Operation Smile - Myanmar (Burma), Elle's Mission 🇲🇲
15th June 2013 (Elle)
I have arrived safely. Just got into hotel and have 20 mins before a bus arrives to take us to dinner somewhere. The flight went well , Yangon looks half way between Cambodia & Thailand , weather very humid. Internet patchy , no mobile reception.
We were greeted at airport by locals carrying flower wreaths for us all , felt very special.
My room mate is a lovely nurse from Singapore!
16th June 2013 (Elle)
Today we were at the blood bank by 6:30am , this is where the screenings for surgery took place . There were so many families at the gate all scrambling for a chance to be seen. We took their vital signs and send them on to the surgeon. It was heartbreaking to tell the mummy's that their child did not qualify for surgery.
The case that broke my heart was a 6 month old girl found in a rubbish dump yesterday which I was lucky enough to feed some watered down porridge. She is in hospital tonight, Vincent agreed to do the surgery but she has no one to love her, abandoned . It was hard to say goodbye to her, she is just so sweet.
We are back for one hour and then we go to the hospital to set up the theatre equipment for tomorrow. I have made friends already and the team are all fantastic. Tomorrow we face another big day . Surgery starts at 7am . The bus passed the big temple on the way home . It looked amazing . There are lots of temples around which apparently all lead up to the big temple . Local food is fish , curry etc .
16th June 2013 (Elle)
Today we were at the blood bank by 6:30am , this is where the screenings for surgery took place . There were so many families at the gate all scrambling for a chance to be seen. We took their vital signs and send them on to the surgeon. It was heartbreaking to tell the mummy's that their child did not qualify for surgery.
The case that broke my heart was a 6 month old girl found in a rubbish dump yesterday which I was lucky enough to feed some watered down porridge. She is in hospital tonight, Vincent agreed to do the surgery but she has no one to love her, abandoned . It was hard to say goodbye to her, she is just so sweet.
We are back for one hour and then we go to the hospital to set up the theatre equipment for tomorrow. I have made friends already and the team are all fantastic. Tomorrow we face another big day . Surgery starts at 7am . The bus passed the big temple on the way home . It looked amazing . There are lots of temples around which apparently all lead up to the big temple . Local food is fish , curry etc .
17th June 2013 (Elle)
I woke up at 5am and arrived at the hospital by 7am , it was a red and golden building built in the British military era.
To our luck the truck turned up at 8:00am with the donated medical supplies, lots of antibiotics and analgesia. Theatre started and surgery's commenced. A black out occurred 30 mins into surgery and it took a while for the generator to kick in. I held a woman as she broke down from sadness to give her baby to the surgeon, I held her and pointed to photos of Orlando and kept repeating over and over " it's going to be ok." I don't know if she understood but the bond between mother to mother sharing the same pain was so strong. All cultures and conditions aside, we were both mothers and I was her nurse. It was my turn to tell someone it would all be ok . It was very hot in the wards, most did not have fans. I had 14 kids/patients to care for and some children shared a bed.
At 12pm a man with a woven basket turned up carrying boiled rice. This fed the parents and Operation Smile team. The hospital staff looked after the team well with provisions of local delights.
18th June 2013 (Elle)
Most memorable part of the day was when a 14 to girl came back from surgery and I handed her a mirror , she stared at me and then at the mirror and then back at me in disbelief, I gave her the thumbs up sign and a little year rolled down her cheek , her mummy cuddled me.
Singapore --> Yangon, Myanmar18th June 2013 (Elle)
Another long day with many more successful surgeries.
Most memorable part of the day was when a 14 to girl came back from surgery and I handed her a mirror , she stared at me and then at the mirror and then back at me in disbelief, I gave her the thumbs up sign and a little year rolled down her cheek , her mummy cuddled me.
I became quite attached to one dear baby with a bilateral cleft lip , his mummy traveled 16 hours by bus to get there.
20th June 2013 (Ben)
It was not till 7:20am that we were in the taxi, the flight left at 8:55am so it was a bit tight. However a good run through the horrible Singapore haze, caused by the Indonesian bush fires and we were there. Orlando was good the whole time, adorable and charming for the most part, but did not sleep.Arriving in Yangon, pleasantly surprised as the streets were well made and clean, the people friendly and there is something about a lack of billboards and advertising which is nice. There is greenery and huge golden temples scattering the landscape. The taxi ride was 45minutes, everyone including our driver chews some seed that makes your teeth red and open the car door and spit out every 10minutes or so.
