I quickly found the Grace guest house, behind Purcell tower, and horse carts running past. I could try those pony taxi some time, I was thinking, so unique and so English. I was welcomed by the kind owner of Grace to check the last single room on the second floor,although the smell turned me down easily. She then promised me to keep another one for me at 3 dollars, which was to be checked out around the noon time.In hesitation, I walked out there, considering going somewhere else on Circular road.
Next doors I rent a bicycle at 150 per hour. The owner, in his very poor English, explained with help of gestures, to me the use of brake and lock. As he silently helped put my bag into the basket, I suddenly saw in him my father. I abruptly waved goodbye, unable to watch his eyes full of care and love.
Holding a tiny map in hand, 2 square cm big, I followed the only road instruction to march to the Botanical Garden, the only interesting attraction to me here, especially because today was its the last day of the flower expo this year.
However finding there seemed too hard to me, but extremely sweet experience. Only around 15 minutes later, I found myself out of busy area. There appeared in front of me many tiny roads, bearing no road names, but with many very lovely British villas and churches around. So I got quickly lost.
I could tell, I was riding in the country now, with high trees, wild flowers and large acres of coffee plantation which was guarded by gunned soldiers. Felt so wonderful, comfortable in the warm sunshine and breeze, but fearing going further and further away, I jumped off at the gate of a military headquarter and waited for some help with directions. A couple of minutes later a old woman came but she She definitely couldn't understand me and the place in my map. Then from the headquarter a cadre man came up and friendly pointed the direction. 'not far, to the right' I questioned twice to make sure it's right, instead of left.
I was becoming a little bit tired on the bike after another half hour. What a pleasant timing! On the way, another man, probably the plantation worker in 3o s drove the tractor past. We greeted each other and waved goodbye in laughters. I never though my little Burmese words, 'hello' and ' thank you' worked out so magically. Then in the distance I saw the watch tower, the symbol of the botanical garden.
In front there was only road to go, which was lined with so colorful flags. It must be here, the annual flower expo. I told myself. But I was happy too early. At its end, I later found out it was a totally brand new attraction, called something like Myanmar national park, with collections of miniatures of symbols of Myanmar, like gold pagoda and gold rock. The admission was 4 dollar. The sales women was a little frustrated to see I changed my mind but she still patiently showed me the way to the botanical garden.
It turned out I had to go all the same back way back and made a 'left' turn at the military headquarter. Immediately I was telling myself to forget the botanical garden and just enjoy this peaceful countryside on such a perfect day. So along the way back, I stopped all places, including a coffee farm, an airliner training site and a golf course, which was under renovation.
A mother was helping her daughter wash the hair. I apologized to interrupt them and asked if I could go inside. She merrily and shyly nodded with her sunny smiles. There were huge trees there, and nobody came up to kick me out. I understood I was in the middle of gold course when some guys told me to get off the track, in Burmese, and kindly forgot my inappropriate deeds after knowing I was 'foreigner'. So from the help headman, I knew this time for sure, the way to the Botanical Garden.
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