Myanmar - the RPS Travel Group trip 14th - 28th February Part VI Inlay Lake and Nyaung Shwe

The next morning we set off, a little later, to catch the same boats to visit the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and then go on to the village where a few Padang women live.

At the landing stage in Nyaung Shwe

Villagers collecting the river mud

Watching how the soya crackers are made

A short trek from the boats to the Pagoda meant more opportunities for photos

We had to pay a small camera fee, in order to take photos

Similar to Angkor Wat - a lot of old stupas with plants growing out of them

A view of the Pagoda from afar

I walked along the path on the outside of the 'shopping mall' entrance to the pagoda

Inside of the Pagoda

Couldn't resist doing a flip, rotate and blend of the all the golden spires

I returned to the river via the 'shopping mall'.  The inset of this image shows some paw prints in steps.

Had a much needed lime juice at the restaurant by the river and watched these street traders try to tempt the tourists

Another type of river craft

The Padang women weavers

Taken in the same shop the weavers were in

I noticed the gulls following the boats the previous day.  The locals throw food for them so they follow the boats in case they get fed.  The gull over the boy with his arm in the air has a morsel in between his beak

Lots of opportunities to catch gulls in flight

Very unusual to see a fisherman, fishing in the traditional way without posing for tourists.

Back at Nyaung Shwe, Chris shows his photo

We had a free morning in Nyaung Shwe before going back to Yangon in the afternoon.  When we met up for the coach we were told our plane had been cancelled.  The majority went back in one plane and one of us went back with Chris in a later plane.  I volunteered to go on the later plane.  It meant a late dinner in Yangon but most of us could sleep in, on our last day!

I wandered back to a restaurant, we had had a couple of meals at as the coffee had been recommended.  I was the only customer at 9.30 am when they opened and the coffee was good.

Strolling back by the stream which runs by the town and spotted these monks working.

I had arranged to meet up for coffee again with Andrew and Elizabeth.  They arrived as two brides and grooms were leaving from the beauty shop below the cafe/bakery.  Neither of the couples seemed to mind posing for us.  This was the best of the ones I took.

Had another wander before returning to my chalet at the Paradise Hotel and chilling out before leaving for Yangon

We stopped for a snack near the airport as we had time.  These guys were felling trees opposite.

Myanmar - the RPS Travel Group trip 14th - 28th February Part V Kalaw to Nyaung Shwe

A few images from the market in Kalaw then we journeyed by coach to Nyaung Shwe.  We stopped at the same teashop where we had stopped on our way from Heho airport.  We drank the local honeyed wine.  We stopped off at Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung - the most photographed monastery in Nyaungshwe.   The monks are framed by oval windows in the ancient teak ordination hall and you are expected to give donations if you photograph them.  I preferred the smaller pagoda next to it on the same site - lots of interior decorations there.

This is sugar cane juice which was prepared as the customer waited.

At Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung

Arriving at our destination we booked in one of the nicest hotels of our stay.   There was an optional tour to the Red Mountain winery.  We had already tasted the local wine - lovely.  It is run by a Frenchman.  A few of us went in carriages pulled by motor bikes and had a pleasant evening tasting and drinking wine.

A narrow track so the bullock driver pulled in for us to pass

Jay proposing a toast with Jenny next to her.

A pleasant way to watch the sun go down

My wine glass put on the table at Jay's suggestion.  I had to remove the lipstick marks! 

Yet another early start the next day, but oh so worth it.  We had a day on Inlay Lake.  First stop was for the men who used to be fishermen but now pose for tourists for money.  Then on to Nam Pan Market. 

We had three boats for our group

Arriving at the market

Now that is breastfeeding in public

Jay sorting out her models.  Shame about the light.

A traffic jam with all the boats meant there was plenty of time to take pics of our fellow boat travellers.

Stopped off at the spinners and weavers

Spotted on the way to our teashop and I jokingly asked if we could stop there on the way back.  One of the best stops of the day.

If you can not read the sign when you click on the photo, it is the Inthar Heritage House and has Burmese cats there.  The toilets were apparently spotless and Chris said he would be suggesting the stop was added on in future.  The cats were in a large cage which you could walk in and stroke the cats.  While taking the first photo below, one of the cats jumped on to my shoulders and we became the models for a time.  Not sure if it is the same cat which is sitting on Sally's shoulders below.  My cat fix for a year satisfied!

Sally with passenger

Chris had a bubble bottle

There was a bridge over the lake on to this island for the cats to have an outside bit to their cage

Elizabeth outside the cheroot factory, we visited

Taken from our lunch stop - Inn Thar Lay restaurant

Sailing through the agricultural bit

We spent the next morning on Inlay Lake and I will put the images on the next post.