After a wonderful few weeks in Bangkok hanging out with some old friends:
Jana, her boyfriend Boris and me (and our shiny foreheads) on New Year’s Eve; Joel and I near the Chao Phraya
And stumbling upon some enthralling and adorable animals:
The cutest dog in all of Bangkok; Soup Cat, who sat on this soup cart all day, watching the people stream by.
And exploring some more of the city’s temples:
Pictures from Wat Chanasongram in Banglamphu
It is now time to leave Bangkok. Tomorrow at 7am I fly to Yangon (Rangoon) in Myanmar (Burma). Every traveller I have met who spent time in the country gets dreamy-eyed when talking about the Burmese people. That they are friendly and kind and warm seems to be a given – and that much more inspiring given the oppressive political climate. My aim is to be as responsible a tourist as possible: to travel independently, spend my money on non-governmental tours or restaurants and not engage locals on controversial topics unless they are the ones to broach them.
It should be an interesting month. There is very little access to the internet, and SIM cards cost close to $1000. Several travellers have told me that their phones were confiscated upon arrival and returned upon departure. In addition, the country has a closed monetary system; one cannot buy Kyat here in Thailand or elsewhere. The rise of counterfeiting of US dollars within the country has led to a very stringent set of requirements prior to any currency conversion: the bills must be as new as possible, unbent and not crumpled, and the serial numbers cannot start with BC, AB or CB. I’ve thus lugged around far more cash than normal, uniquely selected to be converted upon arrival in Burma. It has made me jittery; I will be glad to use some of it up in the next month instead of walking around with it in my bag.
I will mostly likely update the blog only upon my return to Thailand in early February. To the extent that I can upload some initial thoughts and photos when in Burma, I will certainly do so. I am looking forward to a few weeks of forced “technology detox”, and a new decade is the perfect opportunity for some much-needed introspection.
Happy New Year!-Jodi
I am a former lawyer from Montreal currently eating my way around the world, one country at a time. Marshmallow enthusiast, volcano climber and cave spelunker - and also a geek. Traveling since April 1, 2008. See the 
good luck. be careful. enjoy the travel in time !!
I know you are very sharp, attractive, and smart about how you handle yourself but please be careful. :) Look forward to seeing pics and learning more about one of the most mysterious lands o earth.
Have fun and be safe! I'll be looking forward to your report.
Mingala-bar…and have a good trip!
wow Burma has always been on my list
have a safe trip :-)
-flip
Don't stay of the grid too long. Great posts as always. Enjoy!
A $1,000?? My head is spinning. It will be interesting to experience these conditions. Enjoy the technology silence! :)
Can't wait to see and read what you learn. Enjoy the silence. And continue to stay adventurous, Craig
Hi there! I found your blog through twitter. My husband and I will be arriving in Myanmar on February 3rd so I would love to hear some of your impressions if you are able to update your blog while traveling in Myanmar.
Happy and safe travels to you!
Tracy
Tracy – little to no blogger access, though I just posted initial thoughts. My unequivocal opinion: it is one of the more amazing countries I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Safe travels and enjoy the country – I will be here till the 14th, so please email me if you are interested in meeting up.
shine is good, and burma looks beautiful…