A visit to Southern Shan State

One day we went to southern Shan state through a valley and mountain range, near a river. It took us 13 hours to drive 500 miles. On the way my dad accidentally ran over a village puppy. When we finally arrived we went to the hotel we were staying at on the top of the mountain. It was really windy and there was also a swimming pool. We unpacked and went to dinner. We were sooooo tired when we got back, so we went to bed. The next morning it was New Years eve and there was a fire lantern festival all over Shan state.

Thabyekan Village

One day we met up with some friends from Australia who had come to Burma and we went together to donate some things to the school in my great grandmothers village. The biggest thing we did was pay for a new floor to put in the classrooms. There are so many of my relatives in that village I can’t remember their names. We also donated pencils, pens, sharpeners, school books, balls, cups, and some food. This is because around half of the kids are so poor that they can’t bring lunch to school. We paid for our relatives cooked heaps of fried noodles for all the kids, and they all got some soy milk and some sweet snacks. They were really happy and ate a lot. We also ate the same food. It was delicious. We took a bus organized by my mums friends, because we needed to bring many supplies to the village. On the way there we stopped at a market to get some steel cups and we looked around the market. Another place we stopped at was the pottery shop to get the water pots and stands for the classroom, and we looked at a furniture shop and ordered new desks and chairs for the school because the old ones were falling apart. Then we arrived and my mum told me that one of my cousins is in that school- he was very shy. I met the principal of the school as well as my great grandmothers younger sister who was very old. We waited until lunch time to give out everything. When we did it was the first bit of school was over by then we had given all the books out to the 550 students. We watched the kids walking home with their new books. Last year my mum and everyone else donated computers and a TV but they are not very good at using them to teach the kids. In the next few months my mum will visit there and train the teachers how to use that stuff to help teach the children different things. This kids were really happy to have some balls to play with at school. Many kids don’t have toys or books and they have to walk to school for almost an hour every morning and then again after school. In their spare time they have to help their parents on the farm or at the house.

After all that we went to my grandmas sisters house and she gave me and zaw zaw a ice cream. We cooled off a bit and then we left. When we go back we had dinner at a fancy restaurant called Monsoon with white table cloths and lots of waiters. Then we went to a shop called Pomelo and it had lots of art work like sculptures, paintings, handmade dolls, bags, dresses, and lots of colorful paper mache things too. Poor people learn to make the items in the shop and they can get a good income for that.

Our trip to Kyaik Htee Yoe in Mon State

We went on a trip to Kyaik Htee Yoe for a couple of days at a resort with a swimming pool and a mini zoo. At the zoo there was a white squirrel that someone caught in the jungle nearby who had been running in circles so much it fell in a tired way. My uncle and aunty came too. Then the next day we woke up when it was still dark and went to a sp

ecial rock that is balancing on top of a mountain called Kyaik Htee Yoe pagoda. There were also bells that if you rang them they are supposed to they give you good-luck. My mum bought a big bell and the man wrote all of our names on it in Burmese. We didn’t tie it to the fence but are going to take it home with us and hang it at our house to remember our trip. My dad told me in the old days the villagers below the mountain tried to take it down because they were worried it would fall down and destroy their houses. They couldn’t do it. My dad said the rock is magically balancing there because of some magnetic power. We had to take a bit truck up the steep mountain to get there. It took 45 minutes. The road is only one way so you have to wait sometimes for the trucks coming down to get out of the way.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Today me and my family went to a famous pagoda called Shwedagon Paya. It is very, very old and 300 metres high covered thick with gold. At night it shines very brightly. When we arrived there were two huge lions guarding the entrance [they are actually lions mixed with dragons called chinthe!!!] to the pagoda. Then we got to the entrance we had to take off our shoes. Then when we got inside there were lots of Buddha images guarded by chinthe. Buddhism is a popular religion in Myanmar/Burma. When my dad was little he used to sweep the floor there. We walked around together and because I was born on a Saturday I had to pay my respects to the dragon Buddha by pouring water on top of it three times and then praying three times. We walked around then we decided we should go home.

A day out with Oo-Oo Lay and Aunty Hnin

One nice sunny day me and Zaw Zaw and my mum went to meet my Aunty and U U Lay to have a day out. My dad had to work at a conference.

First we went to my Auntys friends house. She was very nice. We had lunch there- my mum tried some fried frog and I had some curry and rice.

After that we wemt to visit the monastr

y where my brother is going to become a monk.
There were lots of buddhas. The abbot gave me an apple and a biscuit.

Finally we went to the zoo. It was a free range zoo and there were heaps of monkeys and deers hanging about.

We got to feed a elephant, some of the monkeys, deer, and we also got to see and feed a hippo. When it walked away it made a giant noise.

When we ran out of bannanas the monkeys kept running after us because they were still hungry.

And on the way home we went to the commonwealth world war 2 memorial that remembers the sacrifice of 27,000 soldiers from all over the world who fought for the English Queen. All of those people had died in war. Most of them were young men around their 20s.

On the way home we stopped at Pwa Pwa and Poe Poe's house for dinner and I met some more relatives. We did basketball, drawing and played uno alot.

Hong Kong to Burma

We arrived at the airport to Hong Kong after 8hrs on the plane. We had our own TV/computer. I played lots of games with my brother.

When we arrived we settled in, got a phone and called our friends. We slept and woke up and went for breakfast.

