"If adventures do not befall a lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad." ~Jane Austen
There was a long pending desire to go for a solo backpacking trip across Southeast Asia. I had a few countries in mind and was quite restless to do it. I consciously wanted to do the trip at my own pace rather than hopping from one country to another at a breakneck speed. I did considerable search regarding the visa procedure for each country, border crossing from one country to another, places to visit in each country, various attractions for each place, accommodation in each place, and so on. I hardly prepared a proper itinerary for the said solo trip. It was more like, "Let me first reach the places and then I will figure it out."
Here is a pictorial narrative, and not a descriptive one, of my whirlwind 19 days of solo backpacking trip across Myanmar.
I boarded a train from my hometown (Haflong, Assam), with a bagful of excitement and a little amount of trepidation, on 1st November 2019; and arrived at Silchar (Assam) town. I stayed here for 2 nights at my friend's place.
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| train journey from Haflong to Silchar |
The whole day journey from Silchar (Assam) to Imphal (Manipur) on the morning of 3 November 2019 was tiring. The condition of the road were bad at many places. My frustrated nerves somehow were soothed by the green natural scenery along the route. It was late evening by the time I arrived in Imphal. The govt. youth hostel was my accommodation for the night. A 6 hours bus journey awaited me early next morning through the mountainous road from Imphal to Moreh town (border town between India and Myanmar).
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| vehicle fare from Silchar to Imphal |
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| the shared vehicle from Silchar to Imphal |
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| Assam - Manipur check post |
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a bridge on Silchar-Imphal national highway
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| bhoot jolokia |
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| my accommodation in Imphal |
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| the bus from Imphal to Moreh |
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| landscape while going to Moreh |
After the mandatory passport checking at the immigration counter at Moreh, I crossed the Bridge of Friendship that separates India and Myanmar. Due to internet issue, it took some time for clearing the formalities at the small office that housed the Myanmar Immigration Centre on the other end of the bridge.
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| the bridge that separates India and Myanmar |
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| the immigration counter in Tamu (Myanmar) |
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| details to be filled up in Tamu |
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| welcome sign in Tamu |
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| the shared vehicle from Tamu to Mandalay |
Namaste Myanmar,
An overnight journey in a van from Tamu (border town) brought me to Mandalay. I was pretty impressed with the clean countryside during the journey. Myanmar was a complete surprise, and in addition it turned out to be a complete package. I thought I would end up becoming a monk by the end of my Myanmar trip because it was an overdose of Buddhist temples, stupas, monks, and caves during my exploration in Myanmar. LOL!!!😁 A special shout out to the warm hospitality and the friendly folks of Myanmar.🤗 The simple folks melted my heart. As far as the weather was concerned, it was hot as hell even in the month of November. The extreme heat made me sick in Yangon.
Glimpses of Mandalay through my travelling eyes...
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| Mandalay Royal Palace |
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Mandalay Royal Palace | | Mandalay Royal Palace |
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One for the memories at Mandalay Royal Palace
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| a church in Mandalay |
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| Mandalay |
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Mandalay Royal Palace during sunset
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locals feeding fishes in Mandalay
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| Mandalay |
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| dinner in Mandalay |
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| water lilies sold in Mandalay |
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| Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Atumashi monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw Monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay |
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| Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay |
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Shwenandaw monastery in Mandalay
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| Thanaka, light paste applied on the face by the Burmese nationals |
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| Sanda Muni Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Sanda Muni Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Sanda Muni Pagoda in Mandalay |
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| Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill |
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| view from Mandalay Hill |
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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| sunset from Mandalay Hill |
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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| night view from Mandalay Hill |
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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Su Taung Pyai Pagoda on Mandalay Hill
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| Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay |
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Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay
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Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay
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| clothes on sale in Mandalay |
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| a local lady selling flowers in Mandalay |
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| an artist at work in Mandalay |
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| monks in Mahagandhayon monastery in Mandalay |
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| monks in Mahagandhayon monastery in Mandalay |
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| monks in Mahagandhayon monastery in Mandalay |
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| Umin Thonze Pagoda in Sagaing Hills |
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| Umin Thonze Pagoda in Sagaing Hills |
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| Umin Thonze Pagoda in Sagaing Hills |
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| products on sale in Mandalay |
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| Green clock tower in Sagaing Hill |
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| ...with my fellow travellers in Mandalay |
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| price for a horse cart ride in Ava |
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| a horse cart ride in Ava |
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| Bagaya Monastery in Ava |
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| Bagaya Monastery in Ava |
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| Yadana Hsemee Pagoda complex |
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| Yadana Hsemee Pagoda complex |
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| Yadana Hsemee Pagoda complex |
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| a tree lined path in Ava |
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| maha aung mye bom san monastery in Ava |
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maha aung mye bom san monastery in Ava
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| Taungthaman Lake in Mandalay |
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| Taungthaman Lake in Mandalay |
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| U Bein Bridge across Taungthaman Lake |
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| Hsinphyume Pagoda in Mingun |
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| Mingun Pahtodawgyi |
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| giant elephant statue in Mingun |
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| lunch in Mingun |
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| colourful umbrellas sold in Mingun |
An overnight train journey from Mandalay brought me to Bagan. I highly recommend the train journey for an authentic Burmese experience. Imagine my jubilation when I found myself surrounded with all the hundreds of ancient Buddhist stupas in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of course the entry fee was pricey. It would take a lifetime to cover all the stupas at the heritage complex. It took me three days to explore the prominent ones on foot.
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| goats in Bagan |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| colourful umbrellas sold in Bagan |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site
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| Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site |
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sunset in Bagan, UNESCO world heritage site
one for the memories in Bagan
one for the memories with the locals in Bagan
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An overnight van journey from Bagan brought me to Kalaw, a small town. It was quite an ungodly hour when I arrived in the sleepy town. An almost deserted bus stop became my waiting spot in the cold night till the sun came up. My intention to come to Kalaw was to do the Kalaw-Inle Lake trek for 2 days and 1 night. We were a group of 9 people, hailing form different countries, including the trek guide. The trek took us through small Burmese villages, valleys, mountains. A couple of pictures from the trek... |
| drying of red chillies in a village |
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| our trek guide in explaining mode |
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| drying of corn in a village |
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| trekking through cornfields |
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| passing by a colourful yellow field |
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| a group photo of the trekkers |
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| one for the memories |
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| How green is my valley! |
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| the monastery, our accommodation for the night during the trek |
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| sunset as seen from the monastery |
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| the trek passed through beautiful landscapes |
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| red soil |
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| a section of the trek passed through a dry river bed filled with boulders |
The trek completely exhausted me by the time it ended on the banks of Inle Lake. The November heat of Myanmar didn't help either. I felt like my entire energy got drained. Inspite of being dead tired, the highlight was the country boat ride in the massive Inle Lake (the second largest lake in Myanmar) that brought the trek group safely to Inle Lake town.
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| country boatride in Inle Lake |
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| Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar |
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| Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar |
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| Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar |
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| Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar |
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| traditional jewellery makers of Inle Lake |
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| the long neck tribe of Inle Lake |
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| Inle Lake town |
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| a local transport in Inle Lake town |
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| Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, Inle Lake |
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| Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, Inle Lake |
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| Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, Inle Lake |
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| Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, Inle Lake |
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| local people fishing in Inle Lake town |
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| Htet Eain Gu Cave and Monastery near Inle Lake town |
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| local tea and snack in Inle Lake town |
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