Going by bicycle through Myanmar means to be much slower than the common tour buses. It also means to to go on small dirt roads seeing much of the rural Myanmar while a lot of sweat runs down the back mixed with dust and dirt forming a sticky compound on our skin.
The whole tour brings us in nine days from Mandalay via Bagan to Lake Inle, cycling abaout 50-65 km per day. This does not sound much but considering the 35°Celsius and the enormous hills combined with sometimes challenging road conditions for us it is definitely enough. An additional factor are the unfamiliar bikes. Already on the second day Dorit gets difficulties to sit on the saddle with its race shape.
But our brilliant tour guide Toe Toe was able to make the tour as comfortable as possible for us and adjusted the programme exactly according to our wishes.
Starting point was Mandalay. Although the city as such was more of a disappointment with faceless houses, much dust and crowded streets, there is much to see in and around it. We were impressed by the ruins of Innwa a former capital and residence of the king as well as by the U-Pein Bridge, the longest bridge built from teak wood in the world.
In the centre of Mandalay the Mahamuni temple belongs to the three most important holy places in Myanmar. This temple accommodates a statue of Buddha on which men (women are not allowed to do so) stick gold leaves over and over again so that the original shape cannot be recognized anymore.
These wafer-thin gold leaves are produced in special workshops in a long traditional process and packed to small bundles. But Mandalay is not only known for its gold workshops. In some streets one can see Buddha statues along the whole streets and can observe the stonecutter while working. Fine white durst covers the whole scenery. Close by are the wood carvers and the metal workers. They are all professional artists on their own.
Than the cycling tour starts. Luckily we can avoid the main roads most of the times. Often we stop in villages get invited to see how people live or observe a cock’s fight and try the delicious food from the street vendors. But we are also a favoured motive for pictures. More than once we are asked to pose with a family for a picture and often Holger’s body height leads to a lot “Ohs” and “Ahs”.
After two days we reach Bagan.
