There is a rail line through Yangon main station which runs in a large loop through the suburbs and back to the main station. It takes about 3 hours – rarely getting up any kind of speed and with frequent stations along the way.
We had to buy special foreigners tickets - $1 for the complete round trip - and had to show our passports.
While we were waiting on the platform we watched a crew of guys painting the roof of the platform opposite - just clambering about with virtually no equipment.
And as we watched one of them slowly realised the delicacy of his position..............
The train, when it arrived was a little different
But it was a great way to see the local area – no glass in the windows and open doorways, so it was easy to see out.
Hawkers were continually getting on and off, going through the carriage selling snacks, water, fruit, corn on the cob etc. Many of them were ladies who would get on carrying a small plastic stool and with a large tray balanced on their heads. They would stop by a customer and with a very practised movement set down the stool, sit on it and bring down the tray to serve whatever it was – often a mixture of little things placed in a plastic bag and covered in a sauce.
The highlight was when we went through an agricultural area and ladies (it was always ladies) got on with vast quantities of produce they were taking to sell somewhere along the line. Each one would have several heavy bundles – onions, vegetables, bunches of herbs – which they would heave up through the door and then clamber in to find somewhere to sit.
Towards the end of the journey – as the farm produce had been unloaded and there was some space to move again – an elderly man left his seat and came to sit beside me to chat. He was delighted to learn we were from UK as he was a teacher of English for adults. We could barely understand him so I’m not sure of the quality of his output. Anyway he was very friendly and welcoming.
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