Yangon

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We had a very easy day today.  There was not much rally stuff to do, except collecting the cars and reviving old friendships and making some new ones.

Adrian and I set off for Scotts Market in the morning -  we were on a mission.  Adrian thinks he left his Tilley hat in a restaurant in Siem Reap, it has disappeared anyway.  Trying to buy a hat for such a large head in a land of small people is not easy.  He found a rather natty bamboo solar topee look alike in the market in super giant size though so the top of his head is saved.  The market was very orderly and clean, as is everywhere here, and was stuff to the gunnels with everything you could possibly need in life.

Next door to the market is a magnificent Anglican Cathedral.  It is in surprisingly good condition inside and is set in beautifully tended gardens.  We talked to the Vicar who told us that there was not too big a congregation but, at least now, anyone can worship freely, unlike during the regime.  There was a little chapel dedicated to the different regiments that fought in the Burma campaign with all the differnt crests on the wall.

We then went to the Strand Hotel (built by the Armenian Sarkies brothers who had already created the magnificent E and O Hotel in Penang) for a drink.  It oozes colonial style charm - all shutters and ceiling fans - heaven.

The excitement started in the afternoon when we all went to collect the cars from the port, just a couple of miles away.  They were all there, huddled together in a giant warehouse, looking dusty but proud.  Only one, a Rolls Royce, wouldn't start. We hadn't seen the "A" since October as it had to go early to the port in the UK as we were in Bhutan at the shipping time. The pluckily little thing was raring to go though, and fired up first time.  The Yangon police had insisted on an escort firstly, to the gas station and then to the hotel - even though it was only two miles on a straight road.  They did stop the traffic though for us though and the looks on everyone's faces as we processed past was priceless.

In the 24 hours that we have been here we have found every single person to be charming, friendly, helpful, courteous, gentle and super smiley.  We're going to love this trip.