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Saturday, 28th April 2018
I slept well and decided to walk around the monastery compound. I found a large party of Japanese tourists arriving by pony cart to visit the historic wooden monastery of Nat-Taung Kyaung at Taung Be.
Bagan Medical Clinic Saturday 28th April 2018: Japanese tourists arrived in pony carts to visit the old wooden monastery, Nat-Taung Kyaung.
The previous year, I had only been able to survey the outside of this 200-year old building but I knew from the internet that repairs were in hand so I was pleased to find that it was possible to go inside and determined to make a visit myself later.
As usual, I found the Abbott checking on the preparations for the free lunch. Two young monks were ‘dicing’ vegetables with scissors whilst an older man was tending the wood fires.
Bagan Medical Clinic Saturday 28th April 2018: Lunch preparation
In the Doctor’s consulting room, I observed the variety of patients for a time. Mobility problems and joint pain are common, particularly amongst the elderly, but all kinds of ailment present themselves.
On Saturday, the free lunches were being presented by a relative of the Taung Be Abbott who is Abbott of a monastery in the Mandalay area. In addition to the 330 registered patients, lunches are given to accompanying relatives and friends so the stream of eager diners seemed endless.
Bagan Medical Clinic Saturday 28th April 2018: Free lunches, ready for distribution.
In the afternoon, I visited the richly-carved wooden monastery of Nat-Taung Kyaung which lies just a few yards beyond Bagan Medical Clinic.
Nat-Taung Kyaung Monastery: Saturday 28th April 2018
Tired by my perambulations, I returned to the Doctor's Consulting Room to watch, although from time-to-time, I found myself falling asleep briefly, much to the amusement of the Doctor's female assistants.
Bagan Medical Clinic Saturday 28th April 2018
The Doctor carried on to 7.30 p.m. and then took dinner with his assistants and the writer before continuing. I went to bed not long after dinner, thoroughly shattered, and I'm not sure what time the Doctor eventually finished but I think there were about twenty patients carried forward to a 'short' Sunday morning list.
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
Bagan Medical Clinic Saturday 28th April 2018
Nat-Taung Kyaung Monastery, Bagan (includes pictures from 2017)
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 10-May-2018, pictures inserted 28-May-2018]
Friday, 27th April 2018
The Bagan Medical Clinic opens every weekend of the year except for Thingyan, the Water Festival celebrating the Lunar New Year and the following weekend. In 2018, Friday 27th April represented the first day that the Clinic would be open after the two week shutdown. The previous evening, the Doctor had been told by telephone that 150 patients had already arrived and registered and that 60 of those were from Chin State.
So the Doctor and I were aware, as we left his house in Yangon by taxi at 5.30 a.m. for the airport, that he was in for a busy weekend. The Doctor is always keen to save Clinic expenditure, so he had taken advantage of a special, reduced air fare to Nyaung Oo available to him. But, if I had accompanied him, my fare, as a foreigner, would have been expensive so, instead, he had booked me with a different airline on a flight ten minutes later.
Another sign of the changes since my first visit was that we left from the modern Domestic Terminal, similar to hundreds of airports world-wide, in marked contrast to the rather eccentric arrangements of 2008. I counted twelve ATR-72 turbo-props from various competing airlines on the Domestic Apron.
Both flights were on time and I met the Doctor in the Baggage Hall at Nyaung Oo. Simpler, manual arrangements for handling passenger’s luggage still suffice here. We were met by one of the Clinic staff and driven to the Clinic. Even in the few months since my last visit, a number of new hotel building projects were evident. Unfortunately, the rise in planned accommodation has coincided with the collapse of foreign visitor numbers following international consternation at around 750,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh in what has been characteristed by the United Nations as ‘Ethnic Cleansing’.
The Clinic was buzzing with activity and I was able to greet many old friends. The Doctor immediately started Consultations. During Friday, a further 230 patients arrived and registered. The first 160 arrivals were added to Friday’s list, making a commitment to 310 consultations for Friday. The remaining 70 patients formed the start of Saturday’s list, but this number was expected to swell with more patients arriving on Saturday.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: The main waiting area faces the original clinic building of 2011, now provided with an illuminated LED sign.
