254261062858397030
Egil 28-02-2007 PS PhotoStory 0002: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3097062959521538842
Egil 18-03-2007 PS PhotoStory 0003: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3661866406719543879
Egil 24-04-2007 PS PhotoStory 0004: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1517666384024051156
Egil 06-05-2007 test http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6905538789972227309
Egil 09-05-2007 PS PhotoStory 0005: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1734675623350794271

Egil Viking

2007-05-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

Egil is a little over average supporter of Viking, and since he was not able to support his team on the stands on the end of season 2006 due to his travel, he made a choice to keep his Viking profile high during his country by country travel...

Egil Viking:
http://www.meihack.org/gallery/gallerypicturesegilviking/index.html

TopicStories

2007-05-31T13:11:00.003-07:00

TopicStories are basicly my story around a certain topic, or theme, like where on my travel did I like the food the best, the hotels, the toilets, the bars, the people, where was the cheapest rooms, the cutest girls and so on, - or just some funny/sad/interesting things that I didn't write in a travelstory. It could also be my comparing of certain habits or way doing things in different parts of Asia, or comparing travelexperiences with home... or maybe a "photostory" I simply dont have a photo to show... or my thoughts about some aspects of travelling... anything really...

So far I have not put TopicStories on my prioritylist, since I have not yet finnish putting out all photoes and Travelstories, but some will come in between from now on...

I plan to write a little every now and then, then I feel I have both the energy and enougth free minutes… Or if you have any requests in general, - please feel free to request. Also I would very much appriciate comments. :-)

TopicStories:
(clicking here gives you all TopicStories in a long page, with the newest one on top = you might want to start on the bottom article if doing so. (at the moment of writing this, there is only one... so... :-s

TopicStories:

North Korea: Some small stories from North-Korea

Same list under here, with Permalinks showing, - If you like to link to any of my articles - feel free to do so, as long as you make clear its an article from www.meihack.org
If you are uncertain, please mail me on egil.viking@gmail.com

TopicStories:
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=TopicStories

North Korea: Some small stories from North-Korea http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=4217668515741537184

PhotoStories

2007-05-31T13:11:00.001-07:00

Photostories are basicly my story around one of my photos ( pretty obvious, or..? ;-) ).

It's said that a photo can tell you more than 1000 words, but many of my photoes will tell me a lot more than you, as there might be a story around/behind it… So I started something I call "Photostories", where I blog around a single photo, or a series of photoes from the same place. I might just writa about my feelings or impressions at the time of the photo, or about what I think would be of most interest for most people reading it.

I plan to write a little every week I feel I have enougth free minutes …and I plan to pick a random photo out of my “portefolio” from my travel, and write a little bit about/around it… Or if you have any requests in general, or about one of my photos in my gallery, - please feel free to request. Also I would very much appriciate comments on my photoes, - with or without grading them :-) .

Photostories:
(clicking here gives you all PhotoStories in a long page, with the newest one on top = you might want to start on the bottom article if doing so,
- or you might want to just go for one story at the time, using the permalinks under here :) ( my suggestion ) you can choose between listed in writing order, or on dates of photo)

Photostories: ( Newsarticle: Photostories (about PhotoStories...) )

listed in writing order:
PS 0001: 03-12-2006: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake
PS 0002: 01-12-2006: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)
PS 0003: 29-10-2006: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap
PS 0004: 04-12-2006: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)
PS 0005: 23-10-2006: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

listed in order of photodate:
PS 0005: 23-10-2006: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
PS 0003: 29-10-2006: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap
PS 0002: 01-12-2006: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)
PS 0001: 03-12-2006: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake
PS 0004: 04-12-2006: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)

Same list under here, with Permalinks showing, - If you like to link to any of my articles - feel free to do so, as long as you make clear its an article from www.meihack.org
If you are uncertain, please mail me on egil.viking@gmail.com

Photostories:
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Photostories

News: Photostories (about PhotoStories...)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=753557343182187251

PS 0001: 03-12-2006: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=254261062858397030

PS 0002: 01-12-2006: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3097062959521538842

PS 0003: 29-10-2006: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3661866406719543879

PS 0004: 04-12-2006: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1517666384024051156

PS 0005: 23-10-2006: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=1734675623350794271

TravelStories

2007-05-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

Travelstories are basicly my story from my travelling ( pretty obvious, or..? ;-) ). It's kind of a summary of my Diary (witch I didn't manage to write more than 10-15 days, -shame on me), presenting a little bit of most highlights during my travelling. Many times I guess its kind of random witch experiences of that week/that country I end up writing about. It all comes down to my memory and mood of the moment of writing, - and what I think would be of most interest for most people reading it.

