So, as this photo I took may indicate, I did get in to see the President. Here’s my GlobalPost story on the visit. (Play “Spot the Secret Service Agent/Milford Man in the above image!) People have asked me how I got in to see the President’s Yangon speech without prior permission. The answer to this […]
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Pak Putra: Remarkable tandoori in Malacca
In Malacca, you must try the tandoori chicken at Pak Putra, an Indian tandoori and curry house set in a residential neighborhood not far from the tourist center. It is a pleasant little walk, especially as the sun starts to go down: you will be joined by others. Pak Putra is a small place […]
Obama in Burma – still in Yangon
Obama is coming tomorrow. I will be spending the day chasing him around and hopefully mooning around Yangon University in the hope of being let in to hear his speech. The US Embassy nicely said they’d inform me if there were any “public” events, and as I’ve heard nothing, I’m presuming I am not included […]
In Yangon, Water Buffalo
I’m in Yangon. It is truly the bastard child of Calcutta and Phnom Penh to my eyes: a weird, interesting place. More dilapidated landscapes than dreamed of in your philosophy. Photos hopefully will ensue tonight – headed to Shwedagon Pagoda and will post then. I have mostly just driven by it and can say with […]
Heading to Burma, contraband porno
Heading to Burma tomorrow. The Kuala Lumpur low-budget terminal is rather in the middle of nowhere, so leaving at 1:00 AM for a 6:55 AM flight—c’est le vie. Have booked into a place in Yangon, successfully acquired shiny new money, and am getting excited. This is a picture of J.V Lane. I was walking through […]
Trying to Like Kuala Lumpur
A long day of wandering around making plans and then re-jiggering them again in Kuala Lumpur. Have concluded I do not particularly care for KL. I see it rather like Hong Kong without the charm, and Singapore without the flash—and of course both cities have scenery, as well. Perhaps I depend on a monument or […]
Assorted thoughts on Malacca
I like Portuguese settlements, I suppose—not that I have visited them often, but there is something to the concept. They do not have the buttoned-down nature of British colonies, perhaps: there is a sort of wild Catholicism to them, the sort you might see in Spanish and Portuguese streets during a major religious celebration. Malacca […]
The Ending of Star Wars and The Election
Please tell me I am not alone in having this clip immediately come to mind when I found out that Obama was the victor. Of course, this means the metaphor must inexorably be stretched. Thus: who are the Ewoks? The Malaysians I saw today seemed to be pretty unmoved, although lots of people offered their […]
Blogfest Asia 2012: Noisy, fractious ASEAN bloggers, ignore at own peril
Bloggers are about the same everywhere, I guess. Fractious and noisy. Exuberant, opinionated, occasionally make questionable clothing choices. Might have been considered “weird” in school. Vanguards of social revolution and change—that too. You ignore them at your own peril. This particular motley pack of Asia bloggers convened at Build Bright University, a small college of […]
Blogfest Asia 2012: a thought or two
Just arrived at Blogfest Asia 2012 this morning and had a nice day. It’s wonderful to see so many ASEAN nerds under the same roof. Met my first folks from Myanmar/Burma today and am looking forward to my upcoming visit. Watching a bunch of Asian blogger kids get down at the Angkor Wat Pub on […]