Mission 7- pajama jammy jam

This mission might seem out of order... and it is. I cycle past this shop every day to school and my mission was to get family pajamas made for all of us. It is quite wonderful seeing families out and about in their pajamas here on the weekend.

I chose the fabric, pantomimed the sizes, and left as this sweet woman said "tomorrow, tomorrow"

Well, I certainly had fun going back every day of break and laughing with her as we both would say "tomorrow tomorrow" In the end it seems I only ordered pants so will have to pick up the tops for Lisa and Luca... tomorrow.
 

Now, who's excited for their new pajama jammy jams?

This is the look Lisa gives Luca when she is thinking "if you smile or laugh at his jokes you'll only encourage him to tell more".

mission 11- the yangon marathon... sort of

 Usually around this time of year (give or take a few weeks) the Yangon Marathon is held. It was a really fun experience last year as we started in the dark and ran all over the city. I figured it was not going to happen this year and needed an outlet for all of these running miles I have been logging (that was typed in a very sarcastic font).  

Alright, so I have been running a little bit (sort of), I do want to participate in a race (sort of), and I do want a good social with friends (no sort of there!)

With that, welcome to the Yangon (sort of) Marathon

The idea was to have a 5k loop that everyone could run as many times as they wanted. Then we would have some beer and cokes after. 

Here is the course (Tom Kiddoo inspired).

As inspiring as the running of the bulls in Pamplona:  Here is the start

Luca and Fabian were in charge of cold drinks and music.

Liz and Gavin graciously offered to skip the run and guard the beer

The podium and the puppies

Thanks to everyone that came, that was a fun last mission. For a break where I would have rather been off adventuring I think we did all right kicking around our fair city.

Mission 10 Mogok noodles

 

When someone mentions "That place has the best Shan noodles in town." You write it down. First I made sure I knew where the Shan state was (in the east- borders China, Laos, and Thailand. Then we went for noodles!

Dan had told me about it on our photo walk from earlier and I finally worked it into a mission. He mentioned they have very good soup but as we were going the take away route- noodles won.

 Lisa and I taxied downtown and had a nice stroll about. Grabbed some good beers at the teahouse, found a book at the bookshop. 

Saw some cool doorways as well (you always do it seems)

We got home around 3 and what was going to be our dinner turned into an afternoon snack! I swear I was just going to try a little. It was very very good! Thanks for the tip Dan.

The little bag below ended up being pickled vegetables- my fear was that it would be spicy. The little bag above was soup- turns out what Lisa ordered really did need soup. We were careful, didn't spill a drop, and it was amazing

On the way home we saw this sign... ketchup?

mission 8 and 9. Rabies and singletrack

My 8th mission was not to get rabies In order for this to happen we had to get the rabies vaccine (as we really should have got it when we first arrived.)

How we got it became the mission.

I've been biking a fair bit and really enjoy seeing the city from the saddle. On my latest ride I was cruising down a quiet street from the shwedagon pagoda. I really do not know how this happened as the taxi passed me on the left and turned right- right into me! I actually was on his hood for a spell. I must have stuntman in my blood as I didn't really get hurt- just a small scrape above my eye and a sore shoulder.

But... wisdom said to get it checked out in case stitches were needed. They weren't- but we did use the opportunity of a trip to the clinic for all of us to get a rabies shot.

Hey, I didn't say all the missions would be riveting did I?

A few days later I was mostly healed up and ready to bike some more. Good thing as our friend Todd Davis had organized a bike trip north of Yangon. Our bikes were loaded up on a truck and after 45 minutes or so we had some trails to explore. It was very nice to be out of the city and riding on dirt. There were rubber trees, bamboo, and a reservoir (we didn't swim)

I'm playing around with one of my christmas toys- a new gopro so will be trying to post a few videos in different formats to see what works best.

here is the road in from where we parked 

first clip

this second clip is along some singletrack as we passed another crew!

