Leaving Inle early we caught the morning light again.

Of paw-paw.

Perhaps - some of the women have pom poms on their conical hats in this area ....

This is a stadium. There was some sort of military complex with fountains beyond it.

The wide roads were mainly empty.

Many.

The city strikes us as a model for future inefficiency as the reliance on energy to cover the long distances within the spread out city become evident.

This was the reception committee, complete with cool, salted, juice. Of a fruit who's name we can't pronounce.

Concrete and a bit lumpy.

As well as bridge transitions that were more lumpy.

Surprisingly we've seen little evidence of the military.

And of course someone did.

I figured I needed a rest.

I'm pleased I gave it a miss.

Pilgrims are special people, specially toughened.

It seems most are from within Myanmar.

Some people opt to be carried.

The rock and pagoda are covered in gold leaf.

The important bit for the pilgrims is the pagoda.

Kyaikhtiyoe Hsantawshin Pagoda.

The rock represents an Ascetic's head. Buddha visited and gave his hair to the Ascetic Twira.

The hair is enshrined in the pagoda.

This is industrial tourism.

About 40,000 people each day.

This aspect of Myanmar, as at Inle, was a bit of a surprise to us.

About 150km.

Headed south east, crossing the north south rivers.

Limestone.

We've been unsure what has been underneath our feet since entering Assam.

It wasn't granite but must somehow have been associated with the Himalayas.

This is sedimentary. An old sea bed.

Very common in SE Asia, as we discovered last time we were here.

The vegetation has become more lush. A bit like we expected of all of Myanmar.

We are crossing the Salween River.

We are now in the Myanmar State of Kayin. There is the Karen national museum somewhere near.

The Karen are one of the larger tribes spread across the hills to the north of Thailand, Myanmar and NE India. They have a wish for their own country.

Just east of the Salween River at Hpa-an.