I toured the busy compound, noting the changes and examining the progress of various building works although there were no builders at work that day.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: The 28-bed recovery unit is nearing completion.
I found the Abbott in the open-air kitchen area and we greeted one another warmly, although he has no English and I have no Myanmar language. He was checking on the progress of vegetable preparation and cooking (over wood fires) for the free lunch which would be given to patients and their companions.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: The Abbot, checking on progress of lunch for the patients
For long periods, I sat-in with the Doctor observing, as always amazed at his ability to process three patients at a time with his lady assistants, together with frequent telephone calls and review of patients returning with test results or E.C.G. printouts.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: Doctor Hla Tun.
At 11.30 a.m., the Doctor suggested I go to see the lunch donation. As soon as the announcement was made over the public address, a long queue of patients formed at the donation point where a number of staff were rapidly making up meals on stainless steel plates.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: Queuing for the free lunch.
The final handing of each plate the recipient was being done by the Abbott. After dealing with, as I thought, the majority of lunches the Abbot invited me to take over whilst he observed benignly. But the people kept coming, until we were literally scraping the saucepans to complete the last few meals, with a small number of ‘seconds’ where requested. A wonderful, joyful event illustrating one of the Buddhist tenets I admire.
Then I spent more time in the Doctor’s consulting room as the ‘tide of humanity’ passed through.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018
With so many patients to see, the Doctor did not stop for lunch but just ‘snacked’. His assistants took it in turns to break for a quick meal, and I was summoned for my ‘special menu’ of congee, plain omelette and Coca Cola.
During the afternoon, there was a brief thunderstorm. Shortly afterwards, at 4.40 p.m., the electricity went off. It was restored a minute or two later and, when I went outside to check, I was delighted to find the package generator running the site, as intended.
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018: The vital Standby Generator was donated by a local hotel.
After half an hour, the mains electricity must have been restored and there was a brief ‘blackout’ as we switched back to the mains.
At 7.0 p.m.the Doctor paused briefly to take dinner with his assistants and the writer before continuing until after midnight. I’m afraid I took to my bed much earlier.
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.
My pictures
Bagan Medical Clinic Friday 27th April 2018
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 10-May-2018, pictures inserted 28-May-2018]
Wednesday, 25th April 2018
On Wednesday, I'm ashamed to say, I never left the Doctor's house. However, you probably wouldn't believe how long it takes to back up my pictures, try to update the blog posts, deal with a few e-mails and recharge my battery-powered equipment. I admit to resting for a while.
I've commented before that, in general, Myanmar people enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner and that I can never believe the sheer volume they enjoy, since their frames are usually much smaller than mine. Because I'm bigger than they are (they always politely say 'strong', not 'fat') they think I should eat more than them. My protestations that half their portion size is right for me fall on deaf ears: they are a very hospitable people. Whilst at the Doctor's house, a consensus emerged and I enjoyed splendid meals tailored to my tastes.
A splendid meal, tailored to my rather conservative tastes, at the Doctor's house in Yangon.
So the combination of the heat, over-eating and (admit it) being old makes me sluggish in these circumstances. So that was Wednesday.
I had some difficulty getting to sleep Wednesday night with itchy skin and slight heat rash. What I learned is that Myanmar people are not immune to this and a plastic bottle of calamine lotion was passed around the household. However, once I dropped off I slept soundly until the alarm, no doubt helped by the air conditioning being set to take the 'edge' off the heat.
Thursday, 26th April 2018
After breakfast on Thursday, the Doctor had arranged a meeting with Eddie Teh, General Manager, Hotels and Cruises (Belmond Governor's Residence, Belmond Road to Mandalay). We discussed the Belmond Myanmar Foundation (of which I am a trustee). This is a British registered charity which helps to fund the work carried out by Doctor Hla Tun.
