06/12/2019 – Sunrises and balloons

It was around 200km to Bagan and not knowing what the roads were like, I decided to split it into 2 days.

It is hot out here easily reaching 30 degrees in the afternoon which is vastly different to the UK winter.

The roads out here aren’t too bad at all, a little bit bumpy for my taste but I was happy. A quick stop at a landmark bridge and I made it to a restaurant in the evening in good time.

Sadly camping is illegal in Myanmar as you have to stay with a registered address every night and ‘sign in’. There weren’t any hotels near but thankfully the restaurant owner said I could camp in the field behind their house.

The next day I reached Bagan in good time and checked into the hostel which was chosen as their was a swimming pool, something that was well worth paying £7 a night for.

The next few days were spent going around Old Bagan and seeing some of the 2000 temples and pagodas that are here. Tragically there was an earthquake last year that reduced the number from 4000 but it was still a spectacle.

The main attraction has to be the sunrise though.

Every morning over a hundred balloons fly across the old city which creates a sight that can never be forgotten.

The sunset isn’t too shabby either…

Bagan really was doing it’s best to keep me here as long as possible but the time came to eventually leave and aim for Inle Lake.

It was a couple of days ride away but having had so much time off the bike, I was looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.