A mishap on our visit to Versailles

Versailles Palace is the famous French Palace built before and used during the time of the French Revolution and is a little far from Paris. We bought tickets to visit Versailles with the tour company that operates the Hop on Hop off Paris. As our Hop on Hop off 24 hour ticket was still valid that morning, we went by Metro to the Pyramid station near where the Hop on Hop off office is.

 

We boarded the first Hop on Hop off bus to go to the Tour company that would take us to Versailles. We had a nice bus ride around Paris again, going round the loop.

There were not many tourists and the top was nearly empty we had a nice go around Paris by bus.

We passed by the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris again.

 

Also the magnificent Arch de Triumph built on order of Napoleon, the most famous French Emperor (actually he is a Corsican and his native land is in Italy now).

 

 

After passing the Maritime Museum, we had to get off near the Eiffel Tower as it is the nearest hop off stop to the Tour office. We had hopped off at the Maritime Museum and walked down to the Eiffel Tower the previous day so I do not know which usual route the HOHO bus takes.

Looking at the photos I had taken, we had passed in front of the Tour office without realizing we should get off here.

After passing through a boulevard, and going for some time, I noticed a building which was quite far from the Eiffel and which I had observed on the HOHO bus tour the previous day.

I got up and asked the bus driver. He said the usual route was blocked that day because of the Marathon and they had bypassed the Eiffel stops. We got off the bus and walked back. I did not see the Eiffel anywhere and checked the map and noticed that we could not make it in time by walking. I stopped and waited for a free taxi to come along. There was not much time to get to the tour company in time, and luckily, a vacant taxi came along.

 

I was surprised that the taxi was bigger than usual ones and a Mercedes. Furthermore, the taxi driver, a white middle east looking man, was dressed smartly in a suit. It would be a limousine and I was worried about the fare. However, it was a meter taxi and the rate was reasonable. When we got off, the Eiffel tower was not in sight and I asked him whether it might be the wrong place. He indicated to the opposite side of the road and drove off.

We arrived in time, but had to wait for others before our Touir guide called us and we all boarded the Tour Bus to Versailles.

During the time we waited, I walked around for a short distance and found an interesting shop selling souvenrs including aprons, French style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to Than Taung Gyi, Myanmar, March 2017

We finally got the chance to visit Than Taung Gyi, Myanmar, March 2017. Although it has been on our thoughts to visit it for a long time, the trip has been shelved until a friend posted photos of her group’s visit to Touingoo and TnanTaungGyi on facebook recently. I got information from her about the road conditions and how they went, where they visited and where they stayed. I talked with my elder brother about his earlier visit there too and got facts about the ascent road and the place they had stayed for 2 nights in ThanTaungGyi and data of other place which was full and one another which he got from others.

We discussed about the date we would go and planned on a 1 night trip. As usual, I took an early sleep after making all preparations and when I woke up after midnight, had to cook for our dog ArTi, fed him and left around 3 am, had a stop at the 115 mile way station at 5 am.

At the 115 mile stop, Expressway, Myanmar before dawn

I had planned to set out a little late than usual so as it will be dawn and vision good on the next leg of the trip on the Expressway as there had been bad news about cars which stopped at the 115 mile being bobby trapped with nail so that when they drive off, the tyre would be punctured and after a short drive, it will be noticed and change of tyre necessary. At that time, those on motorcycles would arrive and there would be trouble.

After breakfast, we continued on  and it was light enough to see clearly without headlights. Soon we reached the 146 mile access road from Toungoo. That access road was a straight wide 4 lane cement road and I could drive 120 mph safely as the traffic was sparse and no need to slow down. I had a great view of the sunrise over the Eastern Yoma while driving east towards Toungoo.

Sunrise over the Eastern Yoma on the Expressway access road from Toungoo

The road joins the Yangon Mandalay Highway just north of Toungoo.

Toungoo / KayTuMadi

After visiting the ShweHsanDaw pagoda and the Kandawgyi / Kandaw Mingalar in Toungoo, we crossed the Sittaung river and went on to the east bank, a Kayin territory which had only sparse Kayin villages and farms in 1969 but now the highway is lined with houses and shops a long way.

Crossing the Sittaung river to the East at Toungoo

We visited the Myat Saw Nyi Naung pagodas which are on the road to Pin Laung which is on the Aung Ban – Loikaw highway before returning to the road junction to ThanTaungGyi and to our destination.

On reaching ThanTaung, which is not our destination but the city at the base of the Eastern Yoma, we dropped in at the PaThi Chaung (creek) which is a famous and marvellous place to visit and has pristine clear water flowing across the bed of stones. Back in 1969, it was just a rural place. Maybe the town was a little further up the road as I did not get to it and returned after a dip in the Pa Thi. Chaung, which had less water in April at the time.

PaThi. Chaung / Creek ပသိေခ်ာင္း

The Than Taung Town is at the foothills of the Eastern Yoma. It was a continuous climb up Yoma till we reached the Than Taung Gyi which is at the top, over 4000 ft above sea level. There are separate up and down roads but the problem is that they criss-crossed at several places and the road signs are not clear with the down arrow indicating the way up and no clearly written signs, a difficulty for first comers. I nearly made a wrong turn down at the first criss cross as the arrow which showed the up road seems to be directed towards the down road. Luckily, there was a Hot Spring stop and I could ask the way. The up road is narrow and although there were few vehicles, it is difficult to overtake the car ahead unless it is considerate and let you pass at places where it is possible.

The view along the road is superb as there are plenty of trees as far as one can see.

On nearing Than Taung Gyi, a distant tea plantation hill was seen.

