Back in time …

We stay only a day in Mandalay cause there is not much to see there, and much more to do everywhere else ! So we take a flight in the morning (yes yes the small little tiny plane ! I am very relax !) to go to Heho. Our next destination is actually Inle Lake and to go there , we have several options : take a taxi, a bus, maybe a train ! But we can walk as well …. yes, walking is nice right ! (I wish you could feel all the sarcasm in my mind right now !).

No, it is not a joke, my dearest friends being very sporty (just like me of course ! ), they decided to do a 2 days treck across the hills to go to Inle Lake … Okkk.. I accept almost without any grumbling !

In Kalaw, we meet Willi, our guide, and his cook and helper. We pack a small bag for the 3 of us and let’s go for 7 hours walk ! Landscapes are really nice, but surprisingly familiar …. it could be anywhere in Europe ! But the main point of this treck (yes , cause there is a point, I mean, apart of building myself an awesome ass !) is to go say hi to the hill tribes, living very traditionally in small hill villages.  To be honest it is so striking it is a bit hard to describe …  It is in incredible travel back in time cause the living conditions are so basic … it is also an amazing exchange with the people, which are so nice and welcoming and smiling and eager to laugh ! The cherry on the cake is that they love photos which makes me more than happy ! So be ready to see portraits, portraits portraits ! And there is so many grannies, definitely my favourites, that I can't stop admiring. Their faces is so old, so beautiful, so smiling even though they don't have a tooth left … it is ok, they keep smiling and  put back their “turban” to look pretty ! Amazing … The best part must be when I show them the pictures, they don't stop laughing at themself and at others ! I think if I ever go back there  I will bring a Polaroid to let them keep the pictures.

Anyway, the walk is beautiful and the hiking starts only at the very end of the day. Unfortunately we have been a bit slow so the night is coming very fast , and we still have a while before reaching the monastery . The sunset is beautiful, but quickly we are in the dark, just when we reach a very muddy slippery slope ! With my tiny flash lamp I can’t see anything and after 5 min I gave up on saving my shoes from mud and cowpats and just walk straight ! Seriously, once your feet are wet and muddy you don't feel anything anymore ! Anyway, it is  real pain, and takes us 30 more minute to reach the monastery …

Is it necessary to precise that in the monastery on top of the Myanmar hills there is no bathroom, no shower, no hot water, no electricity … ? About the toilet … I would rather not describe it ! For all your sake ! So it is quite perfect when you have mud from toes to ears and are completely frozen ! Anyway, I wash my hands and feet into the well and get into the monastery.  In front of a few massive Buddha is standing a tiny low table for us to have dinner ! And what a dinner ! A feast ! I don’t know how the cook does that much with so little , it is just amazing.  After dinner they prepare us some blankets for us to sleep  on the floor, next to the Buddha … Good Night ! Completely surreal !

Early morning we are waken up by the kind monk singing 5 meter away from us, praying. Where the hell am I !!! Surreal bis ! After a huge breakfast (eggs, toasts, cookies, and caramelized bananas !) , we are back on track, walking towards Inle Lake ! But that, I will talk about it later ! For now, take a look at the pictures !

Flight Mandalay Heho: around 45 USD

Trek: 30 USD / pax all included , booked with the While Lotus Agency.