Friday 31 January 2014

The Telegraph

The Telegraph is following the rally.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/10599045/Classic-cars-in-the-Road-to-Mandalay-rally-week-1.html

Last night we had the second film night, showing Berts work in progress. I was delighted that it showed my victory over Xavier in the pillow fight on the bamboo pole. Sadly it's my only victory to date on the rally.

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Overloaded somewhat I think.

573000 Buddhas!

Melon stop

The locals just love the car!

The road to Monywa

Having had an altogether totally satisfactory stay in Maymyo we motored 200km to Monyma.

We had our first melon stop which was perfect, the juiciest and sweetest melon I have ever had.

We stopped at an extraordinary pagoda with 573000 Buddhas. It was without doubt the Disneyland of Buddhas.

Julian and I have rooms beside a building site so it might be an arly start tomorrow morning.

Thursday 30 January 2014

Golf at Maymyo golf club

Xavier and I played Julian and Dougie. We managed 8 holes before light disappeared. Going into the eighth we were 2 apiece. Dougie into the water, Xavier to e right of the green, Richard into the water, Julian a binder but in the bunker beside the green. Richard chips onto the green. Dougie plays a blinder out of the bunker. Xavier puts beside the pin For 4. Julian sinks the putt to win the match. Great game.

A scene from Roman Holiday

Ines disappearing with John on his bike. Just like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday

We've found Julian's Grandpas house!

It was a few hundred meters from the hotel! Just fantastic.

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Forestry students being trained

Visiting the Myanmar Forestry school.

Sadly Julian didn't find any old records of his Grandfather but this is where he worked. We visited the somewhat tired Forestry museum.

Botanical gardens

Not even generals are allowed to drive through the Botanical Gardens but the director wanted the cars to do so.

Mandalay to Maymyo

A gentle 80km drive up to Maymyo the winter capital of colonial Burma. Julian drove the route to perfection as always.

Julian's grandparents lived in Maymyo in the 1930's. We met John the deputy director of the Botanical Gardens who first took us to the Governors house organised for us to visit the Forestry school and it's museum. We then went looking for their house "Noel"

But first we went to the Botanical Gardens, built by Sir Harcourt Butler and were allowed to drive through the Gardens. This is a honour not even granted to the Generals! The view from the tower was amazing.

We drove around looking for Noel without success. John has disappeared with a picture to talk to old residents. We will have a second go tomorrow.

Sitting drinking Gordon's gin and Schwepps tonic. What could be better!

Photos to follow.



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Tuesday 28 January 2014

Julian's new hat

Teak

The teak is just flooding down the Irrawaddy. There is a continuous stream of these Barges going down the river. All this timber is legitimate, the illegal logging tends to happen in the north, the timber going overland into China. From March the Myanmar Government has banned the export of raw timber, trying to develop value added production in the country.

Xani

Xani is our local tour organiser. If you want to organise a visit there are no better.

A second Cunningham on the banks of the Irrawaddy!

Fortunately there weren't thousands of Japanese waiting to try and kill me on the other side!

Plenty of demand for dentists!

Gerd bashes the bell

Ines and Xavier taking a local taxi

Xavier has been complaining that his crown jewels have been suffering ever since. Never again!

Mandalay

Today was a rest day in Mandalay. Julian, Kate and Dougie walked up to the top of Mandalay hill this morning. Having slept badly the night before and woken at 4.00am to wish Flora-Jane a happy 17th birthday I had a lie in.

We headed off up the Irrawaddy this morning to Mingun village, the stupa ruins and the second largest bell in the world (90 tons)

Father crossed the Irrawaddy in 1945 45km north of Mandalay and then headed south to relieve the City. There is very little colonial architecture left, although the British street layout is still very much in evidence.

Tonight we are heading off in Mandalay for a local dinner. I have a surprise for the girls having organised a bottle of champagne for them.

Tomorrow we head for Maymyo to try and find Julian's grandfathers house. Only 80km so a gentle start and gentle motor up there.

Xavier has recovered today so we are all smiles again.

Monday 27 January 2014

My guide!

Pindaya to Mandalay

Really fantastic route through the mountains. A great regularity which we should have nailed until the Aston jumped n front at e end and hogged the line causing us to stop early. Lost 8 seconds and are now in 3rd ace behind Hose and Maria.

Then drinks in the cafe with Xavier and Innes and a picnic beside a canal, joined by Michael and Simone.

Then we really were on the Road to Mandalay. SE cruised into the Palace which had been destroyed in 1945 by either British shelling (accidental) or Japanese scorched earth policy before escaping through the drains. A replica was constructed by the generals in 1990, why I am not sure since there were no tourists then.

Dinner with Alastair and his mum (96 yeses old!). A really game old bird and an interesting chat about familiy and old times

Rest day tomorrow and Charlie wants to have another go at he radiator. I want to go up the Irrawaddy.

Xavier has been in bed not feeling well. Let's hope that he recovers quickly.




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Stopping for drinks from Pindaya to Mandalay

Very charming family, all left with polaroids. Quick drink of lyche juice and on our way.

A brief summary of Buddhism

I always like the blog to be educational!

The road to Pindaya

A short drive to Pindaya, stopping off at the Shwe U Min caves. 8000 Buddhas! Quite a sight in 150m cave.

