Dinner at the Western Park Chinese Restaurant, Yangon.
Last night I slept soundly, if briefly, for I'd booked an alarm call for 4.0 a.m. Fifteen minutes later, two cheerful waiters delivered a continental breakfast as I uploaded some of yesterday's pictures to my photo site. Finish packing, downstairs to reception and at 5.0 a.m. Julie arrives with the car to return me to the airport. The Oriental definitely seems like home and I'd happily stay longer. It's still pitch dark as we set off from the hotel, which means that the toll road to the airport is still quiet - in less than an hour it will be starting to clog-up. The massive new passenger terminal is also quiet, so I'm checked in on the TG303 to Yangon in a few minutes. The duty-free shopping mall is open and ready for business but there aren't yet many takers. I have the usual problems locating the Business Lounge but get there at 6.0 a.m., with about an hour to kill. Thai have an unencrypted Wi-Fi so you may imagine me in an armchair, laptop balanced on my knees, looking out across the apron, which buzzes with traffic, transfer buses, vans and tugs each with a string of six luggage trailers. Isn't technology wonderful (when it works)? Let's hope my flight to Yangon works. This is what my itinerary says about my arrival in Yangon:-
Transfer - Yangon airport to hotel. After clearing customs and immigration (this may take some time), a Road To Mandalay representative will meet you in the arrivals area and escort you to your hotel.
The Strand - Superior Suite
Accommodation: 1-DOUBLE FOR SOLE USE
Arrive: 09 September Depart: 10 September
Your accommodation includes American breakfast.
Built in 1901, this Colonial hotel offers suites with high ceilings, polished wooden floors and tasteful furnishings and a deluxe bathroom. Dining facilities include The Strand Cafe offering a menu featuring Burmese and Western cuisine, and the Strand Grill with a classical menu. Check-in time is from 14.00 and check out time between 11am and noon. Room availability outside these times is at the discretion of the hotel.
It worked rather well, in fact. The Thai A300-600 was a little late away, waiting for our 'slot time', but still arrived around right time. The flight duration is just over an hour so the Thai cabin staff have to be pretty smart serving the well-presented continental breakfast, which they did with their usual professionalism and good humour.
Yangon International Airport is diminuitive compared with Bangkok but it has a modern terminal building with air bridges so within a few minutes I was inside the terminal and faced with a refreshingly short walk to Immigration. Formalities were completed quickly and with a beaming smile from the one girl as she returned my stamped passport. It took a little longer for my checked baggage to arrive on the luggage carousel then it was on to Customs. I'd taken the precaution of declaring my Notebook Computer and Digital Camera as 'temporary imports' but the girl in customs assured me, with another welcoming smile, that it was not necessary to declare them. Then into the public area and head for the sign with my name on it. As I introduce myself to the representative, the captain of 'Road to Mandalay', Myo Lwin, approaches, warmly welcomes me and then introduces his wife, who's also there. Finally, Doctor Hla Tun appears and there are more greetings. What a wonderful and unexpected welcome! The Captain and his wife leave but I am to see them again in the evening as I am invited to dinner at a well-known Chinese restaurant in Yangon.
The Doctor accompanies me to the Strand Hotel where there is an equally effusive 'welcome back' from all the staff. (My hotel pictures). The new hotel manager introduces himself and we chat for a few minutes before moving on to my room where the Doctor spends some time telling me more about the five visits he has made to the Delta (the area of Myanmar worst affected by Cyclone Nargis) treating medical conditions resulting from the Cyclone. The next day, the Doctor will leave for another trip, this time to be accompanied by an Italian lady doctor educated and currently working in England.
In the afternoon, I walk to Trader's Hotel, to see the 'Road to Mandalay' offices and meet Nicholas who manages them. I explore a little more of the city on foot, taking a few pictures which I've added to my Yangon Collection. I can't resist taking a few more photographs of the railway - see Circle Line pictures) and I return to the hotel shattered as, after an overcast start to the day, the afternoon became sunny and very hot. There's just time for a little nap before getting ready to be picked up by the Doctor. The Doctor arrives with his charming wife and eldest son and we drive along Strand Road to the restaurant. The Captain, his wife and the Lady Doctor are already there and we have a very convivial meal featuring Peking Duck. There's discussion about the damage to 'Road to Mandalay' and when she will resume service and I accept the Captain's suggestion that I should try to be on her new 'Maiden Voyage'. When the party breaks up, the Doctor runs me back to the Strand, allowing me to make this post. I don't know when I'll be able to report next, but here's what the Itinerary promises for tomorrow:-
Wednesday 10 September 08 Transfer - hotel to Yangon airport. Road To Mandalay staff will meet you at the pre-arranged time and take you to the airport. Our staff will reconfirm timings on your arrival in Myanmar. The flight will be operated by Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways ATR72 or ATR42 Aircraft (or similar), your free baggage allowance is 20KGS per person and note that space on board for hand luggage is very limited. Air Bagan flight W9 009 confirmed Yangon-Mandalay 06.30-08.20. Transfer - Mandalay airport to hotel. On arrival of your flight, your guide will be waiting to accompany you to your hotel.
Sedona Mandalay-Club Suite
Accommodation: 1-SUITE FOR SOLE USE
Arrive: 10 September Depart: 12 September
Your accommodation includes full board.
Set in a four acre landscaped garden, and facing the city`s glorious sights of Mandalay Palace & Mandalay Hill, the hotel offers a range of dining facilities and leisure facilities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts and fitness centre.
Well, I doubt if I'll be troubling the tennis courts.
