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India and Nepal 2022
Today I take a journey on one of the world's great train journeys from Hsipaw to Pyin oo Lwin across the Shan hills.
The old colonial ticket office is still operational and I buy an upper class ticket for the six hour journey for about £2. I am joined by Richard, the Californian who I met yesterday and who is on the same schedule as me for a day or so.
Women with fruit and bakery items on their heads service the passengers at the train windows and soon we are on our way.
The scenery is great as we pass through the agricultural lands in these Shan hills.Water buffalo continue to plough this rich fertile soil and there are glimpses of colourful birds.
Finally excitement grows rows as we approach the Gokteik viaduct over the gorge. It's definitely a 'wow! ' moment and a wondrous feat of civil engineering.
Built in 1899-1900 by the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge Construction Steel Company, all the parts were shipped over to Myanmar from the Unites States. It seems fitting to be travelling today with Richard - an American and British partnership as it would have been back then too.
The British commissioned the bridge so that the line from Pyin oo Lwin to Lashio could extend the influence of Empire in this region.
The old colonial ticket office is still operational and I buy an upper class ticket for the six hour journey for about £2. I am joined by Richard, the Californian who I met yesterday and who is on the same schedule as me for a day or so.
Women with fruit and bakery items on their heads service the passengers at the train windows and soon we are on our way.
The scenery is great as we pass through the agricultural lands in these Shan hills.Water buffalo continue to plough this rich fertile soil and there are glimpses of colourful birds.
Finally excitement grows rows as we approach the Gokteik viaduct over the gorge. It's definitely a 'wow! ' moment and a wondrous feat of civil engineering.
Built in 1899-1900 by the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge Construction Steel Company, all the parts were shipped over to Myanmar from the Unites States. It seems fitting to be travelling today with Richard - an American and British partnership as it would have been back then too.
The British commissioned the bridge so that the line from Pyin oo Lwin to Lashio could extend the influence of Empire in this region.
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