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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Thilawa and Rangoon, Myanmar (Part I)

From Port of Thilawa to Rangoon, Myanmar -- February 21, 2016
2016 HAL Volendam Asian Adventure, Day 6
Weather: Gentle breeze, clear, 28C/82F

Myanmar was the highlight of this cruise for us. How often do people get to visit Myanmar in their life time? This country was isolated for over three decades since 1962 and closed its doors to the outside world until recently. I was certainly excited and really looked forward to this stop.
Our ship docked at the port of Thilawa for two nights and we had two whole days exploring the country. Due to the tide and the shallow water sailing into the Yangon River from the Gulf of Martaban, our ship had to wait for the right time to do the transit as instructed by the port authority. It was scheduled to dock at 4:00AM but we ended up safely docked at 5:26.







Taking out the page for Thilawa from the "Explorer" before going on shore.


We had a 7:30 appointment to meet with our fellow cruisecritic members for the 2-day independent tour that morning. With most passengers trying to get off early, we decided our best bet was to order room service instead of having breakfast in the dining room. HAL really does well on the room service department, with their extensive menu and prompt deliveries.

Everything was done right and hot on arrival.

We met our travel companions for the next two days at the Atrium on deck 3, the spacious and empty area. This is a good gathering place with few people utilizing the space. Our group of 11 was only one of the groups that was organized with One Stop Travel in Myanmar on the cruisecritic roll call. We walked off the gangway on deck 2 after everyone showed up.

Waiting for our guide who was not there when we got off the ship.

Sunny, our guide, finally showed up and lead us to our bus. This was a good size bus that could seat 22 people.

It was very spacious just for the 11 of us. A little old but it worked. We left ship side at around 8:10 after our tour money collected for the two days.

For the people who did not have guides picking them up ship side took the shuttle buses to the port gate where they can be picked up from there. I believe they have permits for certain tour companies to get to near the ship, just as in St. Petersburg. After being dropped off from the shuttles they have to go through some checking in or out process. Our bus stopped here for a couple of minutes to clear without having each person signing out. Some people will spend the night in Rangoon with their luggage in tow.

taxis outside the port gate

The bus ride from port to Rangoon was about an hour long on very bumpy roads. I was sitting at the back originally but had to move up just so I won't get car sick or back pain. Apparently, it was the day they celebrate Buddha Festival so there were much activities along the way near villages and towns. It was certainly exciting to see and I snapped many photos. Below are just a few of them.


Bottle of water we received on the bus.


Jars of drinking water







Our first stop in Rangoon was at the roundabout near the City Hall and the 2,000-year old Sule Pagoda. We did not go inside this octagonal shaped pagoda though.

City Hall

A huge baptist church around the corner, the only protestant church that I saw during our two days in the country. Sunny said there is an 8% Christian population in Myanmar.

We took a walk into this park across from the city hall.

Busy vendors selling various breakfast food outside the park.


Many people 'painted' their faces with some kind of lotion for skin protection against the sun.



Inside the park with the city hall and Sule Pagoda in the background.


Rangoon has the most colonial buildings in the region. Since the capital city moved to Naypyidaw in 2006, many old government buildings in town are vacant and empty. Sunny often said, "This used to be the ...." when he tried to tell us what the buildings were.

Strand Hotel
I have read about the Strand Hotel and expected it to be grand and beautiful. It was quite disappointing to see this small building as we got off the bus. I am sure it had its glorious days but that was definitely in the past.

The famous Strand Hotel, one of Southeast Asia's grand hotels that opened in 1901.

We were not allowed in at first for group visits unless we were to get drinks from the bar but eventually Sunny talked the person into letting us in.

Inside the lobby of Strand Hotel.

Restaurant/bar


A musical instrument outside the restaurant.

Stairway up to the rooms.

After everyone had a chance to use the restrooms, we walked to the back of the hotel and checked out their gift shops and art gallery. I must add that this was the cleanest restroom that we had encountered in Myanmar.

Whoa!


The ancient elevator in the back of the hotel.

After Strand Hotel we walked along the streets to find our bus. I believe this is the post office.

A couple of street scenes from the bus.


St. Mary's Cathedral

Then we came to the St. Mary's Cathedral.

A beautiful building!

With Sunny, our guide. Sunny speaks good English but he was a quiet person and a gentleman. He spent many years living overseas with 10 years in Japan as a sushi chef. He came back to Myanmar because he missed his family.

Inside this huge cathedral.



The Holy Door of Mercy

Ladies in sarong at the street corner.

Botathauang Pagoda

Then we were at the Botathaung Pagoda. This is a building near the Pagoda on the same street.

Very well decorated and looked very busy but this was not the Pagoda itself.

The Botathaung Pagoda was the first of many pagodas that we would visit in Myanmar so it was like an introduction for us. After we took off our shoes and socks we were taken into a room for photos. Not sure what it was for but it felt very official.

Then we lined up  to enter the inside of the pagoda.

Glass boxes for donations

Going inside the pagoda covered with gold. This is a rare pagoda that is hollow inside with kind of a mirrored maze as walkway. There are many relics in glass cases along the walk.


 "Sacred Hair Relic", look at the pile of money.

Gold, from top to bottom.

After the quick walk around the inside of the pagoda, we came back out to the courtyard on the left.

Exterior of the pagoda

Walking on hot tiles to the shrine of Boboji--a spirit god.

Had to cross the decorated bridge over the pond to the shrine.

Many turtles in the pond.

A beautifully decorated bridge.

Offerings to Boboji

Worshipers with Boboji


Women with a baby on the bridge.

On the right side of the pagoda is an open area where the Royal Palace Buddha's Image is located. This statue was taken to Britain for many years and returned to Myanmar.


As we were leaving, the line to get inside the pagoda got longer.

The end of the line.

To be continued...



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