It was raining again when I got up. Google insisted on telling me the outside temperature (though I hadn’t asked). Only two trains passed below me as I took breakfast in the Horizon Club Lounge, then I returned to my room to work on the computer and complete my final packing. Having checked-out, I was picked up on time for my transfer to the smart new domestic terminal at Mingalardon Airport.
All luggage and possessions have to be X-Rayed and passengers have to pass through a Metal Detector Arch and are then scanned by a hand-held ‘wand’. There are two low boxes on the floor which you are asked to stand on, one for men, one for women. A lady officer checks the female passengers, a man the male passengers. You are asked to hold your arms out sideways, so that they can check underarms. On my little podium, I felt like an orchestra conductor about to launch the music. But the Burmese are always so polite and smiling, it’s the one place I don’t get ‘rattled’ by security. KBZ, the airline I was flying with to Myitkyina, have introduced a Common Check-in for all flights where you can wait in any queue you choose. I chose what looked like the shortest queue but got it wrong. A young Western couple ahead of me with two young children who, as I waited in the queue, proved to be rather disobedient had brought an amazing amount of luggage which kept appearing a case at a time. Their check-in required the attention of about six airline staff. I don’t know whether they really were moving house, but they could have been. Then my queue was down to one innocent looking young Burmese girl who suddenly flashed seven passports. With horror, I realised that she was the guide with a group of seven European tourists I’d spotted nonchalantly chatting a little way off. Eventually, it was my turn and check-in was completed with the customary smiling courtesy. An escalator took me to the departure hall where, since my last trip, they have introduced a second security station to X-ray carry-on baggage and repeat the passenger checks, just like at the entrance to the building. There are now glossy shops for pastry, various café options (including a KFC!) and up-market watches.
Yangon, flying to Myitkyina.
My flight was called and I hurried to Boarding Gate 32. As I expected, the rather smart Airbridge discharged us onto metal stairs leading to a transfer bus. Fortunately, the stairs had been provided with a roof, for it was still raining hard. Although the bus had parked close to the exit from the stairs, a smiling man from the airline was ready with a large umbrella to protect passengers from the rain and this process was repeated when we reached the aircraft and had to board the ATR 72-500/600 via its ‘Airstairs’. We did some high speed taxiing and were airborne just after 1.00 p.m., climbing to 18,000 feet for our journey of about an hour and a quarter to our first stop at Mandalay International Airport. Mandalay passengers were collected by a transfer bus whilst a large fuel bowser topped up our fuel.
Yangon-Myitkyina: As we re-fuel at Mandalay, the ground crew shelter from the sun in the wing's shadow.
I knew that my lady guide from Mandalay would board the flight and I spotted her as soon as she came on board and introductions were quickly made. Her name is July Win. The flight was not full so she was able to sit next to me for the Mandalay to Myitkyina ‘leg’.
On arrival at Myitkyina, the local Agent had also turned up to make sure everything had worked out. Immigration logged my entry into Kachin state whilst we waited for my checked bag to arrive, then I met the local driver and the Mitsubishi 4x4 'Pajero' provided for the trip.
First we went to the Reclining Buddha Image. On the second day of the holiday, it was crowded with pilgrims and volunteers were handing out plastic glasses of orange juice containing small pieces of black jelly.
Myitkyina Reclining Buddha: Volunteers were handing out plastic glasses of orange juice containing small pieces of black jelly.
We then walked across to the associated pagoda, undergoing repairs, where more volunteers were laying out 1,000 clay candle holders for the Festival of Light Ceremony that evening. We next looked an astrology stall, where the result is already written in cards laid on a table. The correct card is selected from tossing seven small shells combined with your Birth Sign (there are 8 in Myanmar Astrology). Whilst we waited for our car to pick us up, I tried rice cakes, fried over a fire of wooden sticks.
Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State which is home, I think, to 25 ethnic minorities so we visited the National Playground where ethnic ceremonies are performed.
Kachin State National Playground, Myitkyina.
By the time we reached the Palm Spring Resort Hotel, it was dark. I’d been given room 2001 on the first floor at the head of a very grand wooden staircase.
Palm Springs Resort, Myitkyina.
The room was very well-appointed and, although there was supposed to be Wi-Fi, I didn’t succeed in connecting to either of the routers my computer detected. I explored the grounds in the dark, found the dining room but decided I’d enough food with me for the evening so returned to my room, worked on the computer a little and then slept well in the large bed although the mattress was rather hard.
Related posts on this website
This is one of a series of posts describing my 12th visit to Myanmar. The post Starting out is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link displays the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report on this trip.
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma-2017(2) reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma-2017(2) reports.
My photograph albums
Where necessary, clicking on an image above will display an 'uncropped' view or, alternately, pictures may be selected, viewed or downloaded, in various sizes, from the albums listed:-
Yangon around and about.
Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Yangon.
Yangon Airport (This and earlier trips).
Yangon to Myitkyina by Air.
Myitkyina, around and about.
Palm Springs Resort, Myitkyina.
[Links to albums added, 16-Oct-2017: Pictures added 4-Jan-2018]
