asiaddict

Burma Cassettes

2012-01-21T15:00:00.001-08:00

Apparently Burma never had LPs. The country went straight from 78rpms to Cassettes.
45's and LP's all happened during the "great sleep" era, when the country closed in on itself.
Featured here Myi Aung. one of my faves. As far as I could tell his music is only available in cassettes. Not a CD of him anywhere!

Burma "Eau De Toilette"

2011-08-07T17:01:00.000-07:00

The leaning outhouse of Sinbo and the Bucket Shower of Katha...

click on pics to enlarge)

Burma Travel Tip!

2011-08-07T16:59:00.001-07:00

(click on pic to enlarge)

Burma Money $cam!

2011-07-10T14:09:00.001-07:00

click on pic to enlarge...

Time Warp Haiku

2011-07-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

The Man who fell to Burma...

Myitkyina to Sinbo Ferry

2011-06-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

Myitkyina's main draw as a destination is its being the launching point for a boat journey down the mighty Ayerwaddy river.
The vessel we board on the first leg of our trip is a sort of floating bus.Long , narrow and low, with a tarp draped over an aluminum tubing frame to protect passengers from the scorching sun or the pounding rain, depending on the season.
The seats are narrow and offer very little legroom.Definitely not designed with my long legs in mind! That explains why foreigners are routinely charged double as we inevitably end up needing two seats!
First come, first served, so grab the seats closest to the front as the rear ones are drowned in the deafening roar of the motors!
Note*-As of June 2011 this area is off-limits to foreigners as a result of armed clashes between Kachin Independance Army and the Burmese military.
For the complete story click on this link.

click on image to enlarge.

Kachin up! (Myitkyina Immigration)

2011-06-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

Click on images to enlarge!

Our Luggage performed a disappearing act between exiting the airplane and passing through Immigration in Myitkyina, Kachin state, Myanmar (Burma)

This area OFF LIMITS! as of June 2011, due to some fighting between KIA troops and Burmese Military.How long? that's anyone's guess.

For the complete tale with pictures click here.

Gullible's Travels...

2011-06-03T19:24:00.001-07:00

In the entrails of the Giant Buddha...
Click on Images to enlarge.

Burmap!

2011-05-25T13:23:00.000-07:00

Cartoon Map of Burma

click on pic to enlarge

Rangoon Spitoon!

2011-05-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

click on picture to enlarge!

Helicopter man of Bhamo

2011-05-13T13:51:00.001-07:00

click on picture to enlarge

Audio Time Warp!

2011-05-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Burma Lo-Fi...

click on pic to enlarge!

Gone Fishin' (wayyy gone!)

2011-04-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

click on pic to enlarge.

for more stories and pictures on Burma (Myanmar) click on this LINK

Here Today, Yangon tomorrow

2011-04-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

A last day in Rangoon, Burma. Soaked in Rain and Beer, Porn and Religion.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1302967172/tpod.html

click on link for full story,map and 42 full color Photos!

Visions of Hell&Michael Jackson

2011-04-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1302135074/tpod.html

Click on Link for the complete story and pictures + VIDEO!

Golden Rock-religious CRACK!

2011-04-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1301241192/tpod.html

A pilgrimage to Mt. Kyaiktio, Burma.
click on link for the full story and Pictures.

Burma Signs and Graphics

2011-04-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Some Photos of Signs and stuff from Burma.
click on link

click.

Waterworld, Inle lake Burma

2011-03-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1301225079/tpod.html?view=preview

click on Link for the whole scoop and insta-matics!

Sikh and you shall find...

2011-03-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

A trek from Kalaw to Inle (Burma)

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1299858426/tpod.html?view=preview

(click on link for whole story and accompanying instamatics!)

