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Published: December 1st 2013
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Nov 22
nd, it's our last full day at Lake Inle, we have met some French travelers who suggested that we have lunch at the Bamboo Hut about 5km from Nyaung Shwe. And in my view the only way to get there is by tuk-tuk, so we hire one for the princely sum of US $20. Unfortunately, foreigners cannot rent motor bikes, so it's a tuk-tuk or pedal power, and it's too hot for pedal power. Our goal is to first go into the hills and visit some remote villages. But the best laid plans of mice and men; we don't get too far and visit a meditation cave, complete with monks. Monks are actually living in the cave; it's all a bit too basic for me. Anyway, a resourceful local lad takes charge and leads us on a tour, I even give a small donation to the monks in the cave and am immediately “blessed”.
After the caves we make or way to the Bamboo Hut. It is located up a dirt road on the side of Inle Lake about 5km from Nyaung Shwe Township. We are heartily welcomed and made to feel at home. The outlook is
Blues Night
Great guitarist, but couldn't sing for shit! across a garden and sugar cane field. The menu is not large, we chose a Chicken Curry and Pan fried vegetables accompanied by rice. Some of the vegetables are picked fresh as we wait. Complimentary nuts, nibbles, tea, soup, and rice with spring onion are brought to our table while our main course is cooking. The presentation is excellent, quantity is substantial and the quality of the food is excellent. And an added extra, the waiter has good knowledge of English, is attentive and helpful with our questions. This restaurant is a little gem and it really deserves to succeed....
Our last meal in lake Inle is at at the priceyViewpoint Restaurant overlooking one of the canals that leads to the lake. We have decided to go up-market and splash out. The bill is 45 US and is around $40 more than we spent at the Bamboo Hut. Service is good and the furnishings and ambiance of the restaurant is exceptional.
We say our goodbyes to the manager of the Cassiopia hotel, he has been very attentive during our stay, and a taxi takes us to the airport for the flight to Yangon via
Bagan. We arrive in Yangon at around 7.45pm and find a hotel close to the airport. It's pretty rundown, but we figure it will do what we want for the next 2 nights. Our flight is at 8.30 on the 26
th November, and we feel it could possibly get on a flight the following morning. However, after talking with the supervisor with Air Asia, the reply is “impossible”, no choices, just “impossible”. At least Ryan Air would have suggested that we buy a new ticket!
Finally, we are back to Bangkok, and have a hotel on Soi 8 off Sukhumvit. Two nights only, while Malcolm has a dental appointment and we try and get over our colds; then we are off tha Chiang Mai. There's not much to say, other than we will be pleased to get the hell out of Bangkok. And unfortunately, my cold has returned with a vengeance.
We catch the overnight train to Uttaradit and then have to catch a bus to Chiang Mai. Thai Railways have been working on the tracks north of this town for several months because of a series of derailments. Anyway, the sleeper is not
a bad way to travel and can certainly recommend 2
nd class as a reasonable way to travel; I also manage to get about 5 hours sleep. On reaching Uttaradit, a Buddhist Nun who was also on the train, takes us under her wing and puts us on the correct bus to Chiang Mai. We haven't booked a hotel, however Malcolm has had good experiences at the Mountain View Guest House over the years and they have rooms available. Basic, but good and a double room with twin beds costs us US $20 per night. The food is pretty good and the price is right!
It's now Saturday, 29
th November and our big adventure is to hire 125cc Motor bikes and ride up the mountain to see one of the famous Wats. By now, we are both over Wats and give the temple a quick once over. Back down at street level its time for some food and we have spied what appears to be a sausage on a stick and strawberries at one of many food stalls that litter the pavement. The sausage turns out to be, not a sausage, but a condom filled with
rice and garlic. Not bad and even better with a strawberry chaser. Back on our motor bikes we ride further into the mist. As our elevation climbs, it gets cooler and both of us have only short sleeved shirts on. The plan is to reach the summit and find our way down the other side. It's an adventure, believe me! The road, a dirt track, has seen its share of rain; I'm starting to feel like a motor-cross rider on small wheels. My front tyre has no tread and I have to keep the brakes applied as we slide downwards through the rain forest. At one stage I attempt to apply the front brake and find there isn't one. I don't know what happened and luckily for me it isn't on one of the steeper slopes, anyway 50 meters further on it is back to normal. I think it took us about 90 minutes to come down the mountain. Finally, we are at the bottom, and both agree that it's not bad effort for a pair of old “farts”. Close by, there's a recreational area on a lake with little floating huts that turn out to be part of a
restaurant. We stop for a much deserved coffee...........
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Robin
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Yea man
Really looked forward to yr blogs. I have just returned from Fiji. See u.