They had a 7 day visa to visit this exotic land
she was excited it had been a childhood dream,
the flight was short, just 1 hour from Thailand
to Rangoon where the golden pagoda gently gleams.

Customs men were more excited over their papers
than American dollars they'd stuffed down their bras,
the forms were completed so they could trace us
every step we took, every place we went, every car.

Yes Sir, No Sir, we smiled: Yes we will, we agree,
then we are off, an old taxi cab to the Hotel Strand.
Familiar faces greet us, other passengers are here
tomorrow we'll go in either direction around this land.

But first I must get rid of our weighty contraband
1 cartoon of B & H and 1 bottle of Johnie Walker,
my friend hands me her quota, she'll stay at the Strand.
She says it's best I do the deal, I'm a better talker.

Off I go to the taxi rank, a quick word in his ear,
Hop in Ma'am he says, I'll get a good deal for you.
In less than a minute seems all the cabbies appear
and down to business we go they all know what to do.

I hold out for a better deal, the offers come thick and fast
some of the cabbies keep watch at either end of the street,
then it is all over an agreement is reached at long last.
The cabbies smile and are off, another plane to meet.

This is the way it is done, it is expected of you,
now it is over we can begin our exciting journey
from Rangoon to Mandalay and Maymyo too
a beautiful, exotic land that will live in the memory.