Myanmar Travel Log Part 6 - Odyssey to Mrauk U and dreaming on Ngapali beach

Due to a cold we are both quite sluggish today, crawling at snail's pace through the temple complex that thrones majestically on the rocks.

After tasting some palm wine, we hop back into a cab and drive to the small village where we are supposed to catch our bus. After waiting for nearly 10 hours in a Burmese tea house, the bus finally arrives -- at 1am.

I am sure we'll remember this ride for years to come: wedged between Burmese locals and vegetable-filled crates, we make our way through Myanmar in a rusty old jalopy.

Whenever we arrive at a check point, all the locals have to get off the bus. We are asked to hand in our passports but get to stay on the bus at least. What can I say, it's slightly unsettling to see uniformed men disappear in a little shack with your passports...

Meanwhile, our fellow travellers are lined up next to the bus while their particulars are being checked. Then the journey finally continues. With passports back in our pockets, we brace ourselves for the mountain passes that lie ahead of us. The seats on the bus are tiny and the ride is bumpy (to say the least).

We also noticed a while ago that the Burmese like to spit (the women as well). Since we're sitting at the back of the bus we have to be careful about opening the window...

Hung over and befuddled we arrive in Mrauk U -- just in time to roast in the afternoon heat. Now we both have a fever, so we decide to hole up in a hotel.

Burmese for beginners: Mrauk U is pronounced [ meouw-u ] -- just like the cat noise.

Still a bit shaky from the flu we hop onto bicycles to explore Mrauk U. Although we start early in the day, the heat is already beginning to become a problem.

If you can't get enough of temples and palaces, Mrauk-U is the place to be for you. Temple and palaces clutter the once city of kings Mrauk-U and they all look very different from similar monuments in Myanmar.

The monuments in Mrauk-U are bulky and drab and look more like fortresses. But if you look closer, you'll notice lots of embellishments, i.e. little figures and stupas.

On the inside, you will find nice cool hallways with lots of ornaments chiseled into the stone (e.g. buddhas and statues).

We explore Mrauk U in record time and decide to visit the Ngapali beaches via Sittwe in order to spend a few days in the shade of the palm trees.

On the ferry from Mrauk U to Sittwe you are pretty much guaranteed to meet locals. From Sittwe the journey to the Ngapali beaches continues on the plane. Soon we'll be relaxing in the shade of the palm trees!

Dreams come true on Ngapali beach: kilometres of sandy beaches, clear water, dense palm trees -- and not (yet) a hotel in sight. That's because none of them (and there are quite a few, actually) are higher than the palm trees. The hotels are breezy and comfy, though, and well worth a visit.

There's nothing much to add, really. Just go there, order a pineapple juice and relax on the sunbed.