Yangon: First Steps in Myanmar

It is no longer the capital of Myanmar but it is still the biggest city. For some obscure reasons probably related to astrology, the generals have moved the capital North of Yangon. This is a practice which was used many times in the country history. Anyway, Yangon was surprisingly multicultural. In particular Indian influences could be seen in the way people look, cook or practice Islam and Hinduism. Chinese are also very much present in the capital.

This first approach underlined straight away the poverty of Myanmar. But in the last few years things have changed dramatically. Electronic shops can be found everywhere whereas during the saffron revolution in 2007 journalists were not free to shot events. Mobile phones are currently won through lottery and more and more people use them. People came to talk to us without any problem. They were clearly happy to see foreigners. Only five years ago they were afraid of being forgotten by the international community.

Volunteering in Thai Countryside

View from our restaurant

Pakson: a small village lost in South Thailand. When the bus stopped in the middle of nowhere, I understood I had reached the heart of the Southern country....

Wat Pho e la Tradizione Tailandese

Tavole di massaggio tradizionale con i meridiani del corpo

E dopo tre anni di attesa, e` di nuovo Bangkok!.. e questa volta c`e` una missione precisa per essere qui: raccogliere una goccia di quel sapere millenario che e` orgoglio della Thailandia e suo simbolo nel mondo, il massaggio tradizionale tailandese. Piano d`azione: seguire il corso di massaggiatore nel tempio di quel sapere, il Wat Pho, tempio buddista e centro di medicina tradizionale e massaggio tradizionale tailandese.

A Splash in Thailand

Little cute girl getting ready.

We survived!!.. after the last days debating about the best route to travel from Malaysia to Thailand, we have done it... and we are, almost, all in one piece. The point was: better to travel fast through the east coast, but risk to blow up in a terrorist attack, or play it safe and go all the way around the west coast and travel incessantly for more than 2 days??.. well.. lazy as we are, we went for the east coast and everything went smooth and nice..

East Coast: Last Days in Malaysia

Market Colors

Perenthian Islands are located on the North East coast of Malaysia, two islands with beautiful beaches, amazing marine life and thick jungle. We arrived there by a sunny afternoon and the water was really amazing. During our snorkeling trip we saw black tip sharks, manta rays, many corals and tropical fishes, murrays, turtles...the water was actually warmer than the air because......it was raining!! Tropical paradise starts with tropical and the east coast of Malaysia is one the most humid. After a few days of unsettled "paradise", we decided to leave for Kota Barhu, the last step before crossing the border to Thailand.

Taman Negara: una Storia lunga 130 Milioni di Anni

Immaginate di essere in una giungla tropicale, a ore di cammino da qualunque comunicazione con il mondo esterno, con elefanti, cinghiali, tigri (ok, poche tigri) e serpenti, con la pioggia leggera e tuoni che promettono molto di piu`, e sentire quella piacevole sensazione di tornare a casa quando ti stai arrampicando sulle rocce che nascondono l`entrata alla grotta dove dormirai la prossima notte.. questa e` la sensazione che ho provato quando siamo rientrati alla nostra grotta.. c`ero stato solo cinque minuti in quella grotta, per posare lo zaino dopo una camminata di sei ore, e subito ero uscito con gli altri uomini per raccogliere il legno per il fuoco che ci terra` al sicuro di notte.. ma quei cinque minuti di relax e l`ambiente ostile fuori, son bastati a farmi sentire quella sensazione di casa al rientro.. insomma, quei cavernicoli, non se la passavano mica bene!!.. vuoi vedere il domani? ti serve il fuoco per la notte; vai fuori nella foresta a raccoglierlo, e tanto!.. vuoi mangiare? ti serve l`acqua; vai fuori nella foresta a prenderla... nel mezzo della notte vuoi andare in bagno? e` fuori, nella foresta buia! accomodati.. insomma, uno stress.. e poco divertimento.. Ma, per una notte, e con la promessa di un bagno in un bel fiume il giorno dopo, e` praticamente una passeggiata..

Cameron Highlands

Here we are, again in one other hill station disseminated in the Asia continent, born thanks to the need of cool air of the English colonialists. It is quite funny to see that wherever the Englishs have established a base, then somewhere close, they have created as well a residential hill station where they could get some fresh air and cool off from the oppressing hot air of the low lands. Clearly I refer to the tropics! Here in Malaysia the most famous is Cameron Highlands. 1500m on the sea level and beautiful mountains and hills and jungle make this place very pleasant indeed. And if an English man is at this heights and in the tropics, what would he do??.. Yes, sure... a tea plantation!!..

Georgetown, Melting-pot on the Malacca Strait

Georgetown on Penang island, on the west coast, is one of the most beautiful example of cultural mix. Three centuries ago, it was on the spice road between India and China. The British took advantage of its interesting central position and the island became a melting pot. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Arabs, Europeans...all came to Penang with their culture and aspirations. First Chinese mixed up with the Malays, but the later comers kept their own communities and traditions. The result is visible in the amazing architecture of the town centre. Beautiful temples and Chinese clan halls have been renovated thanks to Unesco Heritage funding.  It reminded us of the temples in Vietnam. As usual, Chinese trading skills have been an asset to the city. Chinatown still shows import/export shops and the most amazing tea shop where tea is treated like precious wines. Some tea leaves are apparently kept for many years and flavors of the best teas in Asia are available.