The hotel was not ready when we arrived, so Orlando and I went for a walk round the block. Our big pink building called East Hotel is nestled between the cinema, and our walk mainly revealed people selling DVD's and stereo equipment. Orlando naturally was a hit, everyone looked as he went past. Once back the room was ready and a shower withe Orlando before putting him to be, he was tired but fought till he succumb finally in the pram. Our room is basic but adequate, three stars is right.
21st June 2013 (Ben) - Orlando's Birthday
Yangon, Myanmar
After breakfast it was not long before we were of in the pram, walking through Yangon. We were a little early to meet Elle, so we walked to the national theatre and Orlando pushed the pram around. Then we saw Elle who was looking beautiful and still working hard. It was lots of happy birth day's but I know for Orlando seeing mummy was the best gift of all.
Back to the hotel for a big sleep which both Orlando and I really needed, then another walk. This time found a great local noodle restaurant called 999, was delicious food. Then searched for a money changer. I did attempt to change money with a guy out the front of a bank, but soon this seemed very dodgy as the rate kept changing money coming and going, so I ran off and found a more official looking place. I have had no luck with ATMs so what I bought I think will be it.
A play in one of the parks, was an opportunity for Orlando to stretch his legs, then it was back to the hotel, the rain started pouring down, lucky for my hotel umbrella. But pushing the pram one handed through the huge potholes, puddles and high gutters is hard.
Unfortunately Elle was unable to come and meet us, so Orlando and I went for dinner at what I think was a tourist trap. Not bad food, I had a Vietnamese roll as Burmese food was not on the menu. Then I went for a walk and a 13 yo boy decided to come and talk to me. It is so nice when people just want to talk without wanting anything. We established that early on and he walked with me chatting for a good 30mins. He is the oldest of three, but his dad is gone and mum has TB so is quite sick. He can no longer go to school and sells small souvenirs. He seems bright and very happy, but life must be tough.
The Burmese love Orlando, especially I assume his fair complexion and hair. They constantly look at him, yell, stick their hands in the pram. Even cars and trucks yell out or stop to look. He handles it pretty well.
On the whole Myanmar is growing on me, the people are extremely nice, as tourism has not taken hold and the dollar is not everything. Amazing that 60M people live in this closed country, which is now opening up to the world. But tourism is still not big, though it is a beautiful place so I am quite sure it is not far off.
22nd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
Elle's mission has finished and we all got to be together again.
Dropping a few things of in in the room and we wondered down to the Strand Hotel, the Raffles of Yangon and had a morning tea. We stopped for a half open game centre where Orlando played on some of the rides before heading back to the hotel for a sleep. A super market stop on the way back and Elle put the little man to sleep, but she could not sleep, as her mind continued to buzz.
Once Orlando was awake we had a brief idea to go to Bagon, but soon abandoned it as it become to complicated. So it was an afternoon walk to the markets, where I managed to get my patch and Elle found some jewellery, then of to the large temple. It is an amazing site, I have not be impressed in the past by their temples, but this was different. It was an enormous sprawling complex surrounded by park lands and everywhere was gold.
The look was brief as time was moving on so we walked to the Governors Palace, a hotel. This part of town is somewhat different to where we are staying the potholed footpaths are paved and wide, the garden's manicured. No street vendors and good roads. Houses are all huge though they vary between amazing estates to those that have been abandoned. Governor's Palace was nice, a special sanctuary from the real world of Yangon, away from the traffic, stray dogs and street vendors. A beautiful pool, balconies and gardens, it was five star. The prices were also five star, so the idea of dinner turned into two Sprites and some ice cream. Tough Elle's stomach is still playing up so Sprite only for her. Orlando enjoyed running in the garden, then ate dinner.
The Idea was to next go to the noodle place 999. Once there at 19:30pm, we found it shut. It shuts at 19:00. It seems everything shuts very early accept the noise and traffic. Walking up and down, it was a place two doors down that advertised itself as Thai that ended up with our patronage. As with most places they served most major cuisines know to man. Though some vegetarian noodles and rice seemed a better bet that a burger. It was nice. As always Orlando was the star and soon received gifts of balloons and squeaker toys, just for being in the restaurant. Popping the balloon and throwing the queasy toy, it was fair to say he was tired, so shortly after dinner it was back to the hotel and time to put Orlando to bed. Again he has been a good boy and a great traveller. Hopefully tonight he will also sleep better.
