Biking around Inle lake

Needing to move after another night bus, I borrowed a hotel bike and hit the quiet roads for the first half of the Inle lake cycle route. The countryside is stunning, lush green hills and beautiful lakeside reflections. I walked along the Maing Thouk wooden bridge which leads you to houses and businesses on stilts. Hardly saw another tourist and the locals let me observe local life in action. The Red Mountain vineyard was an unexpected site. In the afternoon we rode in the opposite direction, through hills and villages to the hot springs, which we had to ourselves. We found a special place for dinner, which supports a women's charity, the owner chatted to us about her work and we ate two delicious local dishes - ginger salad and tea leaf salad.Read more