If you like to ask me for advices, or you want to know more about certain points of interest (tourist spots, cities, experiences, what to do etc.), please ask/comment on the comment below the articles, or send me a mail. I'll try to answer all, and as quickly as I can... If you have any requests about certain things you'd like to read about, or want to generally comment on articles, - please do :-)

Also, I still have travelstories/summaries from half my trip left to write... from Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipines, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. I'm not sure then I get time to write these, but its on my list..

Travelstories:
(clicking here gives you all Travelarticles in a long page, with the newest one on top = you might want to start on the bottom article if doing so,
- or you might want to just go for the one article at the time, using the permalinks under here :) ( my suggestion ) )

03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: The North Korean experience

10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: China: A little hello from China

21-10-2006 - 27-10-2006: Cambodia: Hell and Heaven in Cambodia...

28-10-2006 - 02-11-2006 : Cambodia: A little report from Siem Reap...

02-11-2006 - 08-11-2006: Viet Nam: Good morning Viet Nam...

08-11-2006 - 16-11-2006: Viet Nam: Same same ! ( - but different... )

16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006: Laos: Excitingly relaxing Laos...

24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006: Thailand: Short visit in Thailand...

29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006: Myanmar (Burma): On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar
next: Malaysia

Same list under here, with Permalinks showing, - If you like to link to any of my articles - feel free to do so, as long as you make clear its an article from www.meihack.org
If you are uncertain, please mail me on egil.viking@gmail.com

Travelstories:
http://www.meihack.org/index.php?categories=Travelstory

03-10-2006 - 10-10-2006: North Korea: The North Korean experience http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5483925400526534115

10-10-2006 - 21-10-2006: China: A little hello from China http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=3542400788641377286

21-10-2006 - 27-10-2006: Cambodia: Hell and Heaven in Cambodia... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7723817645451609716

28-10-2006 - 02-11-2006: Cambodia: A little report from Siem Reap... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=5670039334416564865

02-11-2006 - 08-11-2006: Viet Nam: Good morning Viet Nam... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=7956860918508972562

08-11-2006 - 16-11-2006: Viet Nam: Same same ! ( - but different... ) http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6189305876036328877

16-11-2006 - 24-11-2006: Laos: Excitingly relaxing Laos... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=6081685598740992077

24-11-2006 - 29-11-2006: Thailand: Short visit in Thailand... http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=631773241966944165

29-11-2006 - 07-12-2006: Myanmar (Burma): On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar http://www.meihack.org/index.php?id=8971058611737491154

PhotoStory 0005: Royal Garden in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2007-05-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

A little view in the Royal Garden in front of the Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh

Photo taken 2006-10-23, (oct 23rd) at the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

On my second morning in Phonom Penh and Cambodia, the group I had joined for my first week in Cambodia had plans to visit the Royal Palace. And after visiting the S-21, the Killing Fields and the Market already on the day before, - I thought I might as well join them. Not my top choice for sightseeing in general, - but still a nice way to get into the feeling of beeing a tourist :-)

The King of Cambodia still lives in the Royal Palace, - or actually in Khemarin Palace whitch is situated a little bit away from the rest of the buildings. We paid 3 usd to get in, and we mostly had to follow a 'more or less' english speaking guide around the royal aria. The guide was apointed to us then we came, and was included in the entrance fee.

