Myanmar (Burma) - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 536

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Hill Garden Hotel 10min bike ride away from the main
beach T 09 49576072, W hillgardenhotel.com. A real find
if you're after a bit of peace and quiet, with the same owner
as the also-recommended Shwe Hin Tha hotel on the main
beach. It's set amid fields, and you'll probably want t o ren t
a bike (K1500/day), but there's a small beach nearby. $25
Shwe Ya Minn Main Rd T 042 42126. It's on the other
side of the road from the beach, but the rooms are clean
and manager Ma Ei provides a warm welcome. The price
includes a better-than -ave rage breakfast (available to
non-guests for K1500). $12
William Restaurant Main Rd between Ayeyarwady
Hotel and the bus station. It's further south than the bulk
of the accommodation, but this friendly open-sided place
dishes up some great seafood priced according to the
main ingredient (fish is K3500). If you can't decide, try the
fantastic hot and sour pr awn s. There's also a small, cheap
guesthouse here (double $15 ). Daily 6am-10pm.

North of the delta region is the long
and thin stretch of Rakhine State, which
is separated from the plains to the east by
mountains. he most touted destination
here is Ngapali Beach , but it's a long,
hard journey by bus and rising hotel
prices have squeezed out anyone on a
strict budget. Of more interest to most
budget travellers is temple-dotted
Mrauk U , capital of Rakhine when it was
a separate kingdom.

CHAUNG THA BEACH
he sand isn't the whitest you'll see, but
Chaung Tha Beach isn't a bad place to hang
out. It gets pretty busy at the weekend and
during holidays, but joining the locals at
play is a cultural experience in itself. Many
young children cannot swim and run into
the sea clutching huge inner tubes as
flotation devices. Meanwhile, teenagers
play football around the food vendors who
cross the beach selling grilled crabs and
prawns on skewers.

7

NGWE SAUNG
he 15km-long stretch of pale, fine sand
at Ngwe Saung is more appealing than the
beach at Chaung ha, not least because its
length means that it is much less densely
developed. here are still plenty of resorts
but the beach is cleaner and more
laidback; it also has clearer water. he
flipside is that Ngwe Saung attracts a lot
more foreigners and wealthy locals,
meaning that prices are higher and that
it's arguably a less interesting experience.
here's a small village with a main street
almost entirely devoted to fulfilling
tourist needs; generally speaking, the
priciest resorts are north of the village
and the cheapest are strung out to the
south. If you fancy a wander, then
Lover's Island , just offshore around
500m south of the two hotels listed here,
is an easy destination at low tide.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Each of the transport options listed here can be arranged
through accommodation or with Tom Tom (see p.540). The
main transport hub is the city of Pathein.
By boat There's a government ferry from Myaunmya to
Yangon (4 weekly; 22hr); Myaunmya is a 1hr bus ride
from Pathein.
By bus Some buses pick up and drop off at hotels, others
stop near the Best mini-store in the village.
Destinations Pathein (4 daily; 2hr); Yangon (2 daily;
8hr 30min).

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Transport can be arranged through either accommodation
or Mr George (see below). The closest large city, and trans-
port hub, is Pathein.
By boat A day-trip to Ngwe Saung costs K60,000 for up to
five people. A government ferry runs from Myaunmya - a
1hr bus ride from Pathein - to Yangon (4 weekly; 22hr).
By bus The bus station is towards the southern end of the
beach, opposite Lai Lai Resort . Tickets should be reserved
at least a day in advance, particularly in peak season. There
are minibuses to Pathein (5 daily; 2hr 30min) and buses to
Yangon (2 daily; 6hr).
By motorbike The motorbike trip between Chaung Tha
and Ngwe Saung beaches (2hr; K15,000 one-way, K17,000
day return) is one of the highlights of a visit to this part of
the coast. A motorbike to Pathein costs K15,000.

INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information The o cial tourist information
o ce is opposite the bus station. Much more helpful is
the private information o ce (daily 7am-10pm) run by
Mr George, on the main road close to Shwe Hin Tha hotel.
Services include bus ticket sales, bike rental (K2000/day),
snorkelling equipment rental (K1500/day) and massage
(K5000/hr). Mr George also arranges day-trips, as do some
hotels, including snorkelling from shore (K5000) or from a
boat (K30,000 for five people).
Internet There's internet and wi-fi at Shwe Hin Tha hotel.