VIETNAM, I LOVE YOU

What can I say. You are amazing. The Hà Giang Loop exceeded all expectations and changed my life. Hanoi has got to be the most beautiful mix of tiny alleys, French architecture and the best pho I’ve ever had. I could live there. Not to mention the cafes. The cafes! I love the cafes. The tiny tables. The little stools. The thick Vietnamese robusta coffee and all its variations. Coconut coffee. Egg coffee. And salt coffee in Hue? Get out of here! Each region has its own unique tastes and flavors. For example, Ninh Binh has coconut ice cream with corn rice on the bottom. Here in Huế (where I am currently writing) has bún bò huế, obviously, but also cơm hến (clam rice), nem lui (lemongrass skewers), chè bắp (sweet corn pudding), and many more foods I’ve never encountered before. All delicious in their own ways. 

I usually get bored of a food after a while. I sometimes feel that way about Japanese food, Thai food, Cambodian food, even the delicious foods in Myanmar, but here in Vietnam? Never. The bún chả, the phở gà, the bánh mì. I never get sick of it. I love it all.

Vietnam, I love you.

by Jason Lam

WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S TOO LATE

Whenever you feel like it’s too late

It’s not

Because before you know it

More time will pass and you’ll look back at this very moment and think

Damn

It’s too late

When it wasn’t late at all

by Jason Lam

TRAVEL = HOMEWORK

I take travel very seriously. Sure, it’s fun and it can include moments of relaxing on the beach and eating delicious foods, but to me, it’s about learning about the world and growing as an individual. If it wasn’t for travel, I would not have experienced many of the things that make me who I am today. 

Each time I travel, I enter a place I’ve never been before. I am entering the darkness, and by doing so voluntarily, I grow stronger, more confident, and more proud of myself and my capabilities. Whether it’s volunteering at a farm and learning how to grow rice, learning about the history of Angkor Wat, or just trying to find a place to sleep despite being lost in translation, I am gathering more information and expanding the landscape of not just where I’ve been physically, but where I’m going mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

While on the rare occasion, I will treat myself to a nicer room just for an opportunity to have some privacy and to recharge, as I’m writing this, I am cramped in a tiny bed at a hostel that costs $5 dollars a night. It’s not glamorous at all and the showers are cold. But that’s fine, this is part of what traveling is about. 

Travel is homework, and I want to keep learning and studying for the rest of my life. 

by Jason Lam

MY FIRST TIME IN CAMBODIA

First off, wow! It is hot here in Cambodia. It’s been a consistent 93 degrees Fahrenheit for the past 2 weeks.

I’ll be honest, Cambodia didn’t blow me away when I first arrived. As I’ve been told by all the travelers I meet here in Southeast Asia, their favorite countries are either Thailand or Vietnam. I guess Cambodia is overshadowed by its neighbors, but to be a little more specific, it’s not that Cambodia is not an interesting or a fun place to travel, I think it just lacks the immediate appeal of places such as Thailand.

I started off this trip flying into Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It’s a busy place. It also didn’t help that I stayed at a hostel situated amongst all the bars. Regardless, I had to come here because I wanted to visit the killing fields. I felt it was only appropriate that I come and learn about the Cambodian genocide from 1975 to 1979 and pay my respects.

From there, I went to Kampot, a sleepy town in the Southwestern tip of Cambodia. It’s got a charm of its own and has a nice river you can hang out by. If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh for a weekend, this is where you’d come. I felt this was more a place for couples but I still liked it. I mean, it has a giant durian statue right in the middle of town! Oh, and renting a scooter and going up to Booker Hill and La Plantation to learn about the delicious local Kampot peppers was cool too. Granted, the tour itself was kind of underwhelming, but I always enjoy the opportunity to hop on a scooter and explore a new city at my own pace.

After Kampot, I went to Siem Reap, because duh, Angkor Wat. You have to come to Angkor Wat! I honestly didn’t think I was going to be as impressed as I was, but it blew me away. It’s so funny because you’d think I’d be sick of temples by now, but they’re all so different and have charms of their own. From the temples in Chiang Mai, to the white, blue and black temple in Chiang Rai, the pagodas in Bagan, and now Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, which is in a league of its own. Wow. I still need to research how they built such a magnificent monument to the gods such a long time ago.

