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

Travel Reference

In-Depth Information

Massage Soe Thein offers traditional Pa-O massage for

K7000/hr, from a first-floor room on the Union Highway

(daily 9.30am-6pm).

Post o ce Union Highway, Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm.

Trekking guides It's best to ask other travellers for

up-to-date recommendations, but Ever Smile (Yuzana St;

T 081 50683), JP Trekking Service (Merchant St; T 081

50549) and Sam's Trekking (Union Highway; T 081 50377)

are all well established. Freelance guide Mr Myo ( T 09

49595692) gets good reports from travellers.

SHAN STATE MARKETS

A number of markets in this region

operate on a five-day cycle, with three or

four markets taking place on each day of

that cycle. With the possible exception of

the very touristy Ywama “floating market”,

they're fascinating places - particularly

early in the morning - where people from

remote villages sell their produce or

livestock and buy essential goods. At the

time of research the cycle was:

Day 1: Kalaw/Shwenyaung/Indein

Day 2: Nyaungshwe/Pindaya/Nampan

Day 3: Than Taung/Heho/Kyone/Taung To

Day 4: Aungban/Taunggyi/Ywama

Day 5: Pwe Hla/Mine Thauth/Phaung

Daw Oo Pagoda

The last place listed for each day is on or

around Inle Lake.

PINDAYA

he small town of PINDAYA is located in

the heart of one of the most important

agricultural regions in the country. he

drive itself is a good reason to make the

trip, as the patchwork of red soil, green

crops and variously hued flowers is

simply stunning. It's also oddly

reminiscent of southern Europe, at least

until you see a small Danu child riding

on the back of a water buffalo. here's a

$2 entry fee for the area.

EATING AND DRINKING

Dream Restaurant 5/47 Zatila St T 081 50554 or

T 09 49298398. The classiest place in town, set on the

ground floor of an 80-year-old family home. The menu

is largely Chinese, but includes a few unusual choices

such as mutton or beef cabbab (cooked with onion,

tomato and paprika, served with rice; K4500). Daily

10am-10pm.

★

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

he main attraction in the town is

Shwe Oo Min (daily 6am-6pm; $3),

an atmospheric series of caves crammed

full of Buddha statues - some date back

centuries, but the collection is still

expanding. It's possible to continue north

from here along the hillside via other

shrines and a monastery; one path comes

down close to the Golden Cave hotel.

Hi Snack & Drink Khone Thae St. A genuine (if tiny)

Western-style bar. It might be rough around the edges,

but it has cheap whisky sours (K1000) and on most nights

a battered guitar is passed around for entertainment.

Daily 4.30-11pm.

Pyae Pyae Union Highway. There are plenty of cheap

places to eat in the centre of Kalaw, but it's well worth

a short walk west to this popular restaurant. The Shan

noodle soup (K500) in particular is excellent. Daily

breakfast to dinner.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

By bus Buses to Shwenyaung for Inle Lake (2 daily; 3hr)

depart from close to the town's market.

By pick-up Pick-ups run from the market to Aungban

(daily; 1hr 30min), from where you can take a taxi or

pick-up on to Kalaw.

By taxi Visiting by taxi makes Pindaya a feasible day-trip

from either Nyaungshwe (2hr 30min) or Kalaw (1hr 30min),

or a stopover on a trip between the two.

SHOPPING

Handicrafts The Rural Development Society shop, on the

west side of the market, is run by a non-profit organization

working with local communities. Daily 9am-5.30pm.