Day 3 - Exploring the Hpa-An area


There were still quite a few places I wanted to visit, and so I rented the scooter for another day. The day before I couldn't fit Mount Taung Wine in, so I got up early and started with this climb.

Mount Taung Wine

It is one of the best climbs in the Hpa-An area. It's a farily big hill, with a secluded flat area inside where there is a little monastery among the massive bamboo and other trees, and it is where the climb starts. The views from the top are really fantastic. The only thing I didn't like was the amount of rubbish at the top. Maybe the monks should start charging a little fee for the climb and hire someone to clean up.









































Kaw Gon Cave and viewpoint

I planned to visit another cave nearby where supposedly you can climb up to the top of the hill, but since being in the area I paid a visit. The cave itself is nice, or more precisely the old carvings and statues in it are nice. There are stupas on the top of the hill, but it's not allowed to climb up to them, only to a stupa at a lower rocky outcrop. Nevertheless, it also offers nice views.























Shwe Kyar Pwint Cave

This is the cave where supposedly you can climb to the top of the hill through the cave, but it was closed at the time I visited. The hills, nevertheless, look beautiful and it was fun riding through the villages trying to find the way.







Yathae Pyan Cave

Since I was in the area, I stopped by this cave as well. Nothing special, a little cave with statues, but since it is at an elevated point, you get a nice view of the plain and Mount Zwegabin in the distance.















Mogadi Hill

It is a little, curiously shaped hill north of the well-known Hpa-Pu hill. Not many people visit it, but since I liked its look I drove along the river bank until I got to the village at the foot of the hill. The hill is small, but the views are great!































Hpa Pu Hill

This is the hill that many people visit from the Shwe Yin Mhyaw Pagoda in Hpa-An by taking a boat. Its shape is very characteristic and you can recognise it from far away. The climb, up until about half way is OK, but the last stretch is very neglected: overgrown with vegetation and the ladders are in very bad state or completely broken. But you can still climb up, but in some places you need to climb next to the ladder or its remains, not on it. You cannot really fall down, it's fairly safe.


























Mount Zwegabin sunset view

Again, to finish the day, I took a look at Mount Zwegabin in the light of the setting sun. I found three different spots: an unknown monastery standing in a lake, a field at the foot of the mountain, and Kan Thar Yar lake. The next day I was planning to climb Mount Zwegabin.






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