tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61940063365203495072024-03-10T12:47:52.813-07:00Leaving AmerikaThe personal blog of Joko MacKenna. Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-19292049187540968272024-03-10T12:46:00.000-07:002024-03-10T12:46:54.255-07:00Ten Years in Myanmar<p> I couldn't remember the exact date of my arrival in Yangon. I thought the ten-year anniversary was going to be some day next week, so tonight I thought back to this blog. Here I'd find a post to remind me of that date - and there it was, dated 7 March 2014. My anniversary, an hence my workversery was four days ago. </p><p>And no one noticed.</p><p>At work, we constantly get emails congratulating this person or that for their 1-year, 3-year or whatever year tenure with the company. Here I am, the senior member of the staff, and my ten-year milestone comes and passes without a word. </p><p>Man, I feel like I've been kicked in the gut. </p><p>Underappreciated, spurned, underestimated, unwanted...and angry.</p><p>I know some people don't like me, but it's not because Ive wronged them in some way. I'm just a convenient focus for their own frustration. Having been with the company for so long, I'm among the best paid employees, and I've earned that. That also fosters resentment.</p><p>I can't believe it. I mean, I wasn't expecting a gold watch or anything like that, but a mention in an email would have been... the minimum they could have done. </p><p>Do I feel full of righteous indignation? Damn straight I do. </p><p>I can't throw it in their faces either. <br /></p>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-73359916374114825792023-04-26T18:39:00.001-07:002023-04-26T18:39:37.192-07:00Your Song 2023/580/Bari<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/iHNnBlEIhiE" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-64902356801408169332022-04-16T11:32:00.001-07:002022-04-17T11:08:16.003-07:00Sail Away Many Ways<p> </p><p>As I was sorting through some old printouts of various songs, I found one I hadn't seen in ages. It was hand-written on the back of a Otis Millburn song, and as I was filled with enthusiasm, I started on a<i> production. <br /><br /><br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/--08qe7Jc4U" width="479" youtube-src-id="--08qe7Jc4U"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end, I wasn't entirely pleased with the performance and went back to practicing. When the power went out today, it was time to wrap up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SI8NOBYSo9U" width="449" youtube-src-id="SI8NOBYSo9U"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Which then led to these three versions... <br /><br /><p></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="378" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oYZrhZF8g2Y" width="455" youtube-src-id="oYZrhZF8g2Y"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="381" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gDBEwmpPQhU" width="459" youtube-src-id="gDBEwmpPQhU"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LW5hxqlVQVY" width="469" youtube-src-id="LW5hxqlVQVY"></iframe></div><br />THis last one is my favorite. It was recorded during practice, which had no video recording just sound. I find some other clips to help there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="411" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2HH7mPTIIb4" width="494" youtube-src-id="2HH7mPTIIb4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks to Kevin Baiko (AKA Dr Sparkles)<br /> </div>WAIT!! ONE MORE! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="379" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jwrsR0f44rw" width="511" youtube-src-id="jwrsR0f44rw"></iframe></div><br /> </div><br />Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-22365642663050921142021-11-12T06:12:00.001-08:002021-11-12T06:12:17.615-08:00Tour d'House!I was asked to show the new place I'm renting as I seemed so excited about it. <br><br><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="0vqfoGdfAi4" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0vqfoGdfAi4"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-35610752732952955552021-10-06T15:32:00.000-07:002021-10-06T15:32:10.046-07:00On 10,000 Hours Being a BricoleurJokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-27545045903614361212021-09-06T07:41:00.001-07:002021-10-06T15:34:03.931-07:00Imported post: Facebook Post: 2021-09-06T21:11:33<a href="https://youtu.be/Jrf7s9abPc4">The Redemption of a Horsethief. Sol Poet and Joko Uke collab</a>
</hr>
Sometimes I get started on a task without fully realizing how much time it's going to take. There are a lot of words in this old favorite of mine, and it now has its closed captioning.
"https://youtu.be/Jrf7s9abPc4"Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-6443316000294273482021-09-05T02:08:00.001-07:002021-10-06T15:32:35.272-07:00Imported post: Facebook Post: 2021-09-05T15:38:22Here's what I made today.
<hr/><iframe src="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14tC8jtWVJRe0vPtm9eRB0but-xIEW2K8/preview"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-7833051282332640862021-04-28T05:54:00.001-07:002021-04-28T05:54:57.816-07:00Tasmaniamania 8: To The Town of the Dam-ed<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/ewuC-mSUhTo" frameborder="0"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-48762624390748069652021-03-15T11:14:00.006-07:002021-03-15T11:23:03.589-07:00Tasmaniamania Continues<p>Hi! Remember me?
