A visit to Burma via Thailand and Russia April 1982 An approximate map of our routes through Burma and Thailand (red is overland, blue is flights). Bangkok, Thailand 28th March. We flew by Aeroflot to Moscow and on to Bangkok. We stayed at the historic Oriental Hotel, with a great view of the river. We visited the National Assembly building, Rama I memorial and Wat Arun, to the displeasure of one of the guardian statues. We went for a boat ride on the klongs (canals) and saw riverside villages .... .... royal barges .... .... and the floating market. We went on a tour to Nakorn Pathom .... .... the snake farm, the Rose Garden and the salt pans. Then we got wet in the monsoon rains. Chiang Mai, Thailand 1st April. We flew Thai domestic to Chiang Mai. We visited a working elephant farm .... We visited several wats (temples) including Wat Suan Dok .... .... the Mae Sa waterfall, an orchid farm and a Meo hill tribe village. We went to Chiang Rai and visited an Akha hill tribe village .... .... Mae Sai jade factory and the golden triangle. We got the sleeper train back to Bangkok. Rangoon, Burma 8th April. We flew Thai International to Rangoon, and stayed at the historic Strand Hotel .... .... opposite the Rangoon river .... .... with lots of mobile museum pieces outside. We visited Batataung Pagoda, Chauk Htat Gyi reclining Buddha and the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. Pagan or Bagan, Burma We flew Burma Airlines to Pagan. We stayed at the Thiripyitsaya hotel on the banks of the Irrawaddy river and toured the magnificent temple ruins at Pagan. Shwezigon Pagoda .... .... inside Shwezigon temple. Gawdawpalin temple. At the top of Thiripitsaya Road in Pagan. At the top of Thiripitsaya Road. Mandalay, Burma 11th April. We flew Burma Airlines to Mandalay. We visited Mandalay Palace and the Shwenandaw wooden monastery. We climbed Mandalay Hill (there was no elevator in those days). We visited the clock tower and the market. We got wet in the water festival. Maymyo, Burma We went to Maymyo. We stayed at Candacraig colonial mansion rest house. Inside Candacraig rest house. In Maymyo market we saw nuns .... .... and apprentice monks. 14th April. We returned to Mandalay and got the sleeper train from Mandalay back to Rangoon. 15th April. We flew Thai International back to Bangkok. Moscow, Russia 19th April. We flew Aeroflot to Moscow and stayed at Hotel Metropol. We visited Red Square .... .... and the Kremlin. We walked along the river and visited Smolensk Cathedral and St Isaac's Cathedral. Leningrad, Russia 21st April. We got the sleeper train to Leningrad and stayed at Hotel Astoria. We visited Palace Square and walked around the city. We visited Peter the Great's summer gardens, where the Italian marble statues were all in boxes to protect them from the frost. We saw ice floes on the river at Peter and Paul fortress. We got the sleeper train back to Moscow. 24th April. We flew Aeroflot back to London. If you would like to see more of our travels just click the map.