There is little information online about what to do on your second trip to Myanmar. I'm here to change that; let me provide some ideas. Perhaps surfing the web:
Or enjoying some local beverages, like Quench, Star, or the economical Mandalay Rum.
You can take cruises up the Irrawaddy river to see dolphins, but I only got as close as this glowing-eyed representation.
Probably best to relax and watch the sunset, perhaps along with a Burmese wedding.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Back to Burma
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Countries Selling Themselves
How does your country advertize itself? Let us spend some time pondering country tourism advertizing, shall we? Japan has launched a "Visit Japan 2010" campaign, plastered on the sides of Singapore buses. Short term goals work for me.
Korea is advertized regularly on our television, with the fairly abstract slogan of "Korea Sparkling". What could it mean? And, um, I don't mean to be rude, but, isn't sparkling hard for many Koreans to say?
Singapore has also chosen a relatively meaningless slogan.
As has Malaysia: I was looking for Asia, now I've found it!
Taiwan, also heavily advertized in Singapore, has tried a different approach: being cheap.
Thailand agrees with this approach, then builds on it. 
Myanmar is Mystical (I guess), Vietnam is the hidden charm (I found said charm immediately), and Indonesia, well, doesn't pay their slogan team as much.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Food, Creatures and Surprises
The vegetable of the week is, well, this one. I did not succeed in identifying it or figuring out how to eat it, but it tasted like a raw zucchini.
The fruit of the week is the purple dragonfruit. This is one I know about: it's what happens when a kiwi, a watermelon, and a beet combine.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Return to Bangkok
Last weekend, Laura and Barry went Christmas shopping in Bangkok. We found some very good gift ideas:
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Janging out with the Junta
This Laura's first "failed state" visit, to Myanmar (Burma). Along with Utah and Long Island, this falls into the category of "Places I may not have seen if work hadn't sent me". Anyway, this is the Shwedagon Pagoda, where all things glitter.
This is the hundred meter stupa, surrounded by all kinds of Buddhas. Below, some examples sporting the latest fashions.
This is the shiniest Buddha.
This picture shows some of Buddha's lesser known deity friends, who provide support.
Families, couples, everyone hangs out here.
This child demonstrates the proper praying position.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Fast Cars in Singapore
Last weekend, Singapore's downtown streets were replaced with a glowing race track.
Thanks to my sister, whose stellar seats and photography provided these shots.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Searching for Laura in Singapore Part 2
A) Eurasians are mixed Europeans and Asians. Hence, they may have some Christian heritage and celebrate Christmas. See how that works?
C) Were there enough Portugese Eurasians for them to make their own songs? Do they have their own Portuguese Eurasian Karaoke bars? We'll try to answer these tough questions in future posts.
A) Whitening your face is freaky, and is a waste of fruit. Please study grammar instead.
B) Botox is to smooth your wrinkles, you can't use it to fatten your face. That's what food is for. I recommend Singaporean food, please see previous posts.
C) Sadly, diet pocky is a ridiculous concept. Instead, I recommend a side salad with your pocky. With more salad, and less pocky, the same calorific reduction is achieved! You're welcome.
The spectacled bears eat a wide variety of food, ranging from mice, rabbits, birds, berries, grasses and orchid bulbs all the way to their favorite food, the leaves, bases, and hearts of the Bromeliacae plant family. Many times, these animals will climb cacti to taste of the fruit at the top. Similarly, they will build nests in the tops of trees to use as a crude form of feeding platform as well as a sleeping place and day bed.
1) Getting older. This is the biggest threat.
2) Being surprised by a surprise party. This can be a threat to your health and or dignity.
3) Getting presents you don't like. This threat is generally dwarfed by #1. Glad to help.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Laura in the Middle East
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Discovering Tanuki
Like us, if you were in Japan, you were probably worried and confused about the origins of the above creature. Do not fret, as we have solved the badger mystery! The creature behind those cute, yet creepy statues is called Tanuki (Japanese "raccoon-dog").
Tanuki is a dog, eats a similar diet to a raccoon (Japanese garbage, I guess), climbs trees, doesn't bark, and is the only dog that hibernates. Secretive and non-aggressive it prefers to scream or play dead rather than fight. The Tanuki is reputed to be a master of disguise and “shapeshifting", according to the Japanese. And he also supports ear cleaning, in our newly-acquired bathroom version.Often found greeting guests to Japanese restaurants,,Tanuki statues have a number of important features as shown below:
1) a bamboo hat that protects against trouble, as well as the sun
2) big eyes to help make good decisions - who knew?
3) a sake bottle representing virtue - I knew sake alcohol was virtuous
4) a big tail that provides steadiness and strength
5) over-sized ‘endowments’ that symbolize financial luck - or, perhaps, an infection?
