Aung Pun Choung - Yandabo - Pauk Taw Pauk Myung
An early 6 am departure this morning. They are trying to make up some time so that they have extra time to slowly navigate some narrow passageways ahead - our boat needs 6-7 feet of clearance and this is not always easy to find. Throughout the cruise we have had the crew up front using poles to gauge the depth (depth sounders are unreliable on the silty / sandy river bed) and help get through the sandy channels. We are warned that we may have to moor a little further away from Mandalay than planned because we may not be able to get through - they even have a tug boat booked to travel with us so we can get pulled off sandbars if needed. During breakfast, the reality of the shallow river hits when we run aground and spend several minutes backing up, turning every which way to try and free the boat from the sandbar. Eventually the captain gets us going again.
We moor at Yandabo and to the road on foot to have a look around the village. The feature here is the pottery that is made - hundreds and hundreds of terracotta pots everywhere. The clay is taken straight from the river as is any sand that might be needed. We watch the pots being thrown on wheels powered by foot. Quite clever - every pot looks pretty much the same size and shape even to though they are all hand made with no mould or guides to size and shape. The pots are fired in a huge, mound shaped, above ground kiln and heated simply by burning drift wood taken from the river.
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| Despite graduating university, they earn more from making pots than working for the government |
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| A 'wealthy' home - satellite TV run from battery attached to solar panel! |
Back to the boat and a pleasant afternoon cruising to our overnight mooring. The pre-dinner briefing turns in to a concert tonight with several of the staff singing and dancing their way through a number of performances culminating in a quick turn on the dance floor for everyone (sadly) to the beats of Abba!
Everyone is a little sad about leaving the boat, but there is also a general anticipation of being back on land and in comfortable hotel accommodation with real beds!
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