It's been a while. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="435" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-MTDTT0aIcw" width="540" youtube-src-id="-MTDTT0aIcw"></iframe> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="398" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xn9Oeqlclwo" width="527" youtube-src-id="Xn9Oeqlclwo"></iframe>
That was part 5! Now Part V<br /> This next one should be 6..new,<br /><br /><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JnEyQxGm-vs" width="600" youtube-src-id="JnEyQxGm-vs"></iframe></div>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-56450728528473661462020-10-17T10:55:00.001-07:002020-10-17T10:55:28.268-07:00Love on the Rocks with Lime (SOTU 452)<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXFOosKyH8c" width="480"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-34959879898828669512020-10-14T08:49:00.002-07:002020-10-14T08:49:44.566-07:00Tasmania-mania Part 2 - The East Coast My Tasmanian friend, Jon Duncan, describes the East COast as his favorite part of the island, and he's been to or through most of it. I guess most Tasmanians would know a lot of theri island because with the scale allowed by the motorized vehicle, there's no part of the island more than a reasonable days's drive away from any other part (excepting the southwest quarter of the island which has no roads and is largely uninhabited). <br><br>
It's the 26th largest Island in the world
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonkFvkRhFSAjsn3kvhTEOkLY5Xo_XH1Y1as5TFmBQ66E3QEiphpQc6VWnJ6CTtgtWSwiXqFYk1Ni7aNDa8y6wNbwTh0VBTHnXt2oyZkDqlagux3o07yir609krOKJiRbS40KudQhqALGD/s568/tasmania_map.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonkFvkRhFSAjsn3kvhTEOkLY5Xo_XH1Y1as5TFmBQ66E3QEiphpQc6VWnJ6CTtgtWSwiXqFYk1Ni7aNDa8y6wNbwTh0VBTHnXt2oyZkDqlagux3o07yir609krOKJiRbS40KudQhqALGD/s320/tasmania_map.jpg"/></a></div>
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<iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="c0GcfOGN8WI" width="600" height="498" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c0GcfOGN8WI"></iframe>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-35640275306632707132020-08-30T08:53:00.001-07:002020-08-30T08:53:33.334-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="2A-c-v3akE8" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2A-c-v3akE8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="Q8DLbSw4Zk8" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8DLbSw4Zk8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="8iYuTbf570o" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8iYuTbf570o"></iframe></div>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-55177807310832259952020-08-30T08:52:00.001-07:002020-08-30T08:52:35.588-07:00Some recent favorite performances...
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="cC5vOh9VP_w" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cC5vOh9VP_w"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe class="BLOG_video_class" allowfullscreen="" youtube-src-id="1XU8s-8ofhE" width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XU8s-8ofhE"></iframe></div>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-7320107021291969092020-08-08T19:54:00.004-07:002020-08-08T19:54:58.028-07:00Hobarture! Tasmaniamania 1 <p>Wow, it's been nine months since I've posted anything in this blog. That's kind of ironic because in many ways, they have been amongst the most interesting months of my life. Smack in the middle of this peried would be when I went to Tasmania on holiday. <br /><br />Here, finally we have the first real travel video of what will (if ever made) work out to 12 -14 more in the series. Leaving Hobart! </p><p><br /></p><iframe width="672" height="377" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/klhxTlWet3k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><p><br /></p>Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-73144965122556620222019-11-26T12:07:00.000-08:002019-11-27T06:50:01.340-08:00Frustration Calls - The Story <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The lyrics you are about to hear in
this remarkable song came out of an experiment to test a theory of mine. In a recent
