I’ve never stayed in such a luxurious hotel, and while there is a huge temptation to burrow back under the crisp white sheets, I need to get up and face the day. I’m half excited, half anxious. Travelling alone is a first for me, and I’m in a strange country with different customs, smells, sounds. And my confidence levels aren’t where they should be right now.

In spite of the constant whisper of anxiety that haunts me, I can’t wait to look out of my bedroom window and see the sights that we missed last night by arriving after dark. The streets of Yangon outside the hotel are crowded, chaotic and colourful. Street vendors have set up their stalls with bright parasols to protect their wares from the sun, and the driver of every bus, car and scooter seems to feel the need to sound his horn.

It feels odd to be somewhere so hot after leaving a Manchester landscape covered in thick snow. I had worried that the flight would be cancelled and I would have to return home, tail between my legs. Wouldn’t Ian have enjoyed that? But the journey had gone like clockwork, although there had been a strange and slightly uncomfortable moment when we arrived.

We had all crowded into the lobby for our keys, anxious to get to our rooms after the long flight. I was tired, needed a shower and wasn’t feeling very chatty, so I stood, head bent, staring blindly at my suitcase, listening for my name to be called. I could feel a pair of eyes watching me, burning a hole in my skin – and I lifted my head. Over by the reception desk a man was looking at me. He was on his own, and as my eyes met his I expected his attention to shift – to move on – but he didn’t flinch and showed no embarrassment, continuing to stare straight into my eyes as if asking me a question. Was he single? As I am possibly the only unattached woman under sixty on the trip, did he think I might be a likely bet? I should have looked away, but I raised my eyebrows and tipped my head to one side to show that I wasn’t impressed. Then my name was called, and I took my key and escaped to my room.

That was last night, and now it is a whole new day with so much to look forward to. Soon we will join the chaos below and make our way by coach to where we will board the boat and begin the journey up the Irrawaddy River.