6) a promissory note that represents trust - yet I'm skeptical
7) a big belly that symbolizes bold decisiveness - lest you think it was from the sake
8) a friendly smile - in this case, oddly puckered
So next time you go to your favourite Japanese noodle restaurant, keep your eye out for a Tanuki.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
High Maintenance Ghosts
It is the Taoist Hungry Ghost festival again, a month when the gates of the netherworld open to release upon us all sorts of spirits. Loud street performances please the ghosts, and food is offered and prayers, money and other things are burned all over the place to appease them, like so:
Incense sticks are supposed to ward off evil spirits, and also bring prosperity. So it's silly not to burn them! All building entrances look like this.
I find, that the more I learn about this festival, the less I understand. For example, how do you differentiate between food to feed the hungry neglected ghosts versus the money directed at your own ancestors?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Engrish of 2009
Hello and welcome to this year's selection of Engrish gift bags and such. Let us start with a simple yet delirious message about giant fruit.
Next, a scatterbrained notebook.
Sometimes Engrish states the obvious. And yet it's deep, man.
2009's Greeting cards: "A four leaf clover, becomes happy when finding it, happiness is carried". The ominous "I have something to talk to you" hearts card, and the generic "Happy Birthday, very wonderful and more pleasant" greeting.
I love cat too, but I'm not sure about all the flowing.
The bag below was thought to be the lesser-known Engrish from India, featuring Fizzy Moon. Turns out Fizzy is real, and not simply a linguistic adventure.
Finally, let me introduce to you, for the first time: Flench!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Laura in Westoz
Above is what Western Australia's animals used to look like. Below is what they look like today. We are big fans of the modern version, and enjoyed hanging out in their gaggle of 25.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Time to visit Singapore
Worried about fall? Craving some tasty exotic cuisine? Losing your swimming skills? No excuse not to visit now: http://www.aircanada.com/en/offers/air/asia_aug09/asia_aug09.html.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Cosmic Illusions
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Evil in the Garden
More pics here.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Engrish for Canadians
This is a momentous occasion for Canadian fans of Engrish! Now, Engrish comes to your country, and for some readers, to your university. Zoom in to read the University of Toronto's lesser known motto: "Goldfish California Dream. 1849".
Now let us compare this Korean interpretation to the actual U of T.
| Real U of T | Engrish U of T | |
| Founding Year | 1827 | 1849 |
| Motto | velut arbor aevo, meaning "As a tree in the passage of time" | Goldfish California Dream |
| Crest | beaver, books, tree |
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Our Neighbourhood, Little India
Little India is a great place to live for many reasons. On Sunday, the migrant Indian labourers get their weekly day off, so Little India gets quite crowded. This seems ok with the Indians, who are evidently quite close.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Which Indonesia?
While Laura in Singapore avoids political commentary, her trip to West Papua, Indonesia, was cancelled this week due to security concerns. In light of recent events, I offer you some facts about Indonesia. First, its dimensions:
3) Religion: 86% Muslim (mostly moderate), with significant Christian and Hindu populations, the latter shown here going to temple.
So, while this is Indonesia,
so is this,
and this.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Top Expat Challenges
Laura in Singapore enjoys being a foreigner/expat/immigrant, as most posts demonstrate. However, there are some universal challenges, not specific to Singapore, which potential future expats may not expect. To start, consider that many of your lovely possessions will either remain in storage or be rendered rather useless:You are likely to face new biological threats and vermin. How many Canadians know how to avoid boot mold, and the tiny bugs that eat the mold? Oh the tropical household ecosystem!
Sometimes, you're just going to get stared at.
An advantage is that your appreciation of your home cuisine grows. But this can lead to disappointment when things are just sometimes done wrong. This is my butterscotch parfait?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Ruins of Ancient Singapore
Singapore, not known for its ancient civilizations, was little more than a fishing village until the last couple of centuries. However, if you look hard enough, you can find strange old ruins of mysterious origin, inexplicably occupying prime real estate. Below, a mature home whose owners have clearly neglected landscaping and home-painting laws.
Shown below are stairs to the past, found in the forest.
And finally, a mysterious site I found on my way to work and wondered what it could be.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Laura in Sumbawa
If you're in Bali, you can take a boat to Lombok, its rural and less templed neighbour. After a 2 hour drive across Lombok, you can take a ferry to Sumbawa, where vast remoteness awaits.

From Sumbawa, you can take a pontoon Cessna back to Bali, which yields window-blurred photos of islands like so.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Shintoism and the Water Torii
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Japan's Mysteries
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Mystery of Japanese food
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Who are Tigers? We are Tigers!
In Japan, no sport is bigger than baseball. And no team has crazier fans than Osaka's Hanshin Tigers. The Hanshin Tigers, founded in 1935, generate an annual crowd of over 3 million people, including two Canadians and two cute sushi-eating kids shown below.




beaver, books, tree