Then there was an additional fee of 2 usd for each photocamera, and 5 usd for each videocamera! - And with knowlege of that many of the places inside where "No Photo Inside" we decided to just buy one "camera fee", and I ended up walking around with 3 cameras, switching among them so all 3 owners would get some nice photoes of their choices :-) and I promiced to send my photoes to the others after finally comming back to my city Stavanger (Norway) the next year.
(hmmm Thinking of this is giving me a bit of bad conscience now, - maybe it's time to mail Tore in "Bike for Peace" to get the adresses of group members - so I can send them all the photoes I promiced ;-) )

It was really a hot morning and day in Phnom Penh, and it was always good to get under roof from the burning sun everytime we went in a new building. First impressive one was the Throne Hall, where we only was allowed to entrance a couple of meters, - as they was preparing a big ceremony for the next day, - and in this, as the other buildings there was "No Photo Inside" signs everywhere. The Throne Hall was a nice open building mostly in gold, yellow and white colours. In the middle of the hall we could see servants starting to build up a pile of nicely wrapped presants. We were told that the presants was the Kings gifts to the guests on the next days ceremony.

We also were admitted to a building presenting the Kings, and his familys uniforms and old royal items, and then the famous Silver Pagoda. The Silver Pagoda itself was not so impressive, but the floor was covered by many tousands pure silver tiles, and the inner part of the pagoda was containing a marvelous collection of valuable buddhas, all in different positions, sizes and materials. For me - some of the buddhas made of exclusive bright green Jade was an amazing sight!

Outside the Silver Pagoda was the Royal Garden, and its placement inside the high walls and the various Royal buildings, the many small manicured tropical gardens were standing out like ornate islands rising from the concrete tiles that make the ground around the Silver Pagoda. It was nice and quiet to walk around there, - looking at this strange and still beautiful mix of manmade dead concrete ground, and rich tropical and fertile vegetation within its stright limitation.

Absoulutely a nice place to relax and meditate, - and I can easy see myself getting more peace of mind here, then out in the traffic of Phnom Penh... ;-)

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grade it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org

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2007-05-06T05:21:00.000-07:00

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PhotoStory 0004: Shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)

2007-04-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

Meeting a shy boy in the hills over Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo taken 2006-12-04, (dec 4th) at the hills over Inle Lake , Shan State, Myanmar (Burma)

The day after we had an All-Day-Trip on the Inle Lake, me and the autralian traveller I met two days before, decided to do some more sightseeing in the aria, as we both planned to leave the next morning on a long bumpy busride to Yagoon. So we decided, after a whole day mostly sitting in a boat, and with the next day expecting 20++ hours on a bumpy bus, - to get some excercise and take a good walk in the nearby hills, and see some local villages. After all, the town at Inle Lake was a little more touristy than we prefeered, and we hoped to see some more of the "real life of people in Myanmar"

So we made a deal with the recommended guide at the hotel, and paid 7 usd each for the services of a half day foot guiding(, whith we thought was a little expencive compared to the total 10 usd for boat, boatdriver/guide and gasolin a whole day, the day before). We also after some consideration payed him anouther couple of dollars for a "traditional" meal made by his wife after the walk.

But back to the moment on the photo, after many stops, meeting lots of people on our way, and many more and some less interesting things along the way suddenly this young boy appear on our path, walking towards us untill he saw us. Then he stopped, and take a stand just outside the path, looking toward us shyly, not really daring to look directly at us. We stopped of course, watching him back and smiling to this cute shy boy, poorly dressed in just a t-shirt and a traditional longy, just as most kids in this aria (and I guess most of Myanmar) were. The longy is a traditional garmet used instead of by both male and females in Myanmar, - basicly a very simple sarong.

To make sure he gave himself a reason to stand there watching us strangers, he keep open up and fixing his longy, like if he could not get it to fasten properly, repeatedly looking up toward us in a shy but courious way. :-) After a little our guide asked him his name, and if he did not go to the school this day. The shy boy barely answered, but told our guide that he had to work for his family this year, but he hoped to go to school next year. Our guide gave the boy a little bit of candy he brought along, and thanked him for answering, and we all wished him good luck, and we all went on our way...

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grade it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org

PhotoStory 0003: Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem Reap

2007-03-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Khmer Traditional Dancing in Siem ReapPhoto taken 2006-10-29, (oct 29th) at at a hotel in Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

While in Cambodia, there is several things I belive is "Must Do/See's", and one of this was traditional Khmer Dancing. With fantastic costumes and gentle movements it is truely something to include in your trip to Cambodia.