On one of the days we were there, we went to a place called Hong Kong Ocean Park.
At Ocean park there was a dolphin show. It was awesome. The dolphins did flips- they even glided across the water with their tails!

The next day we went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We went on a few rides, like in Toy Story Land where we went on a slinky dog ride that feels like your riding slinky and he is trying to chase his tail. It was really fast.

After Disneyland we went to our friends house. Their names were Odie, Yuen and their daughter Skye.  We played with her cat Cheddar.

We played with Skye the next day and also ate Yum Cha at a resturant near their house. After a little play in the afternoon and watching a movie we went on the plane to Burma.

When we arrived nearly all of the Burmese side of the family came. I had never met them except for my dad, grandma and one of my uncles. I was sooo glad to see my dad again.

We all went back to my dads apartment and the others went to their house. We unpacked and met our new pet whose a chipmunk called Jedi.

The next day we went to my Pwa Pwa and Poe Poes house [grandma and grandpa in Burmese] and my uncles and aunties were there too. We also met another girl called Chaw Chaw who lives next door. I played badinton with her on the street. I thought she was really good at it. I also rode a bike that my uncle got for me.

The next day Jedi escaped and we were really sad. So later that day we bought 2 more- a girl and a boy. I chose the boy and called him Stripes. And my dad called his Jedi #2 in memory of Jedi #1.

We went back to my pwa pwa and poe poe's house and met my Burmese cousins. They were shy at first. They were also good at badminton and we played on the street together until after dark.

Another day my Uncle made me a ring made of a rare gemstone called white sapphire. I loved it.

Well that is all i will write to you today. Bye!

Going Round in Circles

I have gone back to Melbourne to get the last of my luggage. I am staying here for 3 days today is my last day.

On Monday I started my distance education classes.

During the last few days I have been staying at my friend Mary's house. So far we have been to highpoint, and while we were there we bought a few clothes and went to this place called Yo-get-it. were you pick your flavoured yogurt and you chose your toppings then if you guess how much it weighs you get it for free.

One evening we went to my Aunty Fiona's house and later on we went  to Yarraville Gardens and met our friends called Robin and Edwina. We had dinner at the food vans. I had tacos.

I also lost a tooth but the tooth fairy didn't find me yet. We are moving around too much!

Hobart

We had a long drive to Hobart, but on the way we stopped for an icecream and then at a special lolly shop in Campbelltown called 'A Little Piece of Heaven'. When I arrived at my friends house [Guy] I unpacked from the car. He wasn't there on the first night because he was camping in Stuart Bay so we had to get him from the bus the next morning.

One of the days I was there Zaw Zaw, Guy and I went to see a movie called 'The Box Trolls'.
We also went to a teddy store full of all kinds of different teddies. I got a new teddy-wolf for 15 dollars and I called him Storm. He came with his own birth certificate.

We went to Hobart Aquatic Centre for a big swim as well as played in the backyard that has a trampoline, big net to climb and its own creek to play in.

Another day, Guy wanted to get a new booked especially signed by a famous author- Graeme Base- he is a really good illustrator and story writer.

Another day we went to a Hip Hop dancing thing and learnt how to dance Hip Hop. There is a video of it!

On the first night we had hamburgers for dinner. One morning me and Guy made breakfast for every one [Guy did most of the cooking, I was an assistant]. We made pancakes.

I really enjoyed my visit at Hobart. I would give this part of our trip 5/5 stars because I really enjoyed these 2 weeks.

Another Day

I got my needles 2 days ago it felt like someone pinching me deeply. It hurt a lot. My arm was sore for a long time.

Today I am going to Hobart to meet my friend Guy. Last school holidays we made a YouTube video called ''Death of Moon Man".

My only cousin in the whole world, Jasper, came over for a sleepover and is not getting out of bed. He's 17 and sleeps a lot.

Yesterday was my Grandpas 76th birthday. He's pretty old. We went to a seafood restaurant called Buccaneers. My Grandpa got a new chair, something for a vintage car he is making. My great Uncle Rob came to visit and we played snakes and ladders.

The next day I went to my Aunts house and said hello to her pet cat Cous Cous and her dog Cedric Diggery {this was on grand final day}.

I cant believe that the Hawks won against Sydney. [Actually that's what I thought was going to happen, but I still had hope for Sydney.]  My Grandma was very cross with Sydney and also said the umpires favoured the Hawks.

That's All See ya Later.

 

The Beginning

When I arrived at the boat it took me 3hr and 14min to get on! When I finally got on the boat we unpacked in our cabin and went to the buffet to have dinner. Mum got me a How to Train Your Dragon activity pack from the shop. Then we watched a movie called Dragon Heart. After that we went to bed.

The next morning I woke up around 6:00am so I started to pack then we went to the buffet again to have breakfast. After that we collected the car and headed to Wynyard to my Grandma and Grandpas house.

When I unpacked and settled I went to a doctors appointment. She said I have to get some needles (vaccinations) on Friday so fingers crossed for that. We need to have vaccinations so that when we go to Burma we don't get any diseases. There are a lot of diseases that can kill kids in Burma because they haven't got a good medical system yet. That's all I that's all I did for now so see ya later.

                                                                                           

Out of five stars I would give this day 4 stars (because of the waiting I gave it a 4 but I enjoyed the rest of the day)