After our second night sleeping at the Drop In Centre, we said 'Goodbye' to our friends at Ko Dut. There was time for a final 'group photo' with the staff present before we set off by taxi.
Ko Dut D.I.C. - leaving on 23rd April 2018
Our first destination was Khaikhami Yele Paya Pagoda, built over the sea. I've visited this important shrine a number of times, mentioning my last and earlier visits in the post here.
Khaikhami Yele Paya Pagoda
Our first distribution was at the Drop In Centre at Ka Mar Wet. I'm afraid in earlier reports, I may have confused some of the names but I hope I have it correct this year. Some of these places are quite difficult to find unless you are local. As arranged by mobile phone, we were met on the main road by a man on a motor cycle in a silver crash helmet who conducted us through the narrow streets to the D.I.C.
Our motor cycle guide conducting us to Ka Mar Wet D.I.C.
I may confuse the names, but not the people and warm greetings were exchanged. I can't claim to remember each child but some are firm in my memory. When the Doctor enquired, the majority of the children remembered our last visit - long-term commitment to this type of programme is essential. Once again, the Doctor held a lottery to determine who received one of the limited number of white towels. I admit to initially having doubts about the lottery idea but these were dispelled by the sheer sense of fun created. I was pleased that the staff were included in the lottery and the winners from this group seemed even more excited than the children!
Ka Mar Wet D.I.C. - White towel winners proudly show their prize.
Then the distributions to all the children took place - a new school uniform and items of stationery.
Ka Mar Wet D.I.C. - the distribution.
The children proudly donned their new uniforms so that photographs, including the 'group shot' outside the building, could be made to record the event.
Ka Mar Wet D.I.C.
The children were then able to leave but, finally, the Doctor refunded certain other agreed expenses to the manager.
Ka Mar Wet D.I.C.
I was wearing the longyi they'd given me the previous year (described here) and, before we left, they presented me with another longyi in a beautiful Mon pattern.
Our motor cycle guide then conducted us to Mu Don Drop In Centre for our second distribution of the day. The journey concluded in a baffling series of narrow alleys barely suitable for a motor cycle, let alone a taxi. We started with a special presentation of stationery items to a number of Outstanding Students.
Distribution to Outstanding Students at Mu Don D.I.C.
Then, we conducted the lottery for the limited number of towels which created great amusement.
Distribution at Mu Don D.I.C.
Finally, the serious business of equipping each child with stationery and items for the forthcoming year. I was presented with a lovely decorated cotton blanket. Everybody then trooped out into the sun for photographs.
Distribution at Mu Don D.I.C. - The Group Photograph
I watched with interest as a group of children from one particular area departed in a covered pick-up with seats. With about eight children in the luggage rack on the roof, there must have been about 30 passengers!
Happy students leaving the distribution at Mu Don D.I.C.
Once again, our guide conducted us to our final Drop In Centre of the day at Kot Kha Pon. By this time, the combination of the heat and an infection which the Doctor was treating had exhausted me, but I did the best I could. Instead of repeating the address to the children I'd been using on this trip (a rather Victorian-sounding tale extolling the virtues of education, hard work and being good to one another), the Doctor paraphrased its content for me.
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Dr. Hla Tun addresses the students at Kot Kha Pon D.I.C.
Three Outstanding Students received a special presentation of stationery, then we had the fun of the lottery for the presentation of towels and finally the distribution to all the children. With a smaller number of children at this location, we were able to take the group pictures inside the building. The staff kindly gave me a blanket in appreciation of the support for their work.
Distribution at Kot Kha Pon D.I.C.
The taxi then headed north on Route 8 for a little under 30 km to Mawlamyine, where the Doctor had booked rooms in the Kaung Myat Hotel.
Kaung Myat Hotel, Mawlamyine
On arrival, I was happy to 'hole-up' in my room after a fairly strenuous day, with food and drink provided by the Doctor to keep me going. I backed up my pictures to the computer and found the hotel's Wi-Fi was working so I was able to receive a few e-mails and deal with them and convert a Word document I'd been working on into a blog post. The following day, we would be making distributions at two Drop In Centres in Mawlamyine.
Related posts on this website
This is one of a series of posts describing my 13th visit to Myanmar. The post Travelling again is the first post in the series.
Clicking on the 'Next report' link will show the post describing the next events. In this way, you may read about the trip in sequence.
Next report
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma-2018 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma-2018 reports.
My pictures
Khaikhami Yele Paya Pagoda and Ka Mar Wet D.I.C.
Distribution at Mu Don D.I.C.
Distribution at Kot Kha Pon D.I.C.
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 10-May-2018, Pictures inserted 27-May-2018]