I went to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh, and decided to stay in Earthwalkers GueastHouse while in Siem Reap. Earthwalkers GueastHouse is an excellent Guesthouse started be norwegian enthusiasts, and gives it profits to help out children without family and other local projects helping unfortunate cambodians in this vey poor province of Cambodia. Earthwalkers is mentioned in the Lonely Planet Guides, and is located about 1-2 km outside the centre of Siem Reap.

I was hoping to be as lucky to see a Khmer Dance Group concisting of children from the childrens centres run by Earthwalkers, but the actual night these was been hied by a very exclusive hotel , and it would cost me 100 usd to see the show, - and since this money would only go to the hotelowners profit, I decided to see other dancers to get this Khmer Dancing experience. The Earthwalkers personell was vey helpful, and found me another place/hotel to se a show with adult dancers.

And the dancing and costumes/outfits were truely amazing, and the gentle movements and dancing showing the stories was really captivating. It was hard to keep the eyes away from the girls doing the show at the stage, so I almost missed totally out on the buffee beeing served. I guess different dances from this part of the world looks a lot similar for us in the western, - I mean Thai dancing, minority dancing in China, Laos dancing and others has many of the similar feachers. But I must say the beautiful girls on this stage doing this fantastic Khmer Dancing in their amazing outfits, - was the most memorable danceshow on my trip in Asia...

So if you ever have the chance of experiencing the traditional Khmer Dancing, - do it :-) its a magic sight for sore eyes... both the dance itself, and the girls performing it...

Some links of Khmer Dancing: Khmer classical dance, Dance of Cambodia , Cambodian Classical Dance

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grad it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking . . . www.meihack.org

PhotoStory 0002: Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)

2007-02-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

Buddha in Ananda Temple in Bagan (Myanmar/Burma)

Photo taken 2006-12-01, (dec 1st) at Ananda Temple in Bagan, ??? State, Myanmar (Burma)

Bagan is a historic town in Myanmar (Burma) witch is famous for a overwhelming number of temples, stupas and other religious buildings from the past. Most are buddist of course, as Myanmar is a country very dominated by buddist religion. I think there was only one hindu temple among the others. Ananda Temple is one of the most impressive of the many thousands of structures… The guides told me there was over 4400 stuctures in/around Bagan, without me counting/controlling those figures…

The photo is of one of 4 golden, standing buddhas in Ananda Temple, probably the eastern buddha of the four. I took the photo without flash and keept it still by holding it still on the floor, - trying to get both the buddha and the 2 women praying & putting sacrifice in front of it…

It was very peaceful in the temples, and my guide drove me around between the sites in a horsewagon,- whitch was the normal type of taxi/transportation in Bagan.

Other links to Bagan: Temples of Baga Map/temples of Bagan

Other links of Ananda Temple: Photoes of Ananda Temple

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grad it from 0 to 10(best) after your liking

egil viking

www.meihack.org

PhotoStory 0001: Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake

2007-02-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

Young (leg-rowing) fisherman at the Inle Lake

Photo taken 2006-12-03, (dec 3rd) at the

Inle Lake

, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma)

On this day I and a fellow Australian traveller was on a boat-tour on

Inle Lake

in the Shan State in Myanmar. We paid 10 usd for a whole day of boating and sightseeing on and around the lake, - from morning till after sundown. This photo I took on the start of our way back over the lake, and I got this shot of very young leg-rowing fisherman doing his laft fishing for the day…. The Full-Moon is already up behind the young fisherman, and will within an hour be the only light for the boy in the boat.

Inle Lake

are especially famous for this special leg-rowing technique the fisherman use from their small boats - trying to get both their arms avalable for handeling the fishernets, or fisherbaskets…

The fishermen are general well aware of their attaction for the tourists, and often start padling with their legs then they see tourists are closing in on them, without demanding any money for their “modelling”.

