After Bat Cave

Up at 8.30 to get ready to go to Mount Popa. We weren't able to go there as apparently the bus left at 8.30 the grumpy burmese man told us. So instead we walked into town and tried to hire a E bike. They had none left at the first place so we went further down the road and the man told us that we couldn't have two on one bike. He didn't understand when we tried to explain to him that we had taken 1 of them yesterday with 2 of us on it. Morag and I had a little chat and she walked away to get our picnic and I paid for one bike. Don't think he realised our devious little plan! Got sandwiches from black bamboo again and then scootered to a little shop to get some snacks. We were happy to be on our little bike again! We drove for a while and tried to find the reclining Buddha but ended up at new Bagan where there was a really cool market and there was a very dodgy looking merry go round. Decided to eat our lunch near there as we could see the Awerawday river. We bought some cold drinks off the side of the road and took our picnic round to the riverside at the side of the pagoda. We went all the way around so no Burmese men could stare at us and watch us eat. Another amazing place for a picnic. The view was crazily amazing. We didn't stay too long as it was super hot and we both were sweaty bettys. We drove for about 2 hours into the countryside which was so much fun. Got some self timer selfies which are so great. We finally decided that we should turn back around as we were slightly worried about how much electricity we had left. We stopped at a big temple on the way back as we hadn't done any that day. We walked around it all and a man who was painting said that we could climb up his massive bamboo ladder. We asked him if we could go inside the temple so he said he could take us in there. It stank so bad, like acid. We had to climb over a big wall and crawl through a hole to get to the next passage. I saw inside the next passage and there were literally bats everywhere!! We got scared and came out. Apparently there are 9000 bats. He drew a map plan of the temple in the sand/bat poo on the floor. Apparently there are lots of different passages and one has a ancient Buddha in it and there is a big drop in the middle and then if you go down there is a river that runs 3km and a little boat. Morag and I decided to man up and get in there for the second time! I was at the back in the dark! There were so many bats and apparently cockroaches everywhere but luckily I couldn't see them as I didn't have a light. Bats kept flying into us. We got to the ancient Buddha that was a bit of a disappointment as it was very small and its head was off. He told us the japanese took it off in the war. When we got out we were both black and absolutely stank. His wife washed us down with some water! We gave him some money for showing as around as he didn't ask for any which was a nice change. On the way back we stopped and chatted to a local who got us a coca cola and gave her some of her food. Both things were extremely sweet. You can see how they all have awful teeth. We sat opposite a crazy spirally tree and she told us there 'snakes' meaning there are lots of snakes in there. I saw a big green chameleon. Left and tried to find the reclining Buddha again but the reclining Buddha obviously didn't want to see us today! We showered before returning the bike and the silly pink Cinderella helmet they gave me to wear. Walked all the way back and we had supper near our hostel. Awesome day again!