Burma Bill

Lead by a man named "Hannibal"?

Must be situated in the dead centre of town!

Same for me, but frequently and not daily! My phone: (blue not red)

Many thanks for posting your photo - very interesting. During my travels around Burma, I saw many old vehicles which these days would be regarded as "classic" and would fetch "a bomb" back home in the UK. My photo below shows an old Dennis Brothers fire engine, converted into a water carrier, that was built around 80 years ago at the start of WW11 or just before, at Guildford in Surrey (UK). It was located just down the road from my hotel jn Mandalay, near a fire station, and its Burmese driver and his family lived alongside in a tented shanty.

A wonderful view Simon. I well remember it. If my memory is correct, in the distance behind you, looking away from the Irrawady River, would have been the high ground of the Shan Plateau.

Yes indeed - your choice. My choice was to leave Thailand, almost 5 years ago, for a hassle free life with no visa bureaucracies.

Although illegal according to Thai Law, three people on a motorcycle is very common, especially in rural areas. Where I lived out in the sticks in Thailand (Isaan), I oftened witnessed this scenario - also with no helmets! RIP teacher and students.

Easy - an illegal Chinese migrant walking during the night in a forest to avoid detection having fled nearby Burma?

What a load of bureaucratic nonsense! No such reporting here in Cambodia.

Any Ukrainian intelligence operatives in the area?

That is good news despite their ordeal.

So that's how potholes are created?

Sure made an ass of himself!!

Yes - quite possibly a Waved Umber Moth: It is harmless, but if you dislike, ordinary fly/mosquito spray will kill it.

Thank you Simon. Just one of the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay which houses the World's largest book (Google/wikipedia) - absolutely amazing! Created by King Mindon in the 19th century, 729 stone inscription "caves" each containing a marble tablet representing a page of the book Tipitaka Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism, each page being inscribed on both sides in gold. A more recent tablet (730) has been inscribed representing UNESCO recognition.

Hi Simon. With the greatest respect to your fascinating posts, I hope you do not mind me posting one or two photos from my visits to Burma - such happy memories! The lady with the bananas on her head reminded me of three ladies struggling with a heavy basket of pineapples at Hsipaw Station. Not on heads, but the basket was eventually carried on a shoulder, guided by the other ladies!

Burma certainly wasn't boring when I visited Mandalay, Rangoon, Bagan and Hsipaw (Shan State) when I visited during the short period of democracy. A wonderful country with extremely friendly people and food to my taste - mainly chilli free! My most memorable trip in Rangoon (other than to the Golden Pagoda) was to a suburban railway trackside market (name now forgotten - photo below) to the north of the main central station. I was escorted by a Burmese friend and what an afternoon of sightseeing and enjoying refreshments with the local people. I would love to return but only when the Junta is eliminated - it has crushed so much enjoyment and freedom.

Yes indeed - future candidates for the Peoples Party?

I just completed this quiz. My Score 40/100 My Time 264 seconds  

I just completed this quiz. My Score 60/100 My Time 170 seconds  

Well done. As I have stated several times on TVF/AN over the years, it is not what you need to know to get what you want, it is WHO YOU KNOW to get what you want. There was always someone who, for a few "bob" could provide a hassle free service. No problem these days living in Cambodia. I ignore "sad" emojis in response to my actions.

OMG - my mind bogggles. Only China would do this. For reference: (no mention of energy boosting) In traditional Chinese medicine, earthworms are known as “earth dragons”. The Compendium of Materia Medica, a 16th-century encyclopaedia of traditional Chinese medicine, notes that animals “promote blood circulation, degrade blood clots, and unblock the body’s meridians”. Because of this, they’re often included in traditional herbal remedies https://dialogue.earth/en/nature/earthworms-wiggle-their-way-into-chinas-policy-protection/

Reading all the above posts, confirms one of the reasons I left Thailand for Cambodia - the Thai bureaucracy regarding visas and border runs. No such border run hassle here. When I lived in Lanna 20 years ago, I used to drive to Chiang Khong for border runs. In those days there was no Frienship Bridge and one had to use a ferry to cross the Mekong. The old Immigration Office was in town and was well known for its "courteous" service. I used to leave my passport with an Immigration Officer who told me to go and relax with a beer/meal at a Thai riverside restaurant. At a specified time, I returned to the IO to collect my passport duly stamped out/in Thailand and in/out Laos. I never left Thailand. The cost - 1000 baht and no hassle having to cross on a ferry! Happy days for ex-pats then.

male - male. For reference: The pair then approached the cadet and tried to help him perform an act of masturbation. Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2905690/police-cadet-school-admits-sexual-harassment. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

to accomodate all the executives, employees and their familes on "freebies"?