Kyaikto – Bago - 95 km
At breakfast, I met two Canadian cyclists en route to Thailand. I seldom met other
bicycle tourers and we chatted at length before getting underway. From Kyaikto it was
smooth sailing, and my arrival in Bago thus early. The Emperor Hotel made convenient
digs, offering a ground-floor garage to store the bike. However, the stairs were almost
vertical. Luckily, in Myanmar, people are always ready to lend a helping hand.
Bago – Yangon - 90 km
From Yangon, the route continued to Yangon, along a heavily congested road. Thirty
kilometres later, a minor road veered off the highway, which turned out rough and
uneven but at least it came without the horrendous traffic. Once in Yangon, I headed
toward downtown and the famous Sule Pagoda.
Where else will you find a two-thousand-year-old golden temple forming the main
roundabout? The temple formed the heart of the old district, an area known for
inexpensive accommodation. I first checked out a few but, ultimately, opted for the
Ocean Pearl Inn. Although not dirt cheap, it was considered good value for money.
My arrival coincided with the start of the weekend which meant my Indian visa
application could only be handed in on Monday. I was a tad peed off with myself for
not checking the calendar. Unfortunately, this meant there wouldn’t be enough time to
bike to the border. So, with time on my hands, I explored the area on foot until the
necessary paperwork could be done.
By Monday, the embassy revealed I didn’t have the right-sized photo to accompany
the visa application. Darn! At least the required permission to enter the restricted area
at the India-Myanmar border was applied for. At $100, the permit wasn’t cheap, but
there was little one could do but pay. Except for the receipt, one had nothing to show
for it.