I arrived in Kalaw, Myanmar at 2:30 AM after a miscommunicated bus arrival time. After connecting with other stranded travelers, we secured budget accommodation and prepared for a three-day hiking trek to Inle Lake.

The hiking company A1 guided our small group consisting of two Polish women and a UK journalist. The first day covered 24 kilometers through diverse terrain, beginning with jungle paths and gradually transitioning to mountain ridges and rice paddies.

The journey included a ridge-line hike with panoramic views, a midday lunch featuring fresh avocado and naan bread picked from local vegetation, and a village tea stop. The guide shared knowledge about local plants, insects, and lizards encountered along the route.

We concluded day one staying with a Burmese family—a grandmother, mother, and infant son. We experienced traditional hospitality, including oil-drum bucket showers and a home-cooked dinner of mixed vegetables and eggs. The evening featured views of farmers burning cleared land on surrounding mountainsides, creating patches of flame against the darkening landscape.

The physical challenge, natural beauty, and cultural immersion of this opening day established momentum for the remaining trek segments.