Sad to leave Hpa An, our motel dropped us all off at the bus stop. Two of us were going straight through to Yangon, while Simon, Chris and I were heading for Golden Rock. It's the same bus, and for Kin Pun you get off at Kyaikto, which is about a fifteen minute drive from Kin Pun. Just get your hotel to book your bus ticket, it's much easier.
The bus was really comfortable. I even managed to sleep! I think there was music blaring most of the ride...but the details are fuzzy. You do have to be semi alert, and make sure you know what the name of the place you are getting off sounds like - in this instance it's "chai Ko". The bus driver will yell out the name of the stop and you literally get dropped on the side of the road. You will then get mobbed by a few men who will you take over to some open air trucks. These will take you the rest of the way to Kin Pun.
This was all very hectic but just go with the flow. You'll get where you need to. We all piled into the trucks - crammed in I should say, locals and tourists alike. I was ditched by the boys as they decided to ride on the roof with the local boys, and therefore everyone in the truck decided the single blonde guy opposite me was my boyfriend. The boys up top managed to communicate to the drivers that our stop was on the outskirts of Kin Pun, and they dropped us off right at Golden Sunrise Hotel. The truck ride was really cheap, about $1 NZ.
We arrived at our hotel and chilled out. After lunch, we walked into Kin Pun and made our way over to the truck stop for Golden Rock, which was under a giant roof on the otherside of the tiny town. You can't miss it really.
We lined up and jumped into one of the trucks. These trucks are open air, no roof, and it feels kind of like you're on an amusement park ride. Except with about 50 more people.
The bus was really comfortable. I even managed to sleep! I think there was music blaring most of the ride...but the details are fuzzy. You do have to be semi alert, and make sure you know what the name of the place you are getting off sounds like - in this instance it's "chai Ko". The bus driver will yell out the name of the stop and you literally get dropped on the side of the road. You will then get mobbed by a few men who will you take over to some open air trucks. These will take you the rest of the way to Kin Pun.
This was all very hectic but just go with the flow. You'll get where you need to. We all piled into the trucks - crammed in I should say, locals and tourists alike. I was ditched by the boys as they decided to ride on the roof with the local boys, and therefore everyone in the truck decided the single blonde guy opposite me was my boyfriend. The boys up top managed to communicate to the drivers that our stop was on the outskirts of Kin Pun, and they dropped us off right at Golden Sunrise Hotel. The truck ride was really cheap, about $1 NZ.
We arrived at our hotel and chilled out. After lunch, we walked into Kin Pun and made our way over to the truck stop for Golden Rock, which was under a giant roof on the otherside of the tiny town. You can't miss it really.
We lined up and jumped into one of the trucks. These trucks are open air, no roof, and it feels kind of like you're on an amusement park ride. Except with about 50 more people.
At this point of the trip, I was still getting used to the fact the Burmese people don't see you as a walking ATM, as it can feel in a lot of places in South East Asia at times. A Burmese lady started selling umbrellas and I was thinking pfft this lady is scamming us, it's beautiful weather, but half way up the hill it did start raining. From then on I tried to bring the wall down that sometimes comes up when you're in Asia and constantly feel like you are bracing yourself for the next scam. It was a really good feeling being able to chill out a bit and trust more!
After a rather uncomfortable trip up the mountain, we reached the top and began our hike to see Golden Rock.
It's a pretty easy walk, I think it was only ten minutes or so. There's a lot to observe on the way...loads of shops and locals who have made the pilgrimage to see the famous rock.
Make sure you dress appropriately. I thought I had but apparently my running pants were too risqué...even though they are 3/4 pants! So I had to pay $1 to borrow a longyi, but that was fine. It was so nice I wanted to keep it.
We arrived at the top and I was more impressed than I thought. I was originally quite happy to skip Golden Rock, as a semi-boycott, because women aren't allowed on the bridge to touch the rock. I know it's for religious reasons, but it still annoys me.
After a rather uncomfortable trip up the mountain, we reached the top and began our hike to see Golden Rock.
It's a pretty easy walk, I think it was only ten minutes or so. There's a lot to observe on the way...loads of shops and locals who have made the pilgrimage to see the famous rock.
Make sure you dress appropriately. I thought I had but apparently my running pants were too risqué...even though they are 3/4 pants! So I had to pay $1 to borrow a longyi, but that was fine. It was so nice I wanted to keep it.
We arrived at the top and I was more impressed than I thought. I was originally quite happy to skip Golden Rock, as a semi-boycott, because women aren't allowed on the bridge to touch the rock. I know it's for religious reasons, but it still annoys me.
Anyway, the view was stunning and the rock itself is pretty cool. I mean, how does it stay there?! Legend says that it is held in place by a strand of Buddha's hair. It is a very special place for Buddhists, and hundreds of Burmese make pilgrimage to the rock every day.
We walked around and then just sat and people watched. The kids loved us, or me in particular because of my blonde hair, so we were asked by lots of kids for photos. They were really cute and quite shy! Often pushing their brother or sister to ask for a photo on their behalf.
Now, unless you want to get stuck on the mountain you need to be at the truck stop where you got off, not long after sunset. Don't muck around. I think we got that at 6, and we had to wait awhile for a truck to show up. I did think we were going to be stuck up there. If you want to take your time, there are lots of hotel to stay in at the top - expensive ones - but it would be an experience to stay overnight up there. A lot of the Burmese stay the night outside at the Rock, and I suspect at night it get transformed into some kind of singing/dancing party. Eventually we got in the truck and had the ride of a lifetime down the hill. It was pretty dark and that truck was flying. It was so much fun!! That was more fun than the rock itself. You probably won't die...
Back at the bottom, we walked through the township and chose a place to eat based on where the largest number of locals were eating. And O.M.G it was amazing. It was called Myint Tar Lwin restaurant and if you're walking out of town towards Golden Sunrise Hotel, it's on the right. Don't miss it. I still can't believe how cheap Myanmar was. It makes Thailand look expensive. It was so good being able to try lots of different dishes because each is only about $1!
Back at the bottom, we walked through the township and chose a place to eat based on where the largest number of locals were eating. And O.M.G it was amazing. It was called Myint Tar Lwin restaurant and if you're walking out of town towards Golden Sunrise Hotel, it's on the right. Don't miss it. I still can't believe how cheap Myanmar was. It makes Thailand look expensive. It was so good being able to try lots of different dishes because each is only about $1!
I really would've loved a few more days to chill out here. But next stop - Yangon!
