Fat Belly Traveler

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There aren't many tourists on the railway in Rangoon. It is just our kind of place. We like to see what the life of the people is really like, sans manicured tourist sites and shops.

We had some time and a few hankerchiefs for the perspiration of hot steamy day in Rangoon and took a ride on the local train.

The route runs in a circle, was build by the British in the days of their Empire and sees a real slice of Burmese life. There are vendors selling snacks, smokes and the ever-present betel nut chew.
We rode from the main central station to Insien (pronounced - "insane") at a speed not much faster than we could walk and were serenaded by a blind musician singing traditional songs. The men wear sarongs as do the women.

People were friendly but not outgoing to us obvious foreigners. Our "approved" guide was a bit uneasy with us opting for public transit but accommodated our wish in good spirit.

Take a ride on the Rangoon railways.

Labels: burma, railways, travel

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Join FatBellyTraveler.com as it makes a visit to the snake charmers, gets up close & personal with a few cobras, and successfully evades the onslaught of trinket sellers by using every excuse-in-the-book, which inadvertently "keeps them coming at ya." Persistence is the name of the game here and no one seems to give "up" or "in" easily.

No doubt that one's view of love, life and architecture, will ever be the same after a visit to the Taj Mahal, but outside the gates of the Taj one's view will be indelibly changed as well.

The Taj Mahal, in Agra, India was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is such a monument of love and passion that many would agree with the romantic quote below.

"The picture of Taj Mahal does not adequately convey the legend, the poetry and the romance that shroud what Rabindranath Tagore calls "a teardrop on the cheek of time". Taj Mahal means "Crown Palace" and is in fact the most well preserved and architecturally beautiful tomb in the world. It is best described by the English poet, Sir Edwin Arnold, as "Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones." It is a celebration of woman built in marble and that’s the way to appreciate it." ----Neeraj Peswani

All in a days journey, where potential adventure lurks at every corner with FatBellyTraveler.com.

Labels: india, snakes, taj mahal, travel

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Most tourists only get to Bangkok or maybe one of the beach resorts when they visit Thailand. But there is much more to this fascinating country, about the size of France, than what is commonly known.

The major city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is rich with cultural treasures and natural wonders. Temples in the forest have a peaceful atmosphere, the night market throbs with life and a Tuk Tuk ride is always a thrill.

The custom of releasing birds, liberating them is often practiced in the grounds of Buddhist temples in Thailand. It is considered very good Karma to be liberating creatures from their confinement. It is a metaphor of what we need to do to our own spirits. The contradiction is that the birds are raised specifically for the purpose of selling their release. One wonders about the Karma of the captors - but there are worse ways to make a living.

Labels: Chiang Mai, Thailand, travel

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Laos is an unlikely desitination for most American travelers. But the intrepid Fat Belly Traveler is always interested in someplace new and especially if it is off the beaten path!

While on a longer trip in South East Asia we had planned sometime in the old royal capitol, Laung Prabang. This picturesque city situated where two rivers come together is not to be missed. We will feature the monks at dawn there in another segment.

We traveled by minivan and passed through a village, stopping at the local school and getting an idea of the rural poverty of the Laotian uplands. Hard scrabble agriculture, bamboo crafts and some woodwork are the only income earners.

The pastorial simplicity of life and the natural beauty of a waterfall over limestone cliff bring a breath of the sublime to our outing.

Labels: asia, laos, travel, waterfall

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Hanoi is alive and well.

Ride with us through the streets of Hanoi on a pedicab and get a taste of the sights and sounds that make this such a charming city. From the bustle of crowded streets, shop keepers peddling their wares, traditional Vietnamese music, and even a water puppet show, you will get a feel of the deep tradition and light-heartedness that makes this culture tick.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is located on the right bank of the Red River. The word "Ha" means river, and the word "Noi" means within, hence Hanoi actually means "river within" the city.

Modern day Hanoi has belonged to many countries and has fought long and hard for their independence. Hanoi was occupied by France in 1873 and in 1887 it became the Capital of French Indochina. Hanoi was occupied by Japan in WWII between 1940-1945. Between 1946 & 1947 the Vietnamese fought for their independence from France and managed to claim North Vietnam (Hanoi) but Saigon remained French Territory. The Vietnam War and United States involvement in it, began questionably somewhere between 1954 & 1959 and lasted until the troops withdrew in 1972. The Vietnam war was officially over on April 30th 1975 and finally, on July 2nd, 1976 both North and South Vietnam were reunited and Hanoi became the capital of all of Vietnam.

There are still many reminders and remains of this war torn region but, the spirit of the people are welcoming, jovial and gracious.

Labels: Hanoi, travel, Viet Nam, Vietnam