Here are some ladies carrying wood-quite cool actually

And a few photos as well. Not sure what these boots are for.

Todd and Luca

Here is a pagoda on a hill with shade (we had lunch in said shade).

The crew

The view

So it isn't fruita singletrack, but it sure was great being out of the city.

I always like those signs

Luca and I started a tan legs contest at lunch

He won

Missions 4 and 5 and 6

 

Yes that is a puzzle. I'm not proud (but it is a darn cool puzzle). Mission 4 is to finish a puzzle, what can I say hard times call for hard choices. 

Mission 5. Lisa gave me a cool little book about downtown Yangon streets. There is a description of the type of shops you'll find. There is some order to it all- one street is all power tools, another is all speakers. They believe in specialization.

Behold: Atlas Chemicals.

I noticed on the corner of Mahabandoola and 27th were a few chemistry shops. I don't really have a need for chemicals but I've always wanted some glassware to call my own. (haven't you?)

here are the chemicals- they had plenty

and the glassware- every shape you can imagine.

I was so excited when I came home that I immediately took this out and showed Lisa. "Look what I got!" Strangely, Lisa didn't share my excitement- she just said "oh god what have you bought?" 

I don't know what she was thinking (or you for that matter) but she was visibly relieved when I unwrapped my 100ml graduated cylinder.

What do I need chemical glassware for you ask? No- I won't be breaking bad anytime soon.

But if you come over you will likely get an incredibly precise pour on your gin and tonic.

To get to mission 6 I had to walk a bit. I really love how this city does old and run down. It makes it look cool, like you want to go have a beer with it and listen to its story.

and I saw a cool sign

and some cats

But those weren't the mission. Mission 6 is to find a uniform. I saw that somewhere on the corner of 16th and Anawrahta was a uniform shop. There are some top shelf security guard uniforms I have come across. Like old western shirts or bowling jerseys- they have style. My thought is to get one and put a fashion police badge on it and walk around giving what to wear advice. I was hoping for something along these lines:

Alas, I came up empty handed on this mission and only found reflective gear (My mom will be happy to know I picked up a nice reflective vest for my night bike rides). I will have to continue this and report back to you, or give you a ticket- seriously those shorts with that shirt? (I totally have this fashion police thing down!)

Mission 3- cookies and ornaments

The lack of snow on the ground does make it a tad difficult to really feel like its christmas. To remedy this we made it our mission to make some christmas cookies and ornaments. Just getting to the mall helped! Look at that tree!

We ARE smiling!

Our friend Samia came over and we got to work. Lisa made sugar cookies and icing. I had been saving cardboard, random stickers, and magazines.

First the cookies. I think Luca figured as soon as we were out of icing and toppings he could leave. Those are his on the right with the 3cm of icing on top!

And next, the ornaments. I definitely made most to remind me of home, but hey isn't that what christmas is all about?

And speaking of home, that same night we got a picture of Wilder and Daniel making cookies in Colorado.

 

Mission #2

We live next to the Princess Inn. Hard to get the accurate story on its history but there have been murmers that it was a house of ill repute! These days only a few guys stay there as far as we can tell and Lisa thinks that it was on purpose that one of the s' fell off the sign. She is dying to go over with a sharpie and turn Princes  Inn into Prince's Inn.

I have been dying to get up on that roof and have a look around, so what better time than during the holiday of missions to give it a try. I loaded the following on my phone and crossed the road.

Here is the view of said roof from our driveway. It kind of looks like rapunzel's tower.

My google translate worked. Also, I did some top notch pointing to my camera and up and then at me. 

That little red spot you see is our patio chairs and table.

Totally nailed the sunset. Was way too early to see Saturn and Jupiter.

Unexpected bonus (and really isn't this why we go on missions?): It has a pool! Completely green water and no diving board. But now I have another mission- put on some swim trunks and grab a chili bin (cooler) and try to talk my way into an afternoon of pure relaxation in the sun! Will keep you posted.