Word up from Yangon, the bustling capital of Myanmar! (Did I just say “word up”? Yikes.)

My last week in Bali was spent mostly relaxing outside of Ubud at a wonderful hostel next to an even more wonderful (and plush!) yoga retreat, who so graciously let me use their facilities in return for eating at their restaurant. I loved reading and catching up on writing each day while drinking smoothies and admiring the rolling rice terraces, though the view was distracting at times (see below!)

The highlight of my time in Bali came at the end of the trip, when I climbed Mount Batur in the darkness before dawn to watch the sunrise over Bali alongside some new friends from the hostel. It was really a special moment, despite the monkeys that showed up and stole our breakfast!

I arrived in Yangon yesterday and just finished my first bit of sightseeing here in my 29th country. It’s so different from any other Southeast Asian country having only been open to most tourists for less than ten years. I cannot wait to dig in and discover all the wonders this place holds in the next two weeks!

Have a fantastic week everyone!

Just after sunrise on top of Mount Batur.

After watching the sunrise, we hiked around the rim of the volcano, where we could see people still on the other side where we’d watched the sunrise.

Selfie on the volcano rim. Wouldn’t want to trip here…

My favorite reading spot at Om Ham Retreat. Not bad, eh?

My first pagoda in Myanmar, near Twantay, a village outside Yangon. So bright you couldn’t look straight at it in the sun!