YOTTO Part 3 - Going local

For the final part, we returned to Shanghai and stayed in an Airbnb. We looked round the local places in Shanghai, like the shops in Tianzifang.

The marriage markets near People’s Square, where parents list out all their children’s qualities in the hope of finding a suitable partner, were really interesting.

I loved watching the locals playing cards in the park,

We had Yangs dumplings again in Raffles City and Awfully Chocolate. Mmmm dumplings...

We enjoyed the shops along Nanjing road.

The Bund and the Pearl at sunset are always a winner.

We wandered round Xiantiandi shops and food.

Charl and Nev also insisted on going to Hooters for an early birthday celebration for Livvy, hmmmm!!

YOTTO Part 2 - Cruising for a bruising

For part 2, we went on a cruise across to Japan. We had good food on board, surrounded by all the Chinese passengers, aka lots of elbows and crushed lifts!

Our cabin, right at the front of the ship.

 The robotic bar tender was fun, need a photo...

First stop was Fukuoka which was brilliant. I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, and it didn’t disappoint. We saw some shrines and shopping malls. The whole place had a very prosperous and clean feel.

We ate delicious sushi in Fukuoka

then a bit of this.....

Wow! Best time ever. Sumo rocks!!

The next day we looked round Kumamoto, a much smaller place. We looked round some sights and markets, stopping in from place to place, including some super ramen and Livvy making friends with the locals!

YOTTO Part 1 - Luxury

The whole catalyst for our Asia trip was this: Charl wanted to turn 30 back in Shanghai where she worked and lived back in 2012 (since You do indeed Only Turn Thirty Once).

We had way too much fun (and over indulgence) in 3 parts.

The first part was a luxury stay in a suite in New World hotel, providing a much needed relax for all the tired and weary family arriving from UK. There was a lovely gym, sauna, steam and jacuzzi, and exclusive access to a private dining room only for suite members, which included a free bar 5-7 each afternoon, ouch! The view from the room was impressive.

We managed to go look round a cool art gallery called M50 and eat out at some of Charl’s old haunts, including Yangs dumplings, Wonton noodles and a place doing amazing beef and bread (much better than it sounds!).

Then we did the Westins brunch again. Wow, lots of Veuve Clique and lobsters consumed until not a single claw more could be consumed! Love Westins!

New favourite place to live!

Mawlamyine was super lovely. We agreed we should live here!  We took a long boat for the 3 hour journey from Hpa-an:

...stopping off at a lovely monastery, arriving into our hotel in time for a great sunset.

We did a walking tour round the Colonial buildings on our first full day, ending up at Kyaikthanlan Paya with great views over the city and massive prison.

 

 We hired a driver and went to a meditation centre, we saw rooms full of people meditating in silence under individual mosquito nets, there were hundreds of people and you could hear a pin drop, Olive was as good as gold and didn't make a sound, I don't think a baby has ever been there before!

Then we went on to the world’s largest reclining Buddha, as you do! It was big, maybe a little too big!

We had loads of tasty street snacks in a festival nearby in the evening, sampling sticky rice and freshly fried donuts.

We had another day trip round nearby Ogre Island (the size of Singapore as we kept being told!), seeing all different types of manufacturing: bamboo hats, longis, pipes, slate tiles, even rubber bands!

After Mawlamyine, we headed back to Yangon for our last few days in Myanmar. We did some sight seeing and gift shopping, before heading for an early morning flight....

The only cot we saw in Myanmar!