Myanmar on the road

 

I arrived in Bangkok with a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt and found accommodation, paying 200 Baht in a guesthouse in the area of Kao-san road. In a travel agency I bought both the bus ticket to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand for 250 Baht, and the visa to enter Myanmar in 1500 Baht, valid 24 days from the date of entry. The price of the visa varies according to days within which you are applying for release. The bus to Chiang-mai party at 7 pm and arrives at its destination at 7 am the following day. A Chiang-mai I moved into a guesthouse in the evening market, 250 Baht. The next morning I bought directly to the bus station (bus station Arcada) the ticket to Never-sai, the city, to the border with Myanmar. There are more 'bus a day, price 70 baht, 5 hours of travel. From the station Mai-sai, with a collective taxi (10 Baht) have arrived in the center and stayed a night in a guesthouse on the main street, 300 baht. In the afternoon I had time to visit the city is, very small, almost life takes place along the main street. Are beginning to see the first Burma crossing the border to come and work in Thailand and return home at night. Many stores of precious stones. It is worth getting a foot on the hill on which the Wat Phra That Doi to enjoy the sun sets behind the hills that overlook the town of Tachilek, which lies immediately beyond the border in Myanmar.
Early in the morning, backpackers and passport in hand, I left and came from Thailand in Myanmar, the goal of my trip.
Cross the bridge that unites the two boundaries, I stopped in the office. Under the supervision of an official Burmese I completed the forms, paid 20 baht as the Thai charge and received the approval to enter a Thachilek. A Thachilek I bought, the change in black, the first kyats for one dollar in 1100 kyats. A tuc-tuc took me 40 baht for the taxi rank / bus, where I made arrangements with a taxi driver, 400 baht for a lift to Kengtung (Kyaingtong) the city, which is located in Shan state, in the center of the triangle gold. Under one roof, I waited 3 hours while the driver was looking for at least a second passenger to load more than me. I think the best thing to do is to go to the taxi rank as soon as possible, so you can start with the first one is completed.
With the driver is returned by the immigration officer at the border and we have completed an additional form in which were specified the names of passengers and the number of document. The module then, during the trip, will be presented to each chekpoint. The trip up to Kengtung is very beautiful, the road winds up the hills, and from there you can see beautiful landscapes. E '; was during the trip that I made with the knowledge Bethel. All Burma, or almost, is pulled to the side of the gum consists of a mixture of betel root (a tree similar to the coconut palm) piece by piece, a pinch of tobacco, lime and lime. And all wrapped in a leaf and sealed at both ends. It 'an exciting light, the driver tells me that you chew to keep careful while driving. Besides keeping you alert and make the teeth blacks, causing the stimulus to salivation. It 's a little disgusting but you get used to.
The way up to Kengtung are more checkpoints. The driver drops,
submit the completed form to the immigration, my passport, pay a fee, and thanks again. Each time the same drawing, at least 5 times.

