Dear Ki,

Just to give you some feedback on my trip to Myanmar. It was very good. The travel arrangements were seamless. Hotels were fine except for the Inle Lake charging me 3 US dollars for a cup of green tea with my dinner, which came free even in the poorest establishment. My guides were all exceptional in terms of their English, their knowledge, and their willingness to be flexible. I was able to see lots of interesting things which were not on the usual tourist itinerary. I guess being a single traveller with an open mind helped. All of them were willing to talk about anything, be it personal lives, political or anything else which cropped up when you spend a lot of time together. They all had good senses of humour and were good company. I’d recommend them all.

Comments, not criticisms: The mountain walk at Pindaya. It would have been helpful if in your travel details you had recommended good walking shoes and possibly walking poles. The paths were very slippery after the previous night’s 6 hour thunderstorm. I managed to slip and twist my ankle despite wearing good trekking sandals.. It was an uncomfortable walk for the remaining 4 hours. It would also be a good thing to tell people it is a possible 8 hour walk, climbing from 3800 feet, possible up to 7000 feet which could be difficult if you suffer from breathing problems. I had a fantastic time. It was one of the highlights of my holiday, as the mountain guide (who spoke no English apart from David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Manchester United Chelsea etc!,)took me to his family home where I was fed and watered as I was prepared to go further than the original plan.

The rest day at Inle actually came too late as it was really the last day before returning home. It should be in Mandalay. The day out on the lake is so intensive that there is not much else left to see.( My guide had suggested extras which I had done anyway.) Fortunately for me my guide was unable to travel home on my rest day, there being no transport apart from the car hired for me which had returned to Heho, after taking me to Inle two days previously. He very kindly offered to walk with me the following morning. He had discovered that there was to be a novice monk initiation ceremony in the nearby village that day which I was invited to attend . After which he took me round the village nearby which is well known for making soya products. I was able to wander round peoples houses watching them at work,being welcomed everywhere and often offered the usual tea. In the evening we ate at the local teahouse. Much more fun than dining alone in an international hotel.

All in all it was a wonderful experience. I was glad I had decided to go, despite the political and moral reasons widely publicised against going. As always there are two sides to every story. I saw a people, poor by western standards, but happy and relatively untouched by politics, who were just happy to get on with their lives and happy to share it with me. Many people here thought I was brave to travel somewhere like that on my own. I did not tell them my secret which was Dragon Travel who I was confident would organise things so well I would not have to worry about anything. My worst fear was my luggage not arriving in Yangon at the same time as me on the way out. Knowing that I was flying out the next day before the next flight from KLA did not arrive until several hours after I had flown to Bagan. I had visions of my luggage catching up with me on my return to Bagan. I normally carry a spare set of everything in my hand luggage but of course this was not allowed because of the airport restrictions in force at that time. It took some haggling at the departure gate to get my Malaria tablets through and some judicious shopping in the duty free lounge to get a complete set of toiletries. And that was the worst of my worries.

I hope the guides also enjoyed my company and that I was a good client. Sometimes it would be good to have some feedback that way round. Or possibly not!

Having spent the last two years in South East Asia our thoughts are turning to South America. Having been spoilt by your organisation we are looking for something similar in Mexico and Guatemala. You couldn’t possibly have any connections there? As China is on our 10 year plan no doubt we will be contacting you again to arrange something for us then.

Until then thank you for everything.