I liked Siem Reap. I would come back to Siem reap and I would suggest it to others as well. It’s nowhere near as busy as Phnom Penh, and it’s got a nice balance between tourists and locals. Overall, it’s an easy entry point into Cambodia that won’t overwhelm you.

Still, I wasn’t quite in love with Cambodia yet, until I came to Battambang, the country’s unofficial cultural capital. I was only going to come here if I had the extra time, and I’m so glad I did. There are several reasons why I like Battambang. First off, the early 20th-century French architecture is beautiful. There are also many boutique shops, art galleries, and cafes that are easy to explore on foot. At night, you can have a delicious dinner right along the Sangker river, and if you’re looking for a bit of nature, you can head over to Phnom Sampeau. The pace of life is slower here, and it also seems the smog isn’t as bad as the rest of Cambodia. 

I’m glad I found Battambang. Originally, I thought it was going to be just another city to do touristy things like seeing the bat cave or hopping on the bamboo train. However, I didn’t find many tourists at all. Of course, there are the restaurants and bars catered towards foreigners, but it’s manageable, you never feel like you’re being pushed to all the tourist places.

I enjoyed just hanging around the city and being able to talk to the shop owners when I managed to find someone who spoke English. The economy hasn’t been very good this year so I guess they’re happy that a tourist like me would still come and provide some business. 

Some interesting things I’ve found here are taro imperial rolls, a really delicious grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaf, a dessert similar to bua loi in Thailand, and of course, the Khmer coffee, which I’ve found out is made with robusta beans versus the more commonly used arabica bean in the United States. It’s also the same one used for Vietnamese coffee which I’m sure I will have a lot of when I make my way over there. 

So, should you come to Cambodia? I’d say yes but set your expectations. This is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries. The people here aren’t as outgoing as those in Thailand, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t anymore nice. Just takes a little more time to open up, as I’ve experienced. If you have a limited amount of time, just go to Siem reap, if you have at least 2 more days to spare, come to Battambang and experience why I like it here so much. Lastly, if your heart desires, make your way down to Phnom Penh to pay homage and learn about the genocide that happened here from 1975-1979. It was a very dark period in their history but I also feel it puts everything in perspective here and overall just makes you more grateful for everything you have in your life. 

Until next time Cambodia.

by Jason Lam

MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT CAMBODIA

Fish Amok

They have baguettes here

Iced Cambodian coffee - It’s got a deep sweetness I’ve never tasted before

The hand gestures of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia

Hammocks - They’re everywhere

Beef Lok Lak

Kampot peppers are very flavorful here

Banana flower salad

Taro imperial rolls

Oh, yeah, Angkor Wat is pretty epic

by Jason Lam

THE JOURNEY NEVER ENDS

It just morphs

The more you know, the more is presented to you

The more doors you uncover, the more they are revealed

Soon as you figure out one game, you are tossed into another

There is no end

Only the acceptance of this never-ending journey

Life

by Jason Lam

MY DREAMS SCARE ME

Not because I think I can’t

But because I know I can

by Jason Lam

THE HEALING EFFECTS OF LIFE ON THE ROAD

At first thought, life on the road sounds like the opposite of healing. No set schedules. Constantly changing itineraries, and the risk of being stranded where no one speaks your language. 

How can this be healing?

I’ve thought about this for a while because as someone who loves traveling, weekend getaways, or even the afternoon trip to the coffee shop, I’ve always felt immense benefits through travel, whereas without it, I think I’d go mad.

The question is, why?

First and foremost, travel gives your life direction. When you have somewhere to go, you set yourself up with a target. With a target, you’re then motivated to move, and you have a reason to get up in the mornings.

Travel provides a clear sense of progress. It’s obvious when you’re getting one step closer or farther from your destination. Little things like buying a plane ticket and figuring out accommodation allow you to check off boxes and gives a sense of accomplishment.

All of this is not to mention the fun discoveries you can make on the road. The handicrafts, the food, the scenery, the smells, and of course, the people you meet along the way.

The healing aspects of being on the road come from the combination of all these things. Your experiences ultimately serve as a symbol of your ability to go out and make real changes in your life. You’re proving to yourself that you can make plans and act on those plans. You can get from A to B. You can say you want something out of life and make it happen. This can be very empowering.

