First solo travel to Bangkok and Myanmar: Yangon and Mandalay.
Burma local market
Travel alone will make you know what is your SWOT, what do you exactly want and figure out who you are. There are pros and cons between traveling in group and solo. Traveling in group you will have someone take care of you or you will take care them, take photos for you, talk to you, and we can share laughter happy together. But if we look another side more people in group makes you trouble of dealing with many stuff, members are always late, some argument of misunderstanding, blur of circumstances, it’ what the reason I decided to travel alone. I’m curious to see the differences world, make new friends, try the ethnic foods and street food is what I love the most.
I took routes from [Koh Kong province] there was not many travelers and less taxi too. What I guess van will cost me 8USD or 9USD but it was not that, was 20USD from border to Bangkok, the road was like snake way. Along the way is full of scenic views, green tree and mountains, I met one guy in van while we were traveling together he was a deaf man, he lost ability of speaking and hearing from nature. He such as a nice guy and we made a lot conversations by hand writing.
First day in Bangkok I was going to [Khaosan road], there are a lot of western people, beers, foods and dancing where is the party animal there. I paid B350 only for guesthouse named [New Central guesthouse] with the good location and the owner was friendly.
15th October 2015 headed to Myanmar. From [Khaosan road] they have bus route number #59 direct to airport it took you 2 hours, but if you don’t have much time better go with taxi. The plane took off at 6pm and landed in Yangon international airport around 7.30pm. It was busy traffic in Yangon in the evening, the driver was so kind, he talked to me a lot even he just spoke a little bit English, he taught me his language Hello=Ming Galaba, nope I had no idea, so I taught him some Khmer words too. Finally, got to bus station on time all credit to handsome driver.
There are some reasons behind why do I decide to visit Myanmar, those all questions from my friends, because we have known that Burma is the conservative and traditional country, we have to wear long and cover all the time, this what I have to adapt with the situations, when I can dress whatever I want in Cambodia. But here what I tell you [Aung Sann Suu Yi] is the first lady that gives me a lot inspiration through reading her books, and personally, I really want to experience local lifestyle and their living so on.
city transportation
The way they wear makeup is very special, people are so frankly, friendly and helpful. I saw men there wearing long skirt that what they call [Longgi], I got a big curious in head when I first saw them.
with local longgi man
Talk about the makeup style people there call it [Tanaka]. They were applying something like the powder on their both cheeks but it was not the powder, it’s something from plant and will show you in photo attached.
Tanaka plant
Mandalay
Mandalay was a first stop to me, I spent 3USD for motor taxi to took me from bus station to downtown. It was nothing to see and explore there, while many other places are banned for foreigner’s people, but we have to respect each country’s rule and regulations. I’m curious what’s something inside so mysteries. A day in Mandalay I have learnt pretty small thing, just eating and drinking local beer with local people there.
Mandalay temple
Yangon
Left Mandalay to Yangon, city of old building but fantastic. My couch surfing’s friend recommended me to [Okinawa guesthouse], it was nice place for staying and feeling like a home. I stayed in dormitory with other two girls, room was cleaning with A/C. Min was born in Myanmar but he has moved to study and work in Singapore for 4 years, then back to hometown to take care his parents business when other sibling was married and away from home.
First morning, he brought me to the local market, bling-bling it was about gemstones, oh sparkling my eyes. I found people there don’t really like to drink ice tubes so much, they don’t even have a good coffee like Vietnam and Cambodia, it’s just the instant coffee to serve guest. I am a coffee addicted so it was hard for me to stand without black coffee in the morning. After done window shopping, we moved to public park, green grass and big tree where you can take a rest under the tree with fresh air. I love their building structure, was simply but attractive. We will tour again after 4pm when the sun starts going down, we took a city bus in Yangon the first experience ever, there are many temples in Myanmar, the big Buddha was made from some portion of gold apply on her body, it was pretty big Buddha with a beautiful smiling face.
The final stop was [Shwedagon pagoda] was constructed more than 2600 years ago, it is the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world according to Wikipedia report, the place was so popular for local and foreigners. Mostly foreigners have spent $8 for entrance ticket and free of charge for local people. I got free of entrance ticket haha because Min is the local people so he knew how to avoid from checking point and tickets counter, anyways it’s not good idea to do that. We were capturing the stunning lighting from candle, people keep praying, it is peaceful to stay in praying to have good inner healthy and mindfulness.
We had dinner at China town, grilled vegetables, meat, and seafood was so good smell, many choices of BBQ. I was nervous with those food, I want this I want that, food coming on table along with Myanmar beer.
BBQ 
with Min
Their house building was 3m*6m and some 3m*8m, it is narrow to stay in 4 or 5 people. That’s why Myanmar people can’t make a host for guest from CS. One more thing, motorbikes do not allow into city. Totally, Myanmar living cost is lower than my homeland Cambodia and some other places I have been. I saw many small vendors do their business in front of government building that what you never see in Cambodia.
government building 
government building 
bank 
old building
Early morning headed to Yangon international airport in 30 minutes without stuck and costs 8USD while normal price was just only 6USD but that’s fine I am happy to pay with good English driver.
shwedagon pagoda
