After breakfast we headed off to get some fuel before tackling the day’s ride to Pyay. We soon found ourselves back in the beautiful countryside, with shady tree lined roads for our riding pleasure. We saw workers in the fields and the multitude of oxen and carts we passed was inspiring for Vince, (already smitten with “Marmalade” (his pet name) the Brahman Bull we met yesterday at the Palm Oil place) who has now decided it would be a good idea to buy 3……Barry, Bruce and Bob….and maybe a baby one…..so we can travel by Ox and Cart and see more……..this was quickly taken on board by Aad (Art) and Mike….who kept feeding ideas to help the dream grow……give me strength…..I really hope he is just joking!
Along the way Aad (Art) and Mike stopped for a drink and we passed them….thinking they would catch us up…..but after a while we stopped when they had not done so…..only to discover we had missed a turn some 10km back…..so we turned back and caught them up…..they were stopped at a local shop for a drink. The locals spoke no English but were very friendly.
Our hotel was lovely, the Manglar Resort Hotel, set around a lake filled with large fish. After a delicious lunch, I asked at reception if there was anyone who could mend my boot (my attempt with superglue last night proved unsuccessful today)….and they organised a local “Taxi” (really just a tray back ute with a cover and two bench seats) for 6000 Kyet return to take me to a bootmaker. One of the staff came with us to interpret….we tipped her 1000 Kyet which she tried not to take. The bookmaker indicted that my boot was beyond glue but he could sew it…..in about half an hour…..so we watched him do it and it only cost us 3000 Kyet. Whilst we were waiting we saw a parade come along….we are not sure what they were celebrating but it did not appear to be political….Vince counted 45 girls all dressed up and carrying money……and I saw a buddah statue on one of the trucks.
Back at the resort we had single beds ….which we tried to push together and found some money under my bed and a whole load of termites under Vince’s. At 5.00pm we all piled into the Tour Bus (11 of us squashed in like sardines) to got to see the sunset by the river and taste some local food. After that we walked to the Night Market, and on the way we were invited into a wedding…. we were asked to stay and eat, but be politely declined…..not wanting to intrude. The Night Market was interesting with all sorts of foods available….we tried something that was a bit light a muffin/donut ….delicious. After that we went to see a Pagoda…..but I can’t remember the name of it.
It was a relatively early night …..we are just so very very tired! We think we need to find a nice place and spend a week or so down time to recharge….we have been on the go really since the middle of India….and as wonderful as it is to be travelling…..it is really hard work at times.
