I call them "Burmese Doughnuts". They've got another name, but essentially, it's fried bread.
The three-week adventure was nearing it's end. I was ahead of schedule, but after visiting all the sights available in the ancient city of Kataung, it was time to move on. I continued my way south along the Irrawaddy River back to where it all started, Mandalay.
From the 4-faces pagoda.An ancient pagoda inside a newer one!
I was also under budget. I had set aside a certain amount of money I was thinking to spend on this vacation, and when I got back to Mandalay, I was well under that. So, time to splurge a bit.
Once again Zach, my patron, the guy I'd rented the motorbike from in the first place - mandalaymotorbike.com - was helpful in suggesting accommodations there in Mandalay that were somewhat luxurious, but without breaking the bank. The Apex Hotel. Nice place. It's taking me some time to finish up this adventure which ended 7 weeks ago now.As i mentioned in the last blog, a new love interest.
We're still together. Sure, she's 20 years young than me. We're from different cultures. But she spent some time living in America and we get along great.
It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve last posted here on my
blog, and so much has happened in that time!
I’ve got a new love interest. More on that later depending on how it goes.
I had to spend a week in Bangkok when I’d meant to spend a
night.I’d gone for my regular visa run
thing, and whllst in Bangkok I managed to lose my passport. Again, more on that story
later.
Back in Yangon. I’m very excited in that today, my company
held a press conference announcing a new partnership with the University of
Wollongong College (Australia) wherein our campus will be the site of their 1st
trimester foundation course; it’s a type of college before college thing.
UoW is one of the top universities in the world, and this
foundation program is a way in for Myanmar students who might not bequalified to enterotherwise. Their first experience in tertiary
education will come through Edulink, my company. They’ll be learning
mathematics, environmental studies, academic English and sociology, the last
being my area speciality and teaching subject.
Yes, I’m going to teach sociology.
I remember vividly 35 years ago, at the family dinner table, when I
said I was interested in studying sociology, how strongly my parents objected
to this idea. What could one do with a sociology degree? Completely pointless!
I think the words “no child of ours is
going to study sociology”were
actually uttered.
They were much more mooted when I actually got to university
and completed my BA in sociology with an emphasis on comparative cultures. I
also got, while studying in Indonesia, a specialized minor in Southwest Pacific
studies which combined courses in Indonesian and Australian topics.Who would have thunk these topics would actually be useful someday?
Water fun in the Ayeyarwaddy
It’s taken 25 years, and not following any particular plan,
but these qualifications (what’reya
gonna do with a degree in sociology?) are finally paying off. Starting in
August, I’m going to be a lecturer in Edulink’s collaboration with the
University of Wollongong. I’ll be teaching a course in sociology. It’s going to
be what in America would be considered to be a “community college” course, so
my lack of an advanced degree isn’t an impediment. I can’t really call myself
“Professor
Joko”, but Lecturer Joko? Well, career wise, I feel a bit of pride today.
In the video, we continue our journey south towards
Mandalay, to the old town of Takaung, where my hotelier was an 11-year-old boy.
Yeah, I dunno where all the adults had gone, but this kid was my sole interaction with the guesthouse there in Kataung. And it wasn't because he was the only one who spoke English because he didn't.
When you're paying 5000 Kyats ($4) for the night, ya can't complain.