Inle Lake

has lots of interesting spots for tourists/travellers, and are highly recommended. Also is the nature at, and around this lake beautiful.

ps please comment the photo if you like, and grad it from 0 to 10(best) after your likings

egil viking

www.meihack.org

News: Photostories

2007-02-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

It's said that a photo can tell you more than 1000 words, but many of my photoes will tell me a lot more than you, as there might be a story around/behind it… So I'm going to start something I will call "Photostories", where I blog around a single photo, or a series of photoes from the same place.

I plan to write a little every day I feel I have some enougth free minutes …and I plan to pick a random photo out of my “portefolio” from my travel, and write a little bit about/around it…

Also, I still have travelstories/summaries from half my trip left to write... from Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipines, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. I'm not sure then I get time to write those, + put out photoes from the countries, but its on my list..

Take care all of you, and enjoy the photostories, - and dont be afraid of giving any requests/ask questions... if you have any wishes ( mail to egil.viking@gmail.com )

Egil

Egil is back home!

2007-01-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

Egil is now back home in Stavanger, and is actually in bed as I write this -- a loooong journey has come to an end!

Expect to see lots and lots of more pictures, videos and stories in the next few weeks.

Regards,
Roar
Webmaster

well, well now my trip is going towards an end

2007-01-26T07:18:00.000-08:00

well, well now my trip is going towards an end, and I have to first say I'm sorry for not feeding you all with any stories for a while, as I just have had little time for writing, especially with high internetcosts in Japan and S.Korea.

I am really glad I got the chance, and took this oppurtunity to travel this time, ever 4 months are a long time... and a bit longer than the 2+ months that was the original plan.

I got around to see MANY exciting places, and even more importaint, - meeting a lot of nice and interesting persons along the way... some for just a short minute, and other for weeks to an end... you were all a big part of my journet, and I'm happy for meeting you all....

my site:

www.meihack.org

is a bit short of information lately, but I will use time in the months comming to go through my around 7000 ? photoes and post more and more photoes, videos, and travelstories weekly (and maybe many smallewr shortstories several times a week)..

I will also try to make some rankings over some topics... i.e where did I like the food the best,? 1-5 best.. where was the accomondation cheapest... the best beds... and so on,

Please feel free to come with suggestions for things you like to read stories of, see photoes of, and ranking of, and any other things you like to see on my site...

So I'm getting ready to get home... already gotten an offer I accepted for a job, so I start in a week, unless I have to get in the military training one week first,.. in that case its 2 weeks till I start working...

but still I have some days left here in China, for enjoying life, shop, travel the last bit to beijing (12 hour train is a piece of cake now), and really concider how to pack my luggage for the plaine...

Thanks all for beeing who you are...

hugs to all

Egil Viking
WuHan

Happy New Year !!!

2007-01-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

Happy new year :) and may the new year bring you all the happyness you possebly can handle.... ;)

Im currently in Japan, and getting closer to the end of my trip.... whitch I, btw, some hours ago got extended for almost anouther month, so my trip will not be 99 days, but 123...

Also Im preparing a little bit for my life back in Norway already, using the tired first day of 2007 to start applying for jobs back home.. and today I had a arranged phonecall to my hostel from an agency, and set up a meeting for the day after I have my first day home again...

Newyears is always a day for thinking about ones life, reflecting back, and planning ahead... and putting out hopes for the future....

This time Im not back home as I usual has been, som newyear is definitly different, - but still I will do as Ive done the last 3 years... Im going to put up 10 improvmentissue for me self for the year to come, and I will try my best to improve as a person, and to improve the quality of my life, and people I love... I will not manage to get improvements on all 10 issues, - but I will be happy as long as I can make 1, 2 or maybe even 3 improvements in my life.... so.. 10 issues to work on, instead on one newyearsresolution...

Normally I have my 10 issues ready on newyerars Eve, but this time I might wait till I get home... And what my 10 issues are, well, Im not telling any.... :)

In addition, this time I will also put up for me self 10 goals for the end of 2007, who may be related to my issues, and maybe not...

Last year one of my goals for 2006 was to finally get my nerve/act together, and take the chance and forfill my dream of travelling for a longer period... so I think I can declaire that goal for accompliced.. :)

I have still not put up all my 10 goals eigther, but here is a couple of examples*
- Travel some more, - at least 2 weeks abroad, - prefeerably to Cuba
- Get a good job I enjoy
- Start learning a new language
- Use in average at least 1 hour on webbuilding/writing a day in 2007
(any have suggestions on what they would like to read of?)

