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Mind sharing which travel/tour company you used?
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Love that trip report. Can't wait to visit Myanmar again. There is something special about this country and the people who live there
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Originally Posted by exilencfc
(Post 23661447)
Fascinating stuff Moomba. And that does look like some tasty food
Originally Posted by jasonz9238
(Post 23663592)
Mind sharing which travel/tour company you used?
Originally Posted by h1ghfly3r
(Post 23663944)
Love that trip report. Can't wait to visit Myanmar again. There is something special about this country a day the people who live there
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Day 3 - Bagan Sightseeing
A more respectable 8am start today that had us performing a 15 minute re-acquaintance session with a bicycle. We cycled off on our journey to the village of Minnathu. The tour company supports the local community with a donation and the townspeople were more than happy to invite us into their homes.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...c49ffc0a_c.jpg Arriving at Minnathu village https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/...26c4d02f_c.jpg Farmer & cart at Minnathu village It had been a particularly dry year and the water catchment area was not looking too good for the end of the wet season. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/...3a2b1d5b_c.jpg Empty water catchment at Minnathu village First stop was the local carpenter who was making a cartwheel and also some wall coverings. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...979ebd89_c.jpg Carpenter at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/...bb50e588_c.jpg Carpenter at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...084cfcaa_c.jpg Carpenter at Minnathu village A couple of the local septuagenarians were smoking on some cheroots nearby. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/...46620d9d_c.jpg Ladies smoking cheroot at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/...cf236866_c.jpg Ladies smoking cheroot at Minnathu village Next stop was the blacksmith where could see the bellows and old style tools. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...bc0e95a5_c.jpg Blacksmith furnace at Minnathu village https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...0a97f75f_c.jpg Blacksmith bellows at Minnathu village The village had no electricity as such all the work was done manually and cooking was done in kitchens beside the houses cooked on open fire only. Water also has to be carted from the wells to take up to the homes. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/...37a0eaa4_c.jpg Carting water to home at Minnathu village We were able to see some of the local life including people collecting water, smoking cheroots, playing and generally going about their life. We stopped to see a farmer and his wife who grew peanuts that they ground into oil. The oil was ground using a big mortar and pestle type arrangement that was turned by an animal pulling the stone around to grind the nuts. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/...de531d5c_c.jpg Peanut crusher at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/...29cd4f30_c.jpg Chopping fodder for cattle at Minnathu village We stepped inside the house and were able to ask the family about their life, family etc. This couple were extremely proud of the fact that one of their daughters had qualified as a teacher and was teaching primary students in a village about 15 minutes away. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/...f384c9d0_c.jpg Home visit at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...dd8f0f00_c.jpg Home visit at Minnathu village https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...5e94d90f_c.jpg Minnathu village https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...d4ecd107_c.jpg Minnathu village After the village visit we hopped the bikes and headed to the Dhammayazika pagoda. This one was unique in that it was hexagonal rather than four sided. The normal practice is to have four sides each representing the four past Bhudda at each of the cardinal points. This one has a fifth Bhudda image representing the future Bhudda. The pagoda was undergoing renovation with the gold leaf being replaced. The black spires were covered with a lacquer that was layered on so that the gold leaf will stick. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/...a02c3228_c.jpg Dhammayazika Pagoda https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...e0634df8_c.jpg Dhammayazika Pagoda https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...f5e190fb_c.jpg Dhammayazika Pagoda https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...f30525a9_c.jpg Dhammayazika Pagoda https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...dd869e9d_c.jpg Dhammayazika Pagoda We then rode back into town where we ditched the bikes and made our way back to the hotel for a break. After having a bit of a refresh we then went to a local lacquer production facility. We were able to see how the base for the plates, bowls etc were made from bamboo strips before being smoothed and then lacquered. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...e7f3a0c2_c.jpg Lacquer production – making bowls from bamboo Weaving horsehair into the bamboo framework made some of the pieces more flexible. The lacquer is then applied in many layers and patterns etched into the lacquer and then a new lacquer of a different colour is layered on to make the finished product. