Bikes carry us to the edge of Hsipaw

Past a Chinese cemetery.

Burmese lay in stone caskets,

Chinese shrines stand tall.

The living dig homes

for the departed

in the midday heat.

Abandoning the bikes,

we snake the river,

through villages,

growing rice,

and plastic protected watermelon.

Thatched and metal roofs

protect homes and rest houses.

Water buffaloes grunt greetings

We trudge uphill,

awaiting Nam Tok waterfall

Trees and rock salute us

Higher,

small falls feed a tranquil pool

English shouts come from the bush

Grand Finale,

drips of water trickle down

a smoothed rock face.

Dry season strikes again.

*** 

Thanks for reading! I'm not sure if it's affecting anyone else, but if you have issues with the pictures covering some of the text, I've let wattpad know so it should hopefully be fixed soon :)