More Mandalay

Events of Wednesday 20th February, 2013

I'd arranged with my guide that we'd make one more excursion, travelling to the ever-beautiful Sagaing Hills. It's a trip I'd made before but I never tire of the area. However, we made a slight detour on the way, to look again at Ywa Taung station.

I'd first visited Ywa Taung in 2012 with Doctor Hla Tun as we returned from making a stationery donation at Taung Be Lar School. That earlier visit is described here. On my second visit to the station on 20th February 2013 I took additional photographs to clarify arrangements. My second visit coincided with seeing two trains! On our arrival, a local train to Mandalay was waiting in the platform loop. Most of the lines are single and the local was stopped for the Mandalay to Myitkyina express to pass. This important train included a restaurant coach. Once the express had passed, I could see the pointsman changing the points so that the stopping train could continue on to Mandalay.

The Mandalay - Myitkyina express passes Ywa Taung.

Then we took the winding road to the summit at Sagaing and the temple housing the most famous Buddha image. We spent some time on the promenade surrounding the temple which commands marvellous views in all directions. It was a little hazy, limiting how far we could see, but we could study the amazing number of pagodas, monasteries and other religious buildings and watch all the river activity in the Shwe Kyet Yet area.

Numerous pagodas dot the wooded hills of Sagaing.

Driving back to Mandalay City across the new road bridge, it was clear just how low the water was. The broad river had two small navigable channels, one adjacent to either river bank, and the rest was sandbanks.

We returned to the Sedona Hotel passing a very elaborate Noviciation Procession which included an elephant. It's quite expensive to arrange for an elephant, I was told, so this was a rich family. The actual Noviciation Ceremony would probably be held on the following day.

Just part of the extensive procession.

Safely back at the Sedona Hotel, it was time to say "goodbye" to my guide and driver. On the following day I was to meet a different guide and driver for the journey south.

Wednesday was the day that a new group of guests arrived for the 'Road to Mandalay'. They would have flown into Mandalay International Airport. In the past, I have poked fun of the fact that Mandalay International Airport had no scheduled International Flights (just the occasional charter flight). Perhaps it's an indication of the changes taking place in Burma that the budget airline AirAsia now has regular flights to Bangkok for 50 dollars. I'm told AirAsia will also introduce a direct service to Singapore shortly. At the airport 'Road to Mandalay' guests would have met their guides for the trip, boarded the waiting coaches and spent the morning touring Mandalay. The guests were to meet at the Sedona Hotel for a buffet lunch before joining their coaches once again for the drive by road to Myin Mu where their ship was waiting.

Doctor Hla Tun had told me that he was usually at the hotel for the buffet lunch, in case any of the guests required medical help. I waited outside as the various buses arrived and, of course, I knew many of the staff and guides looking after the newly-arrived guests.

'RTM' Guests arrive at the Sedona Hotel for a Buffet Lunch.

Doctor Hla Tun arrived a little later: he had been to purchase medicines for use on the ship. The Doctor and I talked for a while in the hotel lobby and then (having left word where he'd be, if required) we walked around the corner to the Shwe Pyi Moe Cafe where the Doctor ordered a simple Burmese meal, whilst I had a Coca-Cola.

The Shwe Pyi Moe Cafe.

When we arrived back at the hotel the last 'RTM' coach was just leaving. The Doctor quickly collected his medicines, said goodbye and joined the bus. Amongst the new Guests, there were two 'stragglers' who had somehow missed the coaches. They were eventually located by the member of 'RTM' staff who had remained behind with a car so disaster was averted.

The following day, I was to leave Mandalay and head south by car.

My Pictures

Ywa Taung Station.
Sagaing (2013).
Noviciation Procession in Mandalay.
'RTM' at the Sedona.

[Revised 8th March 2013]