To Bagan Pt 1
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 28 Nov 2017 23:47
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To Bagan by ‘Luxury’ Ferry – Part
One  Zaw, our favourite taxi/truck driver was
at our digs by ten past six, he had actually borrowed a set of car seats from a
family member and arranged them in a line at the back of the cab – how sweet,
kind and thoughtful. Twenty minutes later we bade our farewells and headed down
to the ferry. The important thing was maintain
balance carrying cases and try not to face plant........ A full day ‘cruise’ on
the Irrawaddy River leaving at seven, arriving at Bagan by around four o’clock
and we both really looked forward to it.
   Cases stowed in the
hallway, more each side of the main cabin
corridor, ladies had use of the facilities in the front two cabins.
Spacious, spartan but comfortable double bed with a shower and facilities. The
boys had to use a loo somewhere down the back. Upstairs we passed through the
dining room. we settled in rattan
seats at the back on the left, the sunny side when he puts his hat
on.........
  To our left, two ‘normal ferries’ were tied alongside and to our right,
the ferry office. The water marks up the wall give an
indication of how high the river rises in July and August.
  Low water means roughly hewn ‘steps’ are
cut on the riverbank and we watched with baited breath as
other passengers gingerly picked their way down and onto the boarding
ramp. A few hardy souls set up their houses. Chef
arrived with a few more bits and bobs.
   I went to look at the important end, Simple
instrumentation - the depth sounder is a chap holding a long stick and
poking happily....we saw this on a couple of narrower bends later on.....Shrine over the skippers right shoulder. Looking from the pointy end.
  Ten to seven
our neighbour pulled off under longtail engine (we
have twin V8 longtails), just the one needed as the two ferries were securely
rafted together. Our skipper did a few wiggles to get our back end off and we swung away from the bank to head down the river.
  A rather grand
old dame with full-sized elephants no
less.
 A splendid
lady, it is rather expensive to do a three or four night cruise and not
too much scenery.
 The sun popped out at about half
eight, still chipper but it was a start. We enjoyed riverbank life.
 A classic sight with many stupas as we left Mandalay behind.
  Bear
settled. Breakfast was tea or coffee, a hot,
hard-boiled egg, croissant and a big, fat banana. Mid morning tea or coffee and
a cake. Lunch was rice, noodles, pork stew and vegetables. All in for fifteen
pounds and seventy nine pence each and this is the Luxury Fast Ferry. We
snoozed, read and loved watching life on and beside the
river.
  Approaching the Yadanabon Bridge,
completed in 2008. Beyond is the Ava Bridge.
 We passed the Jade Pagoda, our last stop on our mammoth day out
yesterday.   The
Ava Bridge near Sagaing, it was built by the British in 1934 who destroyed it as
they retreated in WWII. Rebuilt in 1954 after independence, it was the only
bridge over the river until 1998.
These chaps had to concentrate as they
had to turn to the shallows to let us overtake, plenty of depth-stick-poking to
watch, they did still manage a hearty wave and big
grins.
Continued |
