Mount Kyaitiyo

Our journey to Mount Kyaitiyo started with a bumpy 45min taxi ride to the bus station on the outskirts of Yangon. From there we caught the local bus for another 5 hour drive. Most of the roads are single track, with the rule of the road being ‘give way to larger vehicles’. There’s no concepts of lanes. Instead the traffic weaves between the pot holes, constantly tooting the horn to warn other road users (dogs, pigs, chickens, water buffalo, cyclists and of course, mopeds) to get out of the way. At Kyaitiyo we had to change from bus to pick up truck where we sat on bags of rice and coconuts for the 10km drive to Kinpun. From there we had to change to a huge 4 wheel drive truck which drives pilgrims, locals and the odd backpacker up the mountain. The truck took the bends at breakneck speed and we were alternately crushed from side to side, or knee capped on the rare occasions that the truck braked. The last 45 minutes have to be done on foot. As its monsoon season and raining constantly, we were soaked by the time we got to the top. After 9 hours of traveling we were rewarded by a great view of rain and mist. Kyaitiyo has a golden stupa perched on a massive golden rock which is itself balancing precariously on the side of the mountain. We stayed the night at a hotel on the mountain and the next morning we waded through the clouds to have a look. 10 minutes later we headed back down for the reverse journey to Bago.