lecture, I noted that writing lyrics is not that difficult as long as you
can come up with a few key words. Once you have identified two or four important words which represent
the essence of what you are trying to say in that part of the song, you can use them as the ends of your lines and
then find rhymes to precede those words. In other words,<i><b> rhyming is best
done backwards</b></i>. So for example, say you want to sing about frustration, which do you think is better:<br />
<br />
Feeling the weight of deep frustration, I can’t go on in this situation. -or-<br />
I can’t go on in this situation, feeling
the weight of deep frustration. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I think the second serves better. OK, it seems rather minor. But as I said, it’s a theory, and since I’m
not a music teacher, and the talk I speak of was at one of our erstwhile
student clubs, I can get away with it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3TDEOOUe9s8-ueSNkDHHY0VRdI6e2XMPlIvdyHcPo-78q5_cehsDaN-P9Xpwf7NcGvM4WQAAAQGitvNwXBfuBc4_AVoSjnHeoWEZ5Cvnjbn01ifCg23QK1hoHcOO4TmHz0YaBQSkMZJG/s1600/wbFrust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="585" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3TDEOOUe9s8-ueSNkDHHY0VRdI6e2XMPlIvdyHcPo-78q5_cehsDaN-P9Xpwf7NcGvM4WQAAAQGitvNwXBfuBc4_AVoSjnHeoWEZ5Cvnjbn01ifCg23QK1hoHcOO4TmHz0YaBQSkMZJG/s400/wbFrust.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A few nights ago, I came home from
a night out a bit angry and emotional about things that had been said about
stuff that’s going on at work. The other
half of making lyrics writing is having an emotional or situational source
from which to draw words. Feeling so
frustrated with my work life that night, I decided to
write a song. The result was
the core of the words you see on this White Board.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Uncertainty and dissatisfaction at work hasn’t been the only thing going on in my
life lately. I’ve enjoyed an online friendship for years with Mr. Jon Duncan
AKA mountain goat, AKA mess inside (I haven’t asked why he’s had so many
different monikers) from Tasmania, Australia. As I was contemplating this mess of words on
the whiteboard and wondering why is it that everything I tried writing sounded
like lyrics to a hip-hop tune, I remembered that Jon had recently invited me to
please share anything I wanted with him and ask any questions I wanted to. All
right. I took a picture of the
board. Sent it to him on the Internet with
a note that I would love to discuss his thoughts on writing lyrics and went to
bed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">By the middle of the next day, he
had tweaked my lyrics to match a tune he had been working on, which he
graciously applied to these, my rather personal thoughts. I’ve written lots of songs, but I can't remember my words expressed alongside such a cool-sounding tune. After that, we each sort of made improvements
to the draft in parallel lines. This is what we got. I really like it.There's also <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bWG9eX5AWOS3cKiRy4WZbW40XfiBIRwQ" target="_blank">Jon-solo</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/2whlajCUuD0" target="_blank">Joko-solo </a>versions. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="404" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cl6fNeKZQQI" width="720"></iframe></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETpU99ah-FmZ1R1RNbcois0iv2OudLQRK5tRZeVz2WCe0sKEGif0gwfnyoLboO3rYTOy8g6nATyQMJ59ldX77I3dy0aZG8oxtYu5sG-zJTVs-sqdCTELRix56XQyiW4cO4cVcjzcMljik/s1600/frustrationcalls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="997" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETpU99ah-FmZ1R1RNbcois0iv2OudLQRK5tRZeVz2WCe0sKEGif0gwfnyoLboO3rYTOy8g6nATyQMJ59ldX77I3dy0aZG8oxtYu5sG-zJTVs-sqdCTELRix56XQyiW4cO4cVcjzcMljik/s1600/frustrationcalls.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Of course, one might read all kinds
of different meanings into any work of lyrics. Particularly when juxtaposed
with all of the work product that you see in the video of, most of which I
created, it may create the impression that this is an attack on my employer and
