50th and 51st Day Sunday, February 15, 2015 Kyaikhtiyo / Golden Mountain

Mingalaba,

on to the last destination here in Myanmar to Kyaiktiyo and the Golden Rock.

Early at 4:30 am we reached Yangon by night bus, punctual as always. Since we were already at the Aung Mingalar bus station, I immediately took the next bus to Kyaiktiyo. This was again a local bus and therefore a few standard classes lower than the good night buses, but the 5 hours were bearable. And besides, this had a big advantage: there was no air conditioning, and when the sun was at its zenith halfway through the journey, all the windows were opened.

We arrived at the destination at 11 am and directly at the Kinpun Champ, from where the pilgrims and tourists are loaded onto trucks and brought up to the mountain to the Golden Rock at an astonishing speed of 45 minutes. This rock threatens to fall into the abyss someday. It is said that even a child's hand could make it wobble, it is only supported by a hair of Buddha's…!

Going down is the same game. When the truck is full, it is not yet full according to the opinion of one crazy 'human transportation employee'. He tries to squeeze in another 1-2 people between everyone else for another 10 minutes. Of course, this is not possible because when it's full, it's full! So, start, drive 100 meters, stop, collect money, wait another 10 minutes.

Then, 5-6 trucks thunder down the mountain all at once. The first 5 minutes are all laughter, but the remaining 40 minutes are somehow tense and yet somehow holding on. Right, left, right, lef… full speed, braking, and finally, at the bottom, 'INSANE'.

Afterwards, relax in a beautiful hotel, surrounded by greenery in an orchard.

Now unfortunately the last day, which I spend with a beautiful 4-hour train ride to Yangon. Of course, there was no place left for me in the Upper Class (the better class with fabric seats), only Ordinary Class with wooden seats, but it was quite bearable. Especially, it was fun to watch the whole time how flying traders wandered up and down the compartment to offer their goods.

That's it, almost 2 weeks in Myanmar are behind me. The next morning, I went back to Thailand.

Goodbye Myanmar.