On your return home, you never come back empty-handed. You bring back new experiences and skill sets you can then apply to situations that may have previously seemed insurmountable. Because back home the responsibilities are real, and they can seem overwhelming. Sometimes, we do feel a lack of direction, that there’s no sense of progress, and for the life of you, it seems you cannot do much to improve anything at all.

Travel, in this sense, is a microcosm of what you could do, a test of your character, and a reminder of your capabilities and self-worth. Travel is a gift you give to yourself, the kind of gift that enables you to learn how to heal yourself.

by Jason Lam

MY TOP 10 FAVORITE TRAVEL ITEMS

1. Apple AirPods Pro - Small, lightweight, and it has noise cancellation. Absolutely clutch when wanting to cut out the cabin noise on the airplane and the occasional snorer in the hostel. The longest battery life is only about 4-5 hours, but it’s enough to get you back into your slumber. I used these every single day. Sleeping, working, commuting, everything. I’m so glad I brought these with me and I will never travel without them.

2. Toothpaste Tablets - Discovered these at a craft fair in Bangkok when shopping for Christmas gifts for my family. I thought it may have been gimmicky, but after trying it once, I absolutely loved it. It’s so much easier than toothpaste. Just pop one in your mouth, chew it a couple times until it foams up and then just brush your teeth like normal. 

3. Hanging Toiletry Bag - This was a huge upgrade from the crappy little mesh bag I’ve been using for the past 6 years that didn’t even have separate compartments. I got this after my friend recommended it as the best toiletry bag he’s ever used and I couldn’t agree more. It’s designed with so many separate compartments which makes organization a breeze. The built-in hook is super convenient, and it also comes in many different colors to fit your style.

4. Anker PowerPort Cube - You usually encounter two problems when traveling. Not enough outlets, or for some reason, there isn’t enough space to plug your device in properly. This powerport gives you 4 outlets and 3 USB plugs. It’s designed so that if you have an awkwardly shaped device (like those giant apple mags), there will still be enough space to plug in. Comes with a velcro strap to keep the cable tidy and is a lifesaver when I have to charge multiple things at once.

5. Lacie 4 TB Hard Drive - Not the smallest but easy to use, fast, and impact resistant. You probably don’t need two 4TB hard drives like me, but I shoot a lot of video, and having an extra backup lets me sleep better at night. I also like that they’re bright orange so they’re easy to find.

6. Black Diamond Spot Head Lamp - I’ve always used these when traveling. They come in most handy when you need to dig through your luggage in the dark in your hostel dorm and you don’t want to wake everyone up. It has also come in handy when I’m riding a bicycle at night, or doing any sort of hiking activity that involves going into darker areas like a cave. Also, sometimes hostel beds won’t have an individual light, so the headlamp can be used as a lamp as well. This one also has the option of adjusting the brightness which is nice.

7. Patagonia Nano-Air Jacket - It’s soft, lightweight, has a hoodie in case you get caught in the rain, and the pockets have zippers so you never have to worry about your personal items falling out. It makes going throuhg airport security a breeze because I can just dump everything in the pockets, zip them up, and throw the entire jacket through the scanner. It can also be packed anywhere + turn into a pillow. It’s not cheap, but a very worthwhile investment. 

8. Daily Contact Lenses - I wear contact lenses, I used to use monthly ones where I’d have to carry around a contact lens case and solution. That was troublesome because it not only takes up more space, but sometimes it’s hard to find contact solution! With dailies, you never have that problem. Daily contact lenses can also be easily found and purchased in many places in Asia which is also a plus.

9. Tarp Bag for Dirty Laundry - It’s just easier to have a separate compartment for your dirty laundry. This one is very compact, and has a draw string to keep everything in place. It makes doing my laundry super easy and also keeps my luggage nice and organized. Otherwise, i might accidentally wear the same dirty clothes twice, which i’ve done before. Gross, I know.

10. Apple iPhone - I brought my laptop and barely used it. My iPhone was absolutely necessary to easily finding all the places I wanted to go. Make sure it’s unlocked and you will have no problem buying a SIM card and getting internet service wherever you are in the world.

by Jason Lam

5 WAYS I MANAGED MY LIFE-LONG BATTLE WITH STRESS

I’m no doctor but I’ve felt the very real effects of stress. It comes out of nowhere, almost as if it creeps up on you throughout the years and one day it hits you like a train. You wake up all groggy. You don’t have the energy to go out on the weekends, and even if you do, you can’t ever relax and have fun. That’s stress. And it gets the best of us. 

