Basics - The Rough Guide to Myanmar - page 67

Trekking, rock-climbing and mountaineering
The most popular outdoor activity in Myanmar is undoubtedly trekking , which offers the
chancetoexperiencethecountry'ssuperblandscapeswhileinteractingwithlocalpeople,par-
ticularlyminorityethnicgroups.Thehikefrom KalawtoInleLake remainsenduringlypopu-
lar, while other memorable treks include the route from Kalaw to Pindaya, walks around Inle
Lake, treks among the hill tribes around Kengtung , and treks into the tea-swathed hills and
villagesofnorthernShanStatefrom Kyaukme and Hsipaw . Inthefarnorth,challengingtreks
up into the high Himalaya can be arranged from Putao , while the ascent of Mount Victoria
in Chin State offers a real taste of Myanmar well off the beaten track. Unlike trekking, My-
anmar's enormous potential for rock-climbing and mountaineering remains almost totally
untapped. The Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar (find them on Facebook) is attempting
to develop rock-climbing in the country and establish bolted routes.
Cycling
Cycling is another rewarding activity - much of the country is predominantly flat, although
potholed roads and heavy traffic can prove challenging. Biking around Bagan is one of My-
anmar's classic experiences, while the Mandalay and Inle Lake areas also offer some great
riding opportunities. A few tour operators run multi-day bike tours and longer cross-country
journeys if you don't fancy going it alone.
CHINLONE
Somewhere between sport and dancing, chinlone is one of Myanmar's most distinctive
pastimes. A non-competitive sport, chinlone is traditionally played by six people standing
in a circle and kicking a rattan ball between themselves. The basic aim of the game is to
stop the ball from touching the ground for as long as possible, although additional kudos is
attached to the skill and style with which the ball is kept aloft - over 200 types of kick are
recognized using five different parts of the foot, plus knees. A popular, competitive variant
of the game, akin to Malaysian sepak tawkraw (kick volleyball), is also often played, with
a net between opposing players/teams and rules similar to volleyball, except that the ball is
kicked rather than punched.
Diving and watersports
There's very little diving compared to other nearby countries. There are basic dive centres at
Ngapali and NgweSaung ,althoughseriousdiversheadtothespectacular MyeikArchipelago
in the far south, where you can also arrange snorkelling, kayaking and sailing trips. Some
watersports , though nothing very sophisticated, are available at Ngapali and Chaung Tha ,
where you can also set up fishing trips, including deep-sea fishing.