Much needed update!

This is a much needed update post!

The first semester of school has passed by so fast compared to last year. 

It's so different to last year as I have Matthew this year to do things with. I remember last year, I would usually just spend my weekend reading, doing chores, and doing lots of prepping (as a first year teacher). But this year, I am so glad to have him to make dinner with, to bike with, to talk with, to travel with, and to laugh with. He is one amazing man! 

Over November and December 2011, we have done a few short trips around Chongqing. I have yet to write about them. One trip was to Luzhou 瀘州, we went there just to get out of YC. Luzhou is quite a nice city as it is famous for one the most popular Chinese vodka (baijiu). However, we did more travelling in Luzhou as I took us to another city, called Hejiang 合江 and went to this Fobao National Park 佛寶森林國家公園. For the new year long weekend, we went to Fuling 涪陵. It was a nice get away as the cold temperature has made the mountain less a destination for Chinese locals (and also new year is not a big celebration in China -- so it was quiet and nice). 

At Fuling

X'mas Staff Party 2011

Then we were busy with the end of the semester and heading off to our long 5 weeks vacation. 

Matthew had his brother and sister-in-law visiting him in China and I went home to Taipei for 2 weeks. For the remaining 3 weeks, we met up in Burma and had a wonderful trip. We both fall in love with Burma. The places we have been are so beautiful and the people there are friendly; we are definitely sad that we just don't have enough time there.

I will need time to write about our trip in Burma. We have done the big 4 cities: Rangoon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle. We have also been to Amarapura, Piyn U Lwin, Kyaukme, and Kalaw. We have done 2 different awesome trekking: one is a 2 days trek around Kyaukme and the other is a 3 days trek from Kalaw to Inle. Also, on this trip, we have taken all forms of transportation possible: taxi, blue-taxi, motorbike taxi, pick-up truck, bus, trishaw, bicycle, horse-cart, fast boat, long-tailed boat, and train. 

It's good that I have kept a journal while travelling. I will have my journal to refer to when I write about our trip here. 

Here are some of the pictures -- just to give you a taste of Burma: