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.