colleagues. Who is the “you” in the lyrics.
Aren’t I worried that I’ll get in trouble posting such things? In general, I would be, but there are much
more important things going on in the minds of my bosses that what little old Joko
does with his ukulele and video camera might be bothersome, but nothing’s going
to happen. Who would discipline an employee for complaining that he works too
hard? Maybe some of them will start taking me more seriously. That would be great.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUt1vRVGOnd6nLMMEjT5SuH9N5JNwCzeGzTBJ0fpPKTqADHNNH0Y9q40GPluwK6ArTzb-WHL5WKUJK1aNsDcO7pVvyuoUPQwpKbV0cxHqop9D8x9XQpu1jn4AjrTw-kOoCKmHAAORyG5Y/s1600/Copy+of+DUNCANMACKENNA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUt1vRVGOnd6nLMMEjT5SuH9N5JNwCzeGzTBJ0fpPKTqADHNNH0Y9q40GPluwK6ArTzb-WHL5WKUJK1aNsDcO7pVvyuoUPQwpKbV0cxHqop9D8x9XQpu1jn4AjrTw-kOoCKmHAAORyG5Y/s320/Copy+of+DUNCANMACKENNA.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you've enjoyed this first (but not last) collaboration between Jon and Joko (we’re
going to have to work on that name – two other people used something too
similar) <br /><br />Checkout and download Jon Duncan's new release: <a href="https://halfacow.bandcamp.com/album/a-short-history-of-everything" target="_blank">A Short History of Everything</a> at Halfacow Records</span></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-20744847465506386122019-11-19T18:13:00.000-08:002019-11-19T18:13:08.796-08:00The Parents Visit (Part 3)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, it's been 7.5 months since I posted "The Parents Visit (Part 2)". <br />I'm still here, and the video from the rest of my trip remains on my computer.<br /><br /><br -="" 1080p="" at="" below="" best.="" br="" button="" click="" gt="" in="" it="" its="" ploaded="" see="" settings="" the="" to="" video="" /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3aq7e6wvEs8" width="680"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The trip I had with my parents and my ex-girlfriend around Myanmar last holiday season was a memorable one. By the fact that it's been fermenting on my hard drive for so long has meant that looking at it again was like memory lane for me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5_ySOfXFY-b6Ia-6ooNWRjQJA4e2FaIdc7uac7leny6Uqlno6-CN4gSh1VULqqK-cQtO1wmGYpHQ_1Ef5xhDWcqY5wLs_BHn6swYJvAUJT5J_dVsmhCeYZXnO-XtOkz2L1z5LgzqElXc/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5_ySOfXFY-b6Ia-6ooNWRjQJA4e2FaIdc7uac7leny6Uqlno6-CN4gSh1VULqqK-cQtO1wmGYpHQ_1Ef5xhDWcqY5wLs_BHn6swYJvAUJT5J_dVsmhCeYZXnO-XtOkz2L1z5LgzqElXc/s200/cover.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This video is the last you'll see here of my -ex on the trip; she had to return to Yangon from Mandalay due to an emergency; Nicki became my ex not long after that.<br /><br />The music you'll hear is the original work of Jon Duncan, a long-time "online friend" of mine who's recently released a collection of his music. I thought it worked well with the video clips, both musically and thematically. Seeing my 70-something year-old parents helping each other in rough hills of Shan State echoed the feeling of a "Short History of Everything". If you like the music, support a young (ok, he's my age) musician and visit <a href="https://halfacow.bandcamp.com/album/a-short-history-of-everything" target="_blank">Half a Cow Records</a> and DL your own copy.<br /><br />It won''t take another 7 months to publish the next installment. I was inspired by my mother's birthday this last week; Dad's is just a month away. </span></span></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-90000018852137287122019-10-12T11:48:00.002-07:002019-10-12T11:48:43.899-07:00400 Weeks!?!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2gtcJiQzuiXNqxOMMsd5eGap7v8l568aL4cHVbuuf4i_We6QY4HEtWkj1yEyRqgiVsYMf87xprFtBwGJIO3gDQrZWYUFOF5wkrjAxQXTuF_6sFH7BZC20aEQEMFEk5iAUTBvmL4KApl0/s1600/SOTU2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2gtcJiQzuiXNqxOMMsd5eGap7v8l568aL4cHVbuuf4i_We6QY4HEtWkj1yEyRqgiVsYMf87xprFtBwGJIO3gDQrZWYUFOF5wkrjAxQXTuF_6sFH7BZC20aEQEMFEk5iAUTBvmL4KApl0/s640/SOTU2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm putting this pic here so it has a 'host'... <br /><br />Although if there are any ukulele players reading this who aren't already in the Seasons, come join! <br /><br /></div>
Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-21271319777483388882019-09-27T16:13:00.003-07:002020-05-28T19:51:32.165-07:00Some Songs... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XkSzIw3CFA0" width="560"></iframe>
I was testing my new gear's ability to pick up my voice and the ukulele from the same microphone.
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Fun.
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-26655002224574426812019-04-01T06:04:00.000-07:002019-09-22T14:43:37.708-07:00The Parents Visit (Part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On returning to Yangon from the journey around Myanmar with my parents, my free time has been taken up by a new avenue of pursuit. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp_U2tv_-Uu31CQIzHXwnqOkjeB21mWWuNR_grrzbye2UfBKJysJ_VT7C5NT1prFJaSckLn2eer9XSiJccNJmY6N340h_-rPEXpx2lei44KU4TRXqcUGr_rV1JKBP5lxzRwMAKRHDsQLC/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAp_U2tv_-Uu31CQIzHXwnqOkjeB21mWWuNR_grrzbye2UfBKJysJ_VT7C5NT1prFJaSckLn2eer9XSiJccNJmY6N340h_-rPEXpx2lei44KU4TRXqcUGr_rV1JKBP5lxzRwMAKRHDsQLC/s400/momand+dad+visit+final.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my role as an English teacher, I have found that my favorite aspect of my new career is teaching IELTS preparation classes. For those unfamiliar, the </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the fastest growing English language test in the world. Over 3.5 million tests were given last year, and it's used by tens of thousands of institutions worldwide to gauge an individual's English reading, listening, speaking and writing levels. I think I enjoy it so much because the students really have something to gain by performing well, and I feel like I'm helping to get them there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef00CioIxqw_MwWZ2o-zwNRIf05WgVQSr_gChEnnto9wzGDIUr5fGa1Gk8oWPDfAWLM0EOLwsG8e2VFYZXYz7KRPlNba0xOCnzL1FezVfx3AC6JltsjG5umds_S5mvHc3giVIcPDVM7N2/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25286%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef00CioIxqw_MwWZ2o-zwNRIf05WgVQSr_gChEnnto9wzGDIUr5fGa1Gk8oWPDfAWLM0EOLwsG8e2VFYZXYz7KRPlNba0xOCnzL1FezVfx3AC6JltsjG5umds_S5mvHc3giVIcPDVM7N2/s640/momand+dad+visit+final+%25286%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because of the stakes involved, the IELTS-prep industry is similarly growing. There's tons of advice online for test preparation, and a lot of it is bogus. I've had my own ideas for an IELTS prep blog and service, and so much of my time in 2019 has been taken up on my new endeavor: The <a href="http://ieltstemple.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">IELTS Temple.</a> Feel free to check it out. It's growing daily.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzbd9WyQ09szu_rl6EWA5ctFrCYAG0xBlVgFhDk3R4q0DH9ZbXfgvrMndBcsPx4tXUl1hyphenhyphen6AhMsDIZo3T0t1HYd958mId17iJO0FauHV_eCIJNzPGuF-vlrdmXq3dXvZ507HazBK-HR10/s1600/blogtitleMARCH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="1280" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzbd9WyQ09szu_rl6EWA5ctFrCYAG0xBlVgFhDk3R4q0DH9ZbXfgvrMndBcsPx4tXUl1hyphenhyphen6AhMsDIZo3T0t1HYd958mId17iJO0FauHV_eCIJNzPGuF-vlrdmXq3dXvZ507HazBK-HR10/s640/blogtitleMARCH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Consequently, there's lots and lots of video footage I haven't had time to edit.<br /><br />I can rely on my software's "Smart Movie" creator...<br /><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1zybwxknmsm5m-wUCPsYM2oGkGQPdTio3IE9AMQWTnT-f11qXbpnjuOR2oXjo2AfvdlrRtbj089mYbD2HNojbYZCiYVg9Q8FAUHDJbS1GmEoJmV96aAMSHgSnV99lrOrgeD05eLxGqSx/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25282%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1zybwxknmsm5m-wUCPsYM2oGkGQPdTio3IE9AMQWTnT-f11qXbpnjuOR2oXjo2AfvdlrRtbj089mYbD2HNojbYZCiYVg9Q8FAUHDJbS1GmEoJmV96aAMSHgSnV99lrOrgeD05eLxGqSx/s400/momand+dad+visit+final+%25282%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcRuTWFVshrW2Dns8VUeFHB_Wonf14E2mcTfb2l2psqLQIyNcIUL_-Oezt76sV7VIqVlcToN540HLuBhsBseCoDeFRLkWkkLNnQPJ_WIDSdm5NrttylQlIWdAfyUq47vqZ1kGskr53R75/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25285%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcRuTWFVshrW2Dns8VUeFHB_Wonf14E2mcTfb2l2psqLQIyNcIUL_-Oezt76sV7VIqVlcToN540HLuBhsBseCoDeFRLkWkkLNnQPJ_WIDSdm5NrttylQlIWdAfyUq47vqZ1kGskr53R75/s640/momand+dad+visit+final+%25285%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSMTqfWI_cxFzfECungDctzXOoVJBH0TIKs5W4ks4NQu72c-BquVODTMfXIXGbffgyROSNLkHmBt0uin3ScbGmOKuPuDCILjIEh7mGwN0DYYHtwklH4W6mj0HLrQQWHDXAh4wPHG0mc2P/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25283%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSMTqfWI_cxFzfECungDctzXOoVJBH0TIKs5W4ks4NQu72c-BquVODTMfXIXGbffgyROSNLkHmBt0uin3ScbGmOKuPuDCILjIEh7mGwN0DYYHtwklH4W6mj0HLrQQWHDXAh4wPHG0mc2P/s400/momand+dad+visit+final+%25283%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyR5B62ebeo6VdvIcKTT2aIE-rNj3Ry4uDdWFtnsjzMFhG9XSYiAVyBTpggAVlov4df9oN01X7ictZCn9hX-kvMlDs1LjJQ5JgbrF6FW0wApNcHJgzClOUhvHWHuleiMqTIPjN7PtkxXM/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25284%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyR5B62ebeo6VdvIcKTT2aIE-rNj3Ry4uDdWFtnsjzMFhG9XSYiAVyBTpggAVlov4df9oN01X7ictZCn9hX-kvMlDs1LjJQ5JgbrF6FW0wApNcHJgzClOUhvHWHuleiMqTIPjN7PtkxXM/s640/momand+dad+visit+final+%25284%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZDv7avaKZ09Wq2outXwiwgBSeAGSthG07VaAwA1nvojCO3jI1Rs3XaP4H3e7BlRBpFTt8XdVbX-Ew4kDJ36SOSonT4VWBDuH5uQhXsp-sCw2tnSVn5wjHx8bHmJ6SOoSWiX3i01YIIAp/s1600/momand+dad+visit+final+%25287%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZDv7avaKZ09Wq2outXwiwgBSeAGSthG07VaAwA1nvojCO3jI1Rs3XaP4H3e7BlRBpFTt8XdVbX-Ew4kDJ36SOSonT4VWBDuH5uQhXsp-sCw2tnSVn5wjHx8bHmJ6SOoSWiX3i01YIIAp/s400/momand+dad+visit+final+%25287%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-35544989774618610882019-01-30T23:55:00.002-08:002019-01-30T23:55:52.443-08:00Mom and Dad Visit Myanmar - 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlnxSNoX6jxVd3CoTwgQF0IAS5T8JRh55r_oK_UILHoYLQ4pJvfZb4yryr8CFni4jDOc5g_QkNsuGg3j6f0qrOJnCEx3tyDlwEIz5aU1n3ZETHvv6-oL_bjVhZGwU9X3TqIs7S0DV-jYj/s1600/IMG_20190112_191052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlnxSNoX6jxVd3CoTwgQF0IAS5T8JRh55r_oK_UILHoYLQ4pJvfZb4yryr8CFni4jDOc5g_QkNsuGg3j6f0qrOJnCEx3tyDlwEIz5aU1n3ZETHvv6-oL_bjVhZGwU9X3TqIs7S0DV-jYj/s320/IMG_20190112_191052.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I think anybody who lives far away from their home town has imagined how they would show off their new city to friends or family visiting from afar. Over the recent holidays, my chance came to guide not just visitors, but the people who brought me into this world: Mom and Dad. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAPt15rGG8-DZXGekWd33GMrGAt1iJhePXFhkyYfcnJbtOtnPI68gcD8PZMkiKAyMMFuy_jcwsyZnIepezq-RfZ5VmrcoKB04fqoeWdR56UaZwZU2Fz2nL8R5k9g3buZ7n_84fab0OLo-/s1600/New+Movie+%25287%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAPt15rGG8-DZXGekWd33GMrGAt1iJhePXFhkyYfcnJbtOtnPI68gcD8PZMkiKAyMMFuy_jcwsyZnIepezq-RfZ5VmrcoKB04fqoeWdR56UaZwZU2Fz2nL8R5k9g3buZ7n_84fab0OLo-/s320/New+Movie+%25287%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't alone in chaperoning their Myanmar tour. My partner Nicki has, amongst her many talents, professional training and is a licensed tour guide. She knows all about Yangon and it's interesting history. It was great having her along. <br /> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiV1EsxOjN0w-0EyAp3m1bd05lSi4ZCYNctFjLzp_UoEPaHjP9_SAwPQWkeIIdRuQhgeHu2uoGKnxRAMW7naNZ6_oCP9N1R3VUeGzWzFVrrF7IaZ_0oPx9Pn6r97ACYsH8hLD4GuuUz8T/s1600/wirestooLong3727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="640" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiV1EsxOjN0w-0EyAp3m1bd05lSi4ZCYNctFjLzp_UoEPaHjP9_SAwPQWkeIIdRuQhgeHu2uoGKnxRAMW7naNZ6_oCP9N1R3VUeGzWzFVrrF7IaZ_0oPx9Pn6r97ACYsH8hLD4GuuUz8T/s320/wirestooLong3727.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom took this picture of Yangon's Wiring. <br />
Go read her blog to see how a first-time <br />
