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.
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