Myanmar 3: Hsipaw Part B

Wed 14
Last day in Hsipaw - and we both managed to get out on a guided tour. Jess took a lovely boat trip up river for six hours with an excellent young guide and one other family, whilst I joined a 2-day/ 1 night hike group of four, but just to do Day 1 and then scooter back to town.

We followed the route that I had cycled yesterday towards the dam, then struck off uphill from the paddy fields.

Soya bean paste ‘pancakes’ for flavouring cooking

First stop was a farmer’s house (right hand side in panorama above) for tea, bananas and rice wine flavoured with honey (basically industrial strength alcohol at 10am!)

L-R: Farmer, son, and our guide Win.

Making grass roof panels

We pushed on up the next valley, which was heavily deforested and now used to grow corn for export to China. Must be incredibly tough harvesting by hand on steep slopes.

Past a Shan military checkpoint on the dusty track, and then down into Pankham village where my group were spending the night in a “homestay”. 15km in just over 6 hours.

Pankham village

Monastery and temple entrance

We met the host family, and had a sumptious vegetarian lunch cooked on a wood fire on the floor of the all-wood house!

I had a tour of the villlage with Win,

and then hopped onto my scooter ride back to town - driven safely back down the 15km dirt track by Mo in 45 mins, that had taken us 6 hours to walk up!

Thurs 15
We got up at 0515 and walked into town to see the bustling market (got the right one this time!) - which starts at 0300! It was the start of Chinese New Year, so quite busy.

And then a wonderful sunrise on the river

We bade farewell to the lovely staff at Mr Charles’ Hotel and squished into our deluxe taxi for the 6 hour ride to Mandalay. Back down the twisty road where the Goteik viaduct is, with our intrepid driver undertaking the trucks on the inside of the hairpins!! He had a great laugh, and at least slowed a bit when using his phone. The owner of the car sat in the back with another passenger and me, whilst Jess had the front seat! They were going from Lasio (and hour north of Hsipaw) to Bagan!