visitor experiences Myanmar. <a href="https://merika-merika.blogspot.com/2019/01/1-why-did-we-go-to-myanmar-and-vietnam.html" target="_blank">Link</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When deciding where to take my parents in Yangon, I wanted to see the few places of interest that I hadn't been to yet. So, in this first video, you'll see short clips of visiting the National Museum and The All-Races National Park. Of course, we visited Shwedagon Pagoda, the most significant structure in the city in the minds of the Burmese. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By bad luck, Shwedagon was under maintenance when my parents were visiting, so they didn't get to see it at its shiny best. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0IkmWK4KVmfZvcRFxXd4TBtU-eowrq0RvCKRClJ2o9_sNvR52TyPfpuvHzZsBv5th3CVU-RF7SnlNa8ssuqQR7gF1_EdCftLHB0o_Rdwmq9q2XWcUkmYCMsqD8uqCeO5d0ptZopTFbLR/s1600/IMG_20181230_142409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0IkmWK4KVmfZvcRFxXd4TBtU-eowrq0RvCKRClJ2o9_sNvR52TyPfpuvHzZsBv5th3CVU-RF7SnlNa8ssuqQR7gF1_EdCftLHB0o_Rdwmq9q2XWcUkmYCMsqD8uqCeO5d0ptZopTFbLR/s320/IMG_20181230_142409.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">After Yangon, I drove the SUV we'd rented up to Naypyitaw, the strange created-capital I've visited many times. Then, on to the Irrawady River, and Bagan: the center of an empire that ruled much of this part of the world from the 11th to 15th century. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the first two centuries of the Bagan Age, the industrious rulers competed with their ancestors and future descendants to build as many pagodas as they could. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNF8syxMWMvUzH0WPFz3mZWqVbFviAoLUI6lDrokqiAGaokd-bYcRuGbS05jYS84Yp1Xjp_jXY0HJjsEDXdxaQnq6O5l4VO3GVf6Cj8y1ths9CH5Cm7yl3N9KkiK952PfjAsRcGdhtnHn/s1600/Famloop1+%25282%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNF8syxMWMvUzH0WPFz3mZWqVbFviAoLUI6lDrokqiAGaokd-bYcRuGbS05jYS84Yp1Xjp_jXY0HJjsEDXdxaQnq6O5l4VO3GVf6Cj8y1ths9CH5Cm7yl3N9KkiK952PfjAsRcGdhtnHn/s640/Famloop1+%25282%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijHLBGiTWMK5dWvENU7ESpdk9wzI3P_gtIZxmJorSjId2KcplMav1oJO4P1oFEwrIpoH0nfDLMXOrIF5-RBGvEISgmj9p7srgFIfHRotsUkXK-pkmOoyl4ubRll3dMDQ89jo1hwGanw-T/s1600/Famloop1+%25283%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijHLBGiTWMK5dWvENU7ESpdk9wzI3P_gtIZxmJorSjId2KcplMav1oJO4P1oFEwrIpoH0nfDLMXOrIF5-RBGvEISgmj9p7srgFIfHRotsUkXK-pkmOoyl4ubRll3dMDQ89jo1hwGanw-T/s400/Famloop1+%25283%2529.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Consequently, the best way to see it is from above. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The video ends with MacKenna's in the sky as we floated in a hot-air balloon over the peaceful and breathtaking sites of one of the most remarkable places in the world. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD5A3deoPf48iZNvaqnMJkm3QCKK9HoWyos2zJJjZA3t49M_GOI9YgB5nX7i3mk8AiTAITkp9TRs19heyCY1PoySqrknTclESnBrdATSi1h1poJcaAkLdte6t23Zbi54fE3TOyw0wxX7h/s1600/Famloop1.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD5A3deoPf48iZNvaqnMJkm3QCKK9HoWyos2zJJjZA3t49M_GOI9YgB5nX7i3mk8AiTAITkp9TRs19heyCY1PoySqrknTclESnBrdATSi1h1poJcaAkLdte6t23Zbi54fE3TOyw0wxX7h/s400/Famloop1.Movie_Snapshot.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Be sure to check out <a href="https://merika-merika.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Merikay's Dream, </b></span></a>Mom's blog, a place to see their pictures and stories from visiting their son. <br /><br />Enjoy the video. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-3271704250002132682019-01-25T09:01:00.001-08:002019-01-25T09:01:35.124-08:00Robert Mac Kinnon's 60th birthday bash. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Robert is my colleague. A delightful man whose last name is very similar to my own. Unlike me, he's full on Scottish. So much so that he had haggis imported for his 60th birthday party. <br />
<br /></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-73447753419437887772018-12-10T09:11:00.007-08:002018-12-10T09:11:46.347-08:002018 Year in Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's not over yet, but here it is, a video review compilation of 2018 as seen through the eyes of Joko's videos. Part one. <br />
<br /></div>
<br />
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<br />Mid-year, I met someone. I've now got a girlfriend.
Part Two.
