THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 236

Today, most visitors come to Kyaikkami to visit Yele Paya , a picturesque seaside pagoda,
situated 1km from town at the tip of a small peninsula. Local Buddhists believe that the pa-
goda, reached along a covered causeway, contains a Buddha image that floated here from Sri
Lanka,aswellasseveralhairrelics.Thesetreasuresarecoveredwithanunusualtieredshrine
encircled by rows of Mandalay-style Buddhas. Note that women are not allowed to enter the
main chapel, and must instead use a designated “Lady Worship Area” to the side of the main
one.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: KYAIKKAMI
By bus and pick-up Buses to Kyaikkami depart from outside Mawlamyine's main market,
on Lower Main Rd (hourly; 3hr). From Thanbyuzayat, pick-ups leave from the clocktower
(K500).
ACCOMMODATION
KaDayKyweGuestVilla BogyokeRd 05775019. IfyougetstrandedinKyaikkami,this
is the only accommodation in town, offering decent fan-coole d singles (K8000) and farcic-
ally overpriced doubles with a/c in a quaint colonial-style villa. K90,000
< Back to Southeastern Myanmar
Tanintharyi Region
Off limits to foreign visitors for almost fifty years, Tanintharyi Region , Myanmar's south-
ernmostterritory,finallyopenedtotravellersin2013.Havingspentdecadesinisolation,Tan-
intharyi's coastline is tantalizingly undeveloped - something it has in common with the re-
gion's infrastructure. From the beaches outside laidback Dawei to the bustle of Myeik and
the idyllic Myeik Archipelago beyond, Myanmar's Andaman coastline will be a huge draw
for beach bums and hotel developers alike. For now, while travel between Dawei and Myeik
is permitted, access to the archipelago is limited only to divers on organized tours, and some
travel restrictions remain on the stretch between Myeik and Kawthaung.
Dawei and around
While it'seclipsed byits better-knownneighbour,the Myeik Archipelago, the isolated coast-
line around DAWEI conceals some of the region's best beaches . Fishing villages spill right
down to the gloriously clear water around San Hlan , a lone gold pagoda looks out over the
Andaman Sea at Shin Maw , and unlikely-looking sandy tracks lead to gorgeous stretches of
sand everywhere. And, save for the fishermen, there's seldom another person in sight. The
only shadow on the horizon for Dawei is the question of how long its temptingly undeve-
loped shoreline will remain intact. The Myanmar government has grand plans to develop the
area , but these had ground to a halt at the time of writing. If ongoing attempts to revive the
project succeed, Dawei's days as a beautiful backwater may be numbered.