Day 2. No waking to chanting this time. We were so far out that there were only a few buildings around us, and the only electricity was the trickle charge coming from the few solar panels on the top of the hut running through a voltage inverter. I’d gotten up before most of the others, the only other one up was the Grandmother starting a fire with the help of a wee pup.
After a quick bite to eat, we thanked our hosts and were off.
Our first part of the day was up to the ridge line of the hill next to us. Our guide pointed to the edge of the horizon where we could see some mountains, light blue from the haze and distance. He informed us that was our end point for Day 2.
Coming down the first ridge line the entire area planed out to a series of fields and rice patties.
After a few hours, we came up on a small village. Most of it seemed empty except for a few other hiking groups and a small hut with a lady working on a loom making scarfs and some Burmese headwear (gaung baung) as well as selling some tea. We each picked up a few scarfs, sipped some tea and we headed off.
A few kilometers more by mid day, the heat was pounding on us. We had lunch at this point, in the top floor of a seemingly empty building. We took our time at this point, resting in the shade, drinking water, and checking out what the village had to offer.
After an hour or so, we took back off on the trail. At this point we found some shade in the trees. Hiking a little further we came up on pagoda’s in the middle of the jungle like something out of Indiana Jones or something.
Walking further, we came out of the jungle. It was down the mountain we’d unknowingly gone up for lunch. As we were walking along the step edges of the rice paddies, a man leading a horse was singing the entire way down.
The last obstecle of the day was this ridge line. Taking a set of switch backs through one of the low points, we slogged up and then, as if out of no where, the largest village we’d seen in two days was waiting at the top.
Like the night before, we put our feet up, enjoyed some dinner and then it was down with the sun.
That was Day 2.