01-11 Yangon Arrival

The Karaweik at Royal Park
The Karaweik at Royal Park

11.01 Yangon Arrival, Kandawgyi (Royal Park)

The flights were fine and I found the guide straight away. Two others participants arrived at about the same time and we took a taxi to the Kaung Lay Inn. This was very small and not very smart, being tightly surrounded by other buildings including a hospital on all sides. It had however a very pleasant breakfast area at roof level and the staff were very friendly. I had some jet lag problems. On the flights there was a lunch and then it was bedtime, followed by 2 breakfasts, one on each flight. There was 7 hours time difference in Singapore, but this reduced to 5.5 hours in Mayanmar.
The couple who are also staying the third extension week were the ones which arrived early in the day together with me. We all went in the afternoon with the guide to the nearby Kandawgyi or Royal park, built by the British. Sitting surrealistically on the lake there is the Karaweik, with its double bow depicting a mythological water bird from Indian pre-history, surmounted by a many tiered spire. The Karaweik represents a fine example of traditional Myanmar architecture, but is not in fact very old. Tomorrow the program proper starts with sightseeing in Yangon.

the roof terrace at Kuang Lay Inn
the roof terrace at Kuang Lay Inn

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