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/...04de828c_c.jpg Lacquer production – Applying lacquer https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...88c4edc6_c.jpg Lacquer production – Applying gold leaf https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/...7a41f6c2_c.jpg Lacquer production – Weaving in horsehair https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...bffaf3fd_c.jpg Lacquer production – Etching lacquer https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/...4149ec02_c.jpg Lacquer production – Drying cellar This chap was using a manual lathe to smooth the bamboo bowl before the lacquer is applied. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...ecd97c5d_c.jpg Lacquer production – Manual lathe https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...d47c1b0f_c.jpg Lacquer production – manual lathe After the lacquer stop we dropped in on a local village school to see the kids in action and learnt about their school life. With both the village visit and the local school visit the tour company make a donation to the village and school and we were also encouraged to buy pencils, paper etc to give to the headmistress of the school. I was interested to learn that these primary school aged children study five major subjects. The learn maths, geography, history, Burmese and English. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...bba6348e_c.jpg Village school visit https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/...92520f49_c.jpg Village school visit https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...6b1ba0a3_c.jpg Village school visit https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/...8f613420_c.jpg Village school visit After a lunch stop we then headed down to the mighty Ayerawaddy River via a local market stop, as we were early. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...a868ced7_c.jpg Local Market rice seller https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...3eb4e698_c.jpg Local market street We took a short ride on a boat down to an inlet where we hopped off and hiked up to the Kyauk Gu U Min temple set into the hill. Inside there were caves where the monk used to live. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/...9727dedc_c.jpg Kyauk Gu U Min Temple https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...5909dd50_c.jpg Kyauk Gu U Min Temple https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...41e5ffa1_c.jpg Kyauk Gu U Min Temple https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/...60c70c24_c.jpg Kyauk Gu U Min Temple Back on the boat we headed back up the river toward Bagan watching the sunset off to our starboard side. It was a very relaxing was to end the day. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...5edbcd0a_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/...0fa80aeb_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/...ce41a4ea_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...2bb17910_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/...23f98f15_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/...b216f51d_c.jpg Sunset cruise back up the Ayeyarwaddy River The group decided we would like to go to a local puppet show with a lacquer tray dinner to round up the very long day of sightseeing. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/...2afc426c_c.jpg Bagan puppet show lacquer plate dinner https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...462bd860_c.jpg Bagan puppet show https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...d3418528_c.jpg Bagan puppet show https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/...377349a1_c.jpg Bagan puppet show https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...8ba41b81_c.jpg Bagan puppet show When we arrived back at the hotel the houseboys had decorated our beds. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/...7464c663_c.jpg Decorated bed at Thazin Garden Hotel Bagan Tomorrow on to Mandalay. More Photos |
Day 4 - Bagan to Mandalay & Sightseeing
Another early start today with a 05:30 wake up call. We ate breakfast and headed back out to the airport for our 07:40 flight to Mandalay.
The airport experience was pretty swift although the promised free wifi failed to deliver. There were no seat assignments for this flight and it was a continuation of the flight we had originally taken from Yangon and continued on with the same flight number. Air Mandalay (operated by Air KBZ) Flight 6T 0401 NYU-MDL Seat Not Assigned (Economy) Aircraft: ATR72-200 Departure time: 07:40 The flight was on at ATR72-200 with much tighter seat pitch than the previous flight. The crew managed to do a drinks service offering juice, tea or coffee and then a round of sweets in the short 20 minute flight. We touched down at Mandalay at 08:01 and after collecting our luggage we met our new local guide before starting our morning activities. Today we first made our way to Ava the ancient capital of Burma. This entailed a short boat taxi ride to Ava. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...a52b7625_c.jpg River crossing We were taken on cart and horse to visit the 19th century teak wood Bagaya monastery. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...5f44bb24_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...dff61edb_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/...a6eecd8a_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/...d8f6b474_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...19d2ee28_c.jpg Monks studying at Bagaya monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...a3751a02_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...23e56afd_c.jpg Bagaya monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...de86e133_c.jpg Bagaya monastery After this we visited the leaning tour of the Singyone Fort before that was leaning at a jaunty angle. