Myanmar days 8 & 9

Myanmar days 8 & 9 are trekking days. We drive 2 hours from the remote town of Kalaw on bumpy barely drivable narrow roads to the even more remote and totally rural Baw Hnin Gone village where we abandon our 1940s necessarily tiny bus to commence our two day 14k trek. On Shan Plateau, at about 1100 metres above sea level, we walk through impressively maintained fields growing an incredible range of crops, we cross dried up rivers and small gorges, and we trudge through small copses of unrecognisable trees. Then we are hiking up up up the side of a massive rocky outcrop followed by down down down a narrow ledge along one side of a heavily wooded gorge to the end of our trek at Inle Lake. This is a wonderful experience, I'm loving it. En route, we pass and talk with people working in the fields; a man ploughing a single furrow with an ox at about 50 metres an hour; 3 small boys driving and riding 3 oxen across a field; a man and woman herding about 20 cattle along a track; a group of women cleaning crops of weeds. Half way we stop to spend the night at a monastery. An impressive teak building housing the Abbot and 10 novice monks. These are kids, about 9 to 12 years old. They pray to Buddha, do lots of chanting, and study together in a side room. They are moving around us normally if a little warily as we organise ourselves and have our evening meal in the huge main room. We sleep on the floor under mosquito nets in the same room under the watchful eyes of Buddha, the men together in one group near Buddha, the women in two separate groups further away. (Throughout Myanmar, women are not allowed to get as close to Him as the men.) The monks sleep right under His image. The monks start their days chanting at 5am so we get up soon after and have breakfast at 6 before recommencing our trek at 7am. I will always remember the experience of spending this night in the monastery. (But I will try to forget the toilets). During the the trek, we stop at small villages for lunches and coffee breaks, the local people are welcoming and delighted to see us. They are especially pleased when we show them the photos we take, especially those of the children. Inle Lake is huge, 1328 metres above sea level. We transfer by narrow motor boats to our hotel, about an hour scudding along waterways and across the main lake, sitting 4 in line in very comfortable seats, amazing scenery and perfectly relaxing after the hours of walking. Two great days. Best wishes to you all, John