Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon

Sent: 20 May 2015 from Yangon International Airport, Myanmar
Received: 9 July 2015, Traveled 2,563 km in 50 days

I thought this postcard would never arrive at all! I was in Myanmar prior to my Japan trip. My postcards from Japan came last month, way ahead of this one.

While in Myanmar, I had the pleasure of experiencing a quick tour of the Shwedagon Pagoda. The whole pagoda complex was fantastic! At night, the temples were literally glowing gold. My room window at the Best Western Green Hill Hotel had an excellent view of this Myanmar architectural treasure. I had lovely evenings just watching the glow from afar.

This is a post I'm sharing for Our World Tuesday. Through my bloghop for this link-up, I discovered the lovely blog -- A Hole in My Shoe -- by travel enthusiasts, Lyn and Steve. They're running a #TheWeeklyPostcard Link-up. I'm not very sure whether my posts would qualify since I'm not able to talk extensively about my travel details here, but well -- let's try :)

~maria

Blue Lake Inle from Myanmar

Souvenir postcard, not sent over the mail
(c) Win Kyaw Zan, Myanmar Travel Photography

I was in Myanmar one month ago, before my trip to Japan. The postcards that I sent to myself from Japan arrived last week. But, the postcards I sent to myself from Myanmar hasn't arrived until now. I'm glad that I kept 3 postcards with me; hence, I still have a souvenir from that trip. One of the postcards is of Lake Inle, shown above. 

Yes, you read it right. I send postcards to myself whenever I am traveling. The very first one was from 2012 during my first trip to UK. That postcard could be found here. Some people find it weird. My rationale behind it is these would be nice souvenirs of my younger years. I keep my postcards in albums. I would love to flip through the pages when I'm old. I also write to myself on the back of the card -- simple things that I want to remember from the trip.

Since I'm traveling a lot more now because of work, I dedicated a new label for postcards from my trips that I share here on my blog. These postcards would be grouped under the "travel diary" label. 

Are you curious on what exact details I tell to myself on my postcards? I'd be happy to share, all you have to do is ask :D

Happy Blue Monday and I'm rolling over this post for Tuesday's Our World blogfest.

~maria

Bagan Temples, Myanmar

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan
Sent from Myanmar, Sent on August 2012
Received on September 2012, Traveled ~2664 km

I have two inspirations for sharing this postcard. First, I was with my twin, Wan, last week for the Holy Week vacation. We were talking about his trip to Myanmar and I was really hoping I was with him...I could have seen these majestic ancient temples...

Second, I was browsing the Instagram profile of a former officemate who loves to travel. I'm an avid follower of her travel adventures via her insta posts. Yesterday, I had some downtime and I ventured into her blogger page: http://itraveltolive.blogspot.com. I was greeted with a post about Myanmar. And the cover photo on her page, the Bagan temples! And so I excitedly dug up this postcard from my albums. :-)

The Bagan temples are found in the middle of Myanmar, the Mandalay Region. They're formerly known as Pagan. The fewer temples and pagodas surviving today are the remains of about 10,000 from the 11th and 13th centuries. 

Sharing this with Beth for the Postcard Friendship Friday.

Happy weekend everyone!

~maria

Smiles from Myanmar

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan

Sent from Nyaung Shwe, Myanmar, Sent on 01 August 2012

Received on 30 August 2012, Traveled 1,657 miles in 30 days

Yesterday, I came home with a really annoying headache from a long and bad day. But what a surprise! My mood was really turned 180 degrees when I saw this postcard on top of my study table. ;-) I fancy postcards with smiling faces. The sender didn't know that cause he's not from the official postcrossing website nor he has been a swap partner from any of the Facebook postcards exchange groups.

Later in the evening when I had the chance to tell him that his surprise card arrived, he told me that when he saw the card in a postcards stand, he instantly knew that it's the perfect card for me. Oh well...he's someone who never fails to make me smile -- so I believe, it's the perfect card to get from him, too!

Myanmar has the old name, Burma -- which is the home of two early civilizations in Southeast Asia, Pyu and Mon. Its official name is The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which can be seen on the stamp which came with the card.

The dominant religion in Myanmar is Theravada Buddhism. Boys in Myanmar are highly encouraged to study early Buddhism as a novice before they turn 20, and to be a monk after that. The back of this card of novice Buddhist monks says, SMILE. And indeed, their smiles are contagious! 

Happy Postcard Friendship everyone and have a happy weekend! Smile. :)

~ maria