What I’ve learned about stress is it’s not something you can just rid yourself of with a single yoga session or a weekend retreat. Stress builds up slowly, so you also need to find a way to release it slowly. Most often it comes down to the environment you’re in, and the daily habits you’ve developed throughout the course of your life.

In order to better manage your stress, you must be very honest about what could be stressing you out. Deadlines at work, a difficult boss, pressures at home, maybe even a bad chair, or desk. Who knows, it could even be the lights in your home aren’t the right color temperature. Whatever it is, we must become aware of what could be the cause of your stress. Almost like Sherlock Holmes, you must examine yourself with a magnifying glass and identify every smallest bit of detail as a possible suspect.

This isn’t to say that stress is all bad. Stress is the result of a natural bodily mechanism that secretes cortisol to help us focus. You know, good old fight or flight mechanisms. The problem is when it’s prolonged for days, months, and years. That’s when you start losing your appetite. Your skin begins to turn pale. And aging. Wow. It makes you age. fast. 

So what do you do?

It’s different for everybody but I’ll tell you what I did:

1. Admit I was stressed - I had to admit the problems I was having isn’t because I’m not strong or brave enough, it was because I was incapable of handling all the pressures mounting up in my life. I’m imperfect and fragile. There, I said it.

2. Start talking about it - It’s ok to say you’re stressed. Most often, If you try to hold it in, you just get make it worse.

3. Identify what could be causing you stress - Do little experiments to see if you are less stressed without that stimulant. A lousy commute. Pressing deadlines. Bad weather. It could be anything really. Most times, it’s a combination of a lot of small things. 

4. Relax - I know. Easier said than done. I don’t say this in terms of just getting a massage or going on a simple retreat. While those are encouraged, I like to incorporate moments of relaxation and opportunities to destress on a daily basis. Make it a routine to go out with friends. Take regular breaks at work. Sure, get a massage. Create stricter guidelines so you’re not always checking your phone. Allow time for yourself to rest.

5. Understand that stress is normal - Your goal is not to rid yourself of it completely but to find ways to improve your relationship with it. 

You’ll notice, as I have, that you’ll feel more energetic. You’ll feel more positive when you wake up in the mornings. You’ll also look better, have a better appetite, and be a joy to be around.

I didn’t know how stressed I was until one day I packed my bags and moved to abroad for half a year with the sole purpose of allowing myself to do nothing but what brings me joy. Yeah, that’s how stressed I was.

You have to experiment with yourself sometimes. Your doctors and friends can only help you so much. Sometimes, you have to be a doctor to yourself. As inadequate and inept you might feel, I think it’s empowering to know that it’s still within us to do what needs to be done in order to take care of ourselves. 

You are not weak because you cannot handle stress. You are human.

Take care of yourself.

by Jason Lam

PEANUT BUTTER

To say peanut butter is one of the things I miss the most when traveling abroad would be a lie. I never think about peanut butter. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I had peanut butter back in the states. But that doesn’t change the fact that when I had a chance to order peanut butter + toast at my hostel here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I felt full to my heart. 

Peanut butter just has this roasted flavor profile that warms my soul. Coupled with the satisfying crunch as you bite into the toast, it’s a one way shot into childhood nostalgia, Saturday-morning cartoons, and playing dodgeball with my friends at the playground — Even the quieter moments when I just wanted a late-night snack. Peanut butter was always there for me.

I guess it makes sense as to why I’d feel all these feelings of love as I took my first bite of peanut butter + toast in perhaps months or years. I find it peculiar that something that’s had such a large presence in my life is not something I feel more drawn to on the regular basis.

Perhaps that’s part of its charm. No matter where you go, someone always has a jar of peanut butter in their cabinet. It’s always there for you. It doesn’t call attention to itself, but when you need it, it does the job every single time. 

That must be why this one chance to eat a slice of peanut butter + toast is so heartwarming. It’s giving me a stable place of memories and experiences that I can hold onto as I continue my travels across Southeast Asia. No matter where I am, and no matter how lost in translation I get, I know peanut butter will always be there for me.

