Myanmar - 13 February, 2003

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This is our last day in Myanmar, but before we leave, we have some important business to attend to.  As yesterday was National Day, the Scott's Market was closed.  So we need to go shopping this morning in the one hour available to us and spend the rest of our local money (Kyat).  It is worthless outside the country and we cannot change it back into dollars.

We have a quick breakfast and then race over to the market.  We are able to succeed at our appointed task.  We make quick work of running from one stall to another, picking up a variety of items ranging from wicker ware to paintings.  In some sense, the rush works in or favor.  We have no time to bargain, so we name our price and they either accept it or not.  If not, we just move on.

We are back at the hotel at 10:30 AM to pack our latest additions into our luggage and to check out.  It is a bit hectic, but we are on our ay to the airport before 11 AM.  The scene at the airport is a bit of controlled chaos.  None of the systems are automated, the airline stuff have a bit of a job checking us all in and getting us the seats that we want - they are using the old sticker method of noting your seat on your boarding pass.

Then it is immigration and customs.  Immigration is not too bad - just amazing how many people they can employ to look at your passport.  After some duty free shopping (local whiskey for Danny's collection), we make our way through customs.  They x-ray the bags and are looking for antiques, Buddha images and black-market gems.  Jacqui's mom has purchased some gems, so it is quite a hassle as they go through her bags and try to match up the forms with each stone.  They find a couple of cheap, costume jewelry type stones that have no paperwork and send back to see the officials.  What a mess - they make quite a fuss.  In the end they seem to be looking for an "unofficial payment".  We tell them that they are worth almost nothing and if they want, they can have them.  That, they cannot accept (only cash "fines").  So in the end, they just let us through.  What a pain - and all for taxes.

The trip back home to Kuala Lumpur is uneventful and we land at KLIA just before 7 PM.  All-in-all, a very nice trip.