23rd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
Our goal today was to walk to the main temple and have a look round. Our walk was great, the paths paved and a variety of big houses and abandoned estates lined out path. Stopping to see where we were, we realised the zoo was in front of us, so we decided why not and went in. The prices of things take you back to the 1970s. Foreigners paid the equivalent of US$2. To our surprise the zoo was not that bad, the variety of animals limited but conditions were better than the hospital, also some of the animals were extremely close, like the elephants and Hippos. You could also feed them. Orlando was a bit scared of some animals, pulling his pram visor down at the elephants.
It was then onto our final destination, but a wrong turn when leaving the zoo, ensured that we would not make it. In the end we flagged down a taxi and driving in the opposite direction to where we were walking soon we arrived.
The temples, impressive from the road open up into an enormous network of temples, surrounding the larger dome. It is impressive. Orlando liked it as he went for a run. Not entirely appropriate but very good fun for him. As always he had a way of focusing attention, locals all wanting to take pictures.
Gold was everywhere, Buddhas of all sizes and a range of carvings, it is the most impressive temples I have seen in Asia. Elle spent some time sitting in some and as Orlando slowed down we were more able to soak in our beautiful surroundings. The sun was hot and the day moving on, so we left to my favourite noodles bar for lunch, 999, before back to the hotel for a sleep, just beating the storm.
A nice lunch time sleep made it 16:00 before we were back out of the hotel,the rain was poring down, meaning we were wet by the time we arrived at the markets. Everything in Yangon shuts very early, so it was a mini buying spree that saw us buy jewellery for Elle, some serving trays and bowls and a old medal for Blair all before 17:00. Close to 17:00 the lights go out and everything is black. Still Orlando managed a run round and most of what we wanted we bought.
With time marching on and many restaurants shutting by 19:00 we were again in a rush, plan one was to find an arty 2nd floor restaurant that gave money to street kids, by some miracle we found it on the second floor of a narrow block but unfortunately it was shut till Wednesday. Next stop was Monsoon, a more famous place, easy to find but a walk. Still through the rain we went and made it there. It was beautiful, a retreat from the streets. The food was delicious, I tried the local food, which was made up market and the tastes blew me away, especially the entree Elle recommended, she knew a lot about the local cuisine now.
Unable to eat everything we took some away, with the goal of giving it to some of the street kids we met. A walk home through the now deserted dark streets, despite being only 20:30, upto the corner where the kids were, but no one was there so it was back to the hotel and bed.
Another great day with the friendly people of Myanmar, there is something to be said about a place before tourists over run it. It shows the best of people, or at least better. They give back change, they genuinely want to talk with noting in return, they are as fascinated by you as you are of them and they want you to enjoy their country. Elle, Orlando and I have had a good time, with only tomorrow to go, hopefully it continues.
23rd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
The missions for today would be first to ride the circle line train through Yangon and into the countryside, a three hour round trip on an old clunky train that took us from city, through shanty towns, rubbish dumps, rice paddy fields, markets and much more.
The original station soon arrived and we were once again back into the hustle and bustle of
downtown Yangon. A pit stop at the hotel for a milk fill up with Orlando and it was down to 999 for some noodles then a taxi of to Inya Lake, we went to the resort there.
If ever there was a place to film a movie about the end of the world Yangon would be it. Buildings everywhere are abandoned and many like Inya Lake Resort have not put in too much effort to maintain the outside. Shaped like a cruise ship, there is an erie feeling of nothingness outside. There was a nice path along the river, so Elle walked as Orlando run along the path, through the pool area and in the car park. Lunch time revealed I had lost the Accenture Alliance job, this made me a little down. I received the great news that I was close! Yay!
Our next stop was another lake, Kandawgi Lake, this was at the opposite end of the spectrum to Inya Lake. An enormous Gold Royal barge sits on the lake called The Karaweik, it is quite a sight. There is a long boardwalk that goes for about 2km and is a peaceful Oasis, almost causing you to forget where you are.
