The area surrounding the small town of H’paan in south-eastern Myanmar was one of the most tranquil and verdant of my trip. After experiencing a very dry Indonesia and Thailand it was special to see intensely green rice paddies, interspersed with limestone formations the region is famous for. I’m going to let the pictures tell the story.
I think this cave might hold the world record for most Buddhas.Pilgrims have been adding more for hundreds of years. Buddha images also historically play a significant role in diplomacy, and many have shifted all around SE Asia over the past centuries.Cool…graydientHere is one of the more geologically interesting monasteries I have seen. It is fully functioning Buddhist monastery, known for the vegetarian food served by the monks every day at noon (free, but donations are strongly encouraged I am sure). Also, rumor has it this rock provided inspiration for the designers of the planet in the movie AvatarInside the monastery premises. Buddhist monks are allowed to choose where they want to reside… Given the real estate many of the monasteries are located on, I don’t think they can really go wrong!Just a view from a ways up the rock formation.Another part of the monastery complex, as indicated by the tell-tale orange robes drying on the railing. Every monastery I’ve seen has robes drying somewhere around…Emerging out the other side of a cave (tunnel I suppose) the world opened up to the colorful scene above. Some guys were hanging out with boats so we took the opportunity to go for a ride back to the starting point instead of returning on foot. The first leg of the trip passed through this naturally eroded waterway under a mountain. The reflections of light off the water and the acoustics inside the tunnel made it a sort of hypnotic experience.I took this picture from the boat as we glided through shallow canals. I must note that he invited me to take the photo. Also…the lighting is pretty bad, but the rice plants really looked that green.At sunset we made a short hike to a cave that a huge colony of bats calls home. The views from the entrance were spectacular.Sure enough, right after sunset the bats appeared to flow out of the cave for almost 20 minutes. They looked and moved just like a wisp of smoke meandering up the river.A small family was there banging on a metal drum. With every pulse every single bat simultaneously dipped in their trajectory. I think they were temporarily disoriented and one fell out of the sky. I promise that it flew away apparently fine after this photo. Also, the color on the woman’s face is a traditional makeup powder that many women and some men apply with a small log. I estimate more than half of girls I saw were wearing it- sometimes in big dots, squares or swirls, and sometimes just rubbed all over.
I met the girl in this picture on the Last Truck down from the Golden Rock. We ended up traveling together for a few days and were invited to a random wedding as we were walking around town. She claims it was definitely an arranged marriage and based on, well, a few factors I think she might be right.We had just eaten lunch but they brought us endless ice cream, cake and tea leaf salad (my favorite!) and we were too polite to refuse…
The “rock” formations are amazing, especially the one with the temple. And the bats…and the tunnel under the rock (I think that might have made me a little nervous). I can not wait to hear the geological explanation of what occurred to cause them to erode like that. Safe travels, luv ya, Dad
I can understand why the bats took up residence where they did. Who wouldn’t want that view! The evening flight of the bats is kind of creepy and magical at the same time. Really neat experience! I’m glad Myanmar treated you well. Imagine, being invited to two weddings in one trip to S.E. Asia. Popular guy! ; )
potravels 
The “rock” formations are amazing, especially the one with the temple. And the bats…and the tunnel under the rock (I think that might have made me a little nervous). I can not wait to hear the geological explanation of what occurred to cause them to erode like that. Safe travels, luv ya, Dad
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I can understand why the bats took up residence where they did. Who wouldn’t want that view! The evening flight of the bats is kind of creepy and magical at the same time. Really neat experience! I’m glad Myanmar treated you well. Imagine, being invited to two weddings in one trip to S.E. Asia. Popular guy! ; )
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