Yellow Is The Colour Of

Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma)

After so many bus rides and so many boat rides, so many restless nights in a hot bungalow by the ocean, so many chance encounters, so many sweaty days spent sitting on the beach, so many evenings of seafood barbecue and peanut curry, so many Chang beers, the last two weeks in southern Thailand seems like one big blur. And now I'm sitting in Bangkok once again, killing time before boarding a flight to New Delhi later this evening.

There's so much I want to tell you, tell my friends, tell my family. I want to tell you about how I've had bronchitis for over a month, and how I still cough so violently that I pulled muscles in my ribs. I want to tell you about that boy I met (or should I tell you about that other one?). I want to tell you about how I still think of Burma every day, that I think it would have been wise to have stayed longer there and had less time in the party islands (there's only so much partying I am capable of). But how can I tell you, readers and friends, when there is always a new city to explore, a new beach to relax on, a new person to meet, a new dish to taste? All I can do is keep promising that I will not forget about this blog, and that I will try to update whenever I possibly can.

Off to India in a matter of hours. My emotions are all over the place.

Made Of Cheese

Koh Phangan, Thailand

Well, I can cross the infamous Full Moon Party off my bucket list (though I am not sure that it was ever on that list to begin with). A night of colourful paint, sand, and sweat, of vodka buckets and fake red bull, of dancing to the same techno songs over and over again, of constantly losing your friends amongst the 20 000+ crowd...while there were definite pockets of fun, I highly doubt I will ever experience another full moon party again.

For now, though, I'm still finding streaks of pink glow paint behind my ears...

Howl At The Moon

Koh Phangan, Thailand

And sometimes there is a totally different kind of travel, a kind that involves nothing but meeting new people, drinking loads of vodka, playing in bubbles, swimming fully clothed in the ocean, covering your body with glow paint, and dancing the night away.

The full moon party is tonight. Wish me luck.

Daily Schedule

(photo taken by Steph)

Ko Tao, Thailand

Wake up, scuba dive, swim in the ocean, nap, curry, bucket, dance, bed, repeat.

Under The Sea

Another text-only post, but that's only because there is too much fun to be had and I am too lazy to search for wireless at the moment. This is only to say that I am currently on the Thai island of Ko Tao, an island of soft white sand, clear blue water, spicy peanut curry, and, most important of all, the scuba school I've been studying with for the past three days. Tomorrow is my final day of the course, which means that I will have finally accomplished a goal I've had for at least ten years - not to mention that diving is amazing, more amazing than I could have ever imagined it to be. I will definitely be doing more of this in the future.

All right. Off to go have that fun. I had a very unexpected Valentine today in the form of a dynamic Austrian man; here's hoping your Valentine's is as interesting and memorable as mine.

I Only Have Eyes For You

(photo taken by Kerrilyn)

(photo taken by Kerrilyn)

Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma)

My favourite colour in my new favourite country. A country full of smiling faces and men in long skirts, of fresh fruit and steaming hot Bamar noodles, of bicycle gangs and long rides around the lake, of strangers (literally) jumping for joy in our photos, of every colour under the baking hot sun, of Dagon beer and secret kisses, of cheap jewellery and priceless memories, of trains around the city complete with yellow watermelon and yellow corn, of betel-stained mouths and babies adorned with eyeliner, of bumpy buses and sweaty bodies, of streets pulsing with taxis and vendors and roosters and the bells of the sugar-cane man, of brilliant, brilliant gold, of constant overwhelming emotion, of never wanting to leave, of love, of love, of love.

Internet Blocked

Yes, it's true, my blog is technically blocked in Myanmar. Thanks to proxy servers and a sneaky helper, though, here I am!


This is just a quick note to say that I am in love with this city, in love with riding my bike from one lake to the next, in love with the amazing people with swirls of suncream on their faces who smile and shake my hand, in love with the fresh mango with chili and the piping hot Indian food from the street, in love with the gold temple that shines with the sunset, in love with everything, everything, everything.


I will write more soon; I am so excited to share my photos of this incredible place.


In regards to the postcard "contest", would Lorra Fae, Haley, Canadian Pie, Deirdre, Steph, Gretchen, Amie, Emily Kathryn, and Turrm please send your addresses to thisbatteredsuitcase@gmail.com. Yes, that's right. I couldn't choose. I will send each of you a postcard, though probably not from Burma - I promise one to each of you from some point in my travels, though. Thank you, as always, for sharing your thoughts with me.


-Brenna

From Bangkok To Burma

(photo taken by Kerrilyn, and posted for my mum. Hi mum!)

The Floating Market, Bangkok, Thailand

First of all, a huge thanks to all who responded to the last post; what wonderful destinations! I am going to reread them all again once I get to Burma. And that is the point of this post, to say that I am off to Burma today - I once again have no idea what my internet situation will be like, so please forgive me if I am lost amid gorgeous temples and markets and have no time to update. I am ready to leave Bangkok, although I will definitely miss fresh papaya dumplings, endless mangosteens, and bowls upon bowls of yellow potato curry.

In other news, my first published article came out this month, in a Japanese magazine. About the Trans-Siberian, you can read it here if you'd like!

Do You Want A Postcard?

Feet in Bangkok, Thailand

This post is special to me, because it is my 200th post since starting this blog last April. And as I sit in this cafe in Bangkok, a breeze in the air, a pineapple coconut shake beside me, and taxi fare to take me to Chinatown for the New Year celebrations burning a hole in my pocket, I would like to give my thanks to all of the lovely people I've met through this blog. Whether you are a reader new or old, whether you have commented often or never at all, thank you so much for taking a wee bit of time to look at the photos I post and read the words I write.

If I could send all of you a postcard, I would. Instead, I decided that, in each country I travel to in the next six months, I will post a question. The person whose answer makes my heart flutter with wanderlust will then receive a postcard.

So here is my question, a simple one to start: What is your dream destination and why? Please answer using only one sentence; the answer I choose should expect a postcard from Burma!

Bisous From Bangkok

(photo taken by Kerrilyn)

Bangkok, Thailand

This is just a quick post to say hello from Bangkok (once again). I'm not sure why so many people don't like this city - I'm fascinated by its crazy ways, its hectic pace, its neverending movement. I'm here until Saturday, and then it's off to Burma, for a totally different kind of travel, one that I have really been trying to prepare for over the last few months.

I would also like to give a huge thanks to Kay, the author of From India With Love, for the lovely post about my blog. I hope that you are already one of her readers, but if not...check her out immediately! You can see what she wrote about me right here.