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...e340ab3b_c.jpg Singyone Fort Finally we stopped off at the Maha Aungmye Bonzan brick and stucco monastery that was built up on stilts to avoid flooding from the river. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...f7ba8be5_c.jpg Our Cart & Driver https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5603/...8964b108_c.jpg Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...b561935f_c.jpg Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/...2e13b080_c.jpg Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...323276bd_c.jpg Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...4f932066_c.jpg Under the Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/...492a422e_c.jpg Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery Today more than all our other days on this trip we were constantly hounded by locals selling tourist tat. We were a captive audience and they were waiting for us as we got off the taxi boat. They then followed us around our mornings touring on bikes and only let us have some peace when we were inside one of the attractions or at the restaurant at lunch. After a spot of lunch we were then taking into Mandalay city to our hotel to freshen up for a couple of hours before our afternoon touring. The afternoon began with a visit to the Royal Palace, that was a replica built in 1999. The original had been destroyed during WWII. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/...716ae5b7_c.jpg Moat around Royal Palace https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...e403aa13_c.jpg Royal Palace https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...8b6edf58_c.jpg Royal Palace https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...c2a1dd15_c.jpg Royal Palace https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/...48feac17_c.jpg Artefacts at Royal Palace https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2948/...346f0168_c.jpg Artefacts at Royal Palace https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...a809acd0_c.jpg Artefacts at Royal Palace https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...abff1db5_c.jpg Artefacts at Royal Palace After a stop there we travelled on to the Golden Palace Monastery that had intricate carvings in the teak walls. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5598/...b25e5f06_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...72c2a78d_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...e2b0a08a_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/...4bf03823_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...56a524bb_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...59debf18_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/...db0b7a87_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...c143ab7f_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/...10208403_c.jpg Golden Palace Monastery The final stop on the official itinerary was the Kuthodaw monastery that is home to the worlds largest book. Made from 729 marble slabs etched on both sides with scriptures from Buddhist teachings. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...b28f939e_c.jpg Kuthodaw Monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/...8e930023_c.jpg Kuthodaw Monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/...4b30220a_c.jpg Model of site at Kuthodaw Monastery https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...e9cf27ac_c.jpg Kuthodaw Monastery After we had walked around the site we made an unofficial stop at a local market that only existed around this time as a precursor to some religious holiday. It was quite a site seeing a funfair with the old pagoda in the background. We were able to sample some of the tasty street food on offer as we wandered along the roadside stalls. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2946/...0071b1f1_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...644aebd5_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...93b256c3_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...23bba5bb_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/...55e07d7c_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2950/...60ae384b_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/...4f39585c_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...20be757d_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...d9ffa77e_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...df9fb896_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...4e64ce40_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/...357c6a4a_c.jpg Stalls at Festival Market Tonight we were able to do our own thing and ended up going to a local Thai-Burmese restaurant for some lovely grub. It was quite an event as the lights kept going out during the meal. Also the heavens opened up on us just before we were about to walk back to the hotel so our hosts booked a taxi for us. Tomorrow the jade market and lunch with the Nuns. More Photos |
Wow, what a fantastic trip report. Great photos and the trip looks amazing so far! Thanks.
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Originally Posted by Moomba
(Post 23661110)
Thanks avneeshj. I haven't been to India (yet) but many of the towns in Myanmar reminded me of Thailand. |
Originally Posted by halfcape
(Post 23666509)
Wow, what a fantastic trip report. Great photos and the trip looks amazing so far! Thanks.
Originally Posted by avneeshj
(Post 23667968)
It's funny you say that because originally I had typed that it looked like someplace right between Thailand and India! :)
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Day 5 - Mandalay and Sagaing Hills
Today we had a lie in and met at 08:30 for a short drive to the local jade markets.
