We were delayed,surprise surprise, because the clutch was basically knackered and we had to stop several times to let some very young 12,13, year old mechanics have a look. They attempted to sort it out and we arrived 9 hours later which is roughly 20km an hour.
Bagan has spectacular plains dotted with thousands of 800 year old temple ruins.
We met up with some other travelers on the bus and decided that we'ed all stay in the same hotel and if we bargained for five people we'ed get ourselves a good deal.
Next day the five of us hired bicycles to go of temple spotting which is not too difficult when there are over 5500 in a area of 40 square km.
Of course after half an hour we discovered we'ed left the camera in the hotel so joris went back to fetch it . When he was back with us we were about to set of again when he got a flat, then it was my turn to cycle back to the shop for a new bike.
The whole day we visited 10 temples we saw sandstone carvings,beautiful fresco paintings, a gazillion Buddha's and the sunset over the Ayerwaddy river.
Next day we did another 10 temples but this time by horse and cart.
Each evening the five of us Joris and I, Enda (Irish) and his partner Babs (Austrian) and Mary (USA) went for dinner in the same restaurant where we were served with a fantastic buffet meal.
In the morning I discovered I couldn't find my coat which had my passport, money and visa cards in it. I knew i'd taken it to the restaurant so went there to ask if they had it they said no which i'm shamed to say I thought they were lying. luckily Joris was there and kept me from accusing anyone in my frantic search. We went back to the hotel for a final search before going to the police luckily as we mentioned are problem to the manager he said oh yes you left it outside your room last night so i took it in to keep it safe. The poor guy was slightly shocked when I leapt on him and gave him a big hug, i was so relieved and then feeling so guilty for thinking it was the people in the restaurant. We went straight there to tell them we'ed found it.
In the evening at dinner the old man from the restaurant came up to us and took out a piece of paper.He couldn't speak english but had obviously sat most of the day trying to write this note. It said i'm sad that you lost your coat and that it was in my restaurant and i see that you are sad and that makes me sad too at this point i was crying and joris was fighting back tears and the others around the tables were also suppressing tears i'm sure.
When the old man saw me crying (I was near hysterical) he suddenly was very worried thinking he made me sad when i explained that i was happy and what he wrote was very nice he was also happy.
Then at the suggestion of Babs i gave him a few of my bracelets (as everyone loves them in asia) as a thank you he tried to refuse but i insisted he then gave me a CAN (very expensive there) of real coca cola followed by two bottles of beer.
I've never been so touched by another person and can't believe I even contemplated going to the police i would literally have caused him and his family so much grief i can not imagine. lesson learnt, believe in the goodness of people.