The next day was spent in Pyay to take a break and rid myself of the oncoming cold.
Not much got done apart from sauntering to the nearby temple and market. The
outing allowed stocking up on vitamin C and eating at the night market - a sure sign
I felt better.
Pyay – Aunglan - 75 km
As camping is against the law in Myanmar, sleeping arrangements were checked out
more thoroughly than usual. The single town offering accommodation was Aunglan,
which made the ride relatively short.
Pedalling into Aunglan, I asked about a room and was escorted to a guesthouse. So
kind was the man, he even helped carry the panniers inside. The Win Light
Guesthouse was conveniently situated along the main street. The place featured
spacious rooms and a balcony, but it wasn’t cheap at $25.00.
Aunglan – Magway – 133 km
The way to Magway turned out a long and slow ride. I felt stuck to the tarmac and
although not mountainous, the road remained undulating. Mercifully, the narrow
route was shaded, which made a substantial difference.
Not seeing a great deal of interest, I put my head down and kept moving forward.
Finally, Magway (pronounced Magwe) was reached in the late afternoon. I was tired
and opted for the first hotel I spotted, right at the roundabout. The place wasn’t a
budget hotel, and one likely could’ve gotten a less expensive one downtown. But the
risk wasn’t worth it in the dark, as people refrained from using vehicle lights.