Now, I think I need a glass of milk.

by Jason Lam

THE KILLING FIELDS

On my first day in Cambodia, I went to visit the Killing Fields and the S-21 museum. I knew nothing about Cambodia before I got here. I’ve never met anyone from Cambodia. I don’t have any Cambodian friends. I’ve never had any Cambodian cuisine. Unlike more popular Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand, or Vietnam, I also don’t know anybody that has been to Cambodia. 

Most people come to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. I will do that, but I felt it was important to pay homage to the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 first, and that’s what the Killing Fields is about. 

The official name for the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh is called the “Chong Ek Genocide Center,” and it is only one of the hundreds of killing sites throughout Cambodia. 

When you enter, they give you a headset so you can do a self-guided walking tour. Once again, aside from the fact that I knew people come to see Angkor Wat, I knew nothing about Cambodia. Let alone, what the killing fields were about, why it happened, and who the Khmer Rouge was. 

But that’s why I travel. Not just for the amazing scenery, not just for the food, but to learn more about humanity, and hopefully, to come out a better, more open-minded, and compassionate person as a result. 

At the Choeung Ek Killing Field alone, an estimated 17,000 people died. All shuttled in by the truckload, and lied to that they were being transported to “new homes” so as to prevent any protests during transportation. When the victims arrive, often at night, the sound of the rumbling generators powering the floodlights would drown out the sounds of anyone being killed.

One by one, they were told to kneel before the pits dug into the ground as they were then executed, either by an axe, or a metal rod. Bullets were seldom used because they were expensive.

The most jarring point I learned was that of the sugar palm. That’s right. A palm tree. Little did I know, the older leaves located at the lower parts of the sugar palm have edges as sharp as knives. Sometimes, peoples’ necks were slit on those very edges. 

There are other gruesome details that I learned of that day that I won’t go into, but this is precisely why I travel. I enjoy the new foods, the new cultures, the beautiful sights, and the sounds, but at its core, I travel to learn.

The most disturbing thing about it all is the fact that this wasn’t very long ago. The Khmer Rouge committed this act of genocide from 1975-1979. This means any Cambodian past the age of 41 lived through this terrible time in history, many of whom lost their family members to the hands of propaganda and extreme ideology.

I know when it comes to travel, many of us look to get away from it all and to relax, but if given the opportunity, I suggest taking the time to stop and learn about the history if possible. Particularly, if you are coming to Cambodia, take the time to visit the Killing Fields and the S-21 museum.

by Jason Lam

MOVE FIRST

If you don’t know what to do or which way to go.

Move anyway.

Because even if you’re unsure of yourself and you feel you are going the wrong direction, you’ll find what you’re looking for on the way.

When I was studying at the International Center of Photography in New York, I was called to the front of the class to speak about my long term project. We all had to choose one, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do yet. So I didn’t know what to say, or how to describe what I was going for. 

My classmate says to me, “Just start talking”.

And of course, I began and even though the first few words that came out of my mouth were a little random, eventually, I found level ground and discovered the direction for my long term project. 

I wanted to do a project on the role lion dancing plays on first generation Chinese-Americans. Which has since come into fruition as Inside The Lion. I’ve done two iterations of this project. One in New York City. The second in San Francisco. 

Regardless of whether or not your objective is related to photography, I think this concept still applies. Often, it’s very hard to think your way out of a situation. As wrong as it may feel, sometimes moving without an idea of where you’re going or what you’re doing is precisely what you need to do.

Have a little more faith in your resilience.

by Jason Lam

THANK YOUR FAILURES

Because without it you would not have learned anything

You cannot learn without failing

The two come hand in hand

Sure, it may be frustrating at times

Annoying

Disappointing

You may have let some people down

You might feel you’ve let yourself down

But you’ve also gathered new information

Which you can use to your advantage

So you can reiterate

And do a better job next time

Thank your failures

Because every time you fail, you learn something

by Jason Lam

ADMITTING YOU'RE LOST

Admitting you’re lost is difficult

It’s a bit like leading the way with a bunch of people following you only to find out mid-way into your trip, you made a wrong turn, but you’re too afraid of admitting you’re wrong out of fear, embarrassment, or ridicule, so you keep going.

