We take the 8:30 a.m. bus. It leaves from the bus station in the market, opposite Aung Chan Tha Zedi. There are several stations depending on the destination located in other parts of the city.
It's a van and it takes less than an hour to get to Shwenyaung, and here you can take a taxi or thoun bein (small truck) for the remaining 11 kilometers to Nyaungshwe.
Nyaungshwe
Finally we take a taxi and go to the Strand Hotel. Before arriving at Nyaungshwe there is a toll where you have to pay a fee for visiting the Inle Lake of 10 dollars per person valid for several days.
We are surprised to see a group of nuns in line on the way to their monastery, they are very young, we are used to seeing monks and they catch our attention.
Buddhist nuns
The hotel is located next to one of the main canals leading to the lake and the views from the rooftop are spectacular. The hotel is very good, very clean, with water in the room, soap and toothbrushes and towels for the bath. At the reception they are lovely and help us with everything. They have a laundry service, which is highly recommended.
We negotiated a boat for tomorrow to visit the Inle Lake, there are several prices depending on the distance, we want to leave at dawn and go to Inthein.
We take a tuk tuk and go to visit the west side of the lake. We stop at several temples around Khaung Daing, you can stop at the hot springs before arriving if you like. Some kids give us a green sheath that tastes acidic they are eating, although I think they are kidding us.
Then we went to Nanthe a small village that we fell in love with, it has a Buddha sitting almost ten meters high but it is the least relevant, what is really interesting is to walk around the village.
Nante
We eat at the Live Dim Sum House restaurant, which is spectacular. As you can imagine dim sum of infinity of classes. Totally recommendable.
In the afternoon we take a walk to Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, a magical place. It consists of a teak wood monastery and next to the premises of the monks a beautiful temple with hundreds of Buddhas each in a small hole in the wall. It has lost some of its original colour but it still retains its charm. The teak monastery stands out because of its oval windows through which you can see the monks passing.
Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery
On the way back we stop at the morning toll and the boys help us stop a thoun bein to return to Nyaungshwe. They take out some chairs for us to sit on. These people are very nice.
Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery
We have a beer in a Shan food Sin Yaw restaurant that looks very good, tomorrow we will come to have dinner here.
We have dinner at the night market, although we're not very happy about it. I don't know if it's because it's low season but there aren't many stalls and little atmosphere.
Taxi from Shwenyaung to Nyaungshwe: 9,000 MMK
Lake Inle fee: 10$ per pax.
Accommodation: Strand Hotel triple room with bathroom and breakfast included $25
Food: Live Dim Sum House restaurant 20,500 MMK 3 pax.
Tuk tuk east side of the lake: 12.000 MMK
Thoun Bein to return from the monastery: 15.000 MMK 3 pax
Dinner: Night market stall: 6.000 MMK 3 pax
Three beers at Sin Yaw restaurant: 5.000 MMK
Boat to visit the lake: 25.000 MMK 3 pax
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