Traders Hotel was where we decided to have dinner and just as the two lakes were at opposite ends of the spectrum so were these hotels. Traders, by Shangri La, was a business hotel, it to was an Oasis and shut out all that Yangon was for a McDonalds uniformity of luxury. Were we still in Myanmar.....possibly or could have been in Singapore. We just could not do it, so returned to the hotel and ate downstairs before packing our bags and bed.
Back to the hotel for a big sleep which both Orlando and I really needed, then another walk. This time found a great local noodle restaurant called 999, was delicious food. Then searched for a money changer. I did attempt to change money with a guy out the front of a bank, but soon this seemed very dodgy as the rate kept changing money coming and going, so I ran off and found a more official looking place. I have had no luck with ATMs so what I bought I think will be it.
A play in one of the parks, was an opportunity for Orlando to stretch his legs, then it was back to the hotel, the rain started pouring down, lucky for my hotel umbrella. But pushing the pram one handed through the huge potholes, puddles and high gutters is hard.
Unfortunately Elle was unable to come and meet us, so Orlando and I went for dinner at what I think was a tourist trap. Not bad food, I had a Vietnamese roll as Burmese food was not on the menu. Then I went for a walk and a 13 yo boy decided to come and talk to me. It is so nice when people just want to talk without wanting anything. We established that early on and he walked with me chatting for a good 30mins. He is the oldest of three, but his dad is gone and mum has TB so is quite sick. He can no longer go to school and sells small souvenirs. He seems bright and very happy, but life must be tough.
The Burmese love Orlando, especially I assume his fair complexion and hair. They constantly look at him, yell, stick their hands in the pram. Even cars and trucks yell out or stop to look. He handles it pretty well.
On the whole Myanmar is growing on me, the people are extremely nice, as tourism has not taken hold and the dollar is not everything. Amazing that 60M people live in this closed country, which is now opening up to the world. But tourism is still not big, though it is a beautiful place so I am quite sure it is not far off.
22nd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
Elle's mission has finished and we all got to be together again.
Dropping a few things of in in the room and we wondered down to the Strand Hotel, the Raffles of Yangon and had a morning tea. We stopped for a half open game centre where Orlando played on some of the rides before heading back to the hotel for a sleep. A super market stop on the way back and Elle put the little man to sleep, but she could not sleep, as her mind continued to buzz.
Once Orlando was awake we had a brief idea to go to Bagon, but soon abandoned it as it become to complicated. So it was an afternoon walk to the markets, where I managed to get my patch and Elle found some jewellery, then of to the large temple. It is an amazing site, I have not be impressed in the past by their temples, but this was different. It was an enormous sprawling complex surrounded by park lands and everywhere was gold.
The look was brief as time was moving on so we walked to the Governors Palace, a hotel. This part of town is somewhat different to where we are staying the potholed footpaths are paved and wide, the garden's manicured. No street vendors and good roads. Houses are all huge though they vary between amazing estates to those that have been abandoned. Governor's Palace was nice, a special sanctuary from the real world of Yangon, away from the traffic, stray dogs and street vendors. A beautiful pool, balconies and gardens, it was five star. The prices were also five star, so the idea of dinner turned into two Sprites and some ice cream. Tough Elle's stomach is still playing up so Sprite only for her. Orlando enjoyed running in the garden, then ate dinner.
The Idea was to next go to the noodle place 999. Once there at 19:30pm, we found it shut. It shuts at 19:00. It seems everything shuts very early accept the noise and traffic. Walking up and down, it was a place two doors down that advertised itself as Thai that ended up with our patronage. As with most places they served most major cuisines know to man. Though some vegetarian noodles and rice seemed a better bet that a burger. It was nice. As always Orlando was the star and soon received gifts of balloons and squeaker toys, just for being in the restaurant. Popping the balloon and throwing the queasy toy, it was fair to say he was tired, so shortly after dinner it was back to the hotel and time to put Orlando to bed. Again he has been a good boy and a great traveller. Hopefully tonight he will also sleep better.
