Myanmar / Thailand Trip Recap (7)

Day 8 - Pyin Oo Lwin

After many days under the scorching sun, we spent the day in Pyin Oo Lwin.  At an altitude of 1070 meters and 42 miles from Mandalay, it was a hill station and the summer capital during the colonial period.
The weather was cool and sunny, which is definitely a welcomed change.  The surrounding is lush and you can see a lot of colonial style buildings remained.  The area is also famous for sweater knitting, flower and vegetable gardens, strawberry and pineapple orchards, coffee plantations and cow rearing.  

At my request, our guide took us to one of the local strawberry orchards, after the standard visits to the local temples.  I am so glad we went!  If I were to re-live the day, I would skip the temple (I've seen enough) and the Peik Chin Myaung Cave (so overrated!); spend more time in town (drink coffee at the local coffee shop) or the National Kandawgyi Park, maybe ask the guide to take us to a local vineyard or flower farm.

That's bananas!

On the way to Pyin Oo Lwin

it's either shallots or potatoes...
I wonder what happens if the bag breaks...

downtown Pyin Oo Lwin

Above the Buddha, the prior military junta wrote "Bless me, my wife and my family"
Normally, no one dares to put themselves above Buddha...

donation can be more than just money and gold leaves...
many believers donate their jewelry to the temples

women selling flower offering to visitors

old fashion dryer

that's not a swimming pool

that kid is obviously having too much fun...

 

the overrated Peik Chin Myaung Cave

yes, you have to walk barefoot in a slippery, rock-filled cave

mini-Mahamuni

mini-Shwedagon

mini-Kyaktiyo

plums for plum wine - so good~

picking away

big harvest!

pros working the strawberry farm

welcome to my belly~

strawberry milkshake - yum

fried fish cakes

eggplants - how did they retain the purple color?

pork ear salad - crunchy goodness

hello, kitty!

local souvenir shop - selling tea leaves, jams, beans, etc.

kid loves his tricycle

taking care of the park

some local shows filming...

black swans

The National Kandawgyi Park

learning from the best :)

bamboo forest

very good coffee

there were 4 teens on that motorcycle... 3 is common but 4!!!
talk about over-capacity...

flowers for sale in town from local nursery

an attempt to capture speed

where we had dinner, per recommendation from our guide

the food was only alright...

should have eaten here instead...