U-Bein Bridge

Got lost in small alley ways on the way to U-Bein bridge and came across the silk weavers area where we heard machines clicketting 

Moved on and saw died skeins drying in the sun

Then a fisherman

And a flock of ducks

Before we saw a pagoda 

And eventually the bridge

This is the longest teak footbridge (1300y) and we saw mostly Burmese people and monks. I was stopped by these two monks who wanted a photo of me! Maybe they thought also I was "very old, very big and very beautiful"? (that's what they told another lady..)

Along the Ayeyarwady river

Spent the last 24 hours moaning and groaning. John started the previous night with sickness and diarrhoea. I started at the end of the following day with stomach cramps and violent sickness. The diarrhoea came later..

However, the previous day we gathered our courage and road the length of the 35th street all the way to the Ayeyarwady river. 

After a delicious lunch (rice and crispy peanuts, lovely spinach salad and a few bits of chicken we set off down the Myo Patt road which follows the river

Many people lived in shacks, children bathed and played

Goods were carried, watermelon was sold, panels were weaved

Beautiful people

Staying at Yoe Yoe Lae Guesthouse, friendly, comfortable, occasional wifi and great crowd of interesting travellers. We are learning much. Already changed plan A, going to Hsipaw: Thomas told us the road was a constant flow of trucks bound to and from China (with watermelons).

Went to local festival where many tribes were selling their wares,,wearing their colourful costumes and performing their local dances. So colourful and beautiful!

Mandalay

Sleeper train to Bangkok, tandem packed successfully and Mandalay at last. Airport road blissfully quiet at first than hell started in the form of thousands of motorbikes and strange old trucks weaving in and out of intersections

Nong Khai

Nine blissful days in our little paradise

Watching the Mekong flow by

Meeting old friends, new friends

Discovering the beautiful pink lilies lake with Aey

And of course... Yoga,meditation, music with wonderful Pancho and Beatrix. It is hard to realise we are leaving tomorrow 

Chiang Khan to Sangkom

105 km! Tandem and legs behaved but we were really pleased to find accommodation by the Mekong albeit the bamboo hut was basic (we didn't mind) and dirty (we did).. But it's quiet and the view peaceful. 

Well, it was peaceful until loudspeakers blasted some kind of thumping music all afternoon (right behind our hut). We found out it was market day for Lao people

Chilis 

Fried crickets and larvaes 

Chiang Khan

Two delightful couple of days in this picturesque little town (overrun by Thai tourists taking selfies - but saw only one foreigner!), romantic (and very basic!) stay in fisherman's hut, the most beautiful spot in Chiang Khan for 300 Bahts (£6)

John slaved away

I relaxed...

Dan Sai to Chiang Khan

Said good bye to the lovely two ladies who looked after us

And had an easy ride, flattish road

And tandem behaved all the way to one of the rivers that throws itself into the Mekong

Stayed the night at Ban Pak Huai and had pic-Nixon room

Then started towards Chiang Khan, only 55km away but so tiring with many teep ups and downs. Arrived in Chiang Khan exhausted