23rd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
Our goal today was to walk to the main temple and have a look round. Our walk was great, the paths paved and a variety of big houses and abandoned estates lined out path. Stopping to see where we were, we realised the zoo was in front of us, so we decided why not and went in. The prices of things take you back to the 1970s. Foreigners paid the equivalent of US$2. To our surprise the zoo was not that bad, the variety of animals limited but conditions were better than the hospital, also some of the animals were extremely close, like the elephants and Hippos. You could also feed them. Orlando was a bit scared of some animals, pulling his pram visor down at the elephants.
It was then onto our final destination, but a wrong turn when leaving the zoo, ensured that we would not make it. In the end we flagged down a taxi and driving in the opposite direction to where we were walking soon we arrived.
The temples, impressive from the road open up into an enormous network of temples, surrounding the larger dome. It is impressive. Orlando liked it as he went for a run. Not entirely appropriate but very good fun for him. As always he had a way of focusing attention, locals all wanting to take pictures.
Gold was everywhere, Buddhas of all sizes and a range of carvings, it is the most impressive temples I have seen in Asia. Elle spent some time sitting in some and as Orlando slowed down we were more able to soak in our beautiful surroundings. The sun was hot and the day moving on, so we left to my favourite noodles bar for lunch, 999, before back to the hotel for a sleep, just beating the storm.
A nice lunch time sleep made it 16:00 before we were back out of the hotel,the rain was poring down, meaning we were wet by the time we arrived at the markets. Everything in Yangon shuts very early, so it was a mini buying spree that saw us buy jewellery for Elle, some serving trays and bowls and a old medal for Blair all before 17:00. Close to 17:00 the lights go out and everything is black. Still Orlando managed a run round and most of what we wanted we bought.
With time marching on and many restaurants shutting by 19:00 we were again in a rush, plan one was to find an arty 2nd floor restaurant that gave money to street kids, by some miracle we found it on the second floor of a narrow block but unfortunately it was shut till Wednesday. Next stop was Monsoon, a more famous place, easy to find but a walk. Still through the rain we went and made it there. It was beautiful, a retreat from the streets. The food was delicious, I tried the local food, which was made up market and the tastes blew me away, especially the entree Elle recommended, she knew a lot about the local cuisine now.
Unable to eat everything we took some away, with the goal of giving it to some of the street kids we met. A walk home through the now deserted dark streets, despite being only 20:30, upto the corner where the kids were, but no one was there so it was back to the hotel and bed.
Another great day with the friendly people of Myanmar, there is something to be said about a place before tourists over run it. It shows the best of people, or at least better. They give back change, they genuinely want to talk with noting in return, they are as fascinated by you as you are of them and they want you to enjoy their country. Elle, Orlando and I have had a good time, with only tomorrow to go, hopefully it continues.
23rd June 2013 (Ben)
Yangon, Myanmar
The missions for today would be first to ride the circle line train through Yangon and into the countryside, a three hour round trip on an old clunky train that took us from city, through shanty towns, rubbish dumps, rice paddy fields, markets and much more.
The original station soon arrived and we were once again back into the hustle and bustle ofdowntown Yangon. A pit stop at the hotel for a milk fill up with Orlando and it was down to 999 for some noodles then a taxi of to Inya Lake, we went to the resort there.
If ever there was a place to film a movie about the end of the world Yangon would be it. Buildings everywhere are abandoned and many like Inya Lake Resort have not put in too much effort to maintain the outside. Shaped like a cruise ship, there is an erie feeling of nothingness outside. There was a nice path along the river, so Elle walked as Orlando run along the path, through the pool area and in the car park. Lunch time revealed I had lost the Accenture Alliance job, this made me a little down. I received the great news that I was close! Yay!
Our next stop was another lake, Kandawgi Lake, this was at the opposite end of the spectrum to Inya Lake. An enormous Gold Royal barge sits on the lake called The Karaweik, it is quite a sight. There is a long boardwalk that goes for about 2km and is a peaceful Oasis, almost causing you to forget where you are.
Traders Hotel was where we decided to have dinner and just as the two lakes were at opposite ends of the spectrum so were these hotels. Traders, by Shangri La, was a business hotel, it to was an Oasis and shut out all that Yangon was for a McDonalds uniformity of luxury. Were we still in Myanmar.....possibly or could have been in Singapore. We just could not do it, so returned to the hotel and ate downstairs before packing our bags and bed.
So proud and humbled of Elle's mission. A fantastic cause that has been achieved by dedication and hard work, keep up the good work!
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