In the ten years since my first visit to Myanmar, the country has changed rapidly. One change is the advent of ATM machines. When I first came, there were none and banks were not very helpful. Now, there are kiosks everywhere where cash can be obtained on demand, often with the choice of U.S. Dollars or the local Kyat. So, on the way back to the Doctor's house I drew some funds as readily as in my own country.
I spent most of the rest of the day dealing with e-mails and trying to update the blog. Tomorrow morning the Doctor, his wife and the writer fly north to Nyaung Oo then go by road to the Bagan Medical Clinic where the Doctor expects a heavy list of consultations. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get internet access again but there are lots of existing posts on the Bagan Medical Clinic. You can find them (in reverse date-of-posting order) here. The Clinic will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday then we are planning a side-trip to Chin state with the Monk who looks after the Clinic.
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
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 28-May-2018]
Events of Tuesday, 24th April 2018
After a pleasant breakfast at the hotel, the charming man from Care Myanmar picked us up to take us to the distribution at Hlaing Drop In Centre. With almost 400 children attending this distribution, there is insufficient room for them inside the Drop In Centre itself so, in previous years, collapsible sun shelters have been erected in the field adjacent to the D.I.C. building. But, in 2018, the shelters had been erected on the narrow concrete road outside the D.I.C., leaving a narrow space at one side to allow pedestrians and motor cycles passage. The expectant children were quietly waiting on groundsheets laid under the shelters which were topped with green woven plastic sheeting as a sun screen. I was amused to note that, to prevent the sheeting from sagging, a number of 'U'-shaped lengths of rebar (steel reinforcing bar) had been laid across the framework. Staff and volunteers were busy distributing snacks to the children.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C.
There were a number of Outstanding Students who were presented with a modest extra reward of stationery by way of encouragement.
Distribution to Outstanding Students at Hlaing D.I.C.
We then moved outside for the main presentations. A 'stage' had been built at the front, filled with shoulder bags containing the items being distributed. Each distribution comprised school uniform, exercise books, pencils or pens placed in a colourful shoulder bag. However, the exact contents depended upon age and sex of the recipient. The uniforms differ between boys and girls and differ with age (primary school boys start with short trousers but then move to the male version of the longyi). Primary school children only use pencils but older pupils use ballpoint pens.
A sound system with a radio microphone had been provided but did not seem to be working correctly so we switched to a battery-operated bullhorn. The Doctor invited me to give a short address so, using the bullhorn, I delivered my homily on the importance of education (in short sections, pausing to let the Doctor translate before continuing).
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C. - the Doctor translates Jan's address.
Next, we had the actual distribution. Volunteers were on hand firstly to check the 'admission ticket' of each child, then to ensure that the Doctor and I placed the correct type of shoulder bag over the student's head. Where children were still clutching the snacks they'd been given, we tried to add them to the shoulder bag to prevent loss. Each child was then allowed to select a lottery ticket which they then examined to look for the all-important 'tick' which indicated that they'd won a towel. In a few rather hectic minutes, we'd handed out most of the 386 bags.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C.
There was then a much quicker presentation of towels to the winners. Because the staff had been included in the lottery, a few of the towels went to delighted staff.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C. - lottery winners receive White Towels.
As the children left, all the staff assembled on the steps of the D.I.C. for the staff group picture.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C. - Staff and volunteers
We then moved inside the D.I.C. where a group of mainly elderly local residents had assembled for the selection of reading glasses from a collection which had been donated. This wasn't a very scientific process - the local people simply picked a pair whose style they liked which improved their ability to read one of a number of newspapers provided.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C. - selection of reading glasses
By this time, the 'stage' (actually a series of long benches) had been dismantled and loaded onto a motor cycle taxi which was just setting off the return them, probably to a school.
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C. - a motor cycle taxi removes the 'stage'
Hlaing is a very poor area and there are a number of noted 'Poor Houses' where elderly and disabled people eke out a subsistence with the help of charity from local people. We visited a number of very basic bamboo shacks where the Doctor and I made donations of clothing and money. There is no Social Care 'safety net' in Myanmar.