I dont expect to make all my 10 goals (then I put them up) but hopefully I can make 4-6...

Reason to write them down on paper, is to easier put my attention to them, and hopefulle they will be easier to focus on, and to accomplish.. Only time will tell...

Well, I just wanted to greet you will all the best for the future, and may luck follow you and your family...

Happy New Year !

Egil

On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar

2007-01-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

On the Road in Marvelously Friendly Myanmar

Well, form Thailand it was time to travel to Myanmar (Burma), ans I was actually a bit nervous about going in here, as I had the impression it could be difficult to travel around. Also I heard the people here was really friendly, - but anyway, I felt a little unsafe before going into Myanmar. (also because I had iniatially plans to travel inlands Myanmar from the Thai border to Mandalay, and then down to Yangon (Rangoon) before flying out to KL(Malaysia), - but have to fly direct to Yangon, since inland travels was not allowed anymore..!!!)
And furthermore, I could not not have the safety of having mobile/sms to the outside world, - as this was not possible in Myanmar...

So.... I entered Myanmar by flying in to Yangon from Bangkok (had to fly from Chang Mai to Bangkok first), with a nervous smile, and did not really have any big idea of where or when to go in Myanmar from Yangon.

At the airport in Bangkok I startet talking to a girl from Japan going to Yangon too, and I quickly adopted the first part of her plans as my new backup-plan. (since my original plans had been aborted..) there is one thing I learned on this travel... a bad plan is better than no plan... no plans only leaves you doing,... well nothing (just as planed))

Well landed in Yangon, I got hang on another guy to a hotel mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide.. so I got free transport to this hotel, as I from experience know the drivers always overcharge the newly arrived from the airport... (happened in basicly all contries I'd been to...).

Well - my first impression of Yangon was that the people here really tried to help you, and I felt a little surpriced by this overwhelming helpfulness, as this usually by experience is followed by open hands wanting tips for doing any small things I normally do myself with no trouble.... but many here actualy just helped to be helpful, and as part of the service... not to get tips.... no need to explain why I really started to like this place... Also my 10 usd hotelroom was the nicest I've seen since my delux singleroom in Cambodia (then I took over a vacaint place in a packagetour arranged by www.bikeforpeace.no) . the room was Huge!!, and had two big doublebeds, and a bathroom just as big as many hotelrooms I've stayed in before., and 6 towels ready for use :D Surpricing luxary :)

First I took a trip to the marked, and walked around here, trying to take in all the new impressions. Surpricingly do almost all the men in Myanmar use a leg-garment the call "Longy" - basicly a sarong for men... I heard about this from before, but still was surpriced about the number of men using this.I guess the feeling of needing a pair of pants is just a fix idea the rest of the world has got...

And the girls almost all use a form of clay facemask, to protect their face against the sun, - and keep this mask on all day long... This seams really strange to me, but after some days I got so used to see it I did not notice it anymore...

Since travelling in this country can be a bit timeconsouming I decided to take first bus north from Yangon to Bagan ( and espesially the last half of the road was on really bad and bumpy roads), and I did a whole day here looking at some of the 4000 temples. ... Its impressingly many temples here, but most of them are quite small, and not so impressive in them selves, but its the share number of temples thats impressive... One day was enougth here... Remarkeble about Bagan is also the big number of horsestaxies here, - many, many hundreds of them...

Next day again it was time for anouther long busride on bumpy mountainroads, - beeing shaken in all directions..., this time to Inle Lake, and on a local small bus.... let me also mention the roads in Myanmar.... they are NOT of the best standard in Asia.... !

At Inle Lake I got ne anouther nice room, for 6 usd a night this time,. good value, even I had to wait for 20 minutes for the water to get warm...

