Foreigners were not permitted in this area until 2015 because of the conflict between the military and Karen armed groups. Thandaungyi is a hill station founded by the British colonials in 1854 and is a major Christian pilgrimage place.

But, let's not get ahead of myself. First stop after a six hour train journey is Taungoo, arriving on the back of a motorbike in the dark to the grandly named Hotel Beauty 2. Very good it is too with lovely fresh fruit picked from the trees for breakfast.

We we travel to Thandaungyi in the back of a pickup truck. We hand in our passports at the checkpoint dividing Bago division and Kayin state and proceed up the bumpy, twisty, bone crunching road.

The cool mountain air is a welcome relief from the 100 degree temperatures on the plains. It's a simple lifestyle and there are many churches, with the new Zion Baptist church with modern steeple standing out. We see many women and children holding bibles walking to various church services throughout the day.

We visit the old tea factory, taken over by the military in 1980 and also a failed hotel complex on the hills, built in 2000 but now abandoned. The villages in the woods are full of charming people, many of whom have not seen foreigners like us before.

Prayer Mountain is a perfect place for a Sunday morning walk up the 375 steps to the top where there is a church and numerous smaller chapels.
I wear my Karen clothing which seems to go down well with the local people.

We see fires break out on the hillsides and fire appliances and local people rush to put them out. It's a fascinating place and we all stay at old Baptist church complex now called 'I - Wish guesthouse'. A great weekend with Chris, Melani, Jane , Elaine, Stephen, Adrienne, Hilary and Sarah.