Category: Trips

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Slow down & Rest

After taking long trips, it was time to slow down and take a rest.

Dr. Ba Han enjoys driving. He has driven from Texas to other states including California and New York.

Due to the possibility of bad weather (thunderstorms, heavy rains, floods), we decided to play safe.

Short trips

Good weather permitting, Dr. Ba Han took us to tourist attractions in his neighborhood.

May 14, 2019

Fort Worth Stock Yard

On May 14, 2019, we visited the “Fort Worth Stock Yard”. In the early days, Texas Long Horns were traded at the Exchange. For tourists, two “cow herding” shows were performed daily. There are a few guys who make money by charging $5 to mount a “Long Horn” and take pictures.

May 15, 2019

Fort Worth Water Garden

On May 15, 2019, we visited the “Fort Worth Water Garden”. It ha four sections. People would come to enjoy the cool environment especially on hot days. The architect incorporated soothing sound effects.

May 16, 2019

Oklahoma Border

Texas does not permit gambling. Some travel to the “Winstar Casino” located in Oklahoma just a few miles from the border of Texas. It has sections named London, Paris, Madrid, Beijing, …

In several states, Native Americans are allowed to operate casinos. Oklahoma is one of them.

Spare time

The trips were short. They allowed Dr. Ba Han to do some urgent work from his home.

He loves history. He gave me three books to read in my spare time.

His sisters in Yangon were interviewed for the book “Yangon Echoes”. They received an autographed copy from Virginia (co-author). Except for some inadvertent errors (possibly introduced in the translation of the interviews), the book covers good material.

“George Washington’s Secret Six” describes how the Culper Ring saved the American Revolution.

Another book was by a Taiwanese-American researcher who spent two years (2007 and 2008) in Myanmar to study Sino-Burmese culture and practice. The book was bought in Yangon for K5000.

Side bar : Book presents

Over the years, I received book presents.

Some were from authors (e.g. Tekkatho Moe War, Ashin Kesala, Saya Des Rodgers, Junior Win, Htain Lin, Maung Swan Yi, U Ye Sint, Saya U Aung Zaw (UCC), Sayadaw U Jotalankara, U Hla Myint).

Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60) air mailed me the book (written and published by his former students and colleagues for his 70th birthday present) from Australia. The postage was comparable to the price of the book.

U Wint Khin Zaw (A79) air mailed me the book (autobiography of his father “K” @ BBS U Khin Zaw) from Australia.

Some were from “Sar Pay Chit Thu Myar”.

U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) posted me two books that he brought from Yangon. One covers “U Thant Ah Yay Ah Khin”. The other is a trans-composition of Zawgyi’s poems.

For some time, I have read and/or listened to book summaries provided by blinkist.com

Posts

• Texas (May 8 – 10, 2019)
• Texas (May 11 – 13, 2019)
• Texas (May 14 – 16, 2019)
• Texas (May 17 – 19, 2019)

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Plan

• The trip was planned for May 8, 2019 to May 18, 2019
• There were twists and turns

Ad hoc mini-gathering

Bo Nyo

During a conversation, Lillian mentioned that Khin Mya Nyo (Bo Nyo) & Ronald (classmates of my spouse at IM1) came to her house to see San San Nwe (another IM1 classmate visiting from East Coast). My spouse was surprised and delighted to learn that her friends were living about 45 minutes drive.

My spouse had met Bo Nyo a couple of times in the SF Bay Area : one for welcoming ASSK and the other at the wedding of the daughter of their classmates. At that time, Bo Nyo was living in New Mexico.

Bo Nyo invited us (including Dr. Ba Han & Lillian) to enjoy hot pot at “Little Sheep” on the evening of May 17, 2019.

May 17, 2019

Bo Nyo brought her aunt Daw Khin Nwe Aye (spouse of Sao Aung Myint @ John Khun Kyi). The small talk which reinforced the concept of “It’s a small world” took place from 6 PM to 9 PM. I learned that Saya Tony (Sao Kan Gyi, RIT English, GBNF) was Ma Nwe’s tutor when she was doing English Honors, and that he was a Best Man at her wedding.

Sao Aung Myint & U Oo Thwin (Michael) were together in the USA when they came as State Scholars.

Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe, Chief Editor of News Agency Burma) was Ma Nwe’s mentor at NAB. Min Kyaw Min was Ma Nwe’s colleague and later her boss. Ma Nwe and five others at NAB were forced to retire for their involvement in 8-8-88.

We had to call it a day, since it was a 45-minute drive back to Dr. Ba Han’s house and we need to pack our belongings for the trip back home on May 18, 2019 (Full Moon day of Kason).

May 18, 2019

Despite the warnings of bad weather, we were lucky. Some heavy rains stopped before we visited a place. Others occurred after we left a place.

To avoid bad weather, Dr. Ba Han decided to drop us early at the airport. But, we were not home free. Alerts sounded on our way to the air port. There was lightning, thunder and heavy rain on the way. It worsened after Dr. Ba Han dropped us at the terminal. He had to take shelter at a friend’s house for half an hour on the way back.

Some time later, we boarded the plane bound for Denver. We were caught by surprise when the pilot announced that the test for the auto-pilot did not pass. Many passengers (including us) were worried that we might miss the connecting flight at Denver.

Kan Soe Kan Kaung

Kan Soe : the plane finally left DFW (Dallas – Fort Worth). The “Fasten seat belt” was on for the most part flying through turbulent weather. The plane arrived at Denver. We had missed the connecting flight. Worse still, there were no more flights that evening/night to SJC (San Jose). We had to stand in a long queue at the Customer Service.

Kan Kaung : Since we missed our flight due to “mechanical failure”, the airline would provide a coupon for a hotel for the night. It would book us on the next available flight.

Kan Soe : There were three flights to SJC on May 19, 2019, but they are all sold out. We would be put on a waiting list. In the worst case, we would fly out on May 20.

Kan Kaung : We suggested flying to SFO instead of SJC (which is nearer to our home). The agent tried several times before she came up with a 6 AM flight to SFO for us.

Kan Soe : The hotel coupon listed the address but not the name. Fortunately, one driver looked up the name (called “Mainstay Suites”) and told us to catch the appropriate shuttle. We took the shuttle to the hotel which is 9+ miles from the airport. Rain greeted us when we arrived at the compound of several hotels (including “Comfort Inn”, which is a sister hotel of “Mainstay Suites”. We had to walk in the rain to our hotel. Since it was late, the hotel would not accept the food coupon provided by the airline. We asked for a shuttle ride early next morning. To our surprise, most slots for the half-hourly shuttles were full. We booked the 3 AM shuttle.

May 19, 2019

Kan Soe : We had a short sleep.

Kan Kaung : There were only three passengers in the 3 AM shuttle. One was a flight attendant for the Frontier airlines. He showed us the way at the terminal of the Denver airport. We had to wait before the shops opened, but they accepted the food coupons. We also received seats for “Premium Economy” (which required less time to board and unboard the plane).

We arrived in California safe and sound.

Miss an Event

We had to forgo attending an event on May 19, 2019. Tathagata Meditation Center (San Jose) had celebrations for the Buddha’s Day (aka Thrice Blessed Day).

Posts

• Texas (May 8 – 10, 2019)
• Texas (May 11 – 13, 2019)
• Texas (May 14 – 16, 2019)
• Texas (May 17 – 19, 2019)

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

• In July 2015, Ivan Lee (M69) sponsored a whirlwind trip to Canada and the East Coast of US. Provided car & gas. Drove part of the trip.
• Fred Thetgyi (M69) drove most of the way. Volunteered as the group’s photographer.

U Aung Khin

• The plan was to meet Saya at his house in Windsor around 7 PM.
• We were a few hours late.
• Saya was patiently waiting for his former students.
• We chatted for a while.
• Saya hosted my spouse and I to spend the night.
• Ivan & Fred joined us for breakfast the following day.
• All were thankful to enjoy Mohinga and Ah Kyaw.
• Saya gave us mementos from Windsor.

Dr. Aung Gyi

• Visited Saya & Daw Emma at their house in Napean.
• Spent two nights.

• Saya drove us around the town.
• Daw Emma prepared delicious dishes.

• The following day we visited Thousand Islands. Daw Emma bought a present for my Myee.