#2: [03-Jan-05]

#1: [20-Nov-04]

10-Jan-2014 -- This is the 4^th out of 5 reports reaching or attempting confluence points in Myanmar. The story starts from 14°N 99°E. The previous report is 17°N 96°E

The confluence point is located near the road between Kyaukpadaung and Nyaung-U, which is right next to Bagan, the well-known area of 2000 ancient temples and pagodas.

From Bagan I started cycling at 10 AM following the road towards Kyaukpadaung southwards for about an hour (25 km). At a beeline distance of 2.6 km I left the nice asphalt cover to continue on a track with deep sand. I traversed 2 villages (pushing or attempting to ride the bike). The locals helped me to find my way – which is actually amazing because they could not exactly know where I was heading to. At a distance of 600 m I traversed the railroad and a dry riverbed. At 93 m distance I abandoned my bicycle and left the path. A group of young spectators watched me confluence dancing.

The exact location is at the edge of an already harvested field. There are scattered fan palms and there is also a nice lake nearby. Although the area is flat, there is a temple hill in 370 m distance from the confluence point. From the hilltop, there is a great view into the plains below. On the foot of the hill there is an ancient, overgrown temple.

At 2 PM I was back to Bagan. Still enough time to visit some of the temples together with Elionora for the rest of the day.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to the road: 2.6 km
• Distance of bicycle parking: 93 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 30 min
• Time at the CP: 12:18 PM
• Measured height: 283 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 4 m
• Topography: mostly flat with a hill nearby
• Vegetation: fan palms, arcadia trees, dry grass, dry agricultural fields
• Weather: sunny, 29° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Buddhist Hill Confluence

The story finishes at 22°N 96°E.

Further pictures of our bicycle trip can be found here.