Category: Travel

One of the great things being based in China is the opportunity to explore the countries around. This summer it was time to explore Myanmar. It was possible to get a direct Air China flight to Yangon from Beijing and a flight from Yangon back to Beijing via Kunming to return. Two weeks to explore Myanmar offered a fantastic opportunity to visit many amazing places.

We started with half a night in Yangon before getting a flight to Mandalay for our first full day. Visiting the Yangon domestic terminal was a fascinating experience. The building was an old colonial building where the bags were checked in by hand and ticket details stamped by hand. During the course of the two weeks we took numerous flights between destinations and whilst the airport processes where relatively primitive, the planes themselves often ATR 72’s were clean, reliable and efficient. They often ran like buses, landing, getting bags and passages off and then getting bags and passages on again and then off again in 20 minutes.

Whilst in Mandalay we visited the Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery, U Bein Bridge and many of the pagodas on Mandalay Hill. The next stop on our trip was Peik Chin Myaung Cave on the way to Pyin Oo Lwin. Pyin Oo Lwin was much cooler as it is located at an altitude of 1,070 meters. The town because the summer capital for British Burma with the Governors summer estate and a large national garden (Kandawgyi) located there. After some time exploring in cooler temperatures, we took the train to Hsipaw in the Shan state. On the way the train broke down for a couple of hours just before the Goteik viaduct, this allowed us to walk across the viaduct by foot and look at the structure in more detail. It is an impressive structure, which is starting to look pretty dated.

Goteik viaduct

Hand Stamped Tickets

Kandawgyi National Garden

After Hsipaw we went to Monywa, Bagan and the Inle Lakes. Bagan is often indicated as one of the highlights on a trip to Myanmar and it didn’t disappoint. During the 11^th and 13^th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains, of which there are now over 2,000 to explore. It is amazing to be able to explore them at your own pace. As with much of Myanmar it is possible to explore at your own pace and is not overpopulated with tourists. This meant that often we had the temples and pagodas to ourselves, particularly when exploring smaller ones. The Inle Lakes were also very impressive to see the floating villages and the fishermen paddling with an oar using their leg to hold it. The scenery around the lakes was also beautiful.

Bagan

Friendly Monkeys

Inle Lakes

Finally, we had some time back in Yangon to explore the Shwedagon Pagoda and the city. The size of the Shwedagon Pagoda is very impressive. Although Yangon itself is neither the most peaceful nor beautiful city. After such a busy few days we used the final day to try and relax and not race around the city. The trip to Myanmar was fantastic and it was a great place to visit. The sights were not busy compared to Cambodia or Thailand and the sights and locals were very relaxed. The food was also very nice with interesting curries and food full of taste and spice. There was so much to do, it is not possible to describe it all.

Having just spent 5 days in Manilla for a short break I can confirm it is a long way from my favourite city. Whilst, the city has a depth of culture and history encompassing periods of colonization by the Spanish, British and Americans the city is very slow and busy. The city has a lot of contrasts from glitzy shopping centres, skyscrapers, pristine golf courses to rampant poverty and slumps. The ‘modern luxury’ the city has is somewhat faceless and boring, with lots of security all around. The traffic in the city is probably the worst I have ever seen, even coming from Beijing the traffic seemed bad. Plus the public transport is very limited and overcrowded.

One day we escaped the city and went to the Taal Volcano, which was an interesting sight. The volcano is in the middle of a lake, so it requires a boat to the volcano and then a dusty walk up to the summit. Once back in Manilla we transferred our exploration to the old city and the seafront. The seafront is not particularly pretty by it does have a fantastic sunset. The old city does have more history and culture than the new centre and a visit to Fort Santiago was well worthwhile. The cathedral and Plaza de Roma were picturesque and sitting in the Plaza de Roma in front of the cathedral you could forgot you are in Southeast Asia. However, whilst Manilla has lots of culture and history if you are willing to look, it is not a city I would rush back to.

Plaza de Roma

Journey to Taal Volcano

Fort Santiago

Whilst in El Salvador (which is a really interesting country to visit) there was the opportunity to visit Mayan ruins, which was something I have always really wanted to do. I left early as part of a tour, along with five other people to visit two different sets of Mayan temples (Tazumal and San Andres Ruins) and a Mayan village (Joya de Cerén).

Tazumal

Armed Guards

San Adres Ruins

Accompanying us on the trip to the Mayan ruins were two heavily armed police officers, in addition all the sites we visited were secured with army personnel, which was a reminder of the dangers that still exist in El Salvador. The Mayan village was very well preserved as it had been covered by a volcanic eruption similar to Pompeii and walking around the ruined temples was phenomenal. It was the highlight of the time spent in El Salvador.

After completing a long and arduous 46-page application, highlighting the teaching innovations and practices, I had developed and introduced (and supporting publications) whilst at the University of Worcester, I was interviewed for a University Teaching Fellowship. The date of the interview unfortunately fell on a date when I was already booked on an advanced structural equation-modeling course in the Dept. of Physics at the University of Sheffield. Luckily, I was able to have the interview via Skype in the University of Sheffield Student Union, which was an interesting and new experience. I was delighted to find out today (two weeks later) I had been awarded a University Teaching Fellowship, which is held for five years. The Fellowship identifies and offers additional time and support for the role I play in enhancing and transforming the student learning experience and supporting colleagues in developing innovative teaching and learning practices.