I just want to say that I really enjoy how honest you are about your travels. Sometimes, you don’t like things, or a situation seems off. So many other travel bloggers and such push that away and just keep everything bright and happy, so as to not offend, but it’s superficial and unrealistic. I appreciate you saying how things actually felt - good and bad and everything in-between.
Jul 10, 2023Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
I agree about the length of time needed to get a true sense of the "nomad lifestyle". I had already decided that I wanted to go that route when I took my two month-long test trips (Athens, Florence) - and was really looking to understand the differences between a month-long stay and a few days/week -long stay. The experiments were a success, but I didn't think that it prepared me for the nomad bits - just the "staying in one place for a month is great!" bits. Yes - Naypyidaw lol
I lived in Zambia for a year when I first left university. Was my first stint living abroad and was at such a formative time for me. Only has a small population (15 mil) and huge land area. Not popular among tourists so the safari experiences are amazing and what else is there to say about Victoria Falls, or as the Lozi call it, Mosi oa Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders), that hasn’t already been said.
Australia was incredibly formative for me and that was pretty much like America. Being in Zambia must've been like living in another world entirely. Glad you had that experience.
Thanks, Michael! I still think about it a lot, and message a good friend I made out there almost every day. Been meaning to write about it at some stage.
Michael, your newsletter is such a joy to read! Thank your for taking us Beyond Rangoon (or to it’s outskirts) with so much humor, insight, and humanity.
I spent a few days in Chiang Rai around 1999-2000. I wasn’t really a fan either. I remember a chance to cross into Laos. I felt safe-ish, like half-way to Rangoon, crossing, but I passed, mostly because a few hours in a tourist trap didn’t seem that appealing. I ended up going bag to Chiang Mai and staying a while. I’d still love to go to Laos sometime, though.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Michael. Very much appreciated! Laos was supposed to be our next time after CM, but for family reasons we're now back in the US. Another time though!
We had pretty much the same time in Chaing Rai with the exception being a delicious stop at a Khao Soi place in downtown and a flower festival we happened upon. It was a day trip up from Chaing Mai with a hilarious bizarrely dangerous at times driver who drove us where we wanted to go and we skipped the villages which we also felt were exploitive.
I’m curious if anyone spends a longer stay in CR and really digs in.
Great post on cats, penises and the uncomfortable ethics of visiting government “ tourist” villages (an odd but entertaining combo haha). On the latter one, it brings up one of the many “grey areas” of travel-- the village certainly feels exploitative, unauthentic, and just plain uncomfortable to visit, but it might also be the only source of income they have (I’m not sure about that specific village but generally speaking that can be how it works in tourism-dependent countries). Anyways, cheers on mixing the good and bad rather than just showing the cheery bright sided stuff
Thanks for the kind words about the column. Very much appreciated. As for the village, I don't think there's a wrong answer, at least not if you go and don't treat the people there like exhibits. I'm not sorry for the money we spent there, but I still feel kind of icky for participating.
I was at that same spot in Mae Sai 40 years ago. We weren’t allowed to go past the halfway point on the bridge - there were armed Burmese guards to make sure of it.
It looked nothing like your photo - it was jungle!
I did buy some beautiful Burmese lacquerware from a stall on the bridge though.
How things change!!
I’ve been to Myanmar twice since those days. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. I’d love to go back … some day.
I say crap hole because it’s the city that was purpose-built by the generals. It’s, essentially, empty highways and empty hotels, with big gross gated mansions. Weirdest city I’ve ever been to. Yangon, on the other hand, is magic. I lived there for three years.
I just want to say that I really enjoy how honest you are about your travels. Sometimes, you don’t like things, or a situation seems off. So many other travel bloggers and such push that away and just keep everything bright and happy, so as to not offend, but it’s superficial and unrealistic. I appreciate you saying how things actually felt - good and bad and everything in-between.
Thanks so much for the comment, Tyler. We really do try and share the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thankfully, it's mostly good!
From a super sweet pic of Brent rubbing noses with a kitty to a display of dismembered trophy penises nailed to a toilet wall….😂😂😂
I love you guys, this is an amazing article!
We do try and cover all of our bases! LOL. Glad you enjoyed!
Those cats are adorable!!!
You know, if you'd titled this "loads of penises," it would have quashed my "If a bear starts to eat you" header ...
Those cats! 😍
No, not even close. Yours is a shining example to which I can only aspire, bushels of penises or not.
What about *bear penises*? 😱😱😱
IF A BEAR PENIS STARTS TO EAT YOU! GENIUS!!!
