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

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

By bus Most buses stop at the ticket o ces (daily 6.30am-

7pm) around the clock tower in the centre of town.

Destinations Dawei (3 daily; 10hr); Kinpun for Kyaiktiyo

(daily; 3hr); Mandalay (daily; 12hr); Mawlamyine (6 daily;

2hr); Nay Pyi Taw (daily; 11hr); Taungoo (daily; 8hr);

Yangon (6 daily; 7hr).

By boat Private boats to Mawlamyine (3hr; K8000) run

when there is demand, and can be arranged through

Soe Brothers Guest House .

By minibus The road to Myawaddy on the Thai border

is narrow and traffic can only run in one direction each

day; it is therefore possible to cross only on alternate

days. Minibuses to the border (5hr; K10,000) depart at

around 7am.

By pick-up The daily pick-up to Kinpun (for Kyaiktiyo)

leaves at 7am.

At the time of research, however, the

immigration department had banned

tourists from staying overnight. If you are

interested, then check on the current

situation at Soe Brothers Guest House .

Saddan Cave

he vast and atmospheric Saddan Cave ,

to the south of Mount Zwegabin,

requires a torch to explore (or donate

K3000 and they will switch on the

lights) - it's a fifteen-minute walk

through the cave, and slippery in places,

so carry your shoes past the pagodas at

the entrance then put them back on.

here's a lake on the other side, and for

K1000 local fishermen take visitors for a

short ride. A motorbike taxi to Saddan

costs K8000 return.

7

ACCOMMODATION

Only a handful of places take foreigners and at peak times

they can fill up, so consider calling ahead.

★

Kawgun and Yathaypyan caves

Over on the other side of the hanlwin

River from Hpa-an and Mount

Zwegabin, the Kawgun and Yathaypyan

caves are notable for their Buddhist art,

some of which dates back to the seventh

century. he most impressive art is at

Kawgun (aka Kawthon; K3000), 13km

southwest of Hpa-an, where thousands

of gold-painted Buddha figures are

attached to the walls. Yathaypyan (free),

a couple of kilometres further west, is

deeper and requires a torch if you want

to reach the viewpoint at the far end.

A motorbike taxi will charge K8000 to

visit the two caves.

Soe Brothers Guest House 2/146 Thitsa Rd

T 058 21372 or T 09 49771823, E soebrothers05821372

@gmail.com. The rooms are decent in this well-established

budget favourite, but more importantly the staff are

expert at dealing with backpackers' needs. No breakfast,

though. They can arrange tours combining various sights

outside of town (day-trip K30,000 per gr oup) and also rent

out motorbikes (K8000/day plus petrol). $12

Than Lwin Oo Thida Rd T 058 21513. Little English is

spoken and the sign simply reads “Guest House”, but it's

worth checking out this new place if you're on a tight

budget. The a/c rooms (double K10,000) don't have their

own units but instead have vents letting in cold air from

the corridor. It's odd bu t it works. No breakfast and no

towels provided. K8000

EATING AND DRINKING

San Ma Tau 1/290 Bogyoke Rd. This place has a well-

deserved reputation for great Burmese food, though that

does mean that it's often packed with foreigners. Pick

from a wide variety of curries - most K500 (veg) or K1500

(meat/fish) - and it will be served with ten tasty side-

dishes and soup. Rice is another K500. Daily 10am-9pm.

Shwe Htone Maung Thitsa St. This teahouse is extremely

popular with locals, with an energizing if chaotic vibe. It

serves a better than average range of breakfast options

such as potato purée (two purées with curry and spicy

sauce, K500), as well as the usual mohingar and Shan

noodles. Daily breakfast to dinner.

Lakkana village and Kawka

Thawng cave

Scenically located Lakkana village , on the

eastern side of Mount Zwegabin, is a

delightful place to wander, while at

nearby Kawka Thawng cave there is a cool

spring-fed outdoor pool where locals

swim (with women keeping well

covered). here's also a cave where you

can swim, although you'll probably need

a torch to get down to the water.

A motorbike taxi will charge K5000 to

visit both, or you can take a pick-up from

the market in Hpa-an in the direction of

Eindu and get off at Lakkana; it's a

fifteen-minute walk from the village to

the cave.