Ballooning over Bagan
Quite early on in our relationship, Jo introduced me to an amazing non-narrative documentary film about the world called Baraka . So when, through my work, we got the chance to go to an advance screening of its sequel Samsara , we jumped at it. And of the very many utterly incredible images that the film showed, one that really jumped out at us was the footage taken from a hot air balloon over the ancient temples of Bagan. We left the cinema suitably inspired and wanting to go experience some of it for ourselves. Cue forward about 9 months and we're on the overnight bus from Yangon to Nyaung U in Bagan with a couple of freshly purchased ballooning tickets in our pockets and smug smiles on our chops! Cue forward another 9 hours and the smiles have temporarily gone as we arrive in Nyaung U at 4.15am, having barely slept, to the realisation that we aren't going to be able to check into our room for another 7 hours or so, and with uncomfortable wooden chairs and buzzing ...