The date on my calendar 16th July 2017, the day I started the biggest adventure of my life so far: a very first day bicycle tour of the Beauty of Mandalay.
This was the start of my real Adventure stories.
Let me start with a little background. I’ve never been particularly athletic—even as a kid, I’m the one who could never do a criss-cross jumping rope during gym class, never mind doubles. I didn’t play high school sports also.
Let’s just say if you ever met me in the customer service area, you’d never think to yourself, “There goes a woman who would crush a bicycle tour.” This is actually happening. Unexpectedly I got a chance to do Cycling Adventures together with Jolly Adventures collaborate with Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay.
It was awesome to have Bicycle Adventures. Truth: I was prepared for a little heckling when I mounted my Bike. But I’m looking around at my bicycle tour comrades and I realize—we’re in this together. And I’m not the only one on a Bike. And no one even cares! My inner three-toed sloth is doing a celebration dance. And I know this trip is going to be awesome.
This trip take a morning ride to the outskirts of Mandalay. We grab a bike, leave the hotel and cycle to the northeast of Mandalay. Our team first, ride to a local teashop for the breakfast because we woke up early and no one have their breakfasts. I looked at the time and it was 7:00am already.
When we arrived the local tea shop, I looked around the shop. I feel it was a bit strange because of my first time sitting in local tea shop with cycling guys where locals sit and sip steaming cup of Chai (Indian Tea) with flat breads such as Naan or Paratha, while chatting, watching the football matches or reading the daily newspapers there.
Then embark on a quiet ride to Patheing Gyi, leaving the metropolis behind for a rural area where you will see the big smiles of villagers, the warm greetings of locals, the farmers on their farms and real beauties of natures. The people in my tour group are amazing , very funny and helpful.
We ride across the green fields, farms and ponds, I can’t stop watching the picturesque scenario of natures, the flowers, the birds, the blue sky and green trees and plants. I meet up with the people from the villages on our route, they surprisingly looked at me, greet me and appreciate on me that I am a lady who is not a foreigner .They clapped at me as soon as they noticed me was Myanmar young lady. I don’t know about the other guys, but I kind of feel like a celebrity when they saw me , greeted me and treated me like that.
From personal experience, I can tell you that a bicycle adventure will change you for the better, both physically and mentally. Of course, physical preparation isn’t just helpful for bike tours, it can have a positive impact on many aspects of your life.
I think it’s important to state up front that physical fitness doesn’t have to mean going to the gym. So many of the activities that contribute to a healthy body can be done right in the privacy of your home, like strength and resistance training, stretching, and even cardio.
The work you do toward preparing your body pays benefits in all sorts of unexpected ways, whether you’re training for a bike tour with the family or just want less stiffness and more stamina when you’re gardening, doing housework, or playing with your grandkids at the park.
On our tour, we have both Myanmar and English speaking guide. Can hire a bike Trek or Giant. This first day was Half Day Village Ride with one breakfast tea break. Our Group size was 5 people and the distance we rode is 38km (20 miles) for 5 hours.
You can book and join this bike tour activities with Hotel by the Red Canal. Hotline: +95 02 4061177.Both Foreigners and Local people can join this cycling adventure with me also.
We all need a little something as a reward in order to remain focused, so when you achieve one of your goals, treat yourself—you deserve it!
On my way back from Patheing Gyi tarmac road to hotel, I think that “I am going to fall in love this cycling adventure activities with a whole lot of confidence, great memories, and an impressive cycling tour. Life is good. And I have to take care of my bum well-rested and ready for a full day in the saddle for next cycling adventure activities”. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I’m having the time of my life!