After the standard, tailored-for-westerners free breakfast, consisting of white toast, margarine, a jam like substance, fried egg and coffee-mix (yay!), we meet our guide Robin, responsible for taking us safely on the 2 night hike over the hills to Inle Lake.
He immediately inspires confidence and respect. His accoutrement consists of two well worn canvas sneakers, a pair of light cotton pants held up by a belt, missing a button as it were, a camel logo emblazoned shirt and a thin windbreaker. He exhudes gentleness and wisdom. His face is framed by a white beard and his head is crowned by the turban betraying his Sikh Faith. We're trekking in style! Star Trekking, couldn't ask for a better Omen!
And We're off.
We, being two Aussies, a Swiss couple, a Frenchman and an Italian...and I. The brisk pace set by Robin feels great in the crisp morning and we warm up in no time. He's no slouch!
We're also accompanied by a villager from the place we're set to sleep the first night. He kept picking up herbs and plants along the way to bring to the medicine man in his area.
It's a gentle climb as we gradually leave Kalaw behind and venture in and out of Pine forests.
Cool one minute and hot the next. We're hiking through a subtropical Rain Forest. Robin is a virtual encyclopedia and disperses information on a variety of plants we pass along the way. Their nutritional value as well as medicinal if any. We pass terraced rice fields not in use at this time of year. Many hills are stripped bare of any vegetation. This is due to the local Hill tribes methods of slash and burn agriculture which they've been doing for hundreds of years. Migrating down from Mongolia they've laid to ruins many a mountain on the way! They cut down the forest, burn then plant a crop or two and move on! So much for living in harmony with nature. Their worldview is such that the world is an unending source of natural resources for them to use up, very similar to ours I guess!
This altitude lends itself perfectly to two crops, Opium and Tea. We pass by many Tea plantations. The locals used to grow Opium here, but in this area apparently the government has encouraged the growth of tea instead. Opium is grown to the East under the control of the Wa ethnic group and their army. Off limits to us!
Burma is second only to Afghanistan in the amount of Opium production. The crops used to have to be shipped to labs in France to be processed, no longer. The stuff is nowadays processed in domestic labs near the Laos and Thai border. The Golden Triangle as it were...in areas restricted to grubby backpackers like us.
We stop in for a little visit with the local medicine man. He lives in a simple hut decorated by calendars and posters. He's the health care provider for a number of villages around here.
His knowledge passed on from previous healers. He's also got a book of Ayuervedic medicine written in Pali which he consults in preparing his concoctions. He's thrilled with the delivery of fresh herbs our cook brings him.
He also practices Tattooing as a form of preventive medicine. With the help of protective patterns mainly against disease causing evil spirits and such...I gobble down one of his prepared anti malarial balls, gaaag! that's some vile concoction! Useless as it turns out since we're at a too high altitude for mosquitoes to live.
At some point of your treks you're bound to come across a water buffalo and its keeper. Due to our foreign diets, we emit an exotic fragrance (we stink) that the beasts can experience as a unknown threat, so better steer clear! Guess some domesticated animals are naturally prone to xenophobia?
We pass a smattering of villages and stop in one for some rest and a lunch. The food throughout was delicious as the cook comes along (actually ahead of us the whole way and prepares food)
Late afternoon and it's time to stop in a village for the night. We get to stay in the village headman's home, upstairs. Turns out most village headmen are a bit reluctant for the commission as they have to regularly report to the authorities on the goings -on in their village.
Soon the sun dips over the mountains and the temperatures spike. Time to slip on the thermals etc...barely time to get settled before we're brought a delicious vegetarian meal and some Tea, Rice and Chapati. We're of course famished after the long trek and devour the spread in no time! Sleep won't be a problem either, but just in case I break out a bottle of excellent Burmese Whiskey ( again!?) I had the forethought to pick in Kalaw the night before. I knew it would be appreciated once the sun set down and the temperatures dipped. We all slept like Babies on thin mats and under blankets supplied by the host.
In the Hills, the faint sounds of Nat Spirit music accompanies us on the path to dreamland...
zzzzzzzz....
Up at the break of daaaaawn, yaaawn! Woken up by our guide who's making it easier by serving us a delectable hot breakfast consisting of yummy Pumpkin soup and chapatis with Coffee mix on the side. The freezing temperature makes the thought of a bucket shower by the well not so enticing...Skip it!
Just as well as the guide likes to start early. Not a bad idea as you want to take advantage of the cool AM temps around here and make tracks before the cruel sun starts beating down, sapping all energy...
Gently rolling hills mark the second day and we're off. On the road we pass several human beasts of burden carrying heavy loads bound for the market. We tried lifting one of the loads. Ouch! it must have weighed 60 lbs! He was carrying this on a daily basis for miles! He ran with small skip like steps at a brisk pace! I'd hate to see the shape of his shoulder bone at a later age.
We pass through a series of Hill Tribe villages...consisting of Palaung, Pa-O, Kayah and Danu Hill Tribes.
We hike along the railroad tracks built by among others our guide's grandfather, through tunnels, across villages.The landscape is stunning throughout.The repressive Military Junta seems very far away at a time like this.
A second pleasantly strenuous day comes to an end as we reach the Monastery where we're slated to spend the night. And we're not the only ones! It seems there's wholesale hostelling going on here. A real little cash cow for the place. Hey I'm not complaining. It's a serene milieu to spend an evening after a hard day's hike through the hills. Still I wonder if it isn't a bit of a corrupting force, exposing the young novices to gangs of western hikers on a daily basis. Seems like half the trekking groups in Kalaw stopped at this place...And this goes on Nightly during the dry season...
No consumption of alcohol is permitted on the premises, but there is a hut within feet of the monastery's perimeters where one could buy some cold beer YAY! I guzzle down a cold one while watching workers at a brick making operation.
Again, had a wonderful meal and the night sky was amazing with the most stars I've ever seen. To top it all the night is accompanied by a spectacle of Shooting stars. Lovely opportunity to make a multitude of wishes some of which would be bound to come true...sooner or later.

