On Thursday morning, we took and early breakfast at the Kaung Myat Hotel, checked out and set off in a small pick-up for the state to the east of Mon state. This is called Kayin State or sometimes, because most of the population are Karen ethnic, Karen State.
Difficulties are encountered most years because of seasonal flooding on the plains. The floodwater persists from 1 to 3 months, dislocating normal life. Because recent years have suffered worse-than-expected flooding, Doctor Hla Tun had decided to make distributions at four schools in Kayin State for the first time. This was my second visit to Kayin State - the first sight-seeing visit, in 2012, is described in the post here.
The roads were very uncomfortable. A proper bearing surface of crushed rock about 6 inch diameter had been rolled and left at that. There was no upper layer of smaller stone and no surface. I had been given the best seat in the cab of the pick-up and I was given a thorough rattling, so I felt sorry for my companions in the carpeted load space. The load space had the usual rudimentary seats and a tilt cover for protection.
After about 45 km travelling roughly north east into Kayin State, we arrived at the village of Hyauk Ya Twin (shown as Kawgo on Google Maps) situated on the southern bank of the important Gyaing River, where overnight accommodation in a private house had been arranged.
Our first distribution was to be at the monastery at Tha Yet Taw (shown as Krop Kreik on Google Maps) and it had been arranged that we would reach this village, about eleven kilometres upstream, by boat. The first task was to transfer the stationery for the distribution from the house to the jetty, using a 3-wheeled handcart and load it onto the waiting boat.
At Hyauk Ya Twin, a handcart brought the stationery for distribution at Tha Yet Taw from our accommodation to the jetty: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
Loading stationery onto the boat at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
We all piled into the boat and made our way to Tha Yet Taw on the noisy longtail boat.
By boat to Tha Yet Taw, view astern: Kayin State, 2019.
We made the first distribution near the river under the arcading leading to the monastery. The Doctor told me there are 508 houses in the village, the population is 3,280, 100 children attend the primary school and a further 310 attend the secondary school.
Distribution at Tha Yet Taw: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
The 'group shot', Tha Yet Taw: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
Then we clambered back into the longtail boat for the 35-minute dash downstream back to the first village. After lunch at the accommodation, we headed off by road to make a distribution to the 153 primary school children from Hyauk Yay Twin. The village has 169 dwellings housing 803 adults and children. I travelled in the cab of our pick-up but, because of the stationery in the load space, my companions travelled as pillion passengers on local motor-bikes.
Doctor Hla Tun, pillion passenger on a motor bike to our second distribution in Hyauk Yay Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
Here, the Distribution was made in the 'Undercroft' of the wooden monastery, with a monk in attendance who afterwards presented each of the visitors with a silver ring.
Distribution at the monastery at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
The Group Shot at the monastery at Hyauk Ya Twin: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
Then it was back in the pick-up to our final stop at Kharit Village. Here, the distribution was made in the assembly hall of the teak wood monastery. There are 276 students in the secondary school here, derived from a population of 1,670 in 320 dwellings.
The Doctor addressing the children at Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
Distribution at Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
The 'group shot', Kharit monastery: Kayin State, 2019 (Photo: Aung Ko Latt)
We didn't have time to visit the fourth location, Kaw Kha Taw, just over one kilometre south of Kharit. Here 265 houses support a population of 958 and the High School has 303 students. However, we donated stationery for distribution later by the teachers.
By the time we arrived back at the accommodation for an evening meal and bed, I was fairly disorientated and exhausted.
Related posts on this website
This is one of a series of posts describing my 14th visit to Myanmar. The post Return to Burma 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.
Alternately, clicking on the 'All my Burma 2019 reports' link displays all the posts on this trip in reverse date-of-posting order.
All my Burma 2019 reports.
My pictures
I've uploaded lots of pictures to 'Flickr' but they're not all sorted and titled. I'll get onto it as soon as I can.
Kayin State, 2019
Burma 2019
Kyaung Myat Hoyel, Mawlamyine (most pictures taken on earlier visits)
[Link to pictures added 21-May-2019: Text added, pictures embedded 29-May-2019]