A Kengtung I arrived in the late afternoon and I found a bed in a guesthouse for 4 Usd. (In Myanmar the flights and accommodation are paid in U.S. dollars, while the rest is paid in kyat)
From Kengtung is, impossible to go by land, unless you return back. To continue the journey I had to buy the plane ticket to Mandalay, the second city in size, the Myanmar.
(72 usd). I made arrangements with a mototaxista that I was the guide. (1500 kyats). The town is built around a beautiful lake, interesting are the wat around the center and the market early to take part as members of various tribes of the surrounding hills. The flight with the Yangon airwais part in the 15 and arrives, after a quick stop in Heho, a Mandaly to about 16.30. From the airport, which lies about 20 km from town, I divided the price of travel by taxi to the center with another passenger (9000 kyats). I did leave in front of a guesthouse where I alloggio (4 usd with breakfast). The guesthouse I met people with whom I shared the cost of the taxi driver who, for a few days, we have the trips out of town;. I have visited many places, villages and temples. Do not miss Amarapura, Inwa, Sagaing and Monywa quarries.
After visiting the fort, Mandalay hill, the covered market, and several temples, a visit to a home is from the; due. You can, the drink is diluted in sweet condensed milk and eating the pastries while chatting with the locals, a good time to socialize. Burmese are very cordial, polite and happy to talk with a stranger (kalabwa) above all sports, if you have any knowledge of the most important football leagues in Europe is, even better. The evening often lack electricity, so if you plan to leave on foot is, better guard of the stack, the roads are completely in the dark. To shoot in the city, I rented a bike and I took the public bus. The guesthouse where I stayed, I bought the ticket of '; bus to continue their journey up to Kalaw. (4200 Kyats) departure at 6 pm to arrive at 5 am after. Also found here for $ 4 accommodation with breakfast. Kalaw is, small, easily turn on foot. Several trekking with local guides, have allowed me to visit some villages of the area. A 'trip to the caves of Pindaya perhaps during the day is something that needs to be done. To get there, as are about 50 km, you can 'rent a taxi or a public bus serevirsi From Kalaw I continued, still in the bus, towards Nyaungshwe, the city that is located on the shores of Lake Inle. I hired a boat and I visited the lake and markets some of the villages that we face. To access the lake will pay three dollars.
The lake, very beautiful, a stretch of crystal clear water surrounded by mountains. To admire the floating crops.
Rented a bike, I toured the city and surrounding area for a few days.
7000 kyats I bought the ticket of '; coach Nyaungswe to Nyaung-U, the city that you access if you want to visit the temples of Bagan. Departure at 5:30 am to 4:30 am and arrive in the afternoon with a public bus. Along the way, around Meiktila, a stop for lunch, 800 ks. The bus stops in front of a police post in which you must pay 10 usd which allow the area to visit the temples. A driver of trisch left me in front of the guesthouse ($ 7 with breakfast) in which I had decided to stop. I found very convenient to get to the temples by bicycle than on foot because the distances are great. Bagan is, a wonderful place, the temples are hundreds and cover a flat of 40 sq. km.
I stopped a few days longer, than expected, it was worth it. From Nyaung-U, you can participate, making for the organization to the guesthouse where you are staying at a short one-day trip to Mount Popa, the home of Nat (nature spirits). Wanting to deepen the knowledge of the cult of Nat, you should visit the Shwezigon Paya which is located just outside the city. For it is here that have kept the statues of the 37 spirits, the protector of travelers is Ko Myo Shin. Going to visit Paya Shwezigon you can see that despite the official religion and that Buddhism, many Burmese believe the worship of spirits. Many are those who, with reverence, they pay tribute to him with offers of money or flowers.
The bus ticket to Yangon, on a trip started at 3 pm and ended at 6 am the next morning and it cost 6500 kyats. The taxi to the area of Sule Paya cost 3000 kyats and $ 8 guesthouse with breakfast. An area around the Sule Paya is excellent if you want to visit the most important temples and a market on foot. Places to visit are many. You'll be spoiled for choice. Depends on the time you have available.
After the past few days in Yangon, with a Biman flight (86 usd), I returned to Bangkok from where I continued to Frankfurt and then Italy.

During the trip I changed most 'times, always on the black market. The rates ranged from 1100 Kyats to 1250 kyats for one dollar. A Yangon avoid change in the area around the Sule Paya, even if they are promised apparently favorable rates, the possibility, of being deceived is high. The internet access is not always, easy. Many more sites' popular are censored. With a hotmail.com address does not have problems to check and send mail. Calling is expensive, from 4 to $ 8 per minute. I phoned from the guesthouse and communication centers in Yangon and Mandalay. Before starting and during the trip I took antimalarial prophylaxis.
Eating is very cheap, an average of $ 2.5 for lunch. The nights start at $ 3 for a room with fan, shared bathroom and breakfast. The bus tickets can be purchased directly at the station of departure, at least one day before, or in gusthouse or hotel where you stay. In this case you pay a small commission. Bike rental costs in 1000 kyats for one day.
E 'a country where economic travel, where the movements are slow and tiring. If you do not have big demands and eliminate visits to sites where you pay a fee for entry, a budget of $ 10 per day may; enough, domestic flights agrees to buy on the spot.
From a security point of view I have not had any problem, only the Yangon police he checked the camera. I was in an area off-limits and thought I had done some shooting.
Unfortunately, it is a country choked by a military despot who does not leave room for any form of democracy and freedom of opinion (each type of communication is filtered and censored) to despise and trample on human rights. It 'good to know.
I believe that a form of tourism "intelligent" can help a people among the poorest. You can stay in a family-run facilities for the movement to use private companies, when a contracted price, maybe not pushed for a few cents but give in, we are 10 per cent of pride for them might be the only one-day gain and, when it comes out, not pushed to find a local tour guide that we have in hand decanta praising both quality and convenience, but look around, there are many others who deserve to be visited and have the misfortune to be named .
I love a lot about Burma, and because they are curious, and because in this way are operating in a foreign language, so allow a few chat could make them very happy. Myanmar is a country to live in a spiritual, completely immersed in the daily life of cities and villages. Interacting with the locals and stop to listen, exchange ideas, curiosities, anecdotes, is the true wealth that you can gain from a trip to this country, because it is the people to make it one of the most fascinating countries.
If someone was interested in other information of general or specific to a topic or place, or a simple exchange of views, while I write, I would be happy to respond. For now, a greeting and a pleasant trip.

Angel

e-mail: taggl@iol.it

Useful links:
http://www.embassyofitaly-Yangon.org/
http://www.voicesforburma.org/
http://www.exploremyanmar.com/index.htm
http://www.myanmar.it/index.htm
http://www.viaggiaresicuri.mae.aci.it/aciWeb/it/home.jsp