I had a leisurely day (or half-day) on the bike today. I read about the hot spring about 40 minutes away by bike. It seemed like a good way to while the day away.
The road there was a mix of sealed and unsealed. I had a nicer bike than the one in Bagan and it was equipped with gears. This was my first experience cycling on terrain, make that rough terrain. I bounced off the seat a few times going downhill over the stony surface. And I learnt that bike gears are numbered opposite to car gears; choose a small number to go up hill!
It was USD5 to enter the men’s swimming pool and USD8 for the co-ed small pools. Pricey for this part of the world! I chose the former as I wanted to save money and I was the only customer anyway. The water was warm, not hot. I only stayed about 30 minutes and then cycled back.
I wasn’t disappointed as I hadn’t expected something like one of those amazing Korean (or Hungarian) spas. And it was a good way to kill half-a-day, which is what I wanted. I enjoyed cycling through the countryside more than the actual hot springs.
With the short winter daylight hours, there wasn’t much left to the day after a late lunch.Over dinner I met this Italian guy who had become a Buddhist. I had a very interesting chat with him and had a quick revision on the differences between the Mahayana and Hinayana (Theravada) forms of Buddhism.
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- At the markets in Nyaung Shwe.
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- At the markets in Nyaung Shwe.
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- Scenery in the countryside around Nyaung Shwe.
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- Luckily for me, my bike was better than this one.
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- Scenery in the countryside around Nyaung Shwe.
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- Buffaloes in the countryside around Nyaung Shwe.
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- Washing by the river.
