We left the hotel at 11.00 to head for the jetty where we join our boat for the next 10 nights. We have sailed with Pandaw on the Mekong from Cambodia to Vietnam and so we're looking forward to a trip up the Ayeryarwady (Irrawaddy) river knowing that we have the comfort of the boat, good shore excursions and relaxing whilst sailing past unique countryside.

We boarded RV Kindat Pandaw and got settled into our cabin before a welcome drink and safety briefing. After lunch we went by coach into Pagan the capital city of Burma from 1044 to 1287. This world heritage site is 42-sq-km east of the Ayeryarwady and makes up a most wondrous sight we visited a small selection of the 3000 listed monuments, including the finest and best preserved Pagan temple, the Ananda (11th century)

We returned to the ship at 16.30 and headed up river throughout the evening and moored near Pakokku City for the night.