Foot and Fire

This is the Bule Thi (pronounced as Buledi) Temple. If one is staying in the Wetkyi-inn village in the Old Bagan area, this pretty red temple is just a small-distance hike away. This is not a major temple that is why no information on this temple is indicated in the wikipedia and it is not even in the suggested temple to visit in the tourist map of Bagan. The first three photos in this post was taken before the sunset and the next five is taken when we had a sunrise on same spot. I cannot pinpoint which of the two adjacent temple is Bule Thi but I must say that during our visit in April 2014, the sunset is good in this first photo while in the fifth photo, the adjacent and smaller temple from this one, the sunrise is pretty. ***     This is my walkmate and climbmate.  We had a great time posing in the stupas around the Bule Thi temple. *** I cannot help but mention here that this Myanmarese is the sand-painter of the painting we bought in Bagan...

This must be the small glutinous rice balls formed  by women on the street of Yangon  in celebration of the Thingyan Festival. *** This a lady's market basket filled with Padauk flower. *** The Myanmarese enjoying their splashing of water along the road. *** Padauk flowers in the bloom Thingyan Festival is coming soon; Fragrant water will be splashed Affectionate ties are to be blessed; Traditional short drums appear With amusing style of Shwe Yoe dancer; His melodious dance is so prominent Making onlookers feel acquainted; Eugenia leaves spread its shoots Fresh and green are for strong mood; Wishing free from all dangers Splashing water each other; Tagu month is unrivaled Fantastic moment with festival; Auspiciousness is extended All can enjoy the calmness; Thingyan clear all angers Smile appears together; In pouring Thingyan water Old years' defilement are cleared; Jo...

When Padauk Flowers Appear With the air filled with Thingyan songs Happy dance and chants come around Impregnated with scent of padauk Revellers come out with happy shouts. Padauk blooms once in a year Thingyan usually brings us good cheer With all the dousing and merriment Thingyan has been a happy event. With the sprig of Euginia as usual Lads sprinkle scented water on damsels Some have nice time in reveling Others take happiness in merit-making. King of the Celestials visits our abode Hail Thee Thagyamin with new hope On the parchment of dog-hide The bad will surely be inscribed. Mont-lone-ye-paw is fed to all Charity-feasts for all are within call Some indulge in revelry as usual Others do meritorious deeds in festival. Thingyan falls in as merry as possible Traditional pandals make it enjoyable Rhythm of Thingyan will ring forever It comes out but once a year. Wishing to be as cool as water Wash the...

               Ivy and Sunbird sandwiching me! New year 2007. It was 1st of January when Rovil replied to the enticing text of Ivy, that is, to drop by the house of Nioly at Kilometrahe 34 in Tabao. He said YES, OKAY, FINE and disembarked SDL and emphasized that he had until 11am just in time for Nioly to prepare to go back to her work in Manila. Take note that when Rovil went out of his house that day, he had only two things to do that day: to bring his fiancée to the port and to sleep. Unfortunately, he replied to Ivy’s text.

Driven by an unusual force,  I plucked off the rack  the magazines and books reserved for “future” research. And by my by-hook-or-by-crook resolution, I painfully lifted the old TV set, the VHS rewinder, the karaoke cassette player  and others. As if nothing before my eyes is enough,  I ripped open the dusty plastic bags  and one by one tossed to the can  many “saved” things  from discolored Tupperware to broken screws. I should not feel anything about things. Then, I opened the curtain to a familiar rack.  I slowly gathered thirty-one pairs of my shoes and adjudged their destiny -- The faded, the broken, the ripped and the repeatedly repaired ones. More than half was exterminated. After that, I culled the cute polka dresses  I could no longer wear,  some Garfield baby tees  I love to keep but not wear and the “classics” I always wear  but should not anymore. I...