Middle-aged flash packers

Fab day today.

Started with breakfast presented on a miniature longboat. Fruit, yoghurt, dim sum and vegetable tempura. Followed by omelette, bacon, toast, pastries and jam. And avocado juice. And a carrot, orange and celery shot.

The only chores we had to do today were sort out the laundry and find some transportation to the balloon festival in Taunggyi.

Laundry was quick to sort. We found PewPew who had sorted a good deal for us. I did have the embarrassment of her counting my dirty pants for her aunt to wash but needs must I suppose.

Next, it was travel research. The balloon festival is a good hour’s drive away and there seemed to be quite a discrepancy between what times are the best to get there and costs.I’ve noticed that people here tend to tell you what they think you want to hear rather than what is actually the truth. After sorting through the misinformation it would appear there are daytime displays of the balloons and in the evening, the actual lighting and release of the balloons.

Next, time by the pool. Once we got used to it, we quite liked it’s strange floating quality. You’ll need to look at the photo, but the pool is suspended in the lake and the bottom is plastic without a rigid surround. As you try to swim, the bottom comes up to meet you, meaning you end up doing a beached whale impression.

Later we visited a pagoda then had a massage. The massage was divine with moments of pure agony as a tiny girl with superhuman strength unknotted my shoulders. Thanks to her, I now have a neck.

We bumped into Jan and Nik and between us we finalised our arrangements for the ballon festival tomorrow and organised a boat trip for the morning.

Dinner was Dosas and beer. Oh what a perfect day, (Thanks Lou Reed) although I might be needing Loo Rolls later.