Late last year, Saudi Arabia dispatched the largest delegation of attendees – 800 people – to Thailand for the Apec summit. The delegation included members of the royal family and staff from nine royal offices, and their transportation needs were estimated at 300 vehicles.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on my first trip to Yangon in Myanmar but I certainly didn’t anticipate feeling special and unique throughout the trip. That feeling started from the moment I walked out of my front door to a limousine that would take me from my home not far from Don Mueang International Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The driver was impeccably dressed even though the sun had yet to rise and apart from a few polite words, left me alone to ponder my upcoming journey.