Bagan – Pale - 130 km
I knew too much time was wasted in Yangon and I would need a ride to the border.
Still, I decided to give it my best shot and see how far I got.
Already late on setting out, the route, fortunately, wasn’t too hilly, merely narrow and
uneven in places. Shortly ahead of Pale, the road disappeared but, mercifully,
reappeared not much further. Pale was reached just as the sun started setting. Pale
was a small settlement housing a few shops spread along the main street. Enquiring
about accommodation, I was pointed to a building that didn’t resemble lodging but
sported a few basic rooms with a toilet and shower in the backyard.
It made sense to take a lift over the slowest part of the route, especially since the
owner offered to find a bus timetable to Gangaw or Kale.
Pale – Kale (Kalay) - By bus
Getting a bus was easier said than done. The small busses (minivans) couldn’t take
the bicycle, and the larger bus only departed at 8 p.m. This meant losing an
additional day, but with no other option I settled in for the long wait. I wasn’t looking
forward to the bus ride over the mountain at night.
Later, a walk searching for breakfast turned out an interesting experience. The little
restaurant was tucked away and had a dirt floor and a few wooden tables. A whole
array of food was served while village folk came to photograph me. But, in the end,
they wanted no money for the meal.
The day passed quickly, and the little village was lively with pre-election activities.
Truckloads of people drove along the main drag, equipped with massive speakers
blasting music and announcing (false?) hope for the future. Flags were waved, and
everyone seemed to have a jolly good time.