Myanmar, military and mystery -2

Mingaladon airport was way too quiet after the hustle and bustle of Dubai airport. Immigration and other formalities were over in no time though I didnt come under the counter for ASEAN or Myanmarese nationals. I had come armed with an e-Visa procured at $50 online (to prevent hassles, my profession was given as English teacher instead of journalist).

There were a couple of men holding CCA placards to receive me. They directed me to a gentleman from New Zealand who had come in another flight. We were requested to wait for a couple of others coming in another flight. Airport wifi was patchy and disappeared after a brief while, so I walked around, drinking in the sights and getting some local currency after leaving my luggage with David the Presbyterian minister. We did chat a bit though his accent and my blocked ears made it difficult for me to understand everything he said. He had already been waiting an hour, and we waited together another hour. I was amused by all the longye-clad men and women, and many of them had a paste smeared on their faces. At least the kids looked super cute in them. 

By the time, the last of the guests came we were tired and cold. The rainy weather and airconditioned bus made it even worse. the journey to our hotels took half an hour, it was dark so we couldnt see much except for  the Shwedagon pagoda glittering in the dark.

The driver dropped off David first - at Panda hotel, next a Filipino lady who I overheard was a freelance writer at MGM, and after going round in circles dropped me and a Filipino Bishop at Grand United. Though I had been told via mail I would be at MGM, which looked not too good according to Tripadvisor reviews, I had requested a change of hotel offering to pay the difference if need be. There was no reply to that, so I assumed this was the new hotel I was given. However to my dismay after filling in the form, I was told I had no booking there. So I got the reception to call the MBC person in charge of our affairs, and he advised me to take a taxi to MGM since the bus had already left. So at 2000 kyats (which looked a horrendous amount to me but was actually less than $2) I was transported to the next street - in a taxi, in a strange country, at night, alone - though the bishop looked concerned and offered to escort. 

At MGM, I found I had no reservation, but this time they called somebody, the head of AMC stewards, who came in 5 minutes. Together with another CCA official, Rev. Grace Moon, they found that I was to be lodged at Panda! So the male steward, a Thai national, walked me the 500 m to the hotel lugging my suitcase. 

I dropped my bags and found the Filipino lady was my roommate and colleague for the week - she had been shifted from MGM. 

By then, it was 9.30 pm,  but Myanmar is two and a half hours ahead of UAE time. A few friendly face smiled at me and introduced themselves. They were a couple from Jesus Calls in Chennai and another chap from Ambattur. Since dinner at the MBC headquarters was over by 7, I joined them for a dinner out at RGN lodge's cafe (the hotel restaurant was closed too). We enjoyed the food which was more Chinese than local. 

Yangon looked dead quiet except for street dogs - shops apparently close by 9 p.m. I returned to my room by 11.30 to wake up my roomie from her deep slumber. She had gone to bed after taking a glass of oats, I needed more solid food after the brunch on Emirates. Wifi connected, I chatted with my wards back home and slept past 12 midnight. In fact, not a single night there did I sleep before that while Lizel went to bed by 10 since Philippines is over an hour ahead of Myanmar. She was from Bagio in the mountains.  

Over the week, we got along well chatting about our countries. She didnt have the typical filipino accent, she had studied in Manila university where her dad was a prof. She had also left behind two young kids in her husband and nanny's care.

I learnt that filipinos are very strict about hygiene - she brushed after each meal though her few teeth were missing. I guess we Indians have strong teeth and dont need to brush so much.

Myanmar, military and mystery

Myanmar is one of the last places an Indian would think of going on vacation. One still gets the feeling it is under military rule plus the recent flushing out of Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine state. The only redeeming factor is that it's Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi's land and her party is at the helm of affairs now. But she has received much flak over her handling of the situation.
Anyway, here I was left with an offer to visit Yangon, the old capital, for an ecumenical conference in late October.  A job application I had made to a Christian organisation in Thailand gave me a week's chance to be part of the media team.
I was excited yet confused since it meant leaving my young children in Vs care.  But I reasoned to myself that it would help them to be a little more independent.
After a month of fervent anticipation I finally boarded the Emirates direct flight to Yangon at 9 am _ while guests from India had to travel via Malaysia or Singapore! To my surprise, the flight was packed _ a good many of them westerners going to Cambodia, the flight's final destination. And the pleasant surprise was having a handsome White youth sitting next to me. Most of us spent the 6 hour flying time sleeping, after the breakfast.
When the flight landed in Mingaladon airport in Yangon, it was 530 pm local time, 2 1/2 hours ahead of Dxb. I couldn't resist a chuckle as there were only a couple of small aircrafts in what looked like field overgrown with grass.
To be continued...

Children's Day/month

Mira came to the kitchen sleepy eyed and announced she's not going to school. There won't be any lessons today, she said, just Children's Day celebration. I categorically said she has to go, studies aren't the only purpose of going to school, it's days like this you will fondly remember as an adult.
And in times when India is getting communally polarised or have duds at the helm who come up with crazy laws, it's nostalgic to remember Nehru, India's visionary first prime minister. Commemorating his birthday is all we can do to show a willingness to adhere to secular ideals.
Now that mid term exams are over, it will be a month of activities at the school. The whole of November has been dedicated to the fitness programme exhorted by the crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan. It's a wonderful initiative in times many people swear by chicken burgers and cheesy pizzas, and can barely manage to shuffle their portly bodies. Diabetes and obesity rule.
So Mira has been doing Zumba in school and Ashwin exercise and yoga. The best part is that they don't need to wear regular school uniform, any track suit and sports tee will do. Mira even had a yoga session at the police stadium in Garoud which she complained was boring.
Why are kids bored by everything other than TV and smartphones?