I have recently had the opportunity to begin exploring Docker, the currently hip way to build application containers, and I generally like it. It feels a bit like using Xen back in 2005, when you still had to download it from cl.cam.ac.uk, but there is huge momentum right now. I like the idea of breaking down each component of your application into unique services and bundling them up - it seems clean. The next year is going to be very interesting with Docker, as I am especially looking forward to seeing how Google’s App Engine allows Docker usage, or what’s in store for the likes of Flynn, Deis, CoreOS, or Stackdock.

I was trying to install HALite, the WebUI for SaltStack, using the provided instructions. However, I kept getting the following errors when trying to create the certificates using Salt: 'tls.create_ca_signed_cert' is not available. 'tls.create_ca' is not available. Basically, the ’tls’ module in Salt simply didn’t appear to work. The reason for this is detailed on intothesaltmind.org: Note: Use of the tls module within Salt requires the pyopenssl python extension. That makes sense. We can fix this with something like:

While in Myanmar on a recent trip I did a brief taste comparison of the three main beers available in most supermarkets. Andaman - Not to my taste, perhaps like XXXX, VB, Natural Light, or a light Steel Reserve. Myanmar - Quite refreshing, a bit like similar beers in the region, e.g. Chang, Tiger, or Laos Beer.

With my brief trip coming to an end, I woke up, had breakfast on the roof of Hotel Yadanarbon, and caught my private shuttle to the airport. The airport was a considerable distance outside the city, about twice as far away as U Bein Bridge. I arrived at the airport with plenty of time, before check-in had opened, and waited in the downstairs cafe while a group played audio from an iPad at full volume, seemingly indifferent to those around them. Once check-in opened, people cut into the queue from both sides. I eventually boarded my flight and took off for Bangkok.

My alarms went off at 5:45, with my bags already packed from the night before. Today would begin my journey back to Mandalay and mark the close of my time in Myanmar. I had desperately wanted to see Bagan after everybody told me how beautiful it was, but travelling there felt too risky during the New Year festivities. On a longer trip, I would have taken the gamble, but not with such a tight schedule.

First thing in the morning, I went downstairs and asked whether the staff had been able to organise bus tickets out of Bagan, either during the day or at night. I knew JJ Max was full but held out hope for the two other bus providers. The hotel staff managed to contact both, but they were fully booked for the next week, day and night. I started to worry about how I would get to Yangon. The staff then checked the buses from Monywa to Yangon: full. The buses from Mandalay to Yangon were also full. I had already encountered bad luck when organising airfare, as the company cancelled my ticket at the last minute due to “technical issues.” All the airlines’ websites reported that only limited …

The touts in Mandalay were more persistent than those in Yangon, approaching every passenger on the bus. One driver asked where I was going. When I said the bus station for Monywa, he offered to take me for 5,000 kyat. I countered with 2,000 because it was only about two kilometres away. He lowered his price to 4,000, then offered two motorbikes for 1,000 each. I declined and started walking.

I woke up and went downstairs for a simple breakfast of eggs, toast, and coffee. Another traveller from Australia was there, so we chatted for a little while before I packed my things and walked to the bus stop. The bus arrived quickly. I jumped on and was soon on my way. Although I had some instructions for using the bus, I needed to transfer. Following my map, I got off and crossed the street to wait for the next bus to Inya Lake. It never came, and a local mimed that I was at the wrong stop. After walking around for a while in search of the bus, I eventually gave up and flagged down a taxi. It looked fine from the outside but was barely functioning. Twenty minutes and $3 later, I was at the lake, although at …

I arrived at Yangon International Airport quite early in the morning. My first impression was that the airport seemed new, with smartly presented staff throughout. I passed through customs without any problems. My first stop was the currency exchange; the airport rate was apparently reasonable, and I would need cash quickly. I handed over $200 in freshly minted US currency. Do you know how hard it is to find fresh US dollars in Sydney? The staff began preparing my money. The people before me had bags and bags of cash, and I thought they must have exchanged $10,000 or more. My luggage soon arrived, and I left the exchange with a stack of 200 bills. I counted them, passed through customs, and was greeted with …