Hello,
I need some advice on where to go in Burma that's off the usual tourist track. Are Hsipaw and Lashio worth going to? Are there "better" places that are also relatively easy to get to by road/boat? I'd rather not have to fly if possible. Leaving in a few days.
Thanks for any info!
Si
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Yes, those place scan be reached and are worth it, but
transportation over there might be difficult/cost (bridges
are out so indivual transportation costs) you a lot, also I
found that the farther you get from the tourist route the
more you pay for accomodation (10 US$ for a 2x2 dump with a
fan was the cheapest I could get in Mawlamyine, only 3
hotels accept foreigners there). But perhaps I was unlucky..
If you are going to go off the beaten track in the monsoon
season, be careful. I went to Mawlamine in the Monsoon
season and was trapped as 3 bridges (and several vilages)
were washed out between myself and Bago. Yes, Mawlamine
hotel prices are outrageous for some reason. I don't think
they are high because they are "off the beaten track". It's
just a place that has been under MHT control for a long time
and doesn't know enough about the economic downturn to stop
screwing foreigners. Just a few miles away from Mawlamine,
I got a Bungalow in Thaton for 1500 Kyat. Being that this
is the Monsoon season, you may want to go off the beaten
track, but still in the center of the country. There is
usually less rain around Mandalay than down in the Delta.
That would mean Monywa and Shwebo could be good choices.
Maybe take the boat to Bhamo. All in all, Lashio looks good
(not in delta region, reasonablly safe transportation),
unless you wanted to play it safe and just explore the heart
of the dryzone better (Magwe, Toungoo, Meiktila).
Yes they are. Hsipaw because it's a nice town in a
lovely setting that hasn't lost it's old world charm. Lashio
for the drive to the town. The town itself is a bit of a
dump.
.
Be warned the road is very bumpy. The best way to get there
is by Lashio taxi from either Mandalay or Maymyo. These are
special taxis that ply between the two. If you rent your own
and pay the driver a bit extra you can get him to stop where
YOU want not where he wants. it's only 150 miles to lashio
but it takes most of the daylight to get there. if you stay
in Hsipaw you might need to get a second taxi from there.
.
I doub't if the road would be washed out this time of year.
This is a strategic road and most of the bridges are Bailey
bridges anyway put in after the regular bridges were washed
out. i've driven this road and would do it again.
I am planning on arriving in Bankok in two weeks. I wish to
travel over to VN. Do I need to line up the Visa before I
arrive? Also, can I travel freely once I arrive and what is
the usual time granted a traveler? What is true for Laos &
Mayanmar?
I'm planning on going to Burma/Mayanmar at the end of June
and want to try to minimise the amount of my money that goes
to SLORC.
Any other advice regarding this matter would be appreciated.
thanks Jeff.c