The street was lined with people selling large blocks of jade and smaller pieces that had been cut. They draw circles on the blocks to indicate how many bangles could be made from each slab. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...e47b69ff_c.jpg Jade Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...ca829199_c.jpg Jade Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...e345b9a6_c.jpg Jade Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/...5844532d_c.jpg Jade Market We could see local workmen using pedal powered machines to polish pieces of jade using bamboo as the abrasive and more modern sand blocks. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...289b9727_c.jpg Jade Market polishing the jade https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/...d09364cb_c.jpg Jade Market polishing the jade https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/...60e01844_c.jpg Jade Market polishing the jade We then went inside the complex where the wholesalers and retailers traded the jade. There are reported to be 40000 people working in the jade market and it was quite mad wandering around watching the goings on. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/...dedc9b22_c.jpg Jade Market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...f5260ae0_c.jpg Jade Market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/...61781321_c.jpg Jade Market The car park on the way out was just a sea of scooters. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...f54fe549_c.jpg Jade Market car park https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/...e4b83a9b_c.jpg A bit of repair work? https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...13e86741_c.jpg Busker Mandalay style Back on the bus we headed back out to the Sagaing Hills where many monasteries and pagodas dotted the area. We visited one of the local nunneries where we donated the meal for some of the nuns. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...0849567b_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/...2cf06b7d_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...8915fe35_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/...93945a64_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...e2d82554_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/...3aa8463a_c.jpg Nunnery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...1d5a9ffd_c.jpg Nunnery After they ate we were able to ask them some questions and they in turn asked us some in return. We were then provided lunch as well before saying goodbye to our lovely hosts. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...d8b5b0fe_c.jpg Nunnery - farewell Next up was the 200 year old 1.2 kilometre long teak bridge of U Bein. This bridge is used daily by the people who live on the other side to commute to work on the mainland. There were many fishermen standing in the water either side with either rod and hook or others who dived down to catch the fish by hand. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/...f61629cd_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/...ff927e21_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/...5215304f_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...52e62dc8_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/...9d4c6642_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...29b819cb_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/...2c819279_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...a33bf820_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/...fb8d462e_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...a4ed525a_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/...aa71d43a_c.jpg U Bein Bridge https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/...fc3b69c8_c.jpg U Bein Bridge On the way back into Mandalay we stopped a local workshop where the workers pounded gold into the gold leaf people buy to attach to sacred items in the temples and pagodas. The gold is pounded by hand in three stages between sheets of bamboo paper for over 6 hours in total before it is thin enough. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...5791c4a3_c.jpg The steps in making gold leaf https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/...b6c9c1a1_c.jpg Pounding gold leaf https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...7b7f5f2a_c.jpg Pounding gold leaf https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/...6b334fa6_c.jpg Pouding gold leaf time for a breather During their break one of the guys brought over the bundle he was pounding and we could feel how hot it had become. A few of us were dropped off at the local flower market by the river before making our way back up to the hotel. One of the local monks wanted to practice his English so he walked along with us for part of the way back. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...b712a8e4_c.jpg Flower market https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...238dcf17_c.jpg Flower market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/...ab6be5e0_c.jpg Flower market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5609/...6176c3f9_c.jpg Flower market https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...449187e9_c.jpg Flower market Tomorrow another plane journey to Heho and is that giant spider going to eat me? More Photos |
If you have the time, you should visit a local street vendor where they serve tea. I liked the spirit and the vibe. An the tea was amazing...
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Originally Posted by h1ghfly3r
(Post 23671400)
If you have the time, you should visit a local street vendor where they serve tea. I liked the spirit and the vibe. An the tea was amazing...
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Day 6 - Mandalay to Kalaw
Another early start leaving the hotel at 06:30 for the long journey to the airport around 45 minutes from the city centre.
Security was swift and painless and there was a secondary at the bus gate but this again was no problem. The flight was another bus gate and another ATR-72-200 aircraft. Yangon Air Flight YH 0918 MDL-HEH Seat Not Assigned (Economy) Aircraft: ATR72-200 Departure time: 08:35 We pushed back at 08:20 and landed in HeHo in the Shan state around 22 minutes later after the crew providing a drinks service on the way. After collecting bags we all hopped in our bus for the long drive to Pindaya around 2 hours away. At Pindaya we visited a mutli chambered caves complex that housed thousands of Buddha images. The legendary tale explains that several princesses were held captive in these caves by a giant spider. A prince happened along and slay the giant spider with a bow and arrow. There is a model of this feat of bravery at the entrance to the cave complex. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/...363a1ce2_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...fcc614ab_c.jpg Pindaya Caves The caves are quite high up a hill and the views from the entrance level are quite lovely. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...b6a2b423_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...d5fc4117_c.jpg Pindaya Caves Inside the caves there are hundreds of images of Buddha in the many chambers that make up the caves. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...d9e57459_c.jpg Pindaya Caves Many of the Buddha images inside had plaques with the names of the donors who paid for that image. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/...696ea69a_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/...d9df658a_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/...f750b222_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...eda95070_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/...0c72a280_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...ebb165a1_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/...e433ed84_c.jpg Pindaya Caves https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5603/...d6ff0653_c.jpg Pindaya Caves After this we stopped at a local paper production workshop that made paper from the bark of the mulberry tree and set into it leaves and flowers. We also saw how umbrellas were made from bamboo and covered with the paper. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...143590aa_c.jpg Shan Paper Making The mulberry bark is pounded into a pulp that is then mixed with water. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/...cc4ee929_c.jpg Shan Paper Making https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...7979c749_c.jpg Shan Paper Making The pulp and water is then spread evenly over the backing frame. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...0931821d_c.jpg Shan Paper Making Then the flower petals and leaves are placed in position on the frame under the watchful eye of the daughter of one of the paper makers. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3950/...99343ac3_c.jpg Shan Paper Making https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/...2621f89e_c.jpg Shan Paper Making https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/...38d181cf_c.jpg Shan Paper Making The excess water is drained away and the whole frame is put into the sun to dry. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/...03aa902d_c.jpg Shan Paper Making Once dry the paper is peeled off the frame and can be used for making lamp shades, envelopes and note pads and umbrellas. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...084c3375_c.jpg Shan Paper Making https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/...2b3c76f2_c.jpg Making Umbrellas https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/...a6f756f9_c.jpg Makng Umbrellas We then had lunch at a lovely restaurant overlooking the lake. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3932/...8bacfcab_c.jpg Lunch Venue https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/...65b234cf_c.jpg Lunch Venue https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5611/...4840109f_c.jpg Lunch Venue Back in the bus we drove for another hour and a half to our resting place for the next two nights Kalaw. This town was high in the hills and was significantly cooler than the rest of the trip and was a welcome respite. We had some free time to wander the town before we all met up for a bowl of the local Shan noodles for dinner. On my walk into town many of the people on the street smiled at me and said Mingalabar. Generally speaking this was the norm for Myanmar where friendly smiling faces seem to be commonplace. Tomorrow getting personal with a rather large retiree. More Photos |
Day 8 - Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp
Another lie in today before we motored our way down from the hills to the valley below were we had a great day at the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp.
On the walk up the drive we encountered another spider that wasnt quite as big as the one we saw the day before. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...a031d064_c.jpg Spider on the drive The owner of the camp told us how the animals in their care were ex working elephants from logging camps and the like. They look after these mighty beasts thanks to the likes of groups like us. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/...485946ba_c.jpg Main House Green Hill Valley https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...c53bb72d_c.jpg Main House Green Hill Valley https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/...a883c939_c.jpg Main House Green Hill Valley We were taken down to the camp where we were able to feed the elephants some bamboo and bananas. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...4255df4a_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...960f8034_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/...c2c40e22_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...2771c5f9_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...3967e35c_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3953/...0c3017e0_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/...dbc24b93_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...6d38acf5_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/...caa0e7ce_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp - feeding the elephants After this we changed into the local trousers to avoid getting our own clothes wet. Another of the initiatives of the camp is that everyone plants a tree, which was our next task. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...e03d068b_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp tree planting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...96a92692_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp tree planting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/...cc864285_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp tree planting Next up was bath time for these giants. We walked up stream a little and were able to get up close and personal and helped the mahouts wash the elephants using the bark from the acacia tree as a scrub. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...335819a6_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/...d51d9897_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...1970b4d3_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/...6bc80051_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...cf70e0e2_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...1323d009_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5613/...28fd39ae_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3929/...91426798_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...fd453482_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...c22e39ba_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/...3f97eda9_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3947/...efdf390c_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp bath time We changed back into some dry clothes and headed back up to the centre were they put on a great Indian inspired lunch for us. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...77fdb4a9_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp farewell elephants https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...c0b1a084_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp farewell elephants https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...e3f2fed0_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp farewell elephants https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/...14499291_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp lunch with a view https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...0722356e_c.jpg Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp After a long and winding journey back to Kalaw we were free the rest of the day to chill. Next up ride in Upper Class on Myanmar railways ;) More Photos |
Day 9 - Kalaw to Inle Lake
This morning saw our last breakfast at the Pine Hills Resort in Kalaw. We started the day with a visit to the local market where we were able to get some provisions to eat for lunch on the train. We pottered around the market and ended up at Everest restaurant using their wifi and having a cup of Nepalese spiced tea.
