Because we were all going to be together for days we decided to not sit together on the flight ( or alternatively that's how the bookings turned out!) After a meal in the middle of the night (called what exactly?) we staggered off the plane in search of loos and alcohol ( duty free variety of course) Changi Airport appeared to have run out of Bombay Sapphire Gin - now there's a calamity! After a 3 hour flight to Yangon we discovered the exact gin at the Yangon Duty-free (a total of 3 shops) and as it was only $17 per bottle we bought two! Think of all the money we saved there.
Along the way we sorted out some of the new attendees at the Conference - fairly conspicuous in the Yangon Airport fortunately. The excitement levels were high and a few were heard to utter " I can't believe we actually made it".
Despite our best attempts we seemed to group and regroup as we made our way through immigration with me getting some particular attention from one of the officials determined to get me through the Myanamr Nationals queue for some reason . With my blond ( grey??!!) hair and blue eyes it would be hard to find someone less like a Myanmar national.
Despite various escapades with bottles of whiskey being separated from their owners, several people being 'lost' in what is a very small airport, and the challenge of trying to work out how many kyats (pronounced 'chats' - the local currency ) one could possibly need, we finally assembled and headed off in the bus with Omnah our very knowledgeable guide.
However Anne's first encounter with the locals was not so positive as she had to contend with the fact that her brand spanking new $US50 bill wasn't acceptable to the foreign excahnge lady. Apparently she took a dislike to the serial numbers: who knew???!!
Yangon (formerly Rangoon) is a rambling city of 5 million people many of whom appeared to be squashed into tiny buses hurtling around. No motor bikes are allowed in the central part of town ( the story goes that one of the generals was involved in an accident involving a motor bike so they have been banned!) and as the import tax on vehicles has been lifted a year ago apparently there has been a huge increase in cars. They drive on the right hand side of the road in cars with the steering wheels on the right or the left: take your pick!
Plenty of rather rundown but still beautiful colonial buildings built by the British some decades ago, and not many high rise buildings. Lakes and parks aplenty so very green.
 |
| Notice the monk walking around one of the levels at the base of the spire |
At 4 pm we headed for the Shwedagon Pagoda whose huge shining 90 metre gold tower can be seen anywhere in Yangon. We were grateful for a lift which took us almost to the top and then spent more than an hour doing a circuit, which included every version of a gold pagoda imaginable, sitting at the base of the tower. It's one of the most sacred pagodas in Asia and many of the local buddhists were there paying their respects. Without shoes and on hard marble some of the legs and feet were weary, but the beauty of the place inspired us to keep hobbling along.
We participated in a lamp lighting ceremony which was very spectacular, and then enjoyed the effects of the dimming light on the hundreds of gold buddhas as we headed for home.
A lovely dinner and far too many G&Ts were enjoyed before we all collapsed into bed to revive for an exciting first day of the Conference.
(Spelling mistakes to be corrected later too: I am exhausted)
Your only-just-awake correspondent,
Dianne
No comments:
Post a Comment