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We soon reached the Than Taung Hill City

We looked around for a place to stay and after looking at 2 places, decided on staying at the I Wish motel which is on a ridge top and has a nice view of the opposite range of the valley.

But as the hotel was full and we could only get a room after the guests check out and as meals at the hotel had to be ordered in advance we went to eat at a place recommended by the hotel proprietor. The food was good, especially the TarTaPaw soup which did not use the baked rice powder.

After lunch, we checked in after a short wait as the guests still had not checked out. The view from the hotel was great. It was the reason we decided to stay there as the previous ones do not have such nice view.

After check  in and a bath and a little rest, we walked to visit the Naw Bu Baw hill.

Although I expected a short climb, it took us 1 hour to get to the foot of the hill from which all had to go up the stairs to the top.

The Naw Bu Baw hill from afar

It was good exercise and a test of my cardiac reserve. Although I had to stop a few moments here and then when the road got steep and I got breathless, I did not have any chest pains!

Entrance of the Naw Bu Baw hill top Church area

The parking lot was not big and more than full and there were some vehicles that had to stop in front or back of the parked cars. Lucky, I did not bring my car. If I had blocked other cars, I could not go up the final steps as I it would be difficult to come down when they phoned me, if phones worked at all. The hp connectivity in Than Taung Gyi is patchy, erratic and difficult even if you have phones for all 3 service providers.

There is a final 560 steps climb which all pilgrims and visitors had to climb to make it to the top, another test of cardiac sufficiency for me and all others! Those who made it to the top are rewarded not only with the nice view but also the knowledge that his heart is still going strong.

On the way, there is the elephant trunk rock.

elephant trunk rock

We had to take a breather every now and then on the way up the stairs.

There are several Chapels along the way too, with one shaped like the 2 praying hands.

The Naw Bu Baw mountain top view is spectacular!

It was in the evening but there was still light although sunset was near. If one does not stay for the night at Naw Bu Baw and return to Yangon or elsewhere the same day, one gets there around midday and the view would be different. It is only when you stay for the night at Than Taung Gyi that you can climb up the Naw Bu Baw in the evenings or mornings.

The top is built like a ship but actually meant to be Noah’s Ark.

The front end.

Aft / rear end of Noah’s Ark

Boat house building and the Cross at the Stem / fore end

It was windy! There were many visitors so one cannot take a Titanic style photo.

Soon, it was near sunset time

Time to go back, but with the panaroma, I wanted to stay on till dark, but …..

While waiting for dinner, we had a photoshoot.

As there was a large group ahead of us, we ordered light dinner.

The Kywayt Ti O was nothing like the one it claimed to be.

I asked later whether Than Taung Gyi has connection with the Thais. The answer was NO. It is at the end of the road, beyond which lies only te villages. The other road from the base of the Yoma is the road to Pin Laung in the Shan State and to the south of it, Loikaw in the Kayah State, beyond which lies Thailand. Pha An has a connection with Thailand through the Myawaddy – Mae Sot border and the Thai cuisines there are genuine.

We had to wait for a while before breakfast the next morning because it was served only at 7 am.

We had a photoshoot during the wait.

There is no buildings on the opposite side of the road as they are lower on the side of the ridge and beneath the view.

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The road below goes to the houses beneath

After breakfast, we went for a walk towards the end of the road. It was a road on the side of the hill with only a few houses on the downhill side.

There was a spectacular cut rock, exposed during the road construction.

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Nice view clear of houses

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We went up a side road up the hill and got to the hill top Primary School

The view there was more panoramic!

I Wish hotel seen from the Primary School

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Further down the main road are some houses and a distant entrance to the Army.

Army entrance at a distanced

We returned back after a nice morning walk and back at the I-Wish, rested before lunch and return home.

had a photo session

and a …

piano recital

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The I-Wish motel main building was built 1912 and had been in the family of the proprietor since 1935.

Unexpected train ride by the Lake Geneva

I had planned to visit Lucerne, Switzerland and the Mount Titlis, the year round snow capped Swiss mountain in the Alps.

While in Venice 23 May 2016

At the train station, Venice 23 May 16

Boat ride in Venice 23 May 16

While in Venice, I booked seats for the train to Lucerne. The clerk booked tickets for Lausanne but I thought it was the way Lucerne is written in Italian or Swiss.

The next day we boarded the train to Lausanne thinking we were going to Lucerne / Luzern.

First view of the snow capped mountains of the Swiss Alps

Snow capped Swiss Alps

It was only when we arrived at Lausanne and the taxi-man told me that the Hotel we booked in Lucerne was too far away and he could not take us there, but to get a train there that I knew about the error. As it was dark and late, after 8, we stayed at a hotel and after breakfast the next morning, went to the station to go to Lucerne and got tickets for Lucerne / Luzern.

Tulip Inn where we stayed

Garden at the hotel in Lausanne

Lausanne 24 May 16

As we got to the platform 1, with 5 minutes to spare, a train came in and we boarded it. There was not many people on board and I asked a few passengers whether it was the train to Lucerne. The do not understand me but a man in coveralls came along and when I asked him, he shook his head and said no and indicated that we had to take the next train. As we were about to get down, the door closed and the train began to move. Soon we got to get the spectacular view of the Lake Geneva, twice, as we had to return from the next stop which was 3 stations away.

Lake Geneva

view of the Alps

 

Swiss country side

trees

Without my 2 errors of wrong destination and boarding the wrong train 5 minutes earlier, I would not have the nice unforgettable view of the Swiss Alps, Lake Geneva and countryside.