We then headed down to the station and checked on the train status. There was a 30 minute delay so we all pottered around the platform watching the goings on around the place. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...c4f89ebe_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/...c518825a_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...d2bb5065_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3935/...b87b9f05_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/...74d97485_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3930/...237ccc0e_c.jpg Kalaw Station - waiting A train came along but it was going in the other direction. We got to see the hustle and bustle of passengers loading and unloading and the many baskets of cabbages being carted on to the train for the onward journey. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3942/...78eaf752_c.jpg Kalaw Station not our train https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...16a27b36_c.jpg Kalaw Station not our train https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...b77d1550_c.jpg Kalaw Station Virgin eat your heart out https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5603/...45cbac6a_c.jpg Kalaw Station a free ride The delay then extended again and finally we had the news that it wouldnt be here until at around 14:00. This was putting severe pressure on the rest of the day so the group decided we would bus the trip instead. However the stationmaster then informed us they would re-jig the trains so that our one would come through first at 13:15. Sure enough it arrived within a few minutes of the expected time and we were able to get our first experience of an upper class carriage on Myanmar Railways. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3952/...953ddf9c_c.jpg Kalaw Station our train finally arrives https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...0444c378_c.jpg Upper Class Myanmar Railways https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/...4a949858_c.jpg Upper Class Myanmar Railways Ill let the pictures do the talking here. It was a slow sometimes jerky ride with the wonderful clickity-clack sound and swaying from side to side motion. We were able to watch the lush green hills and valleys pass us by. There were a lot of farmers working the land growing cabbages, corn, chokos and rice. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...3d6569e1_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/...ebb43e64_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/...37694358_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/...45cb5807_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...9dcefb2e_c.jpg Our train journey We stopped at a small town as the train loaded and unloaded passengers and goods. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/...3177d0ab_c.jpg Station en route https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...2f72ec7f_c.jpg Station en route https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...58dcebb5_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3941/...cc30526c_c.jpg Our train journey https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/...e2f5859c_c.jpg Our train journey We also stopped at a wee village along the way before getting off the train at Heho. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5615/...8e2fb508_c.jpg Disembarking at Heho Here we jumped back on our bus and motored along to the Shwe Yan Pyay monastery that has oval windows a Buddha made from bamboo and a glass mosaic roof. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5616/...e074eec5_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/...71645c88_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...2efd92af_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/...a3da5192_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...eb27eefb_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/...72144d53_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/...76b55117_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/...9eb1ace7_c.jpg Shwe Yan Pyay monastery The heavens opened up on us just as we arrived and it continued to rain as we then made our way down to the docks at Nyaungshwe. From here our luggage went with one boat and we split into groups to take the long tail boats out to the Inle Lake Resort that would be home for the next three nights. The heavens really opened up on us as we took off in our boats but luckily they had umbrellas supplied to help keep us dry. It didnt last long and we were able to enjoy the last ten minutes or so of the ride to the resort just as the light faded. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3927/...2445eeac_c.jpg Longtail boat ride to our resort https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/...40d6ebb0_c.jpg Longtail boat ride to our resort https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/...a55c98b6_c.jpg Longtail boat ride to our resort https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/...262409ff_c.jpg Longtail boat ride to our resort https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/...df7ee34c_c.jpg Longtail boat ride to our resort At check in we were greeted with a cold towel and a glass of lemongrass iced tea. We then made for our rooms before eating dinner in the we have you trapped at our resort priced restaurant. The beer here was over 2 times the price of all other places we stayed on the trip. Tomorrow sightseeing on the lake More photos |
Moomba - fabulous photos.
I was fortunate enough to visit Burma in 2010. Back then, it was still a closed society: citizens could face severe penalties for speaking freely, visiting Aung Sung Su Ki's postal resulted in the threat of severe imprisonment and there were no English signs representing the date of birth at the Shewedagon Paya. Having said that, your photos of Bagan and Mandalay were terrific. It recognized how rich this country is in temples - even compared to the greats such as Siem Reap and Indonesia. A solid effort. ^
Originally Posted by arlflyer
(Post 23658877)
As a younger traveler I think my biggest fear is there being nothing left by the time I get to all of the places I'd like to see - will the whole world be paved over with trinket shops and trampled down by the package tour groups? With information so accessible and travel so ubiquitous, it seems that the time from newly discovered to completely overheated is about 6 months these days. I'm hoping there will be places left for my generation!
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