I am getting to know my local neighbourhood.

I walk for about five minutes along the road and reach Kwaik Wine pagoda, which has been here in its current form for 200 years. The entrance is on the roadside but the complex is set back and opens up like the tardis.

I am planning to come back here many times over the coming months as it has a tranquil feel to it and is only visited by local people.

As I wander around, I am beckoned over to an office by a Myanmar man. He is one of the twelve trustees for the pagoda and he introduces me to four of his fellow trustees including a man who is 82.
We have a very convivial meeting and they provide me with tea, biscuits and coffee. I also sign the visitors book and I am pretty confident that I will be the first ever visitor from Colchester, or maybe even the UK!

The term pagoda is misleading as it suggests a single building but in reality here at Kwaik Wine, there is a single dominant pagoda and 117 smaller ones.
Its a really enjoyable start to the day and they describe me as 'a happy person'. I'll take that!