Shwe U Min caves

Buddhas

Julian planting a tree in memory of his Grandfather

Sunday 26 January 2014

A race from Inle

We left Inla lake after a rest day with 1 hour to do 40km. Doesn't sound much but we made no errors, pushed hard in the traffic and was 6 minutes late. We were only the 4th car to find the start of the regularity. Brilliant navigation by Julian on his 52nd birthday.

We nailed the regularity with 12 seconds of penalties. Sadly Gerd and Birgit are even better and only got 2 seconds. THe only thing that is going to stop them is a puncture!

We visited the Shwe U Min caves afterward it's 8000 Buddhas. Brilliant but slightly over buddha'd!

Then an umbrella factory which was fascinating, everyone madly buying umbrellas that don't fit in their cars!

We discovered why we are loosing water. We have a crack in the bottom of the radiator. We arrived at the hotel, removed the radiator and soldered it. 2 hours later we discovered in repairing one we had created another leak! Ahhhhhh........Thanks to Charlie and Rob for all their help.

We will keep topping her up tomorrow and get to Mandalay, trying another solder repair tomorrow night. It's no small matter removing the radiator but needs must.

Tonight Xavier and I bought the drinks for Julian's birthday. The rally presented him with a nice present, a lacered box with his name engraved in gold in the lid and we had a great dinner.

All good.. Second equal place and everything to play for

Richard







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Friday 24 January 2014

Xaviar cleaning an elephant

The elephant sanctuary

We drove some 200kms today to an elephant sanctuary. The only casualty were the Shooters who sadly seized a wheel bearing which they couldn't repair without a puller. The elephant sanctuary looks after retired working elephants. The government use about 2400 elephants in the forests, whilst the same number are emptied by private forestry businesses. They also run a school for 65 children and a tree planting programme. Julian plated a teak trees in memory of his grandfather.

It was he time for our first regularity. Julian drove, I navigated a very windy 22km stretch of road. I thought that I'd screwed it all up but infant we came in with 1 penalty only second to Gerd and Birget. Some grumbles from other competitors but there we are, we are chasing the German fox!

Then it was on to a Hill station which was interesting and fun. Tomorrow it is a tip to Inla lake.

Sun down on a great day in Burma

Amongst the weavers

A 63 year old weaver

On Inla lake

On Inla lake

Getting to Inla lake

Quality agricultural machinery!

Getting to Inla lake

Getting to Inla lake

Julian, Richard, Inness, Simone, Michael, Xavier, 2 Lagondas and a Chevrolet

Young monks studying

Wine tasting at the Red Mountain vineyard

Busses can be somewhat rural!

Michael and Simone on their way to the Red Mountain Vineyard in heir Lagonda

Where do the Burmese get their motor bike helmets?

Hill top villa hotel

Elephant camp

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Dinner with the minister

Tonight we had dinner with the Deputy minister of Hotels and Tourism, HE Dr Tin Shwe. What a nice man.

Julian sat beside the deputy's deputy. I think there s quite a chance that Julian will be Minister of Finance in the next 6 months. The good news is that he has informed me that he will certainly be in favour of rallies!

Tourism has increased from £2.3'm to £3 over 12 months. Xani our local guide trlPagan will be destroyed!

Richard


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The start of the 20 lane highway burn

Taken by Kate Lawson, this picture simply reflects the car she is sitting in!

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A tense moment

I forgot to mention the moment when we were overtaking two large trucks when we realised we were not going to make it.

"you can slip in" said the navigator

"You Can Slip In" repeated the navigator

"YOU CAN SLIP IN" shouted the navigator as we wedged our way between two trucks and the bus missed us.

Richard




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From Taungoo to Naypyidaw

Today has been a nice gentle days drive from Taungoo to the Aureum Palace Hotel, Naypyidaw. Julian drove us perfectly. We arrived at 11.20am on a long 4 lane deserted highway which was a bit strange.

Naypyidaw is the newly created capital city of Myanmar. There are massive hotels, a $4bn sports complex built for the ASEAN games, ministries hidden away from the road, the new parliament which would suit Ernt Stravros Blofeld and very very few people! Very surreal.

Having clocked in we went for a drive around the capital which was fascinating, very strange!

All the cars re still running. The pretty little MGA team thought their car was going home with clutch problems but a guy on the side of the road said that he knew where to get a replacement seal. Charlie McGowan disappeared on the back of the guys moped, reappearing with a replacement, genuine seal. All mended and running perfectly. How cool is that!

Later 20 cars were allowed to drive down the 20 lane highway which of course turned into boys with toys. I might have started at the back but a cunning manouver on the inside got me to the end first!

Tonight we are having dinner with the minister for tourism which will be interesting. I will report.

Julian and I are just living Burma.

Richard



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Myanmar tomorrow

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Myanmar today

Cleaning your water buffalo

You don't clean your car in Myanmar, you clean your water buffalo

Typical traffic

Few cars, some buses and trucks and masses of bikes and mopeds. You need to be on the ball. Only one car has collided with a bike so far and she reversed into it. What can you expect from someone who fills her boot with petrol rather than luggage!

Ready for the off day2

A short hop to the capital, a monument to central planning. We shall see.