Visiting 'Poor Houses' in Hlaing District of Mawlamyine
We were then driven to our hotel to check-out before moving on to the Care Myanmar offices. The staff kindly placed a sleeping mat and pillow on the office floor so that I could lie down for a while and that revived me.
Care Myanmar Offices, Mawlamyine
Our last distribution was at the 'Future Generation' Drop in Centre in another part of Mawlamyine.
Distribution at 'Future Generation' D.I.C.
Again, the staff and most of the children were unchanged since the previous year. I gave a short address, translated by the Doctor then we made a few presentations to outstanding students. The lottery for towels followed, as always causing great amusement.
Distribution of White Towels at 'Future Generation' D.I.C.
At this D.I.C., the distributions had been packed in plastic bags, so I generally only had to present the bag to each student.
Distribution at 'Future Generation' D.I.C.
The students then changed into their new uniforms for a series of 'Group Shots', taken in the street outside, lit by the late afternoon sun. As always, it was a very jolly affair.
Distribution at 'Future Generation' D.I.C. - the Group Shot
We enjoyed dinner at a tea-shop with two of the local staff.
Evening meal in Mawlamyine
There was then just time to pay respects at the Kyaik Thote Pagoda in Mawlamyine before heading to the Bus Terminal to catch the 9.0 p.m. bus to Yangon. With one stop for toilets and refreshments, we were back at Yangon's Eastern Long Distance Bus Terminal by about 3.30 a.m. on Wednesday. A taxi took us to the Doctor's house in less than half an hour. Despite having slept well on the bus, I happily slept for a few more hours at the Doctor's house after a wonderful but very tiring few days in Mon State.
Total Distributions in Mon State 2018
| Drop in Centre |
Number |
| Ko Dut (total) |
341 |
| Mudon (total) |
191 |
| Hlaing |
386 |
| Future Generation |
130 |
| Total |
1048 |
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 post.
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
Distribution at Hlaing D.I.C.
Distribution at 'Better Futures' D.I.C.
Kaung Myat Hotel, Mawlamyine (2017 pictures)
Care Myanmar Offices, Mawlamyine (2017 pictures)
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 10-May-2018: Pictures inserted 28-May-2018: Naming corrected 25-Feb-2019]
Events of Monday, 23nd April 2018
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]
Events of Sunday, 22nd April 2018
When I got up, there were already cattle quietly foraging for breakfast in the rubbish near the Drop In Centre.
Ko Dut D.I.C.: Cattle foraging for breakfast.
We first went to the house and shop of one of the D.I.C. teachers, Shu Lwum, for breakfast.
Ko Dut D.I.C.: Breakfast at Shophouse of Shu Lwum
The meal was accompanied by loud music from a couple of streets away which, when we left, I tracked down to a 'Wall of Sound' outside a private house (I talked about the 'Wall of Sound' in the earlier post here). The Doctor explained that the 'Wall of Sound' was part of the celebrations for a wedding and that the music helped guests unfamiliar with the area to locate the correct address. This installation comprised 10 base speakers, two exponential horns and a group of 'tweeters', all held together by a ratchet strap.
Ko Dut 2018: 'Wall of Sound' to celebrate wedding.
Back at the D.I.C., I was presented by the staff with a beautiful red and black longyi in a traditional Mon pattern which they insisted I put on straight away.
Ko Dut D.I.C.: Jan with new Longyi and the seamstress.
After the inevitable 'group shot' outside the D.I.C. there was a traditional, formal thanksgiving by the staff for the donations they had received.
Ko Dut D.I.C. Volunteers and teachers.
Doctor Hla Tun has established a tradition of taking the staff and volunteers at Ko Dut Drop In Centre for a meal during his annual visit, as a way of saying 'Thank You' for their work throughout the year. This year, it was extended into a full day out. The Doctor, his wife, two staff from the Drop In Centre (the manager Yu Mon and teacher Shu Lwum) and the writer took a taxi, the others followed in a covered pick-up with seats. We headed south towards Ye Township (sometimed spelled as Yaye) to visit the extensive Ko Yin Lay ('Young Monk') pagoda.