Lights out at 10 ...hit the sack! crashed..zzzzz slept great until....those tasty beers are jabbing at my bladder...aaaagh! I get up and stumble around in the pitch black monastery....somehow I get completely disoriented...I can't remember where the doors are!...I hit the flashlight and am horrified as I'm stranded in a sea of crimson robes.I'm smack in the middle of the novices sleeping area....where the heck is that door! I feel my way around the wall... until I get situated. and find my way back to our sleeping area...where I re-boot my brain and set my compass to memory of the previous night....Now I remember...just slink along the right hand wall turn left and feel for the doors on the right....Success, I heave the door open and get greeted by the starry night and moon that lights my way to the designated relief area up the hill....brrrr! it's freezing...
Slept in Nirvana until...
5 AM sharp! We got woken up by the young novices working out their vocal chords! Chanting some Morning Buddhist prayers at the top of their lungs! Did the job as an alarm clock...say no more, we're awake.Excellent breakfast that our guide and not cook had to prepare, due to the cook's raging hangover! Guide asked us to refrain from giving booze to the cook as he had a little "problem" with the stuff. But boy did he make great food!
Next we were to have the "honor"" of handing over a donation to the Abbot for the Monastery. I found a little irksome since I'm sure the trekking organizers already hand over a little sum for the privilege of spending the night there...I didn't want to be a bad sport about it so went along with it and received blessings for safe travels from the abbot in the form of prayers and a string bracelet...(I'm still wearing, and it did work so...thanks!)
After that , off we went in the cool morning onto the gentle descent towards Inthein village on the shore of Inle Lake.
At this point my shins were killing me and I was ready to reach Nyaungshwe...
A nice approach to reach the lake, again with stunning scenery. We get to Inthein around mid day and it's market day. Although this particular place seems geared at half capacity towards the tourist market, there's still all the local hill tribes coming down to trade etc...Quite a pretty setting for a little town. Muddy river, lined by huge trees and a full of the usual riverside activity of bathing, laundry and playing.
We enjoy a last prepared lunch at the boat launch under the shade of trees. Yep , this place is definitely touristy, victim of its own beauty. Dozens of longtail boats are moored, unloading and loading tourists (like us!) I guess the last night at the Monastery was also a bit of a visitors glut as at least 30 -40 hikers like us spent the night there! We better get to Nyaungshwe before all the rooms are full!
We hop on a 5 seater longtail and zoom out the narrow tree lined canal. quite a sight...we hop over small dam like structures regulating the water depth, fun! after 20 minutes of this we reach the open waters of the Lake itself and it's a pleasant ride all the way to Nyaungshwe.
We're taken to the guest house where our luggage was sent to. We bid farewell to our guide and cook.
Due to the poor selection available coupled with the bad vibe I got from the proprietors I and two of my trekking companions take off through Nyaungshwe town until we find suitable accommodations where a shower is in order! Peeee Eeeeew!
Tomorrow it's lake time!

Hotel Kalaw...fornia! (uber alles)

2011-03-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1299242638/tpod.html?view=preview

For The full story Chock full of instamatics click on link above!

Knick-Knacks, Pick up Trucks and other stuff...

2011-03-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1298318816/tpod.html

Follow the link for the Full story and Pictures!

Golden Blob, Moustache bros. + Snakes &Babes!

2011-02-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1298213140/tpod.html

Prisoners of the Buddha!

2011-02-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

My latest story from Burma with photos etc...

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297890741/tpod.html?view=preview

The Great railroad Bizarre

2011-02-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297620518/tpod.html?view=preview

City of a Thousand Eyes!

2011-02-13T16:33:00.000-08:00

Check out more words and pictures at link below!

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297452318/tpod.html?view=preview

The "Dream Machine" of Bhamo

2011-02-11T17:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297432209/tpod.html?view=preview

Illustrated with Drawings As well as Insta-Matics!!!

