Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
foreigner-friendly accommodation up here. The least expensive doubles are laughably small
with shared bathrooms and no windows. A basic room
wit
h en-suite will set you back $65,
although discounts may be available. Closed May-Oct.
$30
EATING AND DRINKING
Kinpun
has plenty of eating options, most of them touristy Burmese-Chinese places lining
the road to the trail. Locals gravitate towards the small restaurants away from the main junc-
tion. As you might expect, food options
on the mountain
are more expensive and limited
than in Kinpun. The cheapest are the canteens that cluster between the Golden Rock and
Kann Pa Sat, but there are one or two more interesting options around.
IN KINPUN
Kaung San
Kyaiktiyo Rd 057 23671.
On the path leading to the mountain,
Kaung San
serves up tasty Burmese and Chinese dishes. Although the service can be a bit brusque, their
jin thouq
(ginger salad) is excellent. Prices for hot dishes start at K1500.
Daily 6am-9pm.
Mya Yeik Nyo
Overlooking the truck terminal.
One of Kinpun's more atmospheric restaur-
ants (thanks to their romantic lighting), with friendly staff and good food. A Burmese curry
and rice set costs K3000, with other dishes starting from K2000.
Daily 4am-9pm.
ON THE MOUNTAIN
A1
Opposite the Foreigners' Registration Office.
With tables dotted around a pleasant tree-
filled yard,
A1
serves up decently priced Burmese soups and salads, along with Chinese stir-
fries. A meal will set you back around K3000. No alcohol.
Daily 6am-9pm.
Mountain Top Restaurant
Mountain Top Hotel 09 871 8392.
With white tablecloths,
candles and a wine list, the patio here may feel a tad incongruous with the setting, but it's
themostappealing placetoeatonthemountain.ThedishesontheirBurmese-Westernmenu
start at $3, with set menus from $13.
Daily 6am-10pm.
Thaton
Formerly an important Indian Ocean seaport and capital of a tenth-century
Mon kingdom
,
THATON
isasleepylittleplacetoday.Withtheportsiltedupforcenturiesandthecitywalls
long gone, all that remains of Thaton's past is a collection of inscribed tablets discovered
in the precincts of the main pagoda,
Shwe Saw Yan Pagoda
. Nonetheless, Thaton is still a
rewarding place to spend the day wandering through its neat streets and poking around the
lively
market
, part of the attraction being that very few foreigners stop here. Energetic types
may wish to climb up the covered staircase to
Mya Thapaint Pagoda
, 1.5km due east of
the market, for beautiful views over ranks of palm trees to the shimmering sea - now almost
16km to the west.