You try to cover it up.

But eventually, you’re going to have to stop. 

Face your fears.

And say, “Hey, I’ve got something to tell you.”

“I’ve made a mistake.”

“I’m going to wrong way.”

“We need to turn back.”

But in this case, the people following you isn’t anybody else.

It’s you. 

You’re following yourself.

You’re leading yourself. 

And every step you take towards one direction you are leading the future you into that direction as well. 

And if you keep knowingly going in the wrong direction.

You will also be inadvertently leading your future self further down the wrong path.

But regardless of the fear, regret, and shame that may come with admitting you’re wrong, admitting you’re lost is essential. 

You need to do it. 

Otherwise, you keep swinging in the dark. And getting nowhere.

Admitting you’re lost doesn’t feel good. It feels like you’ve wasted so much time and energy. But it’s better than continuing on the wrong path due to an unwillingness to let go, or to appear perfect, when you know damn well, that perfection doesn’t exist.

The past is gone and you have the power to create the future. 

Will you continue leading yourself down the wrong path?

Or will you sum up the courage to stop, admit your mistake, and give yourself another chance?

by Jason Lam

1 SECOND EVERYDAY - 2019

Got really into indoor plants. Became an uncle. Bought a Miata. Got back into music. Officiated my friend’s wedding. Designed some shirts. Went to Thailand and Myanmar for the first time. Made a lot of new friends. Overall just happy to be alive and experiencing this thing we call life.

Wishing you all a wonderful new year~

by Jason Lam

BURMESE TEA HOUSES

I really love the tea houses in Myanmar. The majority of them are open-air, with tables and chairs set up under a large shade structure. The cups of milk tea are tiny, which is a pity because it always leaves me wanting more. Then again, it’s probably a good thing because they’re also much more caffeinated than normal tea.

In addition to tea, you can order food. You can have a substantial meal and order a bowl of mohinga (rice noodles in fish broth) or keep it simple and just order one of the many delicious pastries (the fried banana crepe was one of my favorites, though a little oily). 

The overall atmosphere is very casual. I feel very welcome here, in a very non-dramatic type of way.

If anything, the tea house is a necessity because it gets so hot in the middle of the day. It’s the perfect place to recharge before returning to work. Oh, and nobody is on their laptops, which is a nice change.

Cheers to the Burmese tea house.

by Jason Lam

MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MYANMAR

Tea houses

Thanaka powder

Shan noodles

Shwe yin aye - My favorite dessert ever!

The traditional garments the men and women wear

Song of Travel Hostel in Nyaung Shwe

Fusion of Chinese and Indian. I met so many Burmese ppl who could speak Chinese, I loved it

by Jason Lam

MY BEST WORK

My best work is often not the ideas that I think up in my head.

More often, my best work is the discoveries I make along the way towards the ideas.

I think my creative process works this way because the things I discover along the way are things that my body naturally reacts to, versus an idea conjured up in my mind and further justified with cerebral reasons as to why it is good.

My body knows when something is good, without me even being able to explain why. 

And so one might think that maybe it’s not so good to come up with any ideas. Maybe it’s better to just run adrift and wait for the body to react. 

Not quite.

It’s important to still have ideas. You need something to work towards. It’s more so that you should also be aware of the ideas that present themselves to you along the way. Be in tune with your body and how it reacts to the new potentials that you were not able to think of with just your brain alone.

With practice, you will be able to merge both mind and body, and hopefully, if practiced long enough and consistent enough. Your work, your best work can be conjured up from your being. Not just your mind. Not just your body. But your whole being in unison.

My best work. 

by Jason Lam

INLE LAKE

I found my stay at Inle Lake, Myanmar, very rejuvenating. At first, I thought maybe it was going to be another tourist trap but I was nicely mistaken. I stayed at the Song of Travel Hostel and loved their hospitality. Little things like delicious complimentary breakfast and seeing the sun peek over the mountains in the mornings really made my day. Though the roads are a little dusty, it’s a nice contrast from the bustling Yangon and it’s quiet as well. For travelers looking for tons of action and stimulation, this might not be the place, but if you are looking to go at a slower pace, you might want to look into coming here. Oh, and don’t forget to take the cooking class at Bamboo Delight, it was one of my most memorable experiences ever.

by Jason Lam