Classic ride over the Dawna Mountains

Myawaddy to Kawkariek, 69 km
We crossed the border from Mae Sot over the friendship bridge. Half way across you change from driving on the left side of the road to the right.  Goodbye Thailand, Mingala ba Myanmar!
We had to stay in Mywaddy for the day as traffic on the road over the Dawna mountains goes east one day then west the next. We had read bikes and motorbikes could go any day but were told at immigration that foreigners were not allowed. So that was that! Enforced rest day. Found an ok place to stay and explored the town. Changed some money. To make it easy $1 US is approximately $1000 kyte. So we have 500 thousand dollars... A lot of notes.
Amazing the difference a border makes.  A very undeveloped country. The lack of infrastructure very obvious. Quite different from Thailand, a little bit of Chinese and Indian influence.
We had dinner with a Swiss couple, Bea and Piet who crossed the border just after us. They have been cycling for over 2 years.
Ready to go early next morning, excited but a little nervous too - as I always am in a new country! We passed a km long line of trucks waiting at the first police  check point for us just 9 km out of town where the one way rd began. I was not looking forward to those overtaking us.
Anyway off we went heading up through the mountains. Everybody smiled, waved and called out Mingala ba (hello)  All the kids at a school came running out to see us. I don't think they see many cyclists here. The traffic wasn't too bad, cars and small trucks only to begin with. The road was narrow and pretty bad in places, definitely not a two way road. There is a new road being built that will be open soon. We were almost at the top at 35 km when the first buses and trucks caught us up. We stopped for a drink and quite a bit of traffic passed. Going down the otherside was amazing. Switchbacks, really rocky places, soft sand in some parts, drop offs and the traffic coming over had to been seen to be believed. Huge trucks, overloaded small pickups. Taxi trucks over full with people. Trucks that couldn't get around corners, breakdowns, everyone tooting and overtaking.  Roadworks in places. All done by hand with drums of tar being heated up over fires. It was such a fun ride, really interesting. Last 10 km on the flat, a lot of the vehicles stopped and hosed water onto the brakes and engines, I guess trying to cool them down. We stopped for lunch -  with some of the other patrons spitting the red bettlenut that they all seem to chew... right onto the floor in front of us. Hmm
3 police immigration check points for the day then into town. First place we looked at to stay was like a prison cell minus the bars!
Foreigners can only stay at licensed hotels or guesthouses. The 3rd one was ok. Cold shower, hard beds but hey the day was awesome! Electricity just from 6pm till 4 am. Wandered downtown, spotted the bike taxi, ( photo) one person sits one way , one the other, local tea shop for dinner of omlette and fresh roti with Chinese tea.