Yangon to Bagan on the Irrawaddy River
" On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay! "
……………… Rudyard Kipling
Upon landing in Yangon after multiple flights which seemed to have lasted forever, we enter a city of some 6 million, Myanmar's largest. Challenged by a never ending stream of automobiles, we arrive at our hotel, the Shangri-La. We learn later, the government, in its wisdom, has banned all bicycles, and motorcycles, creating this parking lot scenario.
Before embarking on our cruise of the Irrawaddy, we visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, the city’s most famous landmark with its giant reclining Buddha.
Yangon, translated as "End of Strife", is impacted hugely by the British influence in both architecture and infrastructure. After stopping at the Scott market and having a ‘Burma’ lunch, we then prepare for our upriver exploration of this important river of commerce.
(to be continued)