Burmese daze part 3. (illustrated!)

2011-02-10T19:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297279392/tpod.html?view=preview

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297107140/tpod.html

2011-02-07T22:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/burmats/1/1297107140/tpod.html

LatinAddict!

2010-09-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

Changing Geographical Perspective for a short bit.
"Casos Reales" -I used to be addicted to these Mexican Photo-novellas, buying them on a weekly basis! I don't think they come out anymore at least I haven't seen them in a while. Anyway here are some covers+random Pin-ups and partial stories...enjoy!
(click on images to enlarge)

InferNirvana

2010-09-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

Sculpture Parks Photos from Thailand and Laos...

Burma Cassettes!

2010-09-06T01:26:00.001-07:00

Buddho-Fascism....

2010-05-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

Burmese Folk Tales

2010-04-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Cover Art to this collection of Burmese Folk Tales.
(click on cover to enlarge)

Burmese Temple Festival

2010-02-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

Called a Pwe in Burmese. This carnival like Temple festival draws thousands.The stage shows and movies go on all night, every night for a month at this particular one held at Ananda Patho in Bagan in December-January.

Royal White Elephant

2010-02-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

Theyyam

2009-07-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Indian Cat People

2009-04-14T22:37:00.000-07:00

Cat's got my tongue on this one...

Theyam Cobra Ritual

2009-04-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Theyam priests go into Trance as they conjure up the Cobra spirit.Shot in Kannur, India on the full moon in february 2009.

Funeral Train to Bundi

2009-04-06T10:04:00.000-07:00

Emerging from the ghostly Bundi train station, we ran into this religious procession...

Janni Doucheman again!

2009-04-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

Janni Doucheman!

2009-03-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Indian Jekyll and Hyde??

Indian Movie poster

2009-03-30T22:26:00.000-07:00

Judging by the poster..this one's a must see!

Lose this Skin

2009-01-04T19:46:00.000-08:00

A more ero-poetic take on the Buddhist view of the impermanence of the physical realm.

corpse meditation

2009-01-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

An extreme form of meditation on the impermanence of the physical realm.
Gorenography!

Burmese Cobra

2008-12-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Burmese medicine packet, good for whatever ails you...

Thaichno-Pig

2008-12-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

Cool cover, hectic music.

Cargo Kult

2008-11-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

While the book is napping, I'm activating it under different guises, Here a 3 color silkscreenprint.
Buy this print!

Skin Deep

2008-11-03T20:29:00.000-08:00

Thai Religious tract.

AsiaHell

2008-06-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

A little montage consisting of gruesome religious propaganda with a sprinkle of photos of Buddhist Hellparks!

Dark Arts of Asia

2007-08-01T00:29:00.000-07:00

Step by step revelation of ancient secrets of printmaking from Asia as they enter in unholy matrimony with the dark arts of western Cartoonism...
Mats!? reveals "my"signature technique...
(soundtrack from Sublime Frequencies' :Thai Pop Spectacular.)
Buy this painting
Buy the book 'Asiaddict'

Burma Blur...

2007-07-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

A photo montage clip from a recent trip to Myanmar, set to the tune of Princess Nicotine...

Hong Kong with Love (Bons Baisers de HK)

2007-07-01T00:46:00.000-07:00

Before Austin Powers spoofed the genre , the french comedy group "Les Charlots" did their take on the Bond mythos with some degree of success, at least in the impressionable mind of this 11 year old... I'll have to give it a second viewing three decades later to find out if it still holds up. If the title song is any indication ,the prognostic is good.

Neung Phak, Asian Pop Spectacular!

2007-06-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Neung Phak,a pop collective from Oakland, dishes out some authentic South-East Asian flavored Pop and Molam tunes.Check them out "LIVE" as they put their unique spin on some Thai, Cambodian and Lao classics!
They appear on Thurs. July 12th. 2007 at the aptly named "Rickshaw stop in San Francisco.On this date they'll be accompanied by Alan Bishop (Sun City Girls,Sublime Frequencies) as well as "Apocalypse Puppet Theater" who'll present their latest shadowy play "Man-Killers of India!"
When not performing, Mark Gergis and Alan Bishop scour The Asian continent like Pop Archeologists for some neglected musical treasures with which they cast spells on unsuspecting audio starved junkies...
Poster Print by Mats!? available for sale.

RocKINGjazz

2007-05-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Before the U.S sent military Advisors to Vietnam, they sent the King of Rock'n Roll over to Thailand to scout it out...Here he is seen observing a traditional dance re-enacting the opening of a bottle of Coca Cola the non-traditional way... America and South-East Asia would never be the same!

