2007 Biking Burma

Christmas…

Three days of cycling took us west again to Mount Popa…via Kalaw (65.9 km @ 11 kph) and Meiktila (118.4 km @ 13 kph) and Kyaukpadaung (100.5 km @ 12 kph). The slow averages attest partially to our general unfitness, but mainly to the appalling state of the roads.

Mount Popa is the core of an extinct volcano last active 250,000 years ago. It rises 737m above the plain and has a temple on top. We treated ourselves to two nights, including the 25th, in a super hotel with fabulous views of Popa and great food and an excellent masseuse named Soe Soe. Last season their 50 rooms were all occupied; this season we were the only foreigners, and a late arrival of wealthy locals took nine of the other 49 vacant rooms for a night.

The Burmese are Buddhist, but also worship 37 nat (spirits or saints) that originate from their animist past. Mount Popa is the home of the nat. They are associated both with nature and with historical and mythical figures. We found their representation strange. Life-size statues often depicted paying homage to the Buddha.