The first day in Inle Lake I and a other from Australia took a boatride across and around the lake of Inle Lake ( Inle Lake is both name of the lake, and the town). And this was truley a very good daytrip... Inle Lake are espesially known for the fishermens special foot-rowing techique, and its part impressive, and partly funny to watch... :) Also thay have a floating market every 5 days, but not this day... so we visited a regular Inle Lake market instead. (and I got me some Longys and some xmas presents here) Also we visit some Lotus-treadweavers, a fishfarm, a silversmith (more xmaspresents), a longneckexhibithion and weavers, a temple, a monastary and many more interesting places., - and on the way back - more fishermen and a sunset from the boat... Very nice.

Internet is a different store, gmail, yahoo, hotmail and other western (american?) popular sites are beeing blocked from use in Myanmar, and the internet lines are, if exicting..., call-uplines of not very good quality... and mobiles, well not possible....

Next day we took a little hike with a guide in the mountains around Inle Lake, It was nice to get around by foot again (as compared to be bumping upanddown and sideways on the bus), and walk through villages, temples, caves and nice landscape. The most memorable on the trip was the people living here, and espesially the young girls , already beeing mothers and married at age of 14... As always in Myanmar, - people were extremely friendly and smiles were plenty. It was a very nice trip, but I wished it was longer... :)

The next day we had to take a long, slow, humpy 21,5 hour bus back to Yangon. This was a new record for me in long (bumpy) busride... - and normally the driver would drive 4-4,5 hours before stopping for wc and food/supplies... Did I mention the roads in Myanmar... ? They are really not very good.... ;)

Well back and still shaken, but not stired, we had a day in front of us, whitch I used for hunting down any possibility for getting from Yangon to KL (Malaysia) , since there was no possibility to order by net (since the net refused me to stay logged in to Air Asias webpages... and some hours later, and quite a bit us dollar in commision I had a ticket to KL via Bangkok the next morning... so my last day I could have used for sightseeing, but used for tickethunting instrad...

All in all Myanmar has to be one of my top favourite destinations, - Im really happy I took the chance to visit this country, in which has people with wonderful big smiles, and really helpful and serviceminded attitude. Myanmar also has very good hotelstandard compared to what you should expect compared to the rest of the standard of infrastructur ( did I mention the roads? ) Also many things in Myanmar are not the same, same as other countries, whitch gives it a spesial touch.

Food are cheap and good, hotels are a bit more expencive, but really good, Postcard ar cheap, and stamps are rediculusly cheap, girls are cute, but relationships are not possible, - the internet are expencive, SLOW, and restricted, and may be on line, if lucky... Mobile cant connect and money comes in small bills, and big stables, or in USD... And I have to at least once mention the roads... which are not to good....

Myanmar is highly recommendable
(but the roads are not..)

Pictures from Myanmar!

2007-01-01T05:37:00.000-08:00

Pictures from Myanmar!

Egil just sent me a large batch of

pictures from Myanmar (Burma)

, which are now out for your enjoyment :-) Egil has taken many beautiful pictures during his Asia travel, but this time he has, in my opinion, really overdone himself -- there are

lots

of great pictures, just see for yourselves!

He is now busy writing his blog post, which will be published in a few days.

Regards,
Roar
Webmaster

Merry Christmas ( God jul ! ) to everyone ! ! ! ! !

2006-12-26T01:27:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas (God jul!) to everyone!!!!!

I just want to use the oppurtunity to wish you and your family a very merry Xmas from me, currently in Taipei - Taiwan.

I've been quite tired the last weeks, but feel better/more energy now... :) but I've been travelling t fast to get time to sit down and write my travelstories in the last weeks, so after Thailand I've visited Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Macao, Hong Kong(left HK today), and now I stay in Taiwan for about a (short) week...

my plan is so far to go to Tokio at the 30th dec (for a week), and then go S-Korea.... the last week/10days in january I plan to stay in China before I go home to Stavanger (and an army winter-excersice in the Norwegian HomeGuard..)

I will probably not get time to the same lenght of stories on these countries while I'm stll on my travel, but I will write more about mytravel then I get home as well,... also, if there is any request on other ti\opics you would like to read of (or get me to write) - you can give my suggestions and ideas... ( i.e: comparing accomadations, comparing food, how I feel travelling alone, where was ppl most friendly, how I do/feel this or that, anything, just ask... and I will decide if I like the idea....)

any way, I wish you all the best for the xmas and new year... and take care :)

Egil