Vertical Moustache Bros.

2007-04-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

The outlawed burmese vaudeville act "Moustache Brothers" in a performance at their house in Mandalay, Myanmar.
Their show is a mix of Traditional Burmese dance theater laced with social satire aimed at the military Junta.Their act cost
one of the brothers a 5 year prison sentence. GULP!

That shit is Off the wall!

POL POT POP!

2007-04-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

A track from the soundtrack to the book "Asiaddict",performed by the late great Sin Sisamouth.
The Film clip is made up of modified stills taken straight out of the pages of the book.

More Mats!? Art...

Thai Tintin

2007-04-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

The Pirated Tintin book that appeared in Thailand about a decade ago and got its creators in a tight spot,due the characters having sexual intercourse
throughout...Capt. Haddock with some Bangkok Bargirls and Tintin finally consuming his relationship with "Tchang" from the album "the Blue Lotus" and Tintin In Tibet".

A much rarer pirated Tintin appeared in Turkey in the early 60's when the live action film "The golden Fleece" was being shot in Istanbul.
Although extremely difficult to find ,the T- shirt depiction of the cover is easily picked up in the old Bazar.

See more of my work at:

www.comicartcollective.com/mats

Made in USA

2007-04-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

I'll plug it here once and for all. "Asiaddict" The Blog is named after the book and not vice versa.This book covers a far-out trip through the tourist mine fields of...Buddhisneyland!Thailand,Laos and Cambodia...By the way this shows a study for the cover ,not the actual cover.This one has the feel (I hope) of an E.P Jacobs drawing. In the end I sobered up the cover to an Herge style...Could be the belgian Beer trip I'm on...
I just returned from a trip through Myanmar(formerly Burma) I'll upload some images and observations from there soon...

www.comicartcollective.com/mats
www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com
www.matsicko.com

Simian Gold

2007-04-22T00:37:00.000-07:00

An apparition on the tracks at Lophburi...

Mandalay train...

2007-04-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

Creeping over the Gokteika Viaduct ,the train from Mandalay makes its way to Lashio...The steel structure creaks and squeaks while the passengers anxiously roll their prayer beads between their sweaty fingers...
The track is from "Guitars of the Golden Triangle " from Sublime Frequencies.

Tintinbuddhaaah...

2007-04-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Who's going to sit in Tintin's lap?

Radio Rangoon

2007-04-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

I picked up these audio jewels in Mandalay.All you can find of the good vintage Burmese POP is on cassettes alas.The only thing available on CD is the new schmalzy karaoke junk it seems.And Coffee Mix was the daily norm... I miss the stuff...

Luckily,the folks at Sublime Frequencies have released some dynamite music from Burma,notably "Guitars of the Golden Triangle".

Cambodian Pulp

2006-09-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Picked this book up in a dingy market in Phnom Penh.It was for sale at several stalls. The only book that caught my attention.
Haven't read it but it looks great!

Salakaewku

2006-08-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

Art of survival

2006-07-31T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thai jack chick

2006-06-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

buddhisneyland

2006-06-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

Hell Park

2006-02-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is a reproduction in resin of a sculpture found at the buddhist hell park at Wat pai rong wua in Thailand.
The master model was made of wood, wire ,and mostly sculpey clay. The mold is some poly urethane mix. The cast is then made of 2 part resin. then painted.Soon i'll have my own little Buddhist hell park!

www.comicartcollective.com

Top Shelf

2006-01-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

Don't be fooled by the 40 oz. bottles stacked up on the makeshift countertop,it's not a bar.In fact it's not even a liquor store.It is, howewer Phnom Penh's version of a gas station. Besides filling up your tank,these bottles make for excellent Molotov cocktails,should a riot or a revolution suddenly ignite...

From the upcoming book "Asiaddict" published by Sparkplug Comics.

www.matsicko.com
www.comicartcollective.com
www.sparkplugcomicbooks.com

asiaddict: Buddhist HELL!

2006-01-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

asiaddict: Buddhist HELL!

cauldron of sins

2006-01-27T23:28:00.000-08:00

Repent Now!

asiaddict

2006-01-27T22:47:00.000-08:00

www.matsicko.com
www.comicartcollective.com

2006-01-27T22:30:00.001-08:00

Buddhist HELL!

2006-01-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

You thought Buddhism was limited to the beatific smile of the Buddha?think again!
The cruel punishments awaiting those who stray from the wholesome teachings of the
Buddha rival any other religion!