It's my first venture outside of Yangon and I have decided to get a bus to the pilgrimage site of Kyaikhtiyo in Mon state.

The main bus station is right on the northern edge of the city and is a chaotic place with buses, taxis and people all trying to use the same space. I am shown where my bus ticket can be purchased - people are very honest and respectful generally and I like that. It's just 8,000 kyat (£6) for a four hour journey.

I sit in the waiting area and observe life. Monks request food or offerings from passengers; food, mobile phone, and children's clothes sellers appear at regular intervals. A boy in pyjamas appears on his own and the tv channel is switched from a very long Buddhist sermon to the Cartoon Network.

The journey passes along the flat green fertile lands of the Andaman Sea delta. Some people live in stilted houses and other make their homes of wood and straw in the forest area. There are occasional sightings of cattle and water buffalo as we head through small villages and larger towns like Bago.

The bus terminates at Kinpun, also known locally as 'base camp' and I search out the truck depot for the onward journey up the mountain to Kyaikhtiyo. I chat on the way up the hour long fun ride of switchbacks with two Americans, here in Myanmar for the weekend. We think the ride is like a scene from Jurassic Park!

The road was built in 1999 and before that, it was a six hour trek for pilgrims to the top. There are plans for a cable car system which will make it even easier, but for now, I am enjoying the journey to get here.

At at the top of the mountain, I remove my shoes and pay my entrance fee at the 'foreigners checkpoint'. From there, it's a walk past various religious buildings until finally, the amazing golden rock pagoda comes into view.