OMG that is perfect, no notes! I cannot laugh hard enough 🤣🤣🤣
Think how confused you'd be -- I'm not being eaten by a bear but a bear penis? Bear penis' have mouths? Would pepper spray help? Should I play dead?
PLAY DEAD
I should send this entire thread to my friend who makes horror movies.
I agree about the length of time needed to get a true sense of the "nomad lifestyle". I had already decided that I wanted to go that route when I took my two month-long test trips (Athens, Florence) - and was really looking to understand the differences between a month-long stay and a few days/week -long stay. The experiments were a success, but I didn't think that it prepared me for the nomad bits - just the "staying in one place for a month is great!" bits. Yes - Naypyidaw lol
Yeah, even three months is only a taste. We gave ourselves a year to try it out.
Love that Vicki loves Zambia! A place that will always have a special place in my heart 🇿🇲
Would love to hear what you thought of it. I confess before Vicki went, it was barely on my radar.
I lived in Zambia for a year when I first left university. Was my first stint living abroad and was at such a formative time for me. Only has a small population (15 mil) and huge land area. Not popular among tourists so the safari experiences are amazing and what else is there to say about Victoria Falls, or as the Lozi call it, Mosi oa Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders), that hasn’t already been said.
Australia was incredibly formative for me and that was pretty much like America. Being in Zambia must've been like living in another world entirely. Glad you had that experience.
Thanks, Michael! I still think about it a lot, and message a good friend I made out there almost every day. Been meaning to write about it at some stage.
I look forward to reading it.
Michael, your newsletter is such a joy to read! Thank your for taking us Beyond Rangoon (or to it’s outskirts) with so much humor, insight, and humanity.
I spent a few days in Chiang Rai around 1999-2000. I wasn’t really a fan either. I remember a chance to cross into Laos. I felt safe-ish, like half-way to Rangoon, crossing, but I passed, mostly because a few hours in a tourist trap didn’t seem that appealing. I ended up going bag to Chiang Mai and staying a while. I’d still love to go to Laos sometime, though.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Michael. Very much appreciated! Laos was supposed to be our next time after CM, but for family reasons we're now back in the US. Another time though!
That photo of Brent rubbing noses with the kitten gives my heart warm fuzzies.
We had pretty much the same time in Chaing Rai with the exception being a delicious stop at a Khao Soi place in downtown and a flower festival we happened upon. It was a day trip up from Chaing Mai with a hilarious bizarrely dangerous at times driver who drove us where we wanted to go and we skipped the villages which we also felt were exploitive.
I’m curious if anyone spends a longer stay in CR and really digs in.
If anyone has dug into CR, we've yet to meet them.
Great post on cats, penises and the uncomfortable ethics of visiting government “ tourist” villages (an odd but entertaining combo haha). On the latter one, it brings up one of the many “grey areas” of travel-- the village certainly feels exploitative, unauthentic, and just plain uncomfortable to visit, but it might also be the only source of income they have (I’m not sure about that specific village but generally speaking that can be how it works in tourism-dependent countries). Anyways, cheers on mixing the good and bad rather than just showing the cheery bright sided stuff
Thanks for the kind words about the column. Very much appreciated. As for the village, I don't think there's a wrong answer, at least not if you go and don't treat the people there like exhibits. I'm not sorry for the money we spent there, but I still feel kind of icky for participating.
I was at that same spot in Mae Sai 40 years ago. We weren’t allowed to go past the halfway point on the bridge - there were armed Burmese guards to make sure of it.
It looked nothing like your photo - it was jungle!
I did buy some beautiful Burmese lacquerware from a stall on the bridge though.
How things change!!
I’ve been to Myanmar twice since those days. It’s a beautiful country with beautiful people. I’d love to go back … some day.
Thanks for bringing back some fond memories 😊
Wow, talk about going Beyond Rangoon! I bet that was absolutely fascinating! Glad to have brought back some fun memories!
Actually (sorry to be that guy) the capital is Naypyitaw... ❤️ (and it’s a crap hole)
I say crap hole because it’s the city that was purpose-built by the generals. It’s, essentially, empty highways and empty hotels, with big gross gated mansions. Weirdest city I’ve ever been to. Yangon, on the other hand, is magic. I lived there for three years.
Thanks for that catch!
But, if I can give you one hot tip: don’t miss Yangon. And if you’re there, go have a beer and some BBQ on 19th street 💯
Thanks for the very entertaining read! And rest assured you missed nothing in the dusty military-controlled outpost of tyranny that is Tachileik 😉
Good to know!