Monday 29 February 2016

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..)

Monday 15 February 2016

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

Saturday 13 February 2016

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 

Wednesday 3 February 2016

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 

Monday 1 February 2016

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