The Shwezigon pagoda is where much of the Full Moon festival activities centered around in Nyang U. As the sun began to set, the sparrows began flocking, and locals and travelers began gathering around as the candles were lit around the base. -w

Our last evening in Bagan we visited the huge gilded Shwezigon Pagoda for sunset. Nuns placed tiny oil lamps every few feet around the base and lit the pagoda by candle light. Bagan isn’t just a place Western tourists visit, there were local tourists and families making their vacation day pilgrimage as well. I watched these children lighting candles for a long time before finally capturing their beautiful light.-k

Sunrise in Bagan is a beautiful thing to behold. Thanks to tour guides Sergai and Adrienn who met us once again in Nyaung U, we pedaled out to the middle of the plain to climb atop Pyathada Pagoda to greet the day. Soft morning light baths the temples and hot air balloons drift silently by. -kat

Portable, beautiful and elegant suncreen is available at a shop in Nyang U. -willie

After a long sick day in a hotel that was too expensive to want to stay longer, we decided to jump forward by taking a bus from Monywa to Nyaung U to see Bagan. We didn’t know how it would all work, but the bikes were loaded on the top of the bus along with all the other cargo. Taking a tip from other cyclists, we packed 4 of our panniers in one large poly-bag. It too went on top along with our large duffle. Not realizing just how tightly packed the inside of the bus would be, we sat sardine style with knees up to accommodate wheel wells and extra cargo below and guys squeezed in the isle to make full use of the space. -kat

This woman awaits to see if her luggage survived the bus ride from Monywa to Nyang U. Her bags, our bikes were strapped on top of the bus. All the seats filled up on the bus. Then they brought small plastic stools, so others could sit in the aisle … we would soon learn, weren’t even close to capacity. -willie

After along ride to Monywa, we were once again strolling the night market in search of food. There is food everywhere, but not always something you know you want to eat. This stand makes only a green papaya, tomato, pepper, shallot salad with crispy, tasty, fiery bits all dripping with lime juice. The large clay mortar and pestle used to pound the fresh ingredients into deliciousness pose for my camera while the chef is a blur of motion. -kat

If you are going to eat street food (and we eat a lot), you want to make sure that the fire and the pan are hot. It is amazing how ingenious people can be. One woman built a hot wood fire two feet from traffic. She used an old car bumper as a heat shield. -willie

Dyed silk hangs thick and luscious in the silk weaving district between Mandalay and Saraing. Our pedaling route took us down the narrow roadways in this district where we chanced to see the strands of silk before they become the cloth so admired. The clatter of weaving machines is the other side of this tale. -Kat

We stopped to have lunch before crossing over U Bain’s bridge (longest teak footbridge). The little neighborhood was a buzz with costumed locals getting ready for a festival. We walked over to the temple and watched as they lined up for the processional. Hundreds of people participating and only dozens watching. Believe it or not, this cow’s costume is understated compaired to many of the other outfits we saw. –Willie