Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The annual
Kakku Paya Pwe
, held on the full-moon day of the lunar month of
Tabaung (March), attracts Pa-O pilgrims from across Shan State.
Kakku is surrounded by Pa-O villages and the site can be visited only with a Pa-O
guide, arranged through
Golden Island Cottages
( 21 23136; 18 Circular Rd East;
6am-5pm)
. There's a $3 entry fee for the site and a $5 fee for the guide, and you
must also arrange a taxi to the site - K35,000 from Taunggyi, including a few hours
waiting at the stupas.
So far there isn't any accommodation at Kakku, but you can get a meal at the
Hlaing Konn Restaurant
(mains from K500;
lunch & dinner Sep-Apr)
overlooking the site.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Loikaw
Although Kayah State had been declared 'open' only a few months before we hit the
ground, visits without advance permission from MTT were limited to Loikaw, its imme-
diate surrounding areas, and parts of Deemawsoe Township, a region 1½ hours south of
Loikaw. Overnight stays outside of Loikaw are not permitted.
In
Dor Sor Bee
, just east of Loikaw, are several Kayah
animist shrines
. The towering
logs, whitewashed and topped with decorations meant to symbolise the sun and moon,
are gathering points during the Kayah New Year, in April. Also in the area are
Keinari
Keinara
, a family-run loom making Kayah textiles, and
Pataing Hnyin
, a quiet Pa-O vil-
lage. Loikaw Travel Infos include these sights on their day tour of Loikaw.
The only relatively remote area accessible without previous permission at research
time was
Pah Pae
, a hilly and savagely deforested area in Deemawsoe Township that is
home to five Kayan (Padaung or 'longneck') villages; for more on this ethnic group,
Rangkhu
, the largest village, is also thought to be the largest Kayan village in Kayah
State. On the surface at least, it appears to be a relatively modern village, but several wo-
men here still wear neck rings, and the village remains animist/Buddhist unlike its pre-
dominately Roman Catholic and Baptist neighbours. Loikaw Travel Infos requests a
K10,000 donation to the villagers, and are working to reinstate overnight stays here -
something not allowed since 1996. Pah Pae is about 1½ hours southeast of Loikaw;
Loikaw Travel Infos can arrange permission to visit the area and car transport for $80.
It's also working on ways to approach the village by foot or via boat.
At research time there were efforts to establish visits to
Tawtamagyi
, another Kayan
village in Deemawsoe Township, and
Htay Ko
, a traditional tribal area in
Pruso Town-