Ko Yin Lay Pagoda near Ye, Mon State, 2018
Here I was delighted to meet again the nun who had accompanied us on a visit the previous year. What I now discovered was that she is the sister of teacher Shu Lwum.
Ko Yin Lay Pagoda: Jan, the Nun and her sister Shu Lwum.
The latest project is a pagoda surrounded by hundreds of miniature pagodas, apparently in tribute to the Kuthodaw Paya in Mandalay (I described a visit to the Kuthodaw here).
Near Ye, we stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. Whilst we were there, a car apparently struck a motor cycle right outside the restaurant and a girl from the motor cycle, clearly shocked, sustained a cut ankle. Staff from the restaurant immediately seated her inside and bathed the ankle with water. Doctor Hla Tun provided adhesive plasters and antiseptic cream but otherwise was not required. Myanmar people accept this type of minor mishap with equanimity.
After an enjoyable meal, we continued to the beach at Ka Byar Wa. It was a very pretty bay with a safe, sandy beach popular with local people. Food was available, there was a row of steamer chairs shaded by large umbrellas for hire and inflated lorry inner tubes could be hired as flotation devices in the sea. There were a couple of inflatable boats on the beach fitted with outboard engines, but neither was in use.
The beach at Ka Byar Wa
I watched with interest as two boys in a 2-man kayak attempted to 'surf' their boat on the incoming tide. The first time they did remarkably well but a number of subsequent attempts all ended in a capsize. After a pleasant interlude in the sun at the beach, we boarded the taxi and the pick-up truck.
I assumed we were returning to Ko Dut but, after heading north we turned off into the hills, travelling for some distance on very narrow roads carrying unexpectedly heavy traffic. We ended up in a car park in a field accessed by a very steep slope. It was all very puzzling for me until we left the taxi and walked to the improbable destination: a shallow river with lots of people, adults and children, bathing and swimming. The Doctor explained that the location, Chaung Gwa, had become a popular destination, particularly for parents with young children, because of the crystal-clear fresh water and safe bathing. The one river bank was very low and I assumed it would be subject to flooding at times. This bank, formed from flat, rounded stones formed the unlikely location for a extensive market.
Chaung Gwa river bathing and market
Up river from the market, a number of long-tail boats were coming and going, man-hauled near the boarding place but starting their engines once clear. The Doctor explained that the boats provided a shuttle service to and from the nearby Chaung Gwa Pagoda and offered a visit, which I readily accepted, although I'd already seen boat passengers having to wade through the water across the stones to enter and leave the boats.
Well, with my European soft-soled feet and general tendency to wobble, I needed plenty of help from my friends to safely board the boat but the boat trip through the twisting river valley was wonderful.
By long-tail boat up river to Chaung Gwa Pagoda
A final twist in the river revealed a surprisingly small pagoda perched on the hillside, with modern statues on an adjacent tall, square, painted concrete pillar set in the river.
Chaung Gwa Pagoda, viewed from the river
On our arrival, leaving the boat proved a little easier than boarding, although it still involved wading through water over stones in bare feet. An uneven earth footpath then led to the base of a long, straight concrete staircase which led to the pagoda platform. At a slightly lower level, a horizontal walkway led across to the pillar with the statues, giving visitors commanding views downstream.
Chaung Gwa Pagoda: View looking downstream from the pagoda platform
The return boat trip was equally enjoyable but, by this time, I was starting to fade and the walk back through the market (across the stones) to our taxi was tiring. This time, our destination really was Ko Dut. It was dark when we arrived but they started the petrol generator so we had light and I was able to charge my computer and camera before retiring for the night after a splendid day with my friends.
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
La Mine and Ko Dut D.I.C.
Ko Yin Lay Pagoda and the beach at Ka Byar Wa.
Chaung Gwa, Chaung Gwa Pagoda and back to Ko Dut.
All my pictures on this trip to Myanmar can be found at Burma 2018.
[Pictures linked 10-May-2018, Pictures inserted 26-May-2018]
