TIME OUT IN KALAW
John and I stopped in Kalaw on the way to Inle Lake for two nights. We had contemplated doing a bit of trekking but in reality all we did was wander up to a monastery on a hill and back. The food at the local Nepali restaurant, Everest, was fantastic though and I tried my first Dhal Bhat. We stayed at a place called the Golden Lily for US$3.
THE JUMPING CAT MONASTERY
If you only see one thing in Burma, make it Bagan. But if you see two things make sure the second is the Jumping Cat Monastery on Inle Lake.
Inle Lake was our final stop before heading back to Yangon (or Yangoon as many travelers seemed to call it). We had a few nights at the very nice Bright Guesthouse (US$4.50) with a massive balcony and a great breakfast of pancakes, eggs, fruit and coffee. We rented a boat and driver for the day and set out for the far southern shore along with Brian (the same one from Bagan), Pascal from Canada and an ill Frenchman called Alex. The driver took us through the mangroves and around to a few tourist sights - a cheroot making factory, a silversmith, fabric makers etc but it wasn't until after lunch that we saw what we had all come to see. The monks at one of the monasteries, obviously bored, have taught their dozen or so cats to jump through hoops on command. Most of the time the cats just lie around on the floor but they are so well trained that anyone can get these cats to jump. I have a video clip of them which I'll try and get onto the site in the near future (although it may be lost forever). It was quite a surreal sight.
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