And then we owned a trishaw

So this is about a trishaw and then it is about other things too.  When we settled in to Yangon I expected to one day own a trishaw. It just became a sort of mission to find and get one "for Lisa". When we settled in to Yangon I did not expect to be heading home the first week of April to teach remotely from home due to a global pandemic. But there you are, and we learn lessons from everything, or at least we should.

So this post is about some of those lessons

I learned that people from Myanmar look very comfortable and relaxed in trishaws. I will post more pictures later but I have seen men sleeping in their trishaws. I cannot even fit my hips in the passenger seat.

Here it is. Brilliant design, similar to other Asian countries but unique to Myanmar.

This was on the first ride home. We stopped for a beer and these guys had to check out the ride- "sweet wheels" I heard one of them say.

These were the directions that came with it. I found them helpful.

So I have learned to be patient. My dream was to take Lisa out on rides in the hood, go to breakfast, dinner, etc. It will happen I'm sure but not on my time schedule, that's okay. I'm learning that too. I had Luca take a few pics and couldn't decide on just one- so enjoy them all.

A future post: Innes' side hustle. Based on Jerry Seinfelds tv show comediens in cars drinking coffee. I would like to start picking up people on the road and talk Burmese to them. They would probably need coffee after that experience. Am working on the title. Suggestions appreciated. (also color votes)

And what have I learned from the Covid19 virus? I sure miss and love my friends and family, not that I needed a reminder. I think I will let my friend Greg weigh in on this one as he (as he usually does) says it best:

5 Things I have learned traveling the world, that is helping during the pandemic.......

1. Patience- When you travel it seems action packed, but there is a lot of waiting (planes, buses, trains, hotel check ins) just general sense of down time. Small things to pass time.

2. Not eating and drinking what you want when you want - Yes, we can still order out and go to the store, but trying to limit leaving the house as much as possible. In Tanzania, you know you can't go get a burrito down the street, same applies here, tonight I wanted to BBQ ribs but just didn't have the goods.

3. Rolling with the punches - Things are changing so rapidly and life is different right now. Same when you travel, shit happens out of your control and especially in a different culture you learn to adopt to your new norms and adjust on the fly, so much so at times people think we live there.

4. Being with someone you can stand - Although Kirsten Koehler and I do most things together, we still have other responsibilities and interests. When abroad, you are together 24/7 and you learn quickly when to let things go and how to get space (even in a tiny room). Kirsten always says that's when you know you can marry someone, by how you travel together. One has to pick the other up when energy is sliding.

5. We are all in this together - Sitting with locals or fellow travelers is my fav thing, finding out we are so much more alike than different (forget culture, politics, language and borders). A travelers sense of being one world and common bonds are strong. Yes, a lot of ass holes are not self distancing but in general we are in this together and good people, doing the right thing. Together will get through this crap.

Be safe.....

car honks of Myanmar, and what they mean

Well here we are in a semi state of lock down in Myanmar. School is closed and the teachers are designing lessons that can be delivered online. One of the tools is called screencastify and it lets you talk while your screen is showing.
I still have some practice to do before I get smooth with it, but practice I figured I'd do. 

Here is my take on what the car honks I've been hearing mean on my runs.

Myanmar car honks
(click this link)

Running with Tom Kiddoo

I was thinking about Tom Kiddoo the other day. Maybe it was because he and his wife always make people feel better just by being around them. And lord knows we all need to be feeling better these days.

I couldn't really figure it until I returned home and made a map of my run. Then it all came together.

Thanks more making me smile Tom and Julie- even when you don't realize it.

I have so much to learn,

I have so much to learn, and I don't want that to ever change.

This country for example, saying it's complex... would be an epic understatement.

To think how much has changed in the past 10 years boggles my mind. The internet was non existent, the gov't controlled everything, free speech was... risky.

The other part is the people, who are so incredible. So kind, curious, happy. To square that with what is happening in the north is difficult to do.

I have much to learn.

I want to share a video I came across from Al Jazeera that was interesting. It is 20 minutes.

a video

I'll take hodge podge for 100 Alex.

I think I remember on jeopardy when they couldn't figure out a full category they would just toss a bunch of random q's in and call it hodgepodge. Kinda the same thing here:

Needed some washers to attach bolts on the basket. Found the perfect solution until Jono and Adam mentioned that on the inside of the cap you can check if you have won a free beer. Now I'm dying to know.

Lego expo at the plaza? I might know someone who is interested.

Had my students play with a photo editor for a class assignment so I thought I should practice as well. These happened to be the two pics I happened to have.

Lisa won a staycation at the Melia hotel! It is 7 minutes away from our house but felt much much further. 

View from the room

That was last weekend- this weekend was the school gala. Here we are trying to look sharp

Here is Zarli who could just be an agent for men in black!

A note on my longyi. These are the best! but as a westerner I just don't have it down on how to tie it yet. A well tied longyi stays narrow from the waist down to the feet. Mine started that way but as the night went on, with dancing and a trip to bathroom, I think it slipped a bit, and became more of a bell shape. My hint was when a guy walked by and said "nice dress". Tell you the truth I was just happy it didn't fall down.

ode to a chair

Ok, so that title sounds really deep and you are likely settling in for a good read. Good luck with that. About a month ago Lisa apologetically said that my birthday present arrived early and would that be okay? I was fine with it and when it arrived I was more than fine with it. Behold the Burmese plantation chair:

(plantation not included)

We had seen one of these at a downtown restaurant and I remarked how complete my life would be with a chair like that. Lisa found a local company that finds old ones and refurbishes them. 

A few features: 

You gots to lay back! This is not a chair for posture- it demands that you recline.

Wide arm rests ensure plenty of space for your gin and tonic.

Wide wicker for wide loads!

But best of all are the extendable leg rests- check em out!

 So I fully realized that I have passed an age marker when a comfortable chair makes me this happy. Next it will be socks with sandals, and golf. But there we are, I could fight it and ask for a red sports car next year but I think I'll just embrace it. and sit back.

Thank you Lisa you have made me a happy man. A very relaxed, mouth breathing, happy man.

Shit just got real