2019 will start with my parents visiting Asia. That's going to be fun. <br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rk3Ye7-1YZo" width="720"></iframe></div>
Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-57723133099010220042018-11-22T08:48:00.000-08:002018-11-22T08:48:48.744-08:00Myawaddy Final - New Built Old<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So on my last full day of my week off, up in the town of Taungoo, I wasn't quite sure what to do. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had seen on the Google Earth images of stuff that Google Maps didn't show. Namely, the amazing lake at Pakaung. I saw that. Similarly, there was a golf course in the military extension of Taungoo, a few miles north. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Knowing how protective the military is here of their facilities, I didn't even attempt to go there. Instead, it was off into the countryside east of Taungoo to visit a couple of remarkable pagodas. </span></span><br />
</div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-77044010632913937472018-11-14T10:16:00.001-08:002018-11-14T10:16:13.917-08:00Myawaddy 6: Kabaung Lake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44407272_10214917540870839_1404561860363026432_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=68ef5c1777ab750c608ec18cc26788bf&oe=5C8506F3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44407272_10214917540870839_1404561860363026432_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=68ef5c1777ab750c608ec18cc26788bf&oe=5C8506F3" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The mystery behind the secret lake has been solved. It exists. It is not in some secret military zone. It is a jewel of blue in the otherwise brown and arid Bago Hills. It has a name - Lake Kabaung. How did this place come to my interest? Jimmy Grant noticed it first.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's what the start of
the road from Taungoo to Pyay (a road I've traversed before) looks like
on Google maps. Not much detail, befitting the rural, featureless road
that it is. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44282918_10214909247343506_2656481313170653184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=f2c79e8194731410a987d463df286534&oe=5C82297E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="687" height="474" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44282918_10214909247343506_2656481313170653184_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=f2c79e8194731410a987d463df286534&oe=5C82297E" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Look now at the same are on Google Earth</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
.<img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="689" height="496" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44296794_10214909247223503_3709695547137851392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=8eeb4fa064b980b38283e95db51a04bc&oe=5C89A295" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wow. What is up with this extensive lake that otherwise isn't recognized? This isn't the first lake I've encountered heree in Myanmar that doesn't exist in Google Maps. There be a communication breakdown somewhere along the line. See, it's not that Kabaung Lake is secret or restricted or anything. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44447676_10214917543270899_7328525254333038592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=b2777e5fec28f0806546a56f989b6d9d&oe=5C69BE46" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44447676_10214917543270899_7328525254333038592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=b2777e5fec28f0806546a56f989b6d9d&oe=5C69BE46" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sure, there was a gate, but I could have gone through the village and avoided it. Kabaung is completely unspoiled. It's a nugget of Yoma Hills that is beautiful, but entirely unvisited. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful mountain lake is but a mere 100 miles from Yangon - a few hours by car. Might this be the undeveloped place I build my retirement job of expat guesthouse owner? I may be the first to have made a video of the place. Music by Matisyahu. <br /></span></span></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6194006336520349507.post-72226863946630999692018-11-13T17:33:00.003-08:002018-11-13T17:33:39.228-08:00Myawaddy 5 - Taungoo the Fifth! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44460862_10214917539590807_3686968512942702592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=0ac43ec9faab78a621059d23235be3ae&oe=5C87A022" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="582" height="320" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44460862_10214917539590807_3686968512942702592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=0ac43ec9faab78a621059d23235be3ae&oe=5C87A022" width="233" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said goodbye to my girlfriend, got on a late night train
and ended up in Taungoo. What is it about Taungoo? This was my fifth time
visiting this small city, by far the most frequent visitation spot outside
Yangon.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, on this instance, my purpose was clear: I wanted to
visit my motorbike. As much as I enjoyed Myawaddy, I was frustrated by having
to rely on taxis and such. I wanted to go where MY Kenbo 125 was located. I say
<i>my</i>, but I’ve somewhat sold it to
Barbara, a fellow teacher in Yangon who makes a couple visits a month to
Taungoo, 175 km north of Yangon, as a volunteer English teacher to students at
the Taungoo Education College. I’ve agreed to sell it to her, but we’ve never
agreed on a price or anything, so it’s still mine. </span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44396175_10214917539310800_3128315090185486336_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=7746a67ab186d4ab5cbf038f6b918b9e&oe=5C750DB8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44396175_10214917539310800_3128315090185486336_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=7746a67ab186d4ab5cbf038f6b918b9e&oe=5C750DB8" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Again, this was my FIFTH time in Taungoo, but the first time
I’d be spending more than one night there. This meant I could dig into themes I
hadn’t before. Namely, I wanted to see the walls of ancient Taungoo. See, for a
while, from about 1700 to 1780, Taungoo was the Rome of Southeast Asia.
The biggest of many Burmese empires over
the centuries was the Taungoo Empire, reigning over all of Thailand and parts
of India, Malaysia and Laos, and Taungoo was the capital. This little getaway from
Yangon had an old history… </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44540218_10214917539030793_3789287896792432640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=180e1b745015293e4de5617437995638&oe=5C3C735C" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="800" height="280" src="https://scontent.frgn1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44540218_10214917539030793_3789287896792432640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent.frgn1-1.fna&oh=180e1b745015293e4de5617437995638&oe=5C3C735C" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Along with the old city walls, I also wanted to look for a
new lake up in the Bago Hills. This lake is not on Google Maps, but it is on
Google Earth… I wanted to go find it. Gosh… I found it. But the lake deserves
its own blog and video… </span></span></div>
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Jokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06279961998217571775noreply@blogger.com0