Hotel Amazing Nyaung Shwe Nyaungshwe

... Lake, where I was originally thinking to arrive after cycling in Bagan and taking a strenuous bus ride to Kalaw from where I would have done the popular 3-days trek to the lake. Anyway, flying seemed to be the most reasonable solution right now.

The first thing I noticed when stepping off the plane in Heho airport near the lake was that the climate here is much more pleasant than in Yangon or Mandalay. This place is already on the mountainous area ...

... all man powered – a group of young men would climb to the top, jump and swing the punters round before jumping off as the wheel swung around. The sanctions have otherwise been totally ineffective with every conceivable good (and more) being available through Thailand and China in Taunggyi, this Eastern trading post: Oakleys, Abercrombie and Fitch, Sony Bravia flat screens, albeit all in reach of only a tiny minority.

... Sao maung.At that time two brother from Southern part of Burma,Dawai(in English named Tavoy),they ask the small king Se saing pha to stay here around lake,and the small ing allowed them to stay there and they bring their family and they settle there Inle lake and become Inn thar tribes,and they speak Burmese language but different accent,Even we do not understand,and try to catch understand accent of speaking.

Nyaung Shwe, Shan State, Myanmar kopwint

... music, and have their own versions (in their language) of many hit songs (including "La Bamba" and R&B songs).

Mandalay is an interesting city, full of history and, of course, many temples and pagodas. We toured for two days and then went to Bagan, probably the main attraction in the country. Bagan is an impressive site strewed with red-brick temples and pagodas.

After the temple overdose we took off to Kalaw ...

... said it would take 1 1/2 hours to get there. Maing Thauk is on the eastern side of the lake and is partly on land and partly floating. A wooden bridge that connects the 2 areas was built in 2001. In town there is a boy's orphanage, so we took a skipping rope and some stickers. There is also a monastery in town too. I am feeling better, so we took the trip. Along the way there are oxen, egrets, bamboo and cement homes, rice ...

... bottom of the trek about an hour or so in front of them. It was about 2:30 in the afternoon, I think. We waited for them of course, enjoying the shade and some snacks. After they made it to the bottom we let them rest of a little while and then we all got in a motor boat and headed down the river to Inle Lake. It took about an hour on the riverboat, going through villages. We dropped Warren and Danielle off at their guesthouse and then continued across the lake to where we were staying.

... over the years. They don't value historical buildings and would rather repair them. True to form there was a construction crew repairing some of the stupas. We snapped a few photos and avoided the hawkers. I would have bought some stuff if my next stop was home, but I currently don't have a home and I don't want to add needless weight to my pack. We then went to the south of the lake to see some weaving plants and ...

... So note, if you do go to Kalaw, you have been asked. But even if you don't he'd love to see you; his house which is very close to the only petrol station in town, at its edge...just ask around there and someone will take you to it. Percy married a Burmese woman some time ago, and chose to make his home here where the climate is more moderate for his "retired bones" than Yangon . He's the first to testify that the Burmese Junta almost ...

... State, there and in neighbouring Kayin State there there has been fighting for many years between tribal insurgents and the Burmese army, and many of the Padaung have migrated to neighbouring Thailand and more peaceful areas of Burma such as Inle. They support themselves by weaving their traditional costumes and selling them to tourists and of course exhibiting themselves to tourists. Its not as bad as across the border in Thailand where there are well known long ...

... heavy snoring in the crowded hut. By morning Debbie's condition had not improved. This was a long way from fun and we didn't want to risk being a further burden on our fellow travellers. We arranged a direct trip down with the family's teenage son after breakfast. If you've ever descended for a prolonged period, you'll remember